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The Department of Family and Support Services works with other city departments to help residents through periods of severe weather.

• Coordinate  Cooling Centers across the city.
• Monitor availability of overnight shelter beds.
• Provide transportation to Cooling Centers and overnight shelters.
• Conduct well-being checks on those at risk.
• Expand outreach to homeless people on the street during times of extreme cold.
• Extreme Weather Alert!
• Register yourself, a relative or a friend today. Call 3 1 1 or visit a Community Service Center.

When is an Official Warning Issued?

• Forecast for 3 consecutive days with the Heat index at 100 – 105 degrees.
• Forecast for 2 consecutive days with the Heat index at 105 – 110 degrees.
• Forecast for a single day with the Heat index at 110 or higher.

Register for the Extreme Weather Notification System and you will be notified when dangerous hot or cold weather conditions exist. Participants receive a recorded phone message informing them of official warnings and available city services.

Cooling Centers

Cooling Centers offer residents air-conditioned refuge from oppressive summer heat. Agencies that volunteer their facilities as Cooling Centers, work to make visitors comfortable. While these centers are meant for short-term, daytime use, many are prepared to expand hours.

To Locate a  Cooling Center, Call 3 1 1

The Department of Family and Support Services coordinates the operation of Cooling Centers. Beginning with its own Human Services Centers, FSS Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Schools and Chicago Public Libraries to make public buildings available. In times of excessive need, the City enlists the help of community organizations that can open their facilities to the public for respite from the weather

Overnight Shelters

Chicago has approximately 100 overnight shelters that provide a bed and hot meal to those who are homeless. More than 5,000 beds are available at any given time. Requests for shelter can be made by calling 3-1-1.

Click here for a listing of Community Service Center Locations

All residents should keep their dogs, cats and ferrets on a leash when out of their homes. If the dog, cat or ferret does not have a current rabies vaccination, please see a licensed veterinarian immediately to have the pet inoculated with this rabies vaccine.

You are advised not to handle any bats or wild animals. If any bats are found, please call the City of Chicago at 311, and they will inform the Chicago Department of Animal Care and Control.

What is rabies?

Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The vast majority of rabies cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) each year occur in wild animals like raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes.

The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death. The early symptoms of rabies in people are similar to that of many other illnesses, including fever, headache, and general weakness or discomfort. As the disease progresses, more specific symptoms appear and may include insomnia, anxiety, confusion, slight or partial paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, agitation, hypersalivation (increase in saliva), difficulty swallowing, and hydrophobia (fear of water). Death usually occurs within days of the onset of these symptoms.

What is the risk for my pets?

Any animal bitten or scratched by either a wild, carnivorous mammal or a bat that is not available for testing should be regarded as having been exposed to rabies.

Unvaccinated dogs, cats, and ferrets exposed to a rabid animal should be euthanized immediately. If the owner is unwilling to have this done, the animal should be placed in strict isolation for 6 months and vaccinated 1 month before being released.

Animals with expired vaccinations need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Dogs and cats that are currently vaccinated are kept under observation for 45 days.

Small mammals such as squirrels, rats, mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, chipmunks, rabbits, and hares are almost never found to be infected with rabies and have not been known to cause rabies among humans in the United States. Bites by these animals are usually not considered a risk of rabies unless the animal was sick or behaving in any unusual manner and rabies is widespread in your area.

Rabies Exposure: When should I seek medical attentions?

The rabies virus is transmitted through saliva or brain/nervous system tissue. You can only get rabies by coming in contact with these specific bodily excretions and tissues.

It’s important to remember that rabies is a medical urgency but not an emergency. Decisions should not be delayed.

Wash any wounds immediately. One of the most effective ways to decrease the chance for infection is to wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water.

See your doctor for attention for any trauma due to an animal attack before considering the need for rabies vaccination.

Your doctor, possibly in consultation with your state or local health department, will decide if you need a rabies vaccination. Decisions to start vaccination, known as postexposure prophylaxis (PEP), will be based on your type of exposure and the animal you were exposed to, as well as laboratory and surveillance information for the geographic area where the exposure occurred.

