Disaster response and recovery involve multiple organizationsand levels of government. As such, planning for these eventsmust be coordinated in order to provide the most effectiveresponse when disaster strikes.This month I had the opportunity to participate in two meetingsaimed at improving the coordination and communicationsbetween state and federal organizations as we plan for acatastrophic earthquake along the New Madrid Seismic Zone. I joined emergency management personnel from states within theNew Madrid region, FEMA headquarters staff and the NationalGuard for a joint planning meeting in New Orleans. On the firstday, I participated in a meeting of the New Madrid Joint PlanningGroup, which focuses on improving coordination between theNational Guard and state emergency management officials toensure pre-planned coordinating agreements exist for the use of National Guard resources following a disaster.I also provided a state emergency management director’s perspective on the importance of integrated planningduring a general session. IEMA started integrated planning with the Illinois National Guard in 2009 to increasethe state’s resilience to catastrophic events and ensure resource capabilities exist to efficiently and effectivelysupport the efforts of local governments and citizens post-disaster. This month I also had the opportunity to attenda meeting with officials from NORTHCOM,FEMA headquarters and FEMA Region V andthe National Guard at NORTHCOMheadquarters in Colorado Springs. Themeeting focused on how state and federalpartners would coordinate during acatastrophic earthquake along the NewMadrid Seismic Zone.Because a New Madrid earthquake wouldaffect several states outside FEMA Region V, Isuggested that we conduct a similar meetingthat involves those states and their FEMAregions. The idea was well-received and thatmeeting will take place in September.I hope you enjoy this issue of Inside IEMA.

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In this issueFebruary Tornadoes Damage Homes, Businesses............2State Cybersecurity Strategy Unveiled ...........................3Agency Ensures Safety of Radioactive Sources...............4IEMA Hosts Flood Preparedness Meetings in Lakemoor ..4Senior Staff Spotlight: Sarah Plinski...............................5Governor Rauner Attends ITTF Meeting ..........................5Radiological Staff Receive Training ................................6New WebEOC Version Launched.....................................6Chatham Hosts Weather Alert Radio Event.....................7CERT Challenge Focuses on Recovery............................7Tips for Preventing Computer Vision Syndrome...............8

From IEMA Director James K. JosephMarch 2017Illinois Emergency Management Agency

Director Joseph, Gen. Reynold Hoover,NORAD/NORTHCOM, and Major Gen. Richard J.Hayes, Jr., Adjutant General, Illinois National Guard,outside the NORAD/NORTHCOM headquarters inColorado Springs.

Mother Nature proved once again that tornadoes canhappen any time of the year as more than a dozentornadoes caused widespread damage in severalIllinois communities on Feb. 28. The storms resultedin three fatalities and left more than 700 homesdamaged or destroyed.

LaSalle County bore the brunt of that damage, with atotal of 585 homes damaged or destroyed in Ottawaand Naplate. In downstate Illinois, Jackson and Whitecounties also had several homes damaged.

Governor Bruce Rauner activated the StateEmergency Operations Center in Springfield to ensurethe state was positioned to quickly deploy any stateassets or personnel needed to assist local respondersin the impacted communities. IEMA regional staffmembers were deployed to the affected areas tofacilitate local requests for state assistance.

Mutual aid from neighboring jurisdictions assisted withresponse and recovery efforts in several communities,while personnel, trucks and other equipment from theIllinois Department of Transportation and inmate crewsfrom the Illinois Department of Corrections assistedsome communities with debris removal.

A Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) was openfor two days to help people affected by the stormconnect with services to assist with their recovery.State agencies at the MARC included the departmentsof Insurance, Human Services and Aging, as well asthe Attorney General and Secretary of State.

February Tornadoes Damage Homes, Businesses

Jackson County had 47 homes damaged by tornadoes, including14 that were destroyed.

Nearly 100 homes were damaged in the LaSalle County villageof Naplate.

LaSalle County EMA Director Connie Brooks leads a briefing ontornado response at the LaSalle County Emergency OperationsCenter.

Governor Rauner discusses the path of the tornadoes withrepresentatives from the National Weather Service.

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Governor, DoIT Unveil State Cybersecurity Strategy Governor Bruce Rauner and the Department ofInnovation & Technology (DoIT) recently announceda comprehensive state cybersecurity strategy toprotect state services and personal information. Thestrategy was announced during a press conferenceat the State Emergency Operations Center inSpringfield.

