CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Illinois Governor JB Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation Tuesday for all 102 counties in response to the "dangerous" winter storm that has blanketed the state.
The latest winter storm, which brought life threatening wind chills, power outages, and accumulating snow, left approximately 7,000 Illinois households without power, Pritzker said.
That number is expected to fluctuate as the strain of arctic temperatures and extreme weather continues to affect more than 10 states across the nation.
"I have directed my administration to use all resources at our disposal to keep our communities safe amid dangerous and ongoing winter weather," said Governor JB Pritzker, in a statement. "We are in communication with local governments to ensure they have the support they need in disaster response and recovery operations. We are also working with our federal partners to pursue federal assistance to help communities recover and to do what we can to protect ratepayers from soaring utility bills. I urge all Illinoisans to take this extreme weather seriously, avoid all unnecessary travel and check in on your neighbors."
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Extreme weather has resulted in frozen wells in key natural gas producing states, including Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. The sub-zero temperatures are resulting in increased demand and decreased supply, causing natural gas prices to spike. Utility companies across the nation are reporting soaring wholesale costs, and without federal intervention, those increased prices could result in higher utility bills for Illinois residents in the coming weeks, Pritzker warned.
Over the course of the next few days, Governor Pritzker encourages all Illinoisans to check on their neighbors, especially elderly neighbors who may need assistance.
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Statistics show 46 percent of individuals expect to rely on the people in their neighborhood for assistance within the first 72 hours after an emergency or disaster. If you are unable to get in touch with your neighbor, or if you are worried, please contact your local law enforcement for a welfare check.
Parts of the Chicago area saw over a foot of snow Monday night into Tuesday, with some snowfall totals reaching as high as 18 inches.
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Chicago's Midway Airport saw 17.7 inches of snow from Monday to Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service, while O'Hare Airport saw 7.5 inches. As of Tuesday morning, north suburban Evanston saw the highest snow total of the area, reporting 18 inches.
According to the NWS, several more inches of snow are possible before the storm moves out of the area, with the highest totals expected within five to 10 miles of Lake Michigan.