3 Numbers Everyone Needs to Remember As Extreme Cold Hits Illinois

An Extreme Cold Warning is going into effect across the northern Midwest tonight and will last through Friday afternoon. We’re talking dangerously cold temperatures, brutal wind chills, and conditions that can turn a minor car issue into a life-threatening emergency in minutes.

Cold Weather Survival in Illinois

Having lived in Illinois for over 40 years, I like to think I know pretty much everything a person needs to know to survive a cold winter.

I know that we should:

• Prop open the doors of cabinets that house pipes along an outer wall when temps drop well below zero.
• Run a continuous, slow trickle of water through your faucet to further prevent pipes from freezing.
• Always keep a survival kit in your car that includes non-perishable food, water, blankets, and boots.

READ MORE: Can Trees Explode During Extreme Cold in Illinois?

When weather officials tell us to stay home in extreme winter weather I listen, because one of my greatest fears is suffering a car issue that leaves me stranded on the side of the road. Thankfully, the Illinois Department of Transportation has a program for situations just like that.

IDOT's Zero Weather Road Patrols

I've been driving for more years than I care to count now, and I never knew until today that IDOT employs a special safety patrol to help drivers who find themselves stranded in dangerous winter weather.

Zero Weather Road Patrols:

 typically run whenever temperatures or sustained wind chills fall below zero degrees to bolster the roadway assistance already provided by the Tollway’s Highway Emergency Lane Patrol (H.E.L.P.) trucks and the Illinois State Police.

During extreme cold events, Zero Weather Road Patrols continuously search for stranded drivers and will assist with anything from dead batteries and flat tires, to empty fuel tanks and overheated radiators.

If you find yourself stranded on an Illinois tollway over the next few days, call *999, and remain in your car until the Zero Weather Road Patrol arrives to help.

Stay safe and stay warm out there!