FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                     
Contact:  Jason Gerwig
630-407-2947 – (OEM)
December 18, 2008

DU PAGE COUNTY ACTIVATES EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER

DuPage County, IL (December 18, 2008)– DuPage County has activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in order to monitor the Winter Storm Warning issued for DuPage County in effect from 7:00 p.m. Thursday evening to 12:00 p.m. Friday afternoon.

“The EOC will be open and operating throughout the evening and early morning in an effort to monitor any potential issues that may arise from the expected snow our area is scheduled to receive over night,” said DuPage County Board Chairman Robert J. Schillerstrom.  

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), DuPage County could see anywhere between 6 to 12 inches of snow by mid-morning on Friday. 

In anticipation of this potential heavy snowfall, the DuPage County Highway Department will have 29 plows on the road to ensure county roads are safe for passage.  The Highway Department has already pretreated roads with salt.

Motorists are encouraged to use caution when driving through dangerous winter conditions.  Snow and ice make stopping distances much longer, so keep your seat belt buckled and leave more distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead.  Bridge decks and shady spots can be icy when other areas are not. Remember to avoid sudden stops and quick direction changes.

According to NWS, a Winter Storm Warning means “a significant winter storm or hazardous winter weather is occurring, imminent, or likely, and is a threat to life and property.”

For more information, please visit www.protectdupage.org. 

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