AS THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS, THE ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY SAYS IT’S A GOOD IDEA TO ARM KIDS WITH A PREPAREDNESS PLAN.

I-EMA RECOMMENDS MAKING A FAMILY COMMUNICATIONS PLAN IN CASE OF DISASTER AND ENCOURAGING YOUNGER KIDS TO TAKE DRILLS SERIOUSLY. SPOKESPERSON KEVIN SUR SAYS YOU SHOULD ALSO MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD HAS EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION READILY AVAILABLE.

COLLEGE KIDS SHOULD HAVE THEIR OWN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS KITS AT SCHOOL.

SUR ALSO RECOMMENDS MAKING SURE YOUR CORRECT EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION IS ON FILE AT YOUR CHILD’S SCHOOL AND ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO DOWNLOAD THE SAFE 2 HELP ILLINOIS APP WHICH CAN HELP WITH MENTAL HEALTH, BULLYING AND OTHER ISSUES.