Disaster Preparedness for Metro East, Illinois

Be Ready When Disaster Strikes

ServiceMaster offers comprehensive disaster preparedness services for homeowners and businesses by providing expert restoration after a disaster strikes and offering pre-loss planning programs to mitigate potential damages and expedite recovery.

Understanding Metro East's Disaster Risks

The Metro East region of Illinois faces several natural disaster threats that residents and business owners should prepare for:

Flooding: The Mississippi River poses the most significant disaster risk to Metro East. The catastrophic 1993 Great Flood devastated the region, with levee breaks near Columbia flooding 47,000 acres and completely inundating towns like Valmeyer and Fults. The Mississippi River at St. Louis crested at 49.6 feet—nearly 20 feet above flood stage—and remained above flood stage for 147 days. More recently, St. Clair County experienced significant flooding in July 2022, resulting in a presidential disaster declaration.

Tornadoes: Metro East sits within the most tornado-prone band in Illinois, stretching from Madison and St. Clair counties northeastward. Illinois has recorded over 2,100 tornadoes since 1950, and the region experiences a higher frequency of these powerful storms that can develop with little warning.

Severe Thunderstorms: Severe thunderstorms cause more damage year-to-year than tornadoes in Illinois. These storms bring damaging straight-line winds, large hail capable of destroying roofs and vehicles, dangerous lightning, and flash flooding from intense rainfall.

Winter Weather: Ice storms and heavy snowfall are common during Illinois winters, leading to frozen pipes, ice dams, roof collapses from snow accumulation, hazardous travel conditions, and power outages that can last for days.

Sinkholes: The Metro East "sinkhole plain"—particularly in Monroe, Randolph, and St. Clair counties—contains some of the largest sinkholes in Illinois, some exceeding half a mile in diameter. These pose serious hazards to buildings, roads, and infrastructure.

Earthquakes: While less common, Illinois has seismic risk, particularly in the southern part of the state near the New Madrid Seismic Zone.

For Homeowners

Know Your Risks

Understand the specific disaster risks in Metro East, including Mississippi River flooding, tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, winter weather hazards, and local sinkhole activity. Check if your property is in a flood zone—homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, and just 1 inch of water can cause $25,000 in damage. Consider purchasing separate flood insurance.

Home Maintenance Plan

Regularly inspect and maintain your home, focusing on vulnerabilities:

• Roof and gutters: Ensure proper drainage away from your foundation
• Sump pumps: Test regularly and consider a battery backup system
• Foundation: Check for cracks and water seepage, especially important in sinkhole-prone areas
• Pipes and water heaters: Inspect before winter to prevent freeze damage
• Trees: Trim branches near your home to reduce storm damage risk
• Basement: Keep valuables elevated off the floor in flood-prone areas

Disaster Kit

Prepare an emergency kit with essentials including:

• Non-perishable food and water (one gallon per person per day for at least three days)
• Medications and medical supplies
• Flashlights, batteries, and battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA weather radio
• First aid kit
• Important documents in waterproof containers (insurance policies, deeds, medical records)
• Cash and credit cards
• Warm clothing and blankets
• Cell phone chargers and backup power banks
• Pet supplies if applicable
• Sandbags and plastic sheeting for flood protection
• Battery-powered or manual can opener

Stay Informed

• Download the NOAA Weather Radio app for instant severe weather alerts
• Monitor the National Weather Service St. Louis office for weather warnings and flood forecasts
• Follow local news stations for real-time emergency updates
• Know your home's designated tornado shelter location (interior room on lowest floor, away from windows)
• Keep a list of emergency contacts
• Have multiple ways to receive alerts (phone, weather radio, text alerts)
• Know your evacuation routes, especially if you live in flood-prone areas near the Mississippi River

For Businesses

Pre-Loss Planning

ServiceMaster offers comprehensive pre-loss planning programs that create a customized business continuity strategy and recovery plan tailored to your organization's specific needs and Metro East-area risks, including flood preparedness.

Partnership Approach

We form a collaborative partnership to thoroughly understand your business's unique vulnerabilities, critical operations, supply chain dependencies, and potential hazards specific to the Metro East region.

Emergency Response Agreements

Pre-established Emergency Response Agreements ensure faster and more effective recovery after a disaster strikes. With agreements in place, ServiceMaster can mobilize resources immediately when you need us most, minimizing downtime and financial losses—critical when floods can close businesses for weeks or months.