The plan outlines five strategic goals with specificaction plans to secure data, ensure service deliveryand defend the state’s infrastructure, while enablingdigital transformation in Illinois. The goals includeprotecting state of Illinois information and systems,reducing cyber risk, best-in-class cybersecuritycapabilities, enterprise approach to cybersecurity anda cyber secure Illinois.

The newly released cybersecurity strategy provides aroadmap for building a more cyber secure Illinois. Asa precursor to establishing the goals and action plans,DoIT completed comprehensive risk andcybersecurity capability assessments and an analysisof the current and emerging cyber-threat landscape.These assessments provided key insight and a clearunderstanding of the risks posed to confidentialinformation, Illinois’ critical infrastructure and thestate’s ability to provide life, health and safety servicesto Illinois citizens.

Illinois’ cybersecurity strategy was specificallydesigned to rapidly address any current gaps inoperations, while simultaneously acceleratingprogress toward the establishment of best-in-classcybersecurity capabilities.

The final plan was developed in partnership withstakeholders across state government, as well asother private and public sector contributors. TheNational Governors Association (NGA) providedsignificant support as part of its Policy Academy forState Cybersecurity, which facilitated collaborationacross states. Illinois was one of only five states

awarded an NGA Policy Academy for StateCybersecurity.

The National Association of State Chief InformationOfficers (NASCIO), which is a cooperativeorganization of states actively engaged in exploringways to enhance state technology and cybersecurityefforts, was also a key partner in the development ofthe State of Illinois Cybersecurity Strategy. NASCIOhas identified security and risk management as thenumber one priority for state chief information officers,and is providing access to national best practices,cybersecurity research and facilitating collaborationacross state chief information security officers andfederal agencies.

The goals, objectives and action plans have beenspecifically developed and vetted to rapidly addressany current gaps in cybersecurity operations, whilecontinuing to accelerate Illinois’ progress toward theestablishment of best-in-class cybersecuritycapabilities.

A copy of the cybersecurity strategy is available athttps://www2.illinois.gov/sites/doit/Strategy/Cybersecurity/Pages/cybersecurity.aspx.

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Governor Rauner outlines the state’s new cybersecurity strategyduring a press conference at the State Emergency OperationsCenter.

The grants policy manual for Department ofHomeland Security federal preparednessgrants administered by IEMA has beenupdated. The manual can be accessed fromIEMA’s website home page

(www.illinois.gov/iema) under the “Useful Links”section. These grant administration policies willensure subrecipient compliance with all federalrequirements.

Updated Grants Policy Manual Now Available

IEMA Ensures Safety of Radioactive Sources, DevicesIEMA is well-known throughoutthe country for its many nuclearand radiation safety programs.One of those programs may notbe as visible to the public, butplays a major role in ensuring thesafety of products containingradioactive material that are usedthroughout the state and acrossthe nation.

All products in the U.S.containing radioactive materialmust undergo a health and safetyevaluation before they can bedistributed. IEMA’s RadioactiveMaterials Section is responsiblefor evaluating radioactive sourcesand devices manufactured inIllinois prior to commercialdistribution.

Manufacturers submit actual prototypes of the productto engineering firms, where they are subjected toextreme temperature, vibration, impact, puncture andpressure tests. Results from these tests are providedto IEMA, where personnel review the reports andconduct radiation safety analyses to determine ifsealed sources and devices can safely containradioactivity under the conditions expected during usein the field.

Based on these tests and the analysis of the productdesign, a registration certificate is issued that containsdetailed information on the sources and devices,

including methods of distributionand possession (i.e., specific orgeneral license), design andfunction, radiation safety,prototype testing, qualityassurance, routine maintenanceand conditions of use.

These certificates are thenprovided to the U.S. NuclearRegulatory Commission (NRC) tobe posted in the National SealedSource and Device Registry andare used as the basis fordistribution and use throughoutthe country.

IEMA has approved hundreds ofsources and devices, includingsources used for productsterilization, paint gun static

eliminators and cancer treatment products, sincebecoming an Agreement State with the NRC in 1987.Due to IEMA’s intense evaluation process and thededication of manufacturers within the state, Illinoishas a reputation throughout the nation for producinghighly safe and reliable radioactive sources anddevices.

Section Manager Gibb Vinson also serves as aninstructor at the NRC’s federal training for other statesinvolved in product review process. For additionalinformation, contact Vinson at (217) 785-9928 or byemail at Gibb.Vinson@illinois.gov.

Brachytherapy seeds are widely used for cancertreatment. This picture depicts several differentvariations that evolved over the years to improvethe efficacy of the treatments and marketabilityof the product.

