Mar 12: SEVERE WEATHER SPOTTER TRAINING

The City of Aurora’s Emergency Management Agency, in association with the National Weather Service, is offering a Severe Weather Spotter Training Program on Mar. 12, at 7 p.m., at the Aurora Police Department, 1200 E. Indian Trail.

The free training is open to anyone interested in learning how to identify severe storms and tornadoes and report them to local law enforcement, community emergency management agencies, and amateur radio via organized communications networks. Even with sophisticated radar and other equipment at their disposal, National Weather Service meteorologists depend on real-time reports from trained spotters who know exactly what is occurring on the ground during severe weather so that the public can be notified in a timely manner.

Jim Allsopp, National Weather Service Chicago Warning Coordination Meteorologist, will present the training which covers the five deadly hazards associated with severe weather; the meteorology supporting severe storm development; recognizing and identifying cloud formations, storm features, and associated hazards; thresholds for reporting observations; and weather spotting tips, reporting, and safety.

More information is available by calling Aurora Emergency Management at 630-256-5800 .

May: Free chemical treatment for rust stains

FIRE HYDRANT FLOW TESTING TO START IN MAY

Residents should avoid washing their clothes between 8 a.m. and noon Monday through Thursday as the Aurora Fire Department tests fire hydrants throughout the City in May and June.

Firefighters flow test the hydrants annually to make sure they operate properly in the event of an emergency. The testing is done in the mornings during the spring months because problems can be addressed quickly by City staff and there is less demand on Aurora’s water system compared to the demands of the later summer months.

The water is safe to drink, but residents should run faucets for 30 seconds or longer if discoloration appears. The hydrant testing may produce rusty water capable of staining clothes, and residents should avoid doing their laundry during the morning testing periods.

Laundry stained by rusty water should not be dried. The Fire Department offers bottles of Liquid Poly, a chemical treatment, to remove these stains. Appointments can be made to pick up a free bottle at the following locations:


Central Station, 75 N. Broadway Ave., 630-256-4000
Station No. 3, 600 W. Indian Trail Road, 630-256-4030
Station No. 5, 730 Hill Ave., 630-256-5050
Water Treatment Plant, 1110 Aurora Ave., 630-256-3250

For more information on the hydrant flushing program, call Customer Service at 630-256-INFO or visit the City’s website at www.aurora-il.org.

March 12: Child Car Seat Check for Safety!

CHILD SEAT CAR CHECK THIS SATURDAY

Officers from the Aurora Police Department will be assisting the Illinois State Police and the Illinois Department of Human Services in making sure child restraint seats are properly installed in vehicles at an event this Saturday, Mar. 12.

Parents are encouraged to stop by the City of Aurora Maintenance Yard, 720 N. Broadway Av., from 9 a.m.-12 noon, to enlist the officers’ assistance in either installing child safety seats or making sure devices installed by someone else, are properly fitted.

Studies have shown that a high percentage of child safety seats are improperly installed putting children at risk of serious injury or death if they are in a vehicle that is involved in a crash.

Officials ask that parents bring their children and vehicle with them to assure the devices are properly fitted. Appointments are required by contacting Carmen Flores-Rance at 312-793-4662 or by e-mail at Carmen.Flores-Rance@illinois.gov.

Feb. 1: Snowy weather warning starts at 3 p.m.

CITY MAKING FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR IMPENDING BLIZZARD

The City of Aurora is in the final stages of preparing for the impending blizzard that is expected to hit this afternoon and last until the middle of the day on Wednesday.

A blizzard warning beginning at 3 p.m. today and lasting until 3 p.m. Wednesday has been issued by the National Weather Service. The storm is expected to be dangerous and potentially life threatening.

City officials are encouraging residents to stay off the roads and to remain indoors if at all possible for the duration of the storm. The high winds expected to accompany the blizzard will make travel potentially impossible, according to the Weather Service. Officials also are reminding residents to check in on elderly and handicapped family and neighbors to make sure they are safe.

In preparation, the City’s full cadre of more than 100 snow plows, including those from private contractors, have been prepared and are ready to begin tackling snow removal across Aurora’s 2,100 lane miles of roads. City officials are asking residents to make sure all vehicles are off of streets and alleyways to assure safe and effective snow plowing, which will be further challenged because of the heavy snow and high winds. Aurora’s snow ordinance prohibits parking on City streets and alleyways during or after a snowfall of 2 inches or more with violators risking a ticket and tow at their expense.

In order to field an expected increase in calls, Aurora’s Customer Service Center will have extended hours. Residents seeking non-emergency City services and information can call the Center at (630) 256-INFO (4636) until 7 p.m. tonight and from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Wednesday. Incidents that pose an immediate threat to life or property should be directed to 911.

In addition, Allied Waste, the City’s contracted waste and recycling collection company, has cancelled garbage and recycling pickup for Wednesday. Service will resume Thursday, Feb. 3, and continue throughout Saturday, Feb. 5. The schedule change means all Allied Waste garbage pick-up in the City will be pushed back one day this week.

The City plans on e-mailing any necessary storm updates to residents who have signed up for the service. Residents are encouraged to click on Aurora’s website at www.aurora-il.org to sign up for e-mail news. The top of the website’s homepage also will feature links directly to the latest weather forecasts, City updates, safety tips, warming centers, school closings, and other information during the storm.