Preckwinkle declares Cook in state of emergency

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle declared the area in a state of emergency in the midst of the winter storm today.

The declaration said essential services for public safety will continue, but ordered all other employees under the jurisdiction of the president’s office to stay home.

Preckwinkle also said that county hospitals would remain open during the storm.

Preckwinkle said she expected “regular county operations will resume” Thursday, in spite of the cold snap forecast to follow the blizzard.