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On March 10, IEMA hosted a flood preparationmeeting in Lakemoor for local emergencymanagement and elected officials in Lake andMcHenry counties. The National Weather Service inRomeoville provided insight into the potential forflooding in the Fox River area this spring, while IEMApersonnel outlined the state’s flood preparednessefforts. The county emergency managers alsodiscussed their readiness. IEMA plans to holdadditional flood preparedness meetings forcommunities along the Mississippi River in April.

Senior Staff Spotlight: Sarah PlinskiA year ago, Sarah Plinski was adaptingto her new job as the assistant toDirector James Joseph, as well aslearning her way around the Springfieldarea. Today, Plinski is enjoying thehectic pace needed to keep up withher always-on-the go boss and themore laid-back pace of her newhometown.

Plinski joined IEMA in February 2016.While she was new to the agency,Plinski was already quite familiar withthe director’s work style, having servedas his assistant at the DuPage CountyOffice of Homeland Security andEmergency Management (OHSEM). When Joseph leftOHSEM in early 2015 to become IEMA’s director,Plinski remained at the county.

One of her most exciting days on the job at OHSEMoccurred during an active shooter exercise inDowners Grove, when she and Joseph donnedprotective equipment and followed the “shooter”throughout the scenario. She said the experienceprovided insight into all aspects of response to suchan incident.

Plinski said it’s been exciting to experienceemergency management at the state level. Theposition has provided the opportunity to travel to manyareas in the state and meet local emergencymanagement partners from across the state. She saidit’s also impressive to learn about IEMA’s many

programs and the numerous local, stateand federal agencies it interacts with ona daily basis.

Born and raised in the western suburbsof Chicago, Plinski had never visitedSpringfield until she moved here inFebruary 2016. Although DirectorJoseph and his family were the onlyones she knew when she first arrived inthe capital city, she said she’s grown tolove her adopted hometown, particularlythe fact that the temperature inSpringfield is almost always warmerthan in the Chicago area.

She has embraced the chance to visit many of theLincoln-related tourist sites in the area when she hasout-of-town visitors, and looks forward to checking outmore sites as the weather warms up this spring.

Plinski has a degree in criminal justice from theCollege of DuPage. Before entering the emergencymanagement profession, she worked for an animalhospital, Central DuPage Hospital and as assistant tothe executive vice-president at QuintessencePublishing Co., where she coordinated advertising foreight scientific journals and managed exhibits at tradeshows. That job entailed considerable travel,something Plinski has enjoyed since childhood whenshe spent summers with members of her mother’sfamily in England.

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Sarah Plinski

Governor Bruce Rauner spoke to members of the IllinoisTerrorism Task Force (ITTF) during the group’s Marchmeeting. Gov. Rauner thanked ITTF members for theirdedication to preparing the state to prevent and respondto terrorist events. The governor also heard about theissues and challenges facing many of the disciplinesrepresented on the task force and answered questions.

This was the first time in the ITTF’s nearly 18-year historythat a governor has attended a meeting of theorganization, which serves an advisory body to thegovernor and provides recommendations and guidanceon homeland security programs, policies, protocol andprocedures.

Nearly two dozen IEMA staff members recentlyparticipated in a three-day Assessment Scientisttraining provided by the U.S. Department of Energy(DOE) and the Federal Radiological Monitoring andAssessment Center (FRMAC) in Springfield. Thoseattending the training are health physicists andscientists with roles in the agency’s RadiologicalEmergency Assessment Center, RadiologicalAssessment Field Team and radiochemistrylaboratory.

The course provided participants with anunderstanding of FRMAC, protective action guides(PAGs) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(USEPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),the FRMAC Assessment manual, method and tools,and the significance of the assessment outputs andhow they are used.

The training was presented by four individuals fromSandia National Laboratories who are responsible forthe development, testing and use of Turbo FRMAC,one of the main software tools used by FRMAC.

The training will help IEMA staff perform calculationswith data collected in the ingestion pathway phase of

a radiological incident. The results of thesecalculations will be compared to USEPA and FDAPAGs to assist the scientists in making decisions onfuture sample collections and provide guidance togovernment authorities on topics related to relocationof populations, food control, and other public healthand safety issues.

Radiological Staff Receive Assessment Scientist Training

IEMA radiological personnel recently participated in training thatwill enhance the state’s ability to assess data and make protectiveaction recommendations following a radiation incident.