In the United States, postexposure prophylaxis consists of a regimen of one dose of immune globulin and four doses of rabies vaccine over a 14-day period. Rabies immune globulin and the first dose of rabies vaccine should be given by your health care provider as soon as possible after exposure. Additional doses or rabies vaccine should be given on days 3, 7, and 14 after the first vaccination. Current vaccines are relatively painless and are given in your arm, like a flu or tetanus vaccine.
What are the signs and symptoms of rabies?

The first symptoms of rabies may be very similar to those of the flu including general weakness or discomfort, fever, or headache. These symptoms may last for days.

There may be also discomfort or a prickling or itching sensation at the site of bite, progressing within days to symptoms of cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, confusion, agitation. As the disease progresses, the person may experience delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, and insomnia.

The acute period of disease typically ends after 2 to 10 days. Once clinical signs of rabies appear, the disease is nearly always fatal, and treatment is typically supportive.

Disease prevention includes administration of both passive antibody, through an injection of human immune globulin and a round of injections with rabies vaccine.

Once a person begins to exhibit signs of the disease, survival is rare. To date less than 10 documented cases of human survival from clinical rabies have been reported and only two have not had a history of pre- or postexposure prophylaxis.

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The FTC estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. In fact, you or someone you know may have experienced some form of identity theft.

The crime takes many forms. Identity thieves may rent an apartment, obtain a credit card, or establish a telephone account in your name. You may not find out about the theft until you review your credit report or a credit card statement and notice charges you didn’t make—or until you’re contacted by a debt collector.

Identity theft is serious. While some identity theft victims can resolve their problems quickly, others spend hundreds of dollars and many days repairing damage to their good name and credit record.  Some consumers victimized by identity theft may lose out on job opportunities, or be denied loans for education, housing or cars because of negative information on their credit reports. In rare cases, they may even be arrested for crimes they did not commit.

How do thieves steal an identity?

Identity theft starts with the misuse of your personally identifying information such as your name and Social Security number, credit card numbers, or other financial account information. For identity thieves, this information is as good as gold.
Skilled identity thieves may use a variety of methods to get hold of your information, including:

1. Dumpster Diving. They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it.
2. Skimming. They steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.
3. Phishing. They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
4. Changing Your Address. They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a change of address form.
5. Old-Fashioned Stealing. They steal wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel records, or bribe employees who have access.
6. Pretexting. They use false pretenses to obtain your personal information from financial institutions, telephone companies, and other sources.  For more information about pretexting, click here.

What do thieves do with a stolen identity?

Once they have your personal information, identity thieves use it in a variety of ways.

Credit card fraud:

• They may open new credit card accounts in your name. When they use the cards and don’t pay the bills, the delinquent accounts appear on your credit report.
• They may change the billing address on your credit card so that you no longer receive bills, and then run up charges on your account. Because your bills are now sent to a different address, it may be some time before you realize there’s a problem.

Phone or utilities fraud:

• They may open a new phone or wireless account in your name, or run up charges on your existing account.
• They may use your name to get utility services like electricity, heating, or cable TV.

Bank/finance fraud:

• They may create counterfeit checks using your name or account number.
• They may open a bank account in your name and write bad checks.
• They may clone your ATM or debit card and make electronic withdrawals your name, draining your accounts.
• They may take out a loan in your name.

Government documents fraud:

• They may get a driver’s license or official ID card issued in your name but with their picture.
• They may use your name and Social Security number to get government benefits.
• They may file a fraudulent tax return using your information.

Other fraud:

• They may get a job using your Social Security number.
• They may rent a house or get medical services using your name.
• They may give your personal information to police during an arrest. If they don’t show up for their court date, a warrant for arrest is issued in your name.

How can you find out if your identity was stolen?

The best way to find out is to monitor your accounts and bank statements each month, and check your credit report on a regular basis. If you check your credit report regularly, you may be able to limit the damage caused by identity theft. For more information, visit the Detect Identity Theft section.

Unfortunately, many consumers learn that their identity has been stolen after some damage has been done.

• You may find out when bill collection agencies contact you for overdue debts you never incurred.
• You may find out when you apply for a mortgage or car loan and learn that problems with your credit history are holding up the loan.
• You may find out when you get something in the mail about an apartment you never rented, a house you never bought, or a job you never held.

What should you do if your identity is stolen?

