At Illinois State, preparedness doesn’t stop when the temperatures drop. As winter approaches and the holiday season begins, now is the perfect time to get #WinterReady and to protect yourself online as more of us turn to digital shopping for gifts and deals.

Severe winter weather can cause sudden disruptions, including icy travel conditions, power outages, and limited campus operations. At the same time, online scams and data theft tend to increase during the holidays. A few proactive steps can help keep you, your loved ones, and our Redbird community safe:

• Prepare your vehicle for winter by checking tires, topping off fluids, and keeping an emergency kit with blankets, food, and water.
• Update your home and office emergency kits with flashlights, batteries, and extra layers in case of power loss.
• Change batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and ensure heaters are used safely. (Recommended to change these on Day Light Savings Time change—twice a year)
• Shop online using secure Wi-Fi networks—avoid public connections when making purchases.
• Be cautious of “too good to be true” deals or suspicious links. Always verify websites and retailers before entering payment information.
• Use strong, unique passwords for shopping accounts and enable multi-factor authentication when available.

Winter readiness and cyber safety go hand in hand. Both help build a more resilient campus community.

Visit Ready.gov for national resources or contact Illinois State University Emergency Management at EOC@IllinoisState.edu or (309) 438-0100 for campus-specific support. Be sure to follow us at @saferedbirds on social media for preparedness tips and updates.