The City of Springfield is asking everyone to practice safe driving habits at a time where many of the traffic lights are not working, and is reminding the community of the crucial resources still available at their disposal.
They’re reminding everyone that, when coming to an intersection or roadway with a non-functional light, everyone is supposed to treat the light as they would a stop sign in the same setting.
Furthermore, the city says that Cooling Centers throughout Springfield can provide relief to those in need – whatever the reason; a list can be found here.
The local YMCA is also providing their facilities for cooling and cell phone charging as well; their hours are below – as are telephone numbers, more general information, and helpful tips to stay in tip-top condition!
Both Locations
June 30: 2:00 pm-8:00 pm
July 1: 11:00 am-4:00 pmJuly 2-West Location Only: 8:00 am-12:00 pm
July 2-Downtown Location Only: 1:00 pm-5:00 pm
The general curfew imposed within the corporate limits of the City of Springfield, Illinois from 10:00 p.m. on June 29, 2023 to 5:00 a.m. on June 30, 2023 has now been lifted and is not currently being reinstated due to progress being made in the city with debris cleanup. There will therefore be no restrictions on the hours of movement within the city.
If power to your home is out for a prolonged period, know and understand important safety precautions and steps to cope with heat until power is restored:
• Dress in loose, lightweight clothing and stay on the coolest, lowest level of your home.
• Use natural ventilation to cool homes, and consider purchasing battery-powered fans.
• Drink plenty of water and avoid heavy meals, caffeinated drinks and alcohol.
• Keep refrigerator or freezer doors closed. A freezer that is half full or full can keep foods frozen 24 to 48 hours. Foods can stay safe in an unopened refrigerator up to four hours. If an outage lasts longer than four hours, remove and pack meat, milk and other dairy products in a cooler with ice.
• Use safe alternative food preparations. A barbecue grill is an excellent way to prepare food. Always grill outside.
• Check on friends and relatives—especially children, seniors, and those with medical conditions or disabilities. These people may need to seek emergency cooling shelters.
• Keep a first-aid kit in your home and one in your car. Make sure that it includes scissors, tweezers, safety pins, aspirin, eyewash and rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.
• Close all drapes and blinds on the sunny side of your residence.
• Take your family and pets to a basement or other cool location if you have one. Also consider going to an air-conditioned public place during warmer daytime hours.
We have a number of tips at our Outage Center on what to do during a power outagehttps://cwlp.com/…/ElectricInforma…/ElectricOutages.aspx
We also share information from the CDC on outage safety. https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/poweroutage/index.html
For debris blocking roadways and sidewalks, please call: 217-789-2246
If you have not reported an outage already, please call: 217-789-2121
If you or a family member’s health has been impacted by outages or the storm, please call American Red Cross at: 217-787-7602
Any senior community members requiring assistance should contact AgeLinc: (217) 787-9234 (Office) or (800) 252-2918 (Toll Free) or The Senior Services Center of Central Illinois: (217) 528-4035 or (217) 528-3882
