Show All Answers

1. What do I do with old fire extinguishers?

The best practice is to contact the manufacturer for information on disposal. Pressurized containers should not be placed in the garbage. Units with all plastics parts are general not refillable and need to be replaced if the gauge is
not in the green.

2. What is the departments ISO rating?

Currently, the department is an ISO 3 rated department.

3. What can I do to prepare for severe weather?

Be Prepared for Severe Weather

There are a number of severe weather hazards that may affect Riverside, including thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning, floods and flash floods, damaging winds and large hail. Severe weather hazards have the potential to cause extensive property damage, injury and/or death. Severe weather may occur anytime, but severe weather is more prevalent in the spring and summer months. It is important to be prepared for these severe weather threats.

You should know some terms used to describe weather threats:
Severe Thunderstorm Watch - Severe thunderstorms are possible. Be prepared to take shelter.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning - Severe thunderstorms are occurring. Take shelter. Turn on a battery-operated radio to receive warnings and severe weather statements.
Tornado Watch - Tornadoes are possible. Watch the sky and listen to the radio or television for more information. Be prepared to take shelter. If you see any rotating funnel-shaped clouds, report them immediately by calling 9-1-1.
Tornado Warning - A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Take shelter immediately. Turn on a battery-operated radio or television and wait for updated information for your area.
Flood Watch - Flooding or flash flooding is possible. Listen to radio or television for additional information.
Flood Warning - Flooding is occurring or will occur soon. If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.
Flash Flood Warning - A flash flood is occurring or is imminent. Move to higher ground immediately. Flash floods develop MUCH quicker than river floods.
Flood Statement - Minor flooding of creeks and streams, streets, low-lying areas or basement flooding is occurring or is imminent.
Tornado Siren
The Village of Riverside operates a tornado siren located near the Historic Water Tower. In the event a tornado has been sighted that threatens the Village of Riverside, the siren will be activated. Once the siren activates, take cover immediately. An “All –Clear” signal is not sounded, but if another event threatens, the siren will be re-sounded. The siren is tested on the first Tuesday of each month at 10:00AM.

Assessing After Severe Weather
After a severe storm or tornado strikes, the Riverside Fire, Police and Public Works Departments will assess the damage as quickly as possible. Roads that are blocked will be cleared as necessary by the Public Works and Fire Departments. Other hazards will be evaluated and the Village will take actions to protect Riverside residents.

Please stay clear of hazards, particularly downed power lines. If you find wires down on the ground, call 911 and keep everyone away. If your power is out, call ComEd at 1-800-EDISON1. If you can call from the address where the power is out, that will help. Please do not call 911 to report a power outage. Unfortunately, the Village is unable to report individual outages and often does not have significant information concerning the predicted duration of the outage.

Flooding
Flooding has occurred regularly in the area of the Des Plaines River. The Village monitors the river levels and works to advise residents in the potential flood area when conditions warrant. If you are in an area that typically floods, watch the Village Website and Network 6 for information, including parking restrictions and designated remote parking.

For more information about severe weather or disaster preparedness, call the Riverside Fire Department at 708-447-2123 or check out the National Weather Service's Tornado Safety Tips, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Website or the FEMA website. National Weather Service's Tornado Safety Tips

4. How do I know what is in the floodplain?

FEMA Flood Maps
FEMA MSC discontinued general distribution of paper mapping products. This affects Flood Insurance Rate Maps, Flood Hazard Boundary Maps, and Floodway Maps. Customers can continue to view these products free of charge and/or purchase them in digital formats.

For more information on FEMA Floodplain maps please visit the

FEMA website.

5. How do I minimize my risk for flood damage?

Flooding can happen anywhere, and is the costliest and most common disaster in the United States. There are a variety of ways you can minimize your home’s risk of flooding, and many of them are easy and inexpensive.

FEMA Gives Tips Minimizing Risk of Flooding

6. What should I do with my medical information?

My Medical Information Packets

The Riverside Fire Department has made available "My Medical Information” packets for our residents. The “My Medical Information” packet is designed to speak for you when you can't speak for yourself. The packet contains important medical information that can assist emergency personnel in administering the proper medical treatment. The packet is also a useful way to bring all your pertinent medical information to any of your doctor appointments.

The “My medical Information” packet will inform medical personnel of your name, age, DOB, emergency contact information to get a hold of your family, your doctors name, what medications you are taking, any allergies you may have and your medical condition. You may also wish to place any other information about the medical care you wish to have inside the packet as well. Packets can be picked up at the Riverside Fire Department or the Riverside Police Department.
Packet
Information Card (PDF)

7. What do I do when the siren is activated?

Outdoor Warning Sirens

An Emergency Outdoor Warning Siren System is an all-hazards siren system used to warn the general population of potential danger. During an emergency, the sirens will be activated for 3 minutes.

