McHenry County Emergency Management Agency

09/09/2026

McHenry County is warning residents of a scam involving fraudulent emails pretending to originate from the Planning and Development Department.

A scammer is sending fake emails targeting people who have submitted zoning or permit requests. They include real case details scraped from the County’s online streaming of meetings to make the messages look legitimate. The fraudulent emails, sent from a mail.com address, inform constituents that their permit was approved and encourage them to open an attached invoice and email them back for wire transfer instructions.

If you receive such an email, DELETE IT IMMEDIATELY and flag it as spam. Besides the risk of sending money to a scam artist, clicking a link or opening an attachment in a scam email could expose your computer and/or your network to malware, viruses, or ransomware.

All official McHenry County government business uses addresses from its official mchenrycountyil.gov domain – we never use any other address. Also, Planning and Development will never request an applicant to make a wire transfer.

If you are in the process of obtaining, updating or paying for a permit with McHenry County, it is done entirely through our online portal at https://www.mchenrycountyil.gov/departments/planning-development .

If you have questions or concerns about the legitimacy of an email you receive from the Planning and Development Department, you can always verify it by calling 815-334-4560 or by emailing [email protected].

08/24/2026

Did you know our Emergency Services Volunteer Program includes a dedicated Search & Rescue team?

Our Search & Rescue volunteers train throughout the year to build the skills needed to support emergency response operations throughout our community. Recently, the team conducted a mini in-county deployment exercise, practicing the setup and deployment of mobile command capabilities that can support search operations in the field.

Interested in becoming a volunteer? You can find an application on our website at mchenryaware.com!

08/20/2026

We are proud to be part of several mutual aid agreements. With the assistance or our McDOT, we were able to provide our 100kW generator to Crete to sustain operations.

08/15/2026

Hebron NOAA Weather Radio transmitter is offline

* NWS reports that WNG-689 Hebron, 162.450 MHz, is off the air. Technicians have been notified, but no restoration time is posted.
* Local impact: Western and northern county partners should reinforce alternate warning sources—including Wireless Emergency Alerts, NIXLE, weather applications and neighboring NOAA transmitters—during the unsettled pattern. NWS Hebron outage notice⁠

08/06/2026

August is National Emergency Management Awareness Month!

From severe storms and flooding to hazardous materials incidents, public health emergencies, and large community events, emergency management works year-round to help our community prepare for, respond to, and recover from the impacts of disasters or emergencies.

Prepared communities are resilient communities. This month, take time to:
✔ Know your local hazards.
✔ Review your emergency plans.
✔ Build or refresh your emergency supply kit.
✔ Talk with your family about what to do in an emergency.

🚨Stop by our booths at the McHenry County Fair or Cary National Night Out to enter the raffle for a NOAA Weather Radio and learn more about how we can assist you! 🚨

07/19/2026

Metro County Coordinators had an opportunity to meet with Senator Tammy Duckworth and Representative Foster to discuss challenges in our emergency management agencies. We were also able to relay the strong ties and collaboration between our agencies.

07/16/2026

Wildfire smoke is impacting air quality across our area, resulting in unhealthy conditions for some individuals.
Stay informed by monitoring local air quality conditions and following updates from the National Weather Service and the Illinois EPA.

[Thursday July 16, 2026 11:15 AM CDT]

Wildfire smoke continues to fill in across northern IL and northwest IN and is causing very poor air quality in addition to reduced visibilities. If driving make sure to slow down and use your low beams so others can see you.

The Illinois EPA has recommendations on how to stay safe during periods of very poor air quality which can be found in this PDF (https://document.airnow.gov/air-quality-guide-for-particle-pollution.pdf). Make sure you also check the latest air quality information and forecasts on AirNow.gov!

07/14/2026

Hotter temperatures are expected to return to McHenry County Tuesday through Thursday, with heat indices potentially reaching dangerous levels.

If there isn't access to air conditioning at home, cooling centers are available throughout the county to provide relief from the heat. We've partnered with the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency to share an updated list of cooling center locations, now with notations identifying pet-friendly sites.

Remember to drink plenty of water, limit time outdoors during the hottest part of the day, wear lightweight clothing, and check on older adults, young children, and neighbors who may be more vulnerable to extreme heat. Never leave children or pets in a parked vehicle.

View the updated list of cooling centers at bit.ly/ema-seasonal-awareness. Stay cool and stay safe.

07/14/2026

McHenry County residents affected by the June 10–11 severe storms may now be eligible to apply for U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Assistance.

Homeowners may be eligible for low-interest SBA disaster loans of up to $500,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate.

Homeowners and renters may also be eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property, including furniture, clothing, appliances, and vehicles.

More information and how to apply is included in the link below.

https://www.illinois.gov/news/release.html?releaseid=32714

06/29/2026

This weekend, our Amateur Radio volunteers participated in the 2026 ARRL Field Day, the nation's largest annual emergency communications exercise.

Field Day provides amateur radio operators with the opportunity to practice establishing reliable communications in simulated emergency conditions, often without relying on traditional infrastructure. Events like this help strengthen our county's preparedness by allowing volunteers to sharpen their skills, test equipment, and build relationships with fellow operators from across the region.

Thank you to all who attended!