As students return to classrooms across Illinois, state officials are urging families to include disaster preparedness in their back-to-school planning.
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) says students should know how to respond to severe weather, power outages, or communication disruptions. Officials also highlight the importance of digital security awareness to help prevent scams and identity theft.
Students are encouraged to use Safe2HelpIL, a confidential resource for reporting bullying, mental health struggles, or threats of violence. The service is available by calling 1-844-4SAFEIL, texting SAFE2 to 72332, emailing HELP@Safe2HelpIL.com, or through the Safe2Help app.
More tips on student preparedness can be found at Ready.Illinois.gov.
