CHICAGO (AP) - Weather and emergency officials across Illinois are urging the public to take precautions because of the extreme cold.
Illinois Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Patti Thompson says people should stay indoors when possible, dress in layers, limit their amount of exposed skin and check on neighbors.
In Peoria, officials say fire stations can be used as warming centers.
In Chicago, the Office of Emergency Management and Communications says the Department of Family and Support Services will extend its hours at six regional warming centers on Monday and Tuesday.
Emergency officials say to avoid risk of pipes freezing, keep a trickle of water running at home to keep water moving.
Weather officials temperatures are expected to plummet Monday and remain in the grips of the deep freeze for 2½ days.
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