Hey Chicago!
At the time of writing this article, Chicago is gearing up for its first major winter storm of the season. We thought it would be the perfect time to talk about what to do and where to find help in the event of a disaster striking the city.
But first, we’re the Ben Lalez Team, and we’ve spent over a decade helping families find homes across our city. When you live in Chicago long enough, you know Mother Nature ain’t always nice. Blizzards, heat waves, floods, power outages – we’ve seen it all, and we’ve helped clients buy and sell homes through some of the toughest conditions.
This guide is here to help you know what to do when things go wrong. And we’re not going to give you obvious advice like “have a flashlight.” We’ll share the practical stuff: the phone numbers to call, where to go, and the resources that can help you and your family stay safe.
Let’s get started!
Blizzards And Extreme Winter Weather
Do you remember Chicago’s 2011 “Snowmageddon” when 21 inches of snow dropped and stranded around 700 drivers on Lake Shore Drive for hours? Seven people passed away. Then there was the polar vortex in January 2019, which brought temperatures as low as –21°F with wind chills of around –50°F, resulting in the deaths of nine people from the cold.
Winters can be cold, but they can also be deadly cold. So what happens when something like this happens again?
What You Need To Do:
We recommend signing up for NotifyChicago. When a blizzard is coming, you’ll receive a text about parking bans and closures.
If you have to drive in a blizzard, keep your gas tank at least half full. Your winter car kit should have:
- a blanket
- Gloves
- ice scraper
- small shovel
- jumper cables
- Flashlight
- sand or kitty litter for traction.
If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle. Run the engine about 10 minutes each hour and clear snow from the exhaust pipe so you don’t get carbon monoxide poisoning.
Never use a generator, camp stove, or charcoal grill indoors for heat. People die from this every winter. Layer clothing, pick one room to heat, and use space heaters carefully, keeping them away from curtains and bedding.
Where To Get Help:
Call 311 to find the nearest warming center. During extreme cold, police stations and libraries also let people in to warm up.
If you’re a senior or have disabilities and need help shovelling, Chicago Snow Corps volunteers will shovel your sidewalk. Just call 311 to request this, and help will be sent.
Check CTA advisories before heading out during a storm. You can check real-time winter road conditions on the Getting Around Illinois website.
Heat Waves
Chicago can be cold, but the summers swing completely in the opposite direction on the temperature scale. In July of 1995, a heat wave killed 739 Chicagoans over five days when the heat index hit 126°F. Most victims were elderly people without air conditioning. Even recent summers have brought multiple 100°F days that turn high-rises into ovens.
What You Need To Do:
Drink at least eight glasses of water a day during heat advisories, even if you’re not feeling thirsty. It might be hard to do, but skip alcohol and caffeine because they’ll dehydrate you.
If you don’t have air conditioning in your home, spend a few hours during the hottest part of the day (late morning to early evening) in public air-conditioned buildings. Good places are libraries, malls, and movie theaters.
Don’t forget to check on elderly or sick neighbors living alone or without air conditioning. You can also call 311 to request a well-being check if you’re worried about someone.
Where To Get Help:
During extreme heat waves, Chicago opens cooling centers, usually at community centers and senior centers. Call 311 or check the city’s Cooling Centers map online to find one near you. Many are open from 9am – 5pm, but will extend their hours during heat emergencies. Park District buildings, libraries, and police stations also serve as cooling sites.
NotifyChicago will also send alerts when extreme heat waves are coming.
Illinois DHS runs cooling centers in suburban Cook County. During a statewide heat emergency, call (800) 843-6154 for locations.
Flooding
On July 2, 2023, storms dumped around 8 to 9 inches of rain in just a few hours on parts of Chicago. Some of you may remember the West Side viaducts filled with several feet of water, trapping drivers who had to be rescued. The city reversed the flow of the Chicago River into Lake Michigan to relieve the sewer system. By the next day, officials had over 1,500 calls about flooded basements.
Flooding is Chicago’s most frequent natural disaster. If you live in a basement or low-lying area near the Chicago River or Des Plaines River, you should have a plan in place.
What You Need To Do:
Find out if your home is in a flood zone using the city’s Flood Maps or FEMA maps. If you are, we highly recommend considering flood insurance, as your regular homeowners policy typically doesn’t cover flood damage.
Store valuables and documents in waterproof containers off the floor. Get a sump pump with battery backup. Keep gutters, downspouts, and storm drains clear.
During extremely heavy rain, try not to do laundry or dishes when it’s pouring. The city’s sewers can’t handle it, and you’ll make basement flooding worse.
Don’t be tempted to drive through flooded streets or underpasses thinking that you’ll make it. It only takes a foot or two of water to float your car. Multiple cars got stranded in viaducts during the 2023 floods because drivers underestimated the water depth. If you see water covering the road, find another route.