Filing a police report, checking your credit reports, notifying creditors, and disputing any unauthorized transactions are some of the steps you must take immediately to restore your good name. To learn more about these steps and more, visit the DEFEND:  Recover from Identity Theft section. To file a complaint, click here.

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Should you file a police report if your identity is stolen?

A police report that provides specific details of the identity theft is considered an Identity Theft Report, which entitles you to certain legal rights when it is provided to the three major credit reporting agencies or to companies where the thief misused your information.  An Identity Theft Report can be used to permanently block fraudulent information that results from identity theft,such as accounts or addresses, from appearing on your credit report. It will also make sure these debts do not reappear on your credit reports. Identity Theft Reports can prevent a company from continuing to collect debts that result from identity theft, or selling them to others for collection. An Identity Theft Report is also needed to place an extended fraud alert on your credit report.

You may not need an Identity Theft Report if the thief made charges on an existing account and you have been able to work with the company to resolve the dispute.  Where an identity thief has opened new accounts in your name, or where fraudulent charges have been reported to the consumer reporting agencies, you should obtain an Identity Theft Report so that you can take advantage of the protections you are entitled to.

In order for a police report to entitle you to the legal rights mentioned above, it must contain specific details about the identity theft.  You should file an ID Theft Complaint with the FTC and bring your printed ID Theft Complaint with you to the police station when you file your police report.  The printed ID Theft Complaint can be used to support your local police report to ensure that it includes the detail required.

A police report is also needed to get copies of the thief’s application, as well as transaction information from companies that dealt with the thief.  To get this information, you must submit a request in writing, accompanied by the police report, to the address specified by the company for this purpose.  You can find more information and a model letter here.

How long can the effects of identity theft last?

It’s difficult to predict how long the effects of identity theft may linger. That’s because it depends on many factors including the type of theft, whether the thief sold or passed your information on to other thieves, whether the thief is caught, and problems related to correcting your credit report.

Victims of identity theft should monitor financial records for several months after they discover the crime. Victims should review their credit reports once every three months in the first year of the theft, and once a year thereafter. Stay alert for other signs of identity theft.

Don’t delay in correcting your records and contacting all companies that opened fraudulent accounts.  Make the initial contact by phone, even though you will normally need to follow up in writing.  The longer the inaccurate information goes uncorrected, the longer it will take to resolve the problem.

What can you do to help fight identity theft?

A great deal.

Awareness is an effective weapon against many forms identity theft. Be aware of how information is stolen and what you can do to protect yours, monitor your personal information to uncover any problems quickly, and know what to do when you suspect your identity has been stolen.

Armed with the knowledge of how to protect yourself and take action, you can make identity thieves’ jobs much more difficult. You can also help fight identity theft by educating your friends, family, and members of your community. The FTC has prepared a collection of easy-to-use materials to enable anyone regardless of existing knowledge about identity theft to inform others about this serious crime. To learn more, click here.

CAPS Implementation Office

The Safe Passage Program is a combination of opportunities for parents, businesses and residents throughout the City to become involved in the community.

It includes the Safe Haven Program, Parent Patrol and the Walking School Bus Program.

Safe Havens include municipal properties such as police stations, fire houses, and libraries; but, they also include businesses as well. Many restaurants, convenience stores, barber shops and other retail establishments already participate in the Safe Haven Program. More are welcome.

If a child is walking to or from home or school, and for any reason they become alarmed or approached by a stranger, they can find refuge in any “Safe Haven”. Safe Haven locations are identified by a sign placed in the location’s window. The sign alerts a child that they can find a friendly shelter inside and ask for assistance.

With additional parent patrols around school locations, as well as citizens participating in the Walking School Bus Program, which have citizens showing presence throughout neighborhood routes to and from school, we can create a ”Safe Passage” for the youth in our City.

Any one interested in one or all of the above opportunities, please contact the CAPS Implementation Office at 312-745-5900 or the CAPS Project Office at 312-745-5907, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Mayor Daley said the system, to be activated when the National Weather Service declares a Heat Warning or Wind Chill Warning, could save lives. It delivers a recorded message with information and instructions for the specific emergency.

Daley said, “I want to make it clear that this program is designed to supplement the calls and visits that we all should make to our friends, relatives and neighbors who might be at risk. It does not replace anything, and it does not relieve us of our responsibility to look after those who are most vulnerable to heat and cold.”

