Mitigation measures with inland flooding

Thinking about all the bad weather we’ve had this year has prompted me to take a look at other well tended locations that do flood hazard/mitigation well.

Esp ones that incorporate the local area’s beauty and peace into a seamless display for everyone.

The Chicago Botanical Gardens does a great job in this kind of seamless integration so that it seems like it was Au natural!

Truth be told, this kind of scene takes YEARS (and maybe decades) of planning and coordination with various services. Only with careful planning and future projections of the surroundings areas will yield safe results for the environment.

What it amounts to is that professionals need to be consulted in all communities…not just during the recovery efforts or after a storm.

IF these types of plans are not realized early on, catastrophic damages can occur if risk is not calculated correctly.

Again, these actions showcase the importance of Floodplain Management and in its most basic view of Emergency Management.

It would behoove you to take a few moments to reassess your current mitigation strategies and plans.

As you know, an ounce of prevention now could save you…..

@rusnivek

Ring my bell…

In keeping with the theme of songs, today I get to catch up to a few my friends at Lake County EMA (IL).

Also, if you haven’t seen the outside of the Regional Operational Center (ROC) – they have a historical bell that was mounted/displayed well. You should see it. Cool stuff.

Ring my bell…

@rusnivek

August will primarily be a planning month and a quick trip to region-2

After all the big July parties, back to the grind!

First week should be a planning week, but NWS is forecasting some terrible weather in our area/midwest.

Second week will be with Region-2 with the crew in New Jersey.

Third week with more social media fun with a few virtual classes.

Fourth week: the kids go back to school so hoping for a calm week.

Hope to see you out there…

@rusnivek

Tornado warning ends, threat ends?

On June 11, 2026 – Social media influencer on Jen Hamilton on TikTok was in Naperville and sheltered-in-place from severe weather.

Here’s a short snippet from Jen and her friends who were discussing the safety actions and hazards associated with the tornado danger.

Obv, just because the warning is done being transmitted, the danger is NOT over.

This is concerning because her audience, many for sure, are taking her words as truth. But as a safety professional, that thought of end of hazard is incorrect/wrong. Jen could be mis-informing her audience.

Please, PLEASE learn/more about severe weather safety esp because Illinois is squarely leading the nation in Tornadoes.

Reporting live from Naperville…

@rusnivek