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IEMA Launches New Version of WebEOC A new mobile-friendly version of WebEOC wasrecently launched at IEMA to support emergencymanagement and public safety efforts. The latestversion was developed by the Department ofInnovation & Technology (DoIT) team at IEMA. Thenew application has a redesigned Graphical UserInterface and features a fresh interface for animproved and customizable user experience.

DoIT and the operations team at IEMA providedtraining opportunities to ensure user readiness prior tolaunching the new version on Feb. 6. In order to meetIEMA's drive for improving real-time informationsharing, the focus will be on taking advantage of twomobile apps that are available through iTunes andGoogle Play that complement the new version. DoITplans to encourage all authorized users to consumethese tools though continued campaigns. The new mobile-friendly WebEOC was launched in February.

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The Chatham EMA recently joined withWAND-TV from Decatur to host a weatheralert radio event at Walgreens. Many arearesidents took advantage of the opportunityto purchase a portable or regular weatheralert radio at a discounted price. Nearly 40radios were sold during the three-hourevent.

Chatham EMA Director Matt Bryan andseveral volunteers, as well as WAND ChiefMeteorologist J.C. Fultz and IEMA RegionalCoordinator Bob Flemming, were on handto help program the new radios as well asthose brought in by members of thecommunity. IEMA Director Joseph did alive interview from the event duringWAND’s 5 p.m. newscast to emphasize theimportance of having ways to receivesevere weather warnings 24/7.

Nearly 100 members of local Community EmergencyResponse Teams (CERTs) participated in the seventhannual Prairie State CERT Challenge on March 25 atJoliet Junior College in Joliet. The event wassponsored by IEMA and hosted by Will CountyEmergency Management Agency.

The theme for this year’s event was ChallengingRecovery, and the day’s activities involved trainingfocused on disaster recovery activities, such asdamage assessments, donations management,spontaneous volunteers and Multi-Agency ResourceCenters. These training topics reflect activities CERTmembers have assisted with following several recentdisasters and are likely to assist with in futureemergencies.

Annual CERT Challenge Focuses on Recovery Activities

State of IllinoisIllinois Emergency Management Agency

For more information on this newsletter, contact:Patti Thompson • Public Information Officer: (217) 557-4756

IOCI 17-0047 3-17 Web

Previous issues of Inside IEMA are available at:http://www.illinois.gov/iema/Info/Pages/Newsletters.aspx.

The use of digital devices is prevalent in nearly allworkplaces today. While employees in most workenvironments take preventative actions every day toprotect their eyes when working with tools, machinery,hazardous chemicals and other potential eye hazards,many overlook the risk digital devices present.

A 2017 survey by the Vision Council, an eye careindustry trade association, found that more than 87percent of Americans reported using digital devicesfor more than two hours per day. Digital devices areincreasingly common in the workplace and at home,and excessive usage can lead to an overexposure toblue light.

Blue light is high-energy visible light that penetratesdeep into the eye. This type of light can lead tophysical discomfort, including eye strain and irritation,dry eyes, blurred vision, headaches, neck andshoulder pain, as well as sleep problems. Thesesymptoms are commonly referred to as ComputerVision Syndrome.

Other circumstances such as viewing distances,posture and pre-existing vision issues can increasediscomfort. Nearly one-quarter of Americans in thesurvey reported symptoms of Computer VisionSyndrome.

The American Optometric Association recommendsseveral solutions for reducing your risk to ComputerVision Syndrome. Maintain a comfortable workingdistance from your digital device. Use zoom featuresinstead of bringing the device closer to your eyes.Reduce screen glare from windows and lighting, anduse built-in filters or third party applications to reducebrightness and blue light on the screen.

Make an effort to take a 20-second break to focus onsomething at least 20 feet away after 20 minutes ofusing any device or computer. Also, remember to takea 15-minute break after two hours of continuousdevice usage. Turn digital devices off at least one hourbefore bed to avoid sleep disruption from blue lightexposure. Finally, schedule an appointment with aneye doctor to have a comprehensive eye exam toprevent vision problems and maintain long-term visionhealth.

For more information on Computer Vision Syndrome,visit aoa.org/CVS.

(Information for this article was obtained from theAmerican Optometric Association, Prevent Blindnessand Vision Council websites.)

Take Precautions to Prevent Computer Vision Syndrome

TRAININGSUMMITSEPT. 5-7

2017

Proposals for presentations for both general and breakoutsessions at the 2017 IEMA Training Summit are being acceptedthrough May 1. People interested in presenting at the summitare encouraged to include, if possible, hands-on experiencesand takeaways, such as job aids and work tools. Moreinformation about the call for presentations is available on theIEMA website at www.illinois.gov/iema.