Chicagoans can register themselves or a friend or relative for the service online, by calling 311, or by completing a registration form available at facilities of the Department on Aging or Department of Human Services, police stations, Chicago Public Libraries or Alderman’s ward offices.

The following link allows you to request City services online. One of these services is the ability to register for extreme weather notifications. Select the arrow and choose “Extreme Weather Notification” from the menu. Follow the remaining instructions.

Sign up for extreme weather notifications.

Here is one of the tools a census taker will have.

The Better Business Bureau is warning  about census-related scams that are popping up across the country, including people posing as census-takers who are “phishing” for personal information.

The Census Bureau  defines phishing as the “criminally fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, social security numbers, bank account or credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication typically carried out by email and it often directs users to enter sensitive information at a fake Web site whose look and feel are almost identical to the legitimate one.”

The U.S. Census Bureau wants citizens to know that it does not conduct the 2010 Census via e-mail or the Internet nor require detailed personal information.

There is a balance between divulging personal information while at the same time, fulfilling legal requirements to participate in the census.

“The census does require some personal information, but not social security numbers, credit or banking information of the type that identity thieves would be after.”
BBBs have received inquiries from people who are uncertain about giving out personal information after being approached by census workers.

U.S. Census workers will:

• have identification, a handheld device and a confidentiality notice. Caution: Never invite strangers into your home.
• never ask for your social security number or any bank or credit card-related information or a Personal Identification Number (PIN).
• never ask you for money or say that you owe money.
• not harass or intimidate you.
• not request personal information by email, but will contact you by telephone, mail or in person.

Census takers can be recognized by their black canvas bags and an identification card with their name and employee identification number.

Snow and Ice present significant challenges to safe and comfortable walking during  the winter. These challenges are even greater for children, seniors, and people with disabilities. Additionally, not all Chicagoans choose to use or have access to a car. Instead, they rely on walking and transit as their primary way of traveling throughout the city.

Chicago Municipal Codes

4-4-310 Public ways–Maintenance–Littering Prohibited
It shall be unlawful for any person licensed to engage in any business or occupation on premises abutting a public way, or for any person using any part of a public way for or in connection with his business or occupation, to litter or to permit the accumulation of any paper, rubbish or refuse upon that portion of the public way abutting said premises or on and about that portion of the public way so used. It shall also be the duty of the licensee to remove the snow and ice from the sidewalk in front of his premises.

10-8-180 Snow and Ice Removal
Every owner, lessee, tenant, occupant or other person having charge of any building or lot of ground in the city abutting upon any public way or public place shall remove the snow and ice from the sidewalk in front of such building or lot of ground. If the sidewalk is of greater width than five feet, it shall not be necessary for such person to remove snow and ice from the same for a space wider than five feet. In case the snow and ice on the sidewalk shall be frozen so hard that it cannot be removed without injury to the pavement, the person having charge of any building or lot of ground as aforesaid shall, within the time specified, cause the sidewalk abutting on the said premises to be strewn with ashes, sand, sawdust, or  some similar suitable material, and shall, as soon thereafter as the weather shall permit, thoroughly clean said sidewalk. The snow which falls or accumulates during the day (excepting Sundays) before four p.m. shall be removed within three hours after the same has fallen or accumulated. The snow which falls or accumulates on Sunday or after four p.m.

Sidewalk Snow Removal Campaign

CDOT and the Mayor’s Pedestrian Advisory Council (MPAC) are continuing two efforts to encourage sidewalk snow removal by businesses and residents.

The Sidewalk Snow Clearance campaign recognizes businesses or that do an outstanding job of clearing snow and ice from nearby sidewalks. Residents can nominate businesses for their snow-removal efforts by clicking on this link. Nominated businesses will receive a thank-you letter and a certificate.

This winter’s campaign builds on the success of a similar campaign last winter.

Citizens can report addresses where sidewalks are unshoveled to 311.

In 2007, more than 118,000 people were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms, doctors’ offices, clinics and other medical facilities for injuries suffered while shoveling or doing other types of snow and ice removal, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. That same year, there were 15,000 snow blower-related injuries, triple the number in 2006.

