A major dust storm blew through DeWitt County and the surrounding area on Monday, a weather event that seems to be becoming more common. 

DeWitt County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator Will Paveleck told the Hart Media Group the most important thing to remember while on the roads in the event of a dust storm is to "Pull Aside, Stay Alive."

Communication between the National Weather Service and EMA is crucial to public safety. As dust storms become more frequent, Ed Shimon with the NWS explains that they have been partnering with the University of Illinois Extension to improve alerting the public to quickly changing conditions. 

While Paveleck indicates that there were no reported car accidents or road closures on Monday, he stresses the potentially life-threatening dangers of being on the road during a dust storm. 

Paveleck feels that dust storms will continue to be a problem during this time of year, and again emphasises the mantra "Pull Aside, Stay Alive.”