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County Board Chairman Proclaims State of Emergency to Assist with Storm Response
Two days after a powerful summer storm whipped through Lake County causing widespread damage and extensive power outages, emergency responders continue to work on getting things back to normal.
To assist with the response efforts, Lake County Board Chairman David Stolman proclaimed a "State of Emergency" in Lake County. This action facilitates the sharing of resources and supports the County's request to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency for assistance with debris removal. While it isn't clear that any state or federal disaster assistance will become available, Lake County Emergency Management is compiling initial damage and cost assessments from communities in regard to all of the recent storms.
County Board Chairman David Stolman said, "While this storm swept through our area quickly, it left significant damage in its wake that will take some time to recover from. I want to thank Lake County residents for their patience during this challenging time. The Lake County Board also expresses its appreciation to all of the emergency responders who have been working night and day to restore power, clear roads, and ensure the safety of our citizens."
Power Outage Update
As of Tuesday afternoon, about 125,486 Lake County ComEd customers remain without power. Electricity has been restored to Winchester House, and all Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center facilities except Mid-Lakes Community Health Center in Round Lake Beach and Avon Township Counseling Center in Round Lake Park. The public can call the Health Department for more information at 847-377-8000.
Due to prolonged power outages, several communities have opened "cooling centers" where residents may seek shelter from the heat and humidity. Residents should contact their local municipality to find out if it has opened a cooling center.
Traffic Information
Lake County and other partners are working to improve the safety of intersections where signals are out, or malfunctioning. The Sheriff's Office deployed the Reserve Deputy Unit to assist with traffic control at intersections that are not functioning.
Currently, there are about 87 signals that do not have power (out of 700 across the Lake County road system). The Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) reminds drivers to use extreme caution and treat these intersections as an all-way stop. The following Lake County roads remain closed due to downed wires:
- York House Road closed between North Avenue and Sheridan Road
- Southbound Lewis Avenue between Beach Road and York House Road
- Cedar Lake Road between Rt120 and Nippersink Road
LCDOT continues to focus on cleaning up debris on Lake County highways. The public can get up-to-date traffic information at www.lakecountypassage.com, or AM1620.
Lake County Public Works
Two boil orders remain in place for Wadsworth Oaks and Arden Shores. Residents in these areas should boil their water for three to five minutes and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Find more information about alerts and notifications on this website.
Food Safety
The Lake County Health Department offers these food safety tips after the loss of power for more than two hours:
- While the power is out, keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to keep food cold for longer.
- For the freezer section: a freezer that is half full will hold food safely for up to 24 hours. A full freezer will hold food safely for 48 hours. Do not open the freezer door if you can avoid it.
- For the refrigerated section: pack milk, other dairy products, meat, fish, eggs, gravy, and spoilable leftovers into a cooler surrounded by ice.
Use a food thermometer to check the temperature of your food right before you cook or eat it. Throw away any food that has a temperature of more than 40 degrees Fahrenheit. | 
