Our Community

The City of Springfield’s Office of Community Relations assists residents in various circumstances including neighbor disputes; landlord-tenant issues; employment discrimination; and fair housing issues.

Community Relations is also active in outreach initiatives including Neighborhood Watch and the Springfield Rail Project Community Resource Center is housed at Community Relations office located at 1450 Groth Street.

To learn more about the services provided by Community Relations click below. You can also contact the office directly by calling 217.789.2270.

Do you feel you were treated unjustly while looking at renting or buying a home? Maybe you experienced discrimination while applying for a home loan. The Office of Community Relations is here to assist. Please contact their office directly at 217.789.2270 or fill out their online form below.

For more information, please contact The Office of Planning and Economic Development at: 217.789.2377.

• Sangamon Mass Transit District (SMTD) Bus Routes and Schdules
• Amtrak Information

As the largest city in central Illinois, with a population of 117,000, Springfield is best known for being the home of our 16th President Abraham Lincoln and the place where President Barack Obama spent his early career in politics. Springfield is truly rich with history while maintaining a progressive and strong business environment.

Conveniently located on Interstate Highways 55 and 72, Springfield is in close proximity to St. Louis to the south; Chicago to the north and Indianapolis to the east. This central location gives Springfield a reach of over 536,000 people within a 40 mile radius.

In addition to Interstate access, five class I railroads and two short line railroads serve the city and Sangamon County, providing direct shipment to major markets throughout the United States.

Springfield's Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport is three miles northwest of the City's downtown and is a full service provider that accommodates both passenger as well as freight services.

• Public Works Dispatch (for weather-related issues regarding sidewalks and roads): 217.789.2246
• CWLP Electric Outage Hotline: 217.789.2121
• Water Trouble: 217.789.2323 Ext 2
• American Red Cross: 800.733.2767
• Help For Seniors
  • AgeLinc: 217.787.9234 (Office) or 800.252.2918 (Toll Free)
  • The Senior Services Center of Central Illinois: 217.528.4035 or 217.528.3882
• For non-emergency Fire and Police
• Police Dispatch: 217.788.8311
• Fire Dispatch: 217.788.8450
• Police Front Desk - Assisting with filling a report: 217.788.8325

For anyone who needs relief from the cold and inclement weather, the following locations have been designated as warming centers in Springfield. These locations will serve as warming stations during their regular business hours.

Cooling centers throughout Springfield are operating and have power. Here is a list of operating cooling centers in Springfield:

Be Aware of Home Repair Scams and Charitable Solicitation Scams

Residents should be wary of door-to-door solicitors promise to speed up the insurance or building permit process and/or con artists posing as charitable organizations or governmental disaster relief organizations. on artists are often transients who will move quickly into a troubled area. Though most building contractors and charitable organizations are honest, natural disasters attract scam artists.

Ask to see state or local permits or licenses of anyone approaching you about services related to the disaster. When possible, use established local contractors recommended by people you know and trust. Get receipts for all repair payments including cash. Do not make a check payable to a person other than the owner or the company name. Never give out personal information or bank account information over the phone unless the caller's identity can be verified.

Keep Sewer Inlets Clear

Help alleviate flooding. The public can assist in keeping sewer inlets near your property clear. Inlets can easily get clogged with leaves and other debris and cause street flooding.

Trees & Branches and Debris on Property

City cleanup crews and many volunteer groups are working as quickly and safely as possible to clear debris and pick up fallen branches. Please collect branches and limbs and place them on the curb. Please do not place branches on center boulevards, manholes, drains or sidewalks. City branch pick-up will likely take weeks as we assess the city-wide damage caused by the recent storm. We are working diligently to access neighborhood branches as soon as possible.

For debris blocking roadways and sidewalks

Please understand Public Works crews are out and will address these as soon as possible. For new reports call Public Works: 217.789.2255 or 217.789.2246

Storm Damage To Your Home

If you have any damage to your home as a result of the storm, please contact your homeowners’ insurance, landlord and/or private contractor as soon as possible for repairs.

