Chicagoland communities prepare for snow storm impact

The National Weather Service has issued a major storm alert for the Chicagoland area and suburbs. Schools, governments and many public agencies are closing, urging residents to be cautious while driving, to do welfare checks on neighbors who are disabled or seniors, and identifying warming centers in the event of electrical disruption or heating problems

By Ray Hanania

Communities throughout the Chicagoland area have issued emergency alerts to residents regarding the expected snow storm that is headed this way.

Meteorologists have predicted snow falls of as much as 14 inches to slam the Chicagoland are including the Suburban Chicagoland community, and villages, towns and cities in the suburbs are cautioning their residents to prepare.

The National Weather Service was tracking a storm that stretches from Montana through the Midwest through Wisconsin, Illinois and the Chicago area, Indiana and Michigan.

National Weather Sevrice storm map of snowstorm moving from Montana through the Midwest on Thursday Feb. 8, 2018

Here is an overview of some of the community alerts being issued:

The Town of Cicero issued alerts announcing “Warming Centers” in the event that residents lose electricity or their heaters fail during the intense storm. The alerts were issued in English and in Spanish.

With the heavy snows expected tonight (Thursday Feb. 8) we are urging everyone to

— Check on your neighbors, especially if they are senior citizens. Make sure their heat is working.

— Every Town of Cicero building is a warmup center during working hours.

— The CSO Building at 5444 West 34th Street will be open 24 hours thru the weekend to accommodate individuals who have heat related problems.

— Pace is advising Fixed Route and ADA ParaTransit Service passengers to postpone or cancel non-essential trips beginning this evening, February 8, through Sunday, February 11. Pace Fixed Route and ParaTransit Service will likely experience SIGNIFICANT DELAYS due to heavy snow and hazardous driving conditions.

— Obviously, public transportation riders and everyone should dress warmly. Get more information on public service at www.PaceBus.com

Con las fuertes nevadas esperadas esta noche (jueves 8 de febrero) estamos instando a todos a

– Checar a sus vecinos, especialmente si son personas mayores. Asegúrese de que el calor esté funcionando.

– Todos los Edificios del Municipio de Cícero son Centros de Calentamiento durante las horas de trabajo.

– Pace aconseja a los pasajeros de Rutas Fijas y ADA Servicio ParaTransit probablemente pospongan o cancelen viajes no esenciales a partir de esta noche, del 8 de febrero al domingo 11 de febrero. El servicio de ruta fija y ParaTransit de Pace probablemente experimentará RETRASOS SIGNIFICATIVOS debido a las fuertes nevadas y condiciones peligrosas de manejo.

– Obviamente, los pasajeros del transporte público y todos deben vestirse adecuadamente para el frio. Obtenga más información sobre el servicio público en www.PaceBus.com

The Village of Orland Park issued the following alert, urging residents not to park on village streets to allow plows to clear the streets during the storm

TheVillage of Orland Park issued the following CODE RED Emergency notice:

ORLAND PARK, IL., CODE RED: Code Red Emergency Weather Alert Sent to Village Subscribers

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE HAS BEEN ISSUED TO ALL OF THE VILLAGE OF ORLAND PARK’S CODE RED SUBSCRIBERS.

*** The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for the Orland Park area beginning this evening through Sunday with large accumulations expected.

Residents are reminded that parking on village streets is prohibited once two inches of snow fall.

Parked vehicles must be kept off the street for 10 hours after the storm to give plows time to clear your street. Primary routes are plowed first followed by secondary streets and cul de sacs.

Garbage and recycling pick up for Friday, February 9th will be delayed until Saturday, February 10th.

If physically able, clear the snow from the fire hydrants near your home, shoveling from the street so emergency personnel can access them.

Always move snow to the lawn and never to the street. Pushing snow into the street creates a dangerous, icy patch at the end of your driveway.

Check on elderly and disabled friends, family and neighbors to be sure they’re okay.

The Orland Park Police Department, at 151st and Ravinia, is the village’s primary warming center open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Not all roads in Orland Park are under the village’s jurisdiction. The Public Works Department works closely with other agencies to keep the roads clear. For more information, visit orlandpark.org.

Be careful driving and travel only if necessary.

Thank you

The Village of Lyons also issued cautions to their residents urging them to check on their neighbors, and to also be extra careful in driving during the storm.

Village of Lyons Safe Driving instructions for winter stork Thursday Feb. 8, 2018

School districts also announced school closing. The District 230 School District which includes three major high schools, Sandburg, Andrew and Stagg issued the following school closing notice for Friday:

All D230 schools will be closed on Friday, February 9, 2018 due to predicted significant and sustained snowfall.

Coaches and sponsors will communicate with teams regarding sports and activities.

All 12 month employees should report to work per the contract.

Thank you and stay warm!

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Ray Hanania

Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

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