The Effingham County Emergency Management Agency and the Effingham County Health Department are urging residents to take caution this weekend as temperatures and wind chill will be well below 0.
The National Weather Service in Lincoln is forecasting extremely cold temperatures for central Illinois for this weekend and heading into the middle of next week. According to the press release from the Effingham County EMA and Health Department, residents should avoid going outside into the cold temperatures if possible. If not possible, they are encouraged to limit their exposure time and cover all exposed parts of the body. The press release also states that frostbite can occur in as little as 30 minutes and hypothermia can occur after the body’s temperature drops below 95 degrees. The release also urges residents to make sure pets have shelter from these dangerous temperatures.
If any resident is in need of emergency warming, they can call the Effingham County Sheriff’s Department at 217-342-2101 and will be put into contact with warming center resources. Below is the press release from the Effingham County EMA and the Health Department.