American Red Cross 800.733.2767

If you or a family member’s health has been impacted by outages or the storm, 217.787.7602

General CDC Tips for Power Outages, Food Safety & More

cdc.gov

Tips for Staying Cool During Power Outages

Staying safe until power is restored is key. When a prolonged power outage occurs during hot weather, take steps to maintain safety and comfort until power is restored.

High winds that topple utility poles and power lines cause many summer outages. It’s important to stay clear of downed power lines at all times, even during cleanup efforts. Be alert to the possibility that tree limbs or debris may hide an electrical hazard.

Assume that any dangling wires you encounter are electrical and treat all downed or hanging lines as if they are energized and dangerous. If you are driving and come upon a downed power line, stay in your vehicle, warn others to stay away and contact emergency personnel or your electric utility. Also when driving, be careful at intersections where traffic lights may be out.

If power to your home is out for a prolonged period, know and understand important safety precautions and steps to cope with heat until power is restored:

• Dress in loose, lightweight clothing and stay on the coolest, lowest level of your home.
• Use natural ventilation to cool homes, and consider purchasing battery-powered fans.
• Drink plenty of water and avoid heavy meals, caffeinated drinks and alcohol.
• Keep refrigerator or freezer doors closed. A freezer that is half full or full can keep foods frozen 24 to 48 hours. Foods can stay safe in an unopened refrigerator up to four hours. If an outage lasts longer than four hours, remove and pack meat, milk and other dairy products in a cooler with ice.
• Use safe alternative food preparations. A barbecue grill is an excellent way to prepare food. Always grill outside.
• Check on friends and relatives—especially children, seniors, and those with medical conditions or disabilities. These people may need to seek emergency cooling shelters.
• Keep a first-aid kit in your home and one in your car. Make sure that it includes scissors, tweezers, safety pins, aspirin, eyewash and rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.
• Close all drapes and blinds on the sunny side of your residence.
• Take your family and pets to a basement or other cool location if you have one. Also consider going to an air-conditioned public place during warmer daytime hours.

During an outage, Safe Electricity and CWLP recommend turning off electrical appliances and unplugging major equipment, including air conditioning units, computers and televisions. Power sometimes comes back in surges, which can damage electronics. Your circuits could overload when power returns if all your electronics are still on and plugged in. Leave one light on to indicate that power has been restored. Wait a few minutes then turn on other appliances and equipment one at a time.

If you use a standby generator, make sure a transfer safety switch is used or connect the appliance(s) directly to the generator output through an isolated circuit before you operate it. This prevents electricity from traveling back through the power lines, what’s known as “back feed.” Back feed creates danger for anyone near lines, particularly crews working to restore power.

During a power outage, you may find yourself in the dark and unable to use your appliances for a period of time. A generator can provide temporary electricity that, depending on type, can power a few appliances or an entire building. While convenient during an outage, generators used improperly can also create safety hazards.

Before investing in a generator, think first about your electrical needs and usage. Know the difference between standby and portable generators:

• Standby generators are wired directly into the home and can be sized to match the electrical demands of the home or building.A permanently installed standby generator must have an approved transfer safety switch to avoid feeding electricity back into the electrical system outdoors, creating what’s known as “backfeed.” Backfeed is dangerous for line workers as well as anyone who may be near downed power lines.
• Portable generators do not permanently attach to the home, and can power only the appliances that are plugged into the generator, so consider essential electrical needs when choosing. To avoid backfeed into the utility electrical system, the portable generator should never be plugged directly into the home.

Before using a portable generator, read all manufacturer instructions.

Place the generator in an open, well-ventilated area away from the home or garage. Using your generator in a space that does not have adequate ventilation increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning (CO) from fumes. As an extra precaution, install CO detectors around the home and test them regularly. CO is odorless and colorless and can be deadly. Symptoms of CO poisoning include dizziness, nausea, and headaches. If you suspect a problem, seek fresh air immediately.