Where To Get Help:
OEMC sends citywide alerts for severe flash flooding through Wireless Emergency Alerts on your phone and through NotifyChicago. When you get a Flash Flood Warning, move to safety immediately. Follow NWS Chicago (National Weather Service) and OEMC on social media for real-time updates.
Call 311 to report street flooding or significant basement flooding. After major floods, the city dispatches crews to pump out viaducts and basements, prioritizing life-safety issues first.
Follow the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) on social media for updates on tunnel capacity and river levels. They manage the Deep Tunnel system and sometimes open locks to release water.
After floods, the Chicago Department of Public Health issues cleanup guidelines for mold prevention. The American Red Cross may set up assistance centers with cleaning supplies and temporary shelter.
Tornadoes
They don’t happen often, but on August 10, 2020, a tornado touched down in Rogers Park. It was the first tornado in Chicago in several years and the strongest since 1976. It ripped up trees before moving over Lake Michigan as a waterspout.
Even though tornadoes are rare in the city, they happen, and even a weak tornado in a dense area like Chicago can cause serious injuries.
What You Need to Do:
First, it’s important to know the difference between a Tornado Watch (conditions are favorable, stay alert) and a Tornado Warning (tornado spotted, take action now).
Figure out your shelter spot ahead of time. For most families, the best place is an underground basement. If you don’t have one, go to the lowest level in a small interior room or hallway with no windows, like a bathroom, closet, or under a stairwell.
In high-rises, go to the building’s refuge area or an interior stairwell or hallway on a lower floor if you have time. If you can’t get down, go to an interior room away from windows.
During a warning, crouch low, facing down and cover your head. A bike or sports helmet gives good protection if you have one handy. If you have a heavy table, get under it.
If you’re in a car when a tornado hits, get inside a sturdy building immediately. Don’t try to outrun it. If there’s no building, park, get out, and lie flat in a ditch or low spot covering your head. Don’t shelter under an overpass. Many people are unaware that the wind funnel effect makes it even more dangerous.
Keep your phone’s Wireless Emergency Alerts turned on. You may only have minutes to take cover.
Where To Get Help:
Chicago’s Emergency Siren Warning System is tested on the first Tuesday of every month at 10 am. But if you hear the siren at another time, it’s a real warning. A steady tone means a tornado or severe wind, so find shelter immediately.
The Ready Illinois website has tornado preparedness guides and multilingual fact sheets. Consider getting a NOAA Weather Radio if you don’t have one. They sound an alarm for tornado warnings in your county, even at night.
NotifyChicago sends tornado warnings directly to you, and Wireless Emergency Alerts broadcast urgent warnings to all compatible phones in the area automatically.
After a tornado, be careful of debris like broken glass and nails. Don’t enter damaged buildings until authorities say it’s safe. If you smell gas or see downed power lines, call 911 and stay a safe distance away.
Power Outages
Back in July 2011, a severe thunderstorm knocked out power to almost 900,000 ComEd customers. It took up to six days to fully restore service. That’s six days without electricity in the middle of summer. More recent storms and blizzards have caused similar widespread outages, and so it’s important to be prepared to go without electricity.
What You Need to Do:
Keep flashlights with extra batteries. We recommend at least one per floor of your home (there’s nothing more frustrating than an entire family sharing one flashlight during a blackout). Skip candles if you can, as they do pose a fire risk. Have a battery-powered or hand-crank radio for news updates. Keep a battery backup charger for your cell phone and make sure it’s charged.
When power goes out, check if it’s just your home or a wider area. If it’s not just you, report it to ComEd. Turn off or unplug appliances to avoid a surge when power returns. Leave one lamp on so you know when the electricity is back.
Keep your refrigerator and freezer closed. A full freezer can stay frozen about 48 hours, and a fridge keeps food cold 4–6 hours if it’s unopened.
If you lose power in the winter without heat, wear layers and insulate one room to stay warm. Always avoid carbon monoxide hazards. This means never running generators, grills, or propane heaters indoors or in garages.
If someone in your home relies on electric-powered medical equipment (oxygen concentrator, electric wheelchair, refrigerated insulin), plan ahead now. Talk to your medical supply company about battery backups. Register life-sustaining equipment with ComEd. If an outage happens and equipment fails, call 911.
In high-rises, power loss means elevator loss, so be prepared to use stairs. Many buildings lose water pressure on upper floors when pumps fail, so keep some emergency water stored, just in case.
Where To Get Help:
Report outages to ComEd at 1-800-EDISON-1 (1-800-334-7661). Every call helps them pinpoint the problem. You can also report via the ComEd app or website.