What Do the Sirens Mean?
Alert: A single tone signifying an emergency alert. This signal may be used to inform the community of an emergency or disaster, including a severe storm, tornado warning (not a tornado watch), earthquake, chemical hazard/hazardous material incident, extreme winds, or biological hazard.
All Clear: Riverside does not use an All Clear signal. Tune in to your local news agencies and listen for notification from city officials regarding the emergency.
Siren Test Times
Sirens are tested on the first Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m.

What Should I Do if I Hear the Sirens?
If the sirens are activated - and it is not a monthly siren test - the public should see it as a signal to
Seek shelter
Tune in to radio or television to get information about the type of emergency and instructions and recommendations
Listen to your local media for indications that the emergency is over
The public should not call 9-1-1 unless they have an actual emergency.

8. What do i need to know about railroad safety?

In order to ensure everyone's safety, the Village of Riverside would like to remind all residents to use caution when crossing tracks. Railroad signage descriptions have been provided. Please review the signage information with everyone in your household.

Signage

Railroad Crossing Warning Sign
This sign means you are coming to a railroad crossing. Always look both ways and listen carefully to be sure a train is not coming from either direction before crossing the tracks.

Railroad Crossing Gate - Animated

Many railroad crossings have a gate with flashing lights that close when a train is coming. Never go around a closed railroad gate, and never try to get across the track before the train gets there.

Railroad Crossing Light - Flashing

Some crossings which don't have gates may have this sign. When the lights are flashing, a train is coming. You should wait until the train or trains have passed before trying to cross the tracks.

Use Caution When Crossing Railroad Tracks

-Railroad tracks are uneven. You should not try to bicycle, in-line skate or run when crossing tracks.

-Trains are very large and heavy, and take a long time to stop.

-Sometimes when a train has just passed from one direction, another train may be coming from the opposite direction. You might not notice the second train because of the noise from the first train.

9. What do I need to know about carbon monoxide hazards?

Keep Your Family Safe from Carbon Monoxide

Each year in America, unintentional carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning claims more than 500 lives and sends another 15,200 people to hospital emergency rooms for treatment.

Carbon Monoxide Can Be Deadly

You can’t see or smell carbon monoxide, but at high levels it can kill a person in minutes. Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned. If appliances that burn fuel are maintained and used properly, the amount of CO produced is usually not hazardous. However, if appliances are not working properly or are used incorrectly, dangerous levels of CO can result. Hundreds of people die accidentally every year from CO poisoning caused by malfunctioning or improperly used fuel-burning appliances. Even more die from CO produced by idling cars. Fetuses, infants, elderly people, and people with anemia or with a history of heart or respiratory disease can be especially susceptible. Be safe. Practice the do’s and don'ts of carbon monoxide.

CO Poisoning Symptoms

Know the symptoms of CO poisoning. At moderate levels, you or your family can get severe headaches, become dizzy, mentally confused, nauseated, or faint. You can even die if these levels persist for a long time. Low levels can cause shortness of breath, mild nausea, and mild headaches, and may have longer term effects on your health. Since many of these symptoms are similar to those of the flu, food poisoning, or other illnesses, you may not think that CO poisoning could be the cause.

You Can Prevent Carbon Monoxide Exposure

• Do have your heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.
• Do install a battery-operated CO detector in your home and check or replace the battery when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall. If the detector sounds leave your home immediately and call 911.
• Do seek prompt medical attention if you suspect CO poisoning and are feeling dizzy, light-headed, or nauseous.
• Don't use a generator, charcoal grill, camp stove, or other gasoline or charcoal-burning device inside your home, basement, or garage or near a window.
• Don't run a car or truck inside a garage attached to your house, even if you leave the door open.
• Don’t burn anything in a stove or fireplace that isn’t vented.
• Don’t heat your house with a gas oven.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors Required

Beginning January 1, 2007, Illinois Law requires every household to have at least one operating Carbon Monoxide alarm within 15 feet of every bedroom. It is the responsibility of the owner to supply the required alarm, while it is the responsibility of the person living in the home to assure the alarm is maintained and working. Tampering with a Carbon Monoxide alarm may even lead to felony charges.

What Should I Do if My Co Alarm Goes Off?

1. If you or someone in the home is feeling ill, evacuate all occupants immediately.
2. Call 911 and, when relaying information to the dispatcher; include the number of people feeling ill.
3. Do not re-enter the home until the fire department has a chance to check it out.
4. Follow the advice of the fire department and call a qualified professional to repair the source of the CO, if recommended.

10. What are the local regulations on fireworks?

Fireworks are basically prohibited in the Village of Riverside. Specifics can be found in the 

Fireworks Ordinance