“People tend to think of snow removal as just another household task, but it really involves a lot of bending and heavy lifting, particularly in wet snow,” AAOS spokesman Dr. Robert Dunbar said in an academy news release. “It may be especially dangerous for people who do not regularly exercise, as their bodies, specifically back, shoulder and arm muscles, may not be prepared for that level of activity.”

The AAOS offered advice on how to prevent injuries while shoveling or using a snow blower

• Get your doctor’s opinion about whether you should be shoveling snow. If you have a medical condition or don’t exercise regularly, consider hiring someone to remove snow.
• Wear light, layered, water-repellent clothing that provides both ventilation and insulation. It’s also important to wear appropriate head coverings, as well as gloves/mittens and thick, warm socks. If you start getting too hot or cold, take a break.
• Be sure you can see what you’re doing. Don’t wear hats or scarves that block your vision. Watch for uneven surfaces and ice patches. Wear boots with slip-resistant soles.
• Clear snow early and often so that it doesn’t build up into packed, heavy snow.
• Before shoveling, warm up your muscles with light exercise for 10 minutes. Be sure to include your leg muscles.
• Take frequent breaks and drink water to prevent dehydration.
• If you experience chest pains, shortness of breath or other signs of a heart attack, seek emergency medical care.
• Use a shovel that’s comfortable for your height and strength. Don’t use a shovel that’s too heavy or too long for you. Push snow instead of lifting it, as much as you can. If you must lift snow, take small amounts at a time and lift with your legs. Don’t throw snow over your shoulder or to the side. This requires a twisting motion that stresses your back.
• When using a snow blower, never stick your hands or feet in the machine. If snow becomes too compacted, stop the engine and wait at least five seconds. Use a solid object to clear snow or debris from the chute.
• Don’t leave a snow blower unattended when it’s running. If you have to leave the machine, shut off the engine.
• If you’re using an electric snow blower, always keep on eye on the cord so you don’t trip and fall.

“We don’t want anyone, particularly our seniors, experiencing difficulties with home energy bills during the winter months.”

“It’s important that we give priority, careful consideration and focus on serving seniors and people with physical disabilities due to the fragility of their situations,” said CEDA President/CEO Robert L. Wharton. “We don’t want anyone, particularly our seniors, experiencing difficulties with home energy bills during the winter months.”

The priority enrollment period for seniors and the disabled to receive help through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) began September 1. This group is given priority enrollment due to a variety of factors that make them more susceptible to weather-related illnesses.

On October 1, the CEDA LIHEAP Emergency Furnace and Reconnection Assistance Programs will also begin accepting enrollment for applicants with disabilities, persons over the age of 60 and households whose utility service has been disconnected. The LIHEAP Emergency Furnace Program performs work on non-operable or unsafe heating systems and the LIHEAP Reconnection Assistance benefit can help disconnected households get their utility service restored.

Eligible applicants may receive a one-time bill payment toward their gas or propane and electric utility bills. Only one grant per household per program year is awarded.

“We need our seniors and the disabled to take advantage of the priority enrollment period,” said Jennifer Smith, Director of CEDA’s Home Energy Assistance Programs. “When general enrollment begins November 1, our intake sites will see an influx of applicants who need assistance. We would like to have as many senior and disabled households serviced before then. ”

Eligibility for LIHEAP is based upon gross income for the 30 days prior to the date of application. The amount of payment is determined by income (150% of the federal poverty level), household size, fuel type and geographic location. In addition, any eligible household that is disconnected from their utility or who is at or below 25 percent on a delivered fuel and cannot get a delivery of their own may qualify for re-connection assistance.

CEDA is the state’s largest facilitator of LIHEAP, a federal-and-state-funded program, and regularly works in conjunction with ComEd on other programs to provide energy relief to low-income families.

For more information on LIHEAP eligibility or to find a local intake center contact CEDA at 800.571.2332 or visit www.cedaorg.net..

Marsha Belcher
(312) 795-1254
mbelcher@cedaorg.net

Jason Maymon
312.890.3683
jmaymon@cedaorg.net

CEDA is one of the nation’s largest non-profit organizations that serves more than 375,000 individuals annually and operates over 40 programs throughout Cook County in the areas of education, housing, economic development, family and children services, health and nutrition.