ComEd’s online Outage Map shows areas without power and gives estimated restoration times.
Call 311 during large outages to ask about emergency services. In winter outages, the city might deploy warming buses to blacked-out neighborhoods. In summer, cooling centers might extend hours.
Chicago’s Emergency Assistance Voluntary Registry lets residents with disabilities or special needs register so the city can assist them during extended outages.
Public Safety Emergencies
Several summers ago, in July 2023, an ammonia leak from an ice factory near Midway Airport forced officials to order nearby residents to stay indoors with windows closed until the leak was contained.
Chicago has also experienced active shooter situations like the tragic 2018 Mercy Hospital shooting. These emergencies require different responses than weather events, but they’re just as important to prepare for.
What You Need To Do:
If authorities tell you to “shelter in place” due to a chemical spill or toxic release, get indoors immediately. Close all windows and doors and shut off any ventilation that draws air in (HVAC systems, window AC units, bathroom fans). Move to an interior room if possible. Have duct tape and plastic sheeting to seal gaps if instructed. Don’t go out until officials give the all-clear.
For building fires or gas leaks, evacuate immediately when the alarm sounds. Know your building’s evacuation routes. Never use elevators during a fire. In high-rises, know where the exit stairwells are on your floor.
In active shooter situations, remember Run, Hide, Fight:
- RUN if you can escape safely. Leave belongings, keep your hands visible, and get far away.
- HIDE if you can’t run. Find a secure room, lock or blockade the door, silence your phone, and stay quiet.
- FIGHT only as a last resort. If your life is in immediate danger, use any objects as weapons and do everything you can to incapacitate the attacker.
If you see something suspicious, such as an unattended bag in a crowded place, someone tampering with infrastructure, or hear threats, report it. For immediate threats, call 911. For suspicious activity that might be terrorism-related, use Chicago’s dedicated number (see resources below).
Stay informed during emergencies by tuning to local news radio (WBBM 780 AM / 105.9 FM) or TV news. The Emergency Alert System will be activated for major crises.
Where To Get Help:
Call 911 for life-threatening emergencies only. For non-emergency situations or after an incident, use 311.
NotifyChicago sends real-time alerts for hazmat situations, police activity, and major emergencies. OEMC will use it to send instructions like “avoid downtown area” or “boil your water.”
Smart911 lets you provide important information (family members, medical conditions, apartment access codes, pet info) that 911 operators can see if you ever call. Sign up at Smart911.com for free.
Chicago has a toll-free number to report terrorism-related suspicious activity: 855-777-8274. You can also report tips online through CPD’s website or anonymously to Crime Stoppers.
The Chicago OEMC mobile app (available on Android/iOS) sends safety alerts, provides emergency guides, and lists resources.
After a major disaster, FEMA may open Disaster Assistance Centers in Chicago to help residents recover with financial aid and housing. Those will be announced via the media and 311. You can also apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
Civil Unrest And Large-Scale Event Disruptions
During the civil unrest of May and June of 2020, Chicago raised downtown bridge spans, suspended CTA transit service into the Loop, and imposed an overnight curfew for the first time in decades. There were instances of property damage and looting across neighborhoods.
Major events like marathons, Lollapalooza, or sports championships can also be disrupted by weather or security issues. You need to know how to stay safe when things get chaotic.
What You Need To Do:
If you hear of trouble in the city, avoid areas where protests are turning violent or police action is heavy. Follow trusted news sources or city alerts for street or transit closures.
When attending large events, always remember the exit routes and plan a meeting spot with friends in case you get separated (like “If we split up, meet by the Water Tower”). Use the buddy system and stay with at least one person you know. Agree on an emergency contact who is not at the event – someone everyone can text if needed.
If you find yourself in civil unrest unintentionally, move away from the center of action. Don’t engage in confrontations. If you’re in a car and encounter a blockage or a hostile crowd, stay in your vehicle and turn around if possible. Don’t try to drive through a crowd.
At home during citywide unrest, follow any curfew orders. Bring outdoor items (patio furniture, trash bins) inside so they can’t be used as projectiles. Keep doors locked.
If you’re at an organized event and officials order an evacuation, follow instructions immediately. Avoid stampedes by not panicking, and move sideways to the edges if caught in a crowd surge.
Where To Get Help:
NotifyChicago sends alerts for road closures, transit shutdowns, and public safety alerts during big emergencies. Follow Mayor’s Office, Chicago Police (@ChicagoPolice), and OEMC (@ChicagoOEMC) on social media for up-to-the-minute statements.
Many neighborhoods have local alert groups on Facebook, WhatsApp, or Nextdoor where residents share information quickly. Remember to verify the info is from trusted neighbors and don’t spread unverified rumors.
