Mount Prospect to put out emergency boxes

Mount Prospect will be putting out forest green newsstand boxes in the coming months in order to inform the public in the case of an emergency.

Collectively called the village information centers, the 13 boxes, costing about $100 each, will be scattered throughout the village.

All will be filled with village information from time to time.

In case of a major emergency like the one the village had about 18 months ago when a major storm took out the power, the boxes will be filled with emergency information, said Assistant Village Manager Dave Strahl.

The village will put the boxes out in the spring. The boxes were purchased in direct response to the storm on Aug. 23, 2007. The storm knocked out the power for days in some parts of the village and killed about 340 parkway trees.

After the storm, the village did an assessment of its response to the storm, in order to improve in case another major storm hits, said Fire Chief Mike Figolah.

Some residents went without electricity for days, which prevented them from getting information about the storm and what to do in the aftermath.

The village gave itself high marks for overall response, but as far as communication was concerned, Figolah said the village's grade was more like a "C," which meant the village had to find a way to do better next time.

"The biggest problem was the loss of electricity for a few days," Figolah said. "People couldn't recharge their cell phones and the Internet and cable TV were down. So we lost the traditional way of communicating."

The boxes will be tended by volunteers who live or work in the area. Most boxes are near public places like schools, park districts and businesses.

The boxes will be used for more than just emergency information. Village newsletters are expected to be placed in the boxes as well, Figolah said.

The green boxes will work in tandem with a $14,000 message board that will be used also in case of emergencies. The board will not require electricity since it'll be powered by solar energy or a gas-powered generator. The board will be placed along village streets as needed. Like the boxes, it'll also be hauled out for happier occasions to advertise upcoming events, village officials said.