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Question of the day

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Illinois

* My phone started buzzing loudly yesterday morning when I received this text…

State needs licensed healthcare workers to sign-up at IllinoisHelps.net to fight COVID-19

* The Question: What was your first reaction when you received that emergency alert?

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:00 pm

Comments

That the comet’s impact was 15 min away

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:06 pm
My first thought was wondering if I could pull off faking it as a retired physician and how long I could maintain the charade.

After giving it more thought, I then concluded it was a poor use of the emergency notification system. I mean, contacting everybody with a scary alert to find what, less than 5% of the population? Seemed like overkill.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:07 pm
I figured most licensed healthcare workers who were willing and able to work were already doing so during these times. My phone doesn’t buzz like that unless there is a tornado watch or something.

Comment by Six Feet of Separation (temporary name) Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:07 pm
Zombies are on the way.

Comment by LBJ Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:09 pm
I was on a work at home video chat and multiple phones started blowing up at the same time. Everybody had a work and personal cell to defuse. Pretty funny after the fact.

Not sure if it was overkill.

Comment by DuPage Dave Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:09 pm
My first thought was they were going to announce a mandatory lock-down prohibiting leaving your home.

Comment by Tabbybum Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:11 pm
I thought I was glad I let my license lapse when I switched careers a few years back.

Comment by Fixer Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:15 pm
My reaction was, “What the xxxx?”

Comment by Lt Guv Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:15 pm
“Well, it’s nice to see someone try to use this system to save a life.”

Comment by Candy Dogood Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:18 pm
Never got it

Comment by The Real Captain Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:20 pm
Not overkill. Good use of system.

Comment by WeAreAVillage Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:23 pm
I thought here comes the tsunami….

Comment by Loop Lady Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:24 pm
My thoughts were why was this not used when the Exec Order was first put out and then when it was extended? Not a good use of a good resource.

Comment by La La Land Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:25 pm
I neither got that nor the emergency message about the parks being shut down, so I am pretty much screwed if in the future the system gives people a head start on the apocalypse.

Comment by Montrose Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:25 pm
T-Mobile phones got this at 4:08 AM this morning. That was fun to wake up to.

Comment by SaulGoodman Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:28 pm
Winter is coming.

Comment by LathamPlace Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:35 pm
Heard the shriek and my instant reaction was “Oh sh**”
…which surprised my British colleagues on the other end of the conference call. By the way, Saul, I have T-Mobile too and my alert came in at 10:20 yesterday.

Comment by Dysfunction Junction Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:35 pm
Oh, I let her know but she has a job and is kind of tied up.
Got it at least 4 times

Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:38 pm
My first reaction when I heard of the alert was a question as to why I hadn’t received it. Why? Because the people telling me about it were Missourians. Why they received it and I, a holder of a telephone number with a central Illinois area code, didn’t defies my understanding.

As to the idea of the text? I’d say it’s good one that could only help.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:38 pm
terrifying.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:39 pm
I had a lot of thoughts after my first thought;

Sadness and anger have revolved around this as the alert went, but my first reaction?

My first reaction was “alertness”

It put me on an alert feeling…

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:41 pm
I didn’t see the message at first so I pulled up my weather app to see if it was a tornado.

Comment by Downstate Illinois Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:44 pm
Needless use of the alert system.

Comment by Token Conservative Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:47 pm
I was glad I wasn’t driving

Comment by Rutro Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:47 pm
Wish I had the credentials to help.

Comment by Doc Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:49 pm
“These are(not)the best of times”

Comment by Tommydanger Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:52 pm
Why the tornado alarm went off after 10am? I have Verizon and it was at 10:20am. Didn’t think it was a good use of resources for such a finite amount of people that could use it.

Comment by Paul S Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:52 pm
Confirmationo the Governor has no idea what he is doing. Should have been done weeks ago to list who is avaialble.

IDPH should have coordinated providers weeks ago to see who is available to reallocate to hot spots. You have providers doing nothing because of stay at home orders in communities with no cases while others are being over whelmed.

Comment by the Patriot Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:55 pm
I was startled at first, but thought it was a good idea. Leave no stone unturned.

Overkill? Hardly. People are dying. That is real.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:55 pm
My first 10 seconds was in this order - Why Now? Whoa, this is getting serious! Smart! Think about the resources that might be utilized - School Nurses (buildings are shut down); Cross over from Dentist and Oral Surgeons Offices; Medical Practices that are focused on elective surgeries including cosmetic; Life Insurance examiners; etc, etc,

Comment by Former Candidate on the Ballot Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 12:57 pm
Never got it.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 1:00 pm
=== the Governor has no idea what he is doing. Should have been done weeks ago to list who is avaialble.===

Weeks ago, POTUS said it would magically disappear.