72-Hour Emergency Kit
If there is anything to take away from this article, it’s what is covered in this section.
One of the most important steps is assembling a 72-hour emergency kit with supplies that can sustain you and your family for at least three days when normal services are disrupted. Keep everything in a portable container that’s easy to grab if you need to evacuate.
What To Include:
- Water: 1 gallon per person per day, for a minimum of 3 days. For a family of four, that works out to 12 gallons.
- Food: Three-day supply of non-perishable foods, such as canned goods (soups, tuna, fruit), peanut butter, protein bars, dried fruit, and nuts. Include a can opener. Rotate food yearly to keep it fresh.
- Flashlight and radio: LED flashlight with extra batteries. A battery-powered or hand-crank AM/FM radio, so you can stay informed if power is out and cell networks are down.
- Phone chargers: Portable phone charger (power bank) and cables.
- First aid kit: Bandages, gauze, adhesive tape, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, tweezers, scissors, pain relievers, any personal medications, and gloves. Keep at least a week’s supply of prescription medications if possible.
- Documents and cash: Copies of IDs, insurance policies, medical info, birth certificates in a waterproof ziplock. Keep some cash (small bills and coins).
- Tools: Multi-tool or at least a knife, screwdrivers, and pliers. A whistle for signalling for help if you’re trapped.
- Sanitation: Moist towelettes, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, garbage bags with ties (for personal waste if plumbing is down). Diapers and formula for infants. Feminine hygiene products.
- Clothing and blankets: Emergency change of clothes for each person – long-sleeve shirt, long pants, sturdy shoes. A warm blanket or sleeping bag per person, or emergency mylar blankets. Hats and gloves in winter. Light raincoat or poncho. In winter, add hand warmers.
- Other items: Dust mask (N95) to filter dust, duct tape for various uses, including sealing windows, a map of Chicago/Illinois in case GPS is down, and any special-needs items for babies, pets, or elderly family members. Include pet food, spare leash, and vaccination records copies.
- Backpack: Store items in a backpack for portability. In an evacuation, you want to have your hands free.
Check your kit at least once a year to replace expired items. Keep it in an easily accessible place and make sure everyone in the family knows where it is.
Shelters And Community Support
In a major emergency, you might need to leave your home or get extra help from the community. Chicago has plans and facilities in place for these situations.
Emergency Shelters: If a disaster displaces people from their homes, the City of Chicago and American Red Cross will open temporary shelters in schools, park fieldhouses, churches, or other large buildings. Shelter locations are incident-specific – you’ll be told via media or 311 where to go. Red Cross shelters provide a safe place to sleep, water, meals, and minor medical care. All shelters are free.
Warming Centers (Winter): Chicago operates Warming Centers when temperatures plummet. These are usually at city community service centers and are heated facilities where anyone can come in. They typically operate from 9am – 5pm on weekdays, but in extreme cold, the city may extend hours. Call 311 to find one near you. Libraries, park buildings, and police stations also serve as warming sites.
Cooling Centers (Summer): During heat waves, the city opens Cooling Centers at community service centers, Park District facilities, senior centers, and libraries. Call 311 to locate one. The city also runs “Cooling Buses”, air-conditioned buses parked at certain locations where people can sit and cool off.
Community Support: Many Chicago neighborhoods have Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), volunteers trained in basic disaster response who assist first responders. There are also Block Clubs and faith-based groups that check on residents. Exchange phone numbers with trustworthy neighbors.
Special Needs Assistance: Chicago’s Emergency Assistance Voluntary Registry lets residents with disabilities or special needs register so the city can prioritize assistance. If you or a family member has mobility challenges, uses life-sustaining equipment, or would require extra help evacuating, register online or through 311.
Mental Health Services: After major incidents, the Chicago Department of Public Health often sets up crisis counseling hotlines or deploys counselors to shelters. Call 311 to inquire about counseling or victim services following any large emergency.
Disaster Aid: If the emergency is big enough for a disaster declaration, FEMA may provide grants or loans for temporary housing and repairs. Stay informed via official announcements. You may apply for aid at Disaster Recovery Centers or via DisasterAssistance.gov. Keep receipts and document damage.
Final Thoughts
Chicago’s a tough city, which means Chicagoans are just as tough. From Snowmageddon to heat waves, we’ve been through a lot together. The key to getting through the next emergency is preparation. Know where to go, who to call, and what to do before things go wrong.
Over the last decade, we’ve helped a lot of families move around the city. We know every neighborhood, every street, and every quirk of Chicago living.
If you’re thinking about making a move or have questions about your current home’s emergency preparedness (like whether your basement floods or if your building has backup generators), give us a shout and let’s talk!
Stay safe out there, Chicago!