Advanced Resource Management

Our team can arrange for:

• Advanced weather monitoring and flood warning notifications
• Power procurement and backup generator solutions
• Equipment and supply staging before anticipated disasters
• Priority response scheduling during emergencies
• Critical document protection and waterproofing strategies
• Employee safety protocols and communication plans
• Flood mitigation assessments and recommendations

24/7 Expert Restoration

When disaster strikes your business, ServiceMaster provides round-the-clock emergency response for commercial restoration services, including:

• Water damage restoration and flood cleanup
• Fire and smoke damage restoration
• Storm and wind damage repair
• Mold remediation and air quality restoration
• Contents cleaning and restoration
• Document recovery and drying
• Structural drying and dehumidification
• Board-up and emergency securing services
• Complete reconstruction and rebuild services

Local Emergency Resources

St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency Disaster preparedness and emergency response coordination 10 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220 Phone: Contact through county offices Website: co.st-clair.il.us/departments/emergency-management-agency

Madison County Emergency Management Agency Emergency planning, training, and disaster response 101 East Edwardsville Road, Suite 260, Wood River, IL 62095 Phone: (618) 692-0537 Fax: (618) 692-8985 Email: ema@madisoncountyil.gov Business Hours: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday

St. Clair County Health Department Emergency preparedness and public health emergency response Website: scchealthdept.com/emergency-preparedness

Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) State-level emergency management coordination Phone: (217) 782-2700Website: ready.illinois.gov

National Weather Service - St. Louis Office Serves Metro East with weather forecasts and flood warnings 12 Missouri Research Park Drive, St. Charles, MO 63304 Phone: (636) 441-8467 Website: weather.gov/lsx

Ready Illinois Statewide preparedness information and disaster recovery resources Website: ready.illinois.gov

Emergency Services For life-threatening emergencies, always call 911

How to Get Started

For Businesses

Schedule a meeting with a ServiceMaster Pre-Loss Planning expert to:

1. Conduct a comprehensive property inspection and flood risk assessment
2. Identify vulnerabilities specific to your business operations and location near the Mississippi River
3. Develop a personalized disaster preparedness and recovery strategy
4. Establish an Emergency Response Agreement for priority service
5. Create a business continuity plan with clear action steps and communication protocols
6. Implement flood mitigation measures and document protection strategies
7. Train staff on emergency procedures, evacuation plans, and flood safety

For Homeowners

Follow these preparedness steps to protect your family and property:

1. Assess your home's vulnerabilities to Metro East-area disasters, especially flood risk
2. Determine if you need flood insurance—standard homeowners policies don't cover floods
3. Create or update your family emergency plan, including evacuation routes
4. Build or refresh your disaster supply kit with seasonal considerations
5. Sign up for local emergency notification systems
6. Review your insurance coverage to ensure adequate protection
7. Keep ServiceMaster's contact information readily available for emergency restoration needs
8. Document your belongings with photos or video for insurance purposes
9. If in a flood-prone area, know how to shut off utilities and consider installing a sump pump with battery backup

The Great Flood of 1993: Metro East's Defining Disaster

The 1993 flood remains the most devastating natural disaster in Metro East history and serves as a stark reminder of the Mississippi River's power:

• Duration: The Mississippi River remained above flood stage for 147 days at St. Louis, with some locations flooded for nearly 200 days
• Record Crest: Waters reached 49.6 feet at St. Louis—nearly 20 feet above flood stage—the highest level in 228 years of record-keeping
• Levee Failures: On August 1, 1993, levee breaks near Columbia, Illinois flooded 47,000 acres, completely submerging Valmeyer and Fults
• Valmeyer Relocated: The town of Valmeyer was so devastated that residents chose to relocate the entire community to higher ground rather than rebuild
• Economic Impact: The flood caused $12-16 billion in damages across the region (equivalent to $23-30 billion today)
• Modern Protection: Since 1993, improved levee systems, flood walls, and better forecasting have enhanced protection, but flooding remains a significant risk

Metro East residents must remain vigilant and prepared, as climate change is bringing increased rainfall intensity and more frequent flood events to the region.

Why Choose ServiceMaster?

• Local Expertise: We understand Metro East's unique disaster risks, particularly Mississippi River flooding, and have extensive experience serving the region
• Rapid Response: 24/7 emergency services ensure we're there when you need us most—crucial when floods develop rapidly
• Advanced Technology: State-of-the-art water extraction, drying, and restoration equipment
• Flood Restoration Specialists: Extensive experience with flood damage restoration and mold prevention
• Insurance Coordination: We work directly with your insurance company to streamline the claims process
• Comprehensive Services: From initial emergency response to complete restoration and reconstruction
• Trusted Partner: Licensed, bonded, and insured professionals committed to your recovery

Contact ServiceMaster

Don't wait until disaster strikes. Contact us today to discuss your preparedness plan or for immediate emergency restoration services.

Emergency? We're available 24/7/365