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ESDA

City of Galva

The Galva Emergency Services and Disaster Agency (ESDA) is an all-volunteer unit dedicated to supporting the community during emergencies and severe weather events. Composed of trained weather spotters, ESDA helps monitor and report hazardous conditions, coordinate local response efforts, and assist in recovery operations before, during, and after weather-related incidents. The agency plays a vital role in enhancing public safety and preparedness.

Outdoor Warning System (OWS)

The Galva ESDA is responsible for managing the city’s OWS, a vital tool used to alert the public of severe weather threats. Below is information on when the OWS is activated.

  • OWS (Sirens) will be tested the first Tuesday of every month at 10:00 a.m. by the Director or Assistant Director. 
  • During severe weather, OWS will be activated for one of three reasons: 
  • Tornado or Funnel Cloud
  • Hail >= 1” in diameter
  • Wind >= 58 mph 
  • OWS will be activated at the discretion of the Director or Assistant Directors based on reports from Spotters, radar interpretation, and National Weather Service (NWS) Warnings. A warning from NWS does not automatically cause the OWS to be activated. And the OWS may be activated without a warning from NWS. 
  • OWS may be reactivated during a severe event if the above criteria are still occurring or is still imminent.
  • No ALL CLEAR notification will be sounded. 

ESDA Activities

In addition to managing the OWS Galva ESDA performs the following functions before, during, and after weather-related incidents:

Preparedness involves coordinated response efforts and maintaining critical systems and resources. This includes:

  • The refinement of communication plans
  • The coordination of emergency response teams
  • The exercise of city-wide warning systems
  • The verification of available emergency shelters
  • The classification and tracking of emergency resources and stockpiles

Prevention includes the anticipation of needs and the act of avoiding or delaying damage or suffering. Examples of prevention activities include:

  • Delivery of portable generators to the oxygen-dependent during power outages
  • Advance warning of potentially dangerous situations

Mitigation involves efforts to prevent hazards from developing into disasters; or in the case of unavoidable misfortune, to reduce the effects of the catastrophe. Disaster mitigation includes:

  • Communication of potential risks to the public (e.g., water contamination hazards, local travel risks, structural or damaged building perils)
  • Acquiring and delivering assistance to those who have suffered personal losses due to physical or emotional injury and property damage

Response involves the mobilization of emergency services and resources. Response activities may include:

  • The establishment of an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) 
  • The assignment and coordination of incident commanders, liaison and public information officers (PIOs), technical specialists and scribes; safety officers and EOC support services 
  • The analysis of the event, operations and resource coordination, and financial administration 

Recovery involves the restoration of the affected area and can include:

  • Re-employment 
  • Repair 
  • Remediation 

StormReady

Some 90% of all presidentially declared disasters are weather related, leading to around 500 deaths per year and nearly $14 billion in damage. StormReady, a program started in 1999 in Tulsa, OK, helps arm America’s communities with the communication and safety skills needed to save lives and property–before and during the event. StormReady helps community leaders and emergency managers strengthen local safety programs.

No community is storm proof, but StormReady can help communities save lives. Galva received StormReady certification on 16 June, 2005, and will maintain the designation so long as it remains certified.

If you would like more information on StormReady, visit the link below.

StormReady

Galva ESDA Director

Mr. Adam Jacquet

Address: 210 Front Street, Galva, IL 61434

Phone: (309) 932-2555 (NOT FOR EMERGENCIES!)

Radio Frequencies

Galva ESDA: 159.43500

Henry County ESDA: 155.86500, 155.88000

Statewide Severe Weather: 155.02500, 155.05500