PARK FOREST - As severe weather season in Illinois approaches, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) urges Illinoisans to develop an emergency plan.

To help Illinois residents prepare for severe weather season, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service developed a Severe Weather Preparedness Guide that covers flooding, severe weather terms and tips for staying safe.

“Severe weather can happen at any time,” Joyce said. “Major flooding, such as the floods along the Illinois River and its tributaries, happen with little warning, which is why it’s crucial for families to develop an emergency plan.”

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, IEMA recommends a few new items be included in your emergency supply kit, including face coverings for every member of your family, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes. Other items to include in a basic emergency supply kit include water, food, NOAA weather radio, flashlight, batteries, phone charger and prescription medications. A complete list can be found online at www.ready.gov/kit.

For more information, IEMA offers severe weather preparedness information on the Ready Illinois website, a one-stop resource for detailed information about what to do before, during and after disasters.

PARK FOREST - As the Illinois River Valley continues to experience record-breaking rainfall, the dangers of catastrophic flood levels increase.

In order to mitigate flood levels the Illinois National Guard, Department of Transportation, and Department of Corrections deposited 150 million sandbags along the river, supplementing local efforts.

“In flood emergencies, we must act strategically and swiftly,” State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) said. “We want to make sure people stay as safe as possible under the current conditions.”

National Guard personnel and IDOC detainees who have been dispatched to help address the flood emergency have been screened for COVID-19 in order to keep the communities safe.

“Floods can cause a lot of property damage. In these trying times, it may be difficult for folks to replace some of the items lost to the flooding,” Joyce said.

According to Grundy County Emergency Services, residents have reported damage ranging from household items to structural damage.

Grundy County residents who have experienced flood damage can call Grundy County Emergency Services at (815) 941-3212 in order to assess their individual cases.

PARK FOREST – The Kankakee River is a critical asset  for neighboring communities, providing resources for nearly 80,000 people in Kankakee and Will Counties while serving industries that provide many jobs.

For decades, the river has suffered from excessive sedimentation, resulting in flooding and threatening its future. To help address this problem, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) fought for and won $7 million for local flood prevention and other improvements in his first year in office.

“Since I took office,  addressing the issues of the Kankakee River has been one of my top priorities, because I know how important the Kankakee River is to our community,” Joyce said. “Seven million dollars may not solve all its problem, but this funding will  help people and industry better enjoy and make use of the river.”

The $7 million project is part of the Rebuild Illinois statewide construction program, and the money will be for river bank stabilization, silt removal and flood prevention projects.

Read more: Joyce secures Kankakee River improvement funding in state budget

SPRINGFIELD - In order to offer much needed relief to Illinois property taxpayers, the Illinois State Senate passed a measure that defers tax sales and gives counties the ability to extend homestead exemptions and waive late fees.

“Communities I represent pay up to three times the national average on property taxes, which can be a huge financial burden,” State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) said. “We have to offer as much relief as we possibly can, especially knowing the hardships many are facing right now.”

Senate Bill 685 gives chief county assessment officers the authority to approve homestead exemptions without applications in 2020 for people who have disabilities, are veterans with disabilities, and senior citizens who qualifies for assessment freezes.

Exemption extensions permitted if:

• The county board has previously declared a local disaster related to COVID-19; 
• The owner of the property as of Jan. 1, 2020 is the same owner as of Jan. 1, 2019;
• The applicant for the 2019 taxable year has not yet asked for the exemption to be removed for the 2019 or 2020 taxable year;  
• The exemption for the 2019 taxable year has not been determined to be an erroneous exemption.

Read more: Joyce: Property tax relief will help ease financial hardships