Before turning the generator on, make sure nothing is plugged in. Keep children and pets a safe distance from generators. After starting it, only plug appliances or those connected to heavy-duty extension cords directly into the generator. Never plug the generator into a wall outlet to avoid the risk of backfeed.

Carbon monoxide fumes are both colorless and odorless and may reach fatal levels within minutes if not detected. When turning off your generator, take the time to do so safely. Unplug all appliances before turning off the power of the generator. In order to keep your generator in working order, you’ll need to perform regular maintenance.

Staying Safe Until Power is Restored is Key

When a prolonged power outage occurs during hot weather, take steps to maintain safety and comfort until power is restored.

It’s important to stay clear of downed power lines at all times, even during cleanup efforts. Be alert to the possibility that tree limbs or debris may hide an electrical hazard.

Assume that any dangling wires you encounter are electrical and treat all downed or hanging lines as if they are energized and dangerous. If you are driving and come upon a downed power line, stay in your vehicle, warn others to stay away and contact emergency personnel or your electric utility. Also when driving, be careful at intersections where traffic lights may be out.

If power to your home is out for a prolonged period, know and understand important safety precautions and steps to cope with heat until power is restored:

• Dress in loose, lightweight clothing and stay on the coolest, lowest level of your home.
• Use natural ventilation to cool homes, and consider purchasing battery-powered fans.
• Drink plenty of water and avoid heavy meals, caffeinated drinks and alcohol.
• Keep refrigerator or freezer doors closed. A freezer that is half full or full can keep foods frozen 24 to 48 hours. Foods can stay safe in an unopened refrigerator up to four hours. If an outage lasts longer than four hours, remove and pack meat, milk and other dairy products in a cooler with ice.
• Use safe alternative food preparations. A barbecue grill is an excellent way to prepare food. Always grill outside.
• Check on friends and relatives—especially children, seniors, and those with medical conditions or disabilities. These people may need to seek emergency cooling shelters.
• Keep a first-aid kit in your home and one in your car. Make sure that it includes scissors, tweezers, safety pins, aspirin, eyewash and rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.
• Close all drapes and blinds on the sunny side of your residence.
Take your family and pets to a basement or other cool location if you have one. Also consider going to an air-conditioned public place during warmer daytime hours.

We have a number of tips at our Outage Center on what to do during a power outage:

Outage Center

We also share information from the CDC on outage safety:

cdc.gov

Power Line Safety

Assume that any dangling wires you encounter are electrical and treat all downed or hanging lines as if they are energized and dangerous. Residents should not attempt to clear trees or other debris from power lines and all lines should be treated as live even in areas where power is out. Keep distance over 10 feet away as electricity can jump.

When using ladders and other equipment outdoors be sure to look up first.

If you are driving and come upon a downed power line, stay in your vehicle, warn others to stay away and contact emergency personnel or your electric utility.

When driving, be careful at intersections where traffic lights may be out and treat nonfunctioning or flashing lights as a stop sign.

CWLP has information on its Outage Center page to help customers track outages, learn about restoration times and find assistance. Large outage areas and locations where CWLP is assessing, investigating and clearing for outage repairs are listed at CWLP.com. It’s one-click to Outage Center or Power Out. More updates are also shared on the utility’s  Facebook page and on its  Twitter account.

Outage Center

More About Power Outage Response

After severe weather, CWLP takes specific steps to restore power. Utility supervisors assess damage and determine what crews, equipment and supplies will be needed to make repairs.

The first repair priorities beyond those immediately critical to public safety, are transmission lines, high-voltage lines that deliver electricity from power plants to substations. Although protected by wide rights of way, these lines can be damaged by trees. Without these lines, power cannot be delivered to customers.

Also vital to restoration efforts are distribution circuits. These 12.5 kilovolt (Kv) circuits deliver power to all business and residential customers. Transformers, which are devices that convert electric current to various voltages, then reduce the 12.5 Kv circuits to more usable voltages like 120-240, 208 and 480 volts at or near the customer’s location.

The wires that carry the customer’s load are called service lines. Typically after repairs are made on transmission lines and distribution circuits, CWLP crