Press Release June 10, 2005
The Calumet City Floodplain Management Committee announces the completion of its Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan. This has been a seven month effort that reviewed the major hazards to which Calumet City is exposed:

-Overbank flooding
-Sewer backup
-Local drainage
-Tornadoes
-Winter storms
-Severe storms
-Earthquake
-Extreme heat

The Committee evaluated a variety of measures that can reduce exposure to the dangers and damage posed by the hazards and selected 14 action items to mitigate their efforts. The resulting Plan (including an executive summary) is available for review at City Hall, the Calumet City Public Library, and on this website.

A public meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 19, 2005, at the Calumet City Hall Council Chambers, 204 Pulaski Road. Comments may be submitted at the public meeting or to:
James Banasiak, Director
Dept. of Inspectional Services
687 Wentworth Ave., Calumet City, IL 60409
(708)891-8120
(708)891-8117 fax
or Email Inspectional Services

The Floodplain Management Committee will meet after the public meeting, review any desired changes, and recommend a mitigation plan for adoption by the Calumet City Council.


Press Release Jan. 31, 2005
Mayor Michelle Markiewicz Qualkinbush has initiated a mitigation planning effort for Calumet City. From December 2004 through June 2005, the Floodplain Management Planning Committee will meet to review what can be done to reduce the safety hazards, health hazards, and property damage caused by floods, tornadoes, winter storms, earthquakes and thunderstorms. The Committee will produce a Hazard Mitigation Plan to guide City hazard mitigation efforts.

The effort is being led by the City's Department of Inspectional Services. The Committee's members include a representative from each of the City's seven wards and City offices that are involved in hazard mitigation (Inspectional Services, Fire, Sewer, and Emergency Services).

The committee will review a variety of mitigation measures, organized under six general strategies:

°	Preventive--e.g., zoning, building codes, and other developmental regulations
°	Property protection--e.g., relocation out of harm's way, retrofitting buildings, insurance
°	Natural resource protection--e.g., preserving wetlands, minimizing sedimentation
°	Emergency services--e.g., warning, sandbagging, evacuation
°	Flood control project--e.g., levees, reservoirs, stormwater management
°	Public information--e.g., outreach projects, technical assistance to property owners

The Planning Committee's schedule is posted at <<link>>. The meetings are open to the public. The draft plan is expected to be ready for public review in May.

Calumet City residents are encouraged to learn more about the natural hazards they face and ways they can protect themselves. For more information:   <<link>>.

For more information contact James Banasiak, Director of Calumet City's Department of Inspectional Services, at 708/891-8120.

Planning Committee

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Calumet City's hazard mitigation plan is being prepared under the guidance of the City's Floodplain Management Planning Committee. The Committee's members include a representative from each of the City's seven wards and four City offices that are involved in hazard mitigation:

°	Department of Inspectional Services
°	Sewer Department
°	Emergency Services and Disaster Agency
°	Fire Department

The committee held its first meeting on December 2 at City Hall. At that meeting, the members reviewed the planning process, how the public would be involved, and what offices should be coordinated with.

The next meeting will be February 3, 2005. At that meeting, the future meeting schedule will be decided. The Committee will also review the hazards facing the City and set goals on how the Plan should address them.

The draft plan is expected to be ready for public review in May. At that time, it will be posted on this website and there will be a public meeting to receive comments on it.

All meetings are at the City Council Chambers at City Hall and are open to the public.

For more information contact James Banasiak, Director of Calumet City's Department of Inspectional Services, at 708/891-8120.

General
The Red Cross has emergency protection measures: Link
The Red Cross' family disaster plan: Link

Little Calumet River flood heights
For real time readings on the height of the Little Calumet River: Link

Flood protection
FEMA's Homeowner's Guide to Retrofitting: Six Ways to protect Your House from Flooding is on FEMA's website: Link
FEMA's recent Protecting Building Utilities From Flood Damage: Link
FEMA has a variety of fact sheets on flood protection: Link

Flood insurance
FEMA has the latest information at: Link 1 Link 2

Tornadoes
Link

Thunderstorms and lightning
Link

Winter storms
Link

Earthquakes
Link 1 Link 2    

Recovery
The Red Cross/FEMA flyer on recovering from a flood is at: Link
The full book, "Repairing Your Flooded Home," is at: Link