“Do you agree “weeks” ago the federal response also points to a POTUS…”

It’s so tiring hearing, the lacking of open eyes to true failings and where leaders are emerging and doing the job, sometimes of “others”

“If your first thought is a failing Governor, don’t look at Florida today…“

“Enough“. This QOTD is about a great many things. The hope is not a partisan bend.

This is a global pandemic.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 1:00 pm
I would assume that most hospitals and medical providers have licensed retirees on call for temporary fill-ins during vacations or illnesses. I don’t think a general call like that created any panic amongst the general public.

Comment by Louis G Atsaves Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 1:02 pm
We thought it was a great use of technology and a huge underscoring of a message JB et. al have been giving for two weeks. Maybe Sen. Righter and some of other “Open Up” caucus member could offer to drive under used Drs and nurses to designated hot spots? We all can help folks

Comment by Annonin Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 1:03 pm
My wife’s phone went off yesterday. I still haven’t gotten it. Both AT&T

Comment by Bruce( no not him) Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 1:05 pm
It seemed like using it to announce the stay-at-home extension might have been a better use. Do they think retired medical workers are less informed than the average Joe?

Or maybe bundle the two into one message if that’s allowed.

Hopefully it’s not going to keep happening, or pretty soon we’ll stop paying attention.

Comment by Stuff Happens Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 1:13 pm
My first reaction was that this is serious. My second reaction is I hope medically trained individuals sign up at https://illinoishelps.net/

Comment by jimbo26 Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 1:18 pm
I expected a weather alert when I heard it. We saw a crawler on tv the other night. It wasn’t giving a specific message. Just opening that avenue for messages, I guess. I think it speaks to the seriousness of the issue. I don’t think I should second guess everything being done to protect and communicate. Some actions and messages are clearly with it or not, but for most things I take for granted those people know details I don’t know. I try to be patient and cut some slack.

Comment by Dog Lover Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 1:23 pm
My immediate thought was the state wanted to test the system and decided to send out a somewhat innocuous message, while still being able to track the effectiveness of it via the web site.

I received one message, while some received it as many as 4 times.

Comment by Downstate Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 1:27 pm
Maybe they need to put the shelter in place over alter and maybe everyone will finally see it

Comment by 13th Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 1:40 pm
I got it six times. Chicago parks closing once.

I support judicious use once or twice a week for as long as we need to be shut down to (re)emphasize how serious we all must take this.

Comment by WH Mess Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 1:44 pm
Exactly what Paul S. @ 12:52 said.

Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 1:51 pm
Wondering how I got on the list for an Illinois alert when I live across the border and don’t get other alerts.

Comment by OutOfState Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 2:00 pm
I’ve received that text three times in the last 2 days. I thought it was because I was a retired EMS professional.

Comment by Honeybadger Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 2:24 pm
My thoughts were to be a lert. The world needs more lerts.

Comment by Scamp640 Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 2:26 pm
The stay-at-home order should have been announced this way.

Comment by elginkevin Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 2:32 pm
First thought was how desperate we are to be looking for anyone who could help in this time where doctors and nurses are falling ill.

Second thought was how sad I was not to be of any help medically.

This is nothing to be snarky about. Maybe you’ll get the disease and have a mild case, but I guarantee youll know someone or know of someone who wasn’t so lucky.

Comment by Ano Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 2:41 pm
That at least it wasn’t the “Chicago’s parks and lakefront are closed!” phone alert I got at least a half dozen times when that happened. Nice change of pace.

Comment by ChicagoBars Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 3:19 pm
=== T-Mobile phones got this at 4:08 AM this morning. That was fun to wake up to. ===

My family has T-Mobile — most of us got it when it was first issued, but my wife’s phone went of at like 4:00 a.m.

Comment by Just Observing Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 3:30 pm
“Oh Lord, what now?” Then I was mildly annoyed when I saw what it was for: yes, an important message, but save those tones for things like “tornado coming, take shelter.” At least they didn’t use it for “fill out your census.”

Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 4:47 pm
I was at work when it went off (late morning). Without looking at my phone, thought it was an Amber Alert.

Comment by Lynn S. Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 5:31 pm
I woke up rather annoyed.

Comment by A Jack Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 6:05 pm
First thought: Will the state cover the malpractice insurance? Or give the doctor/nurse immunity if something goes wrong?

Comment by Trying To Be Rational Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 7:11 pm
Misuse of the system - only a small percent of the population works as license healthcare workers. If this keeps up folks will think of the alerts as nuisances rather than a true alert that requires all citizens to take action.

Comment by Donnie Elgin Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 8:30 pm
The Russians are coming(exclamation point)

Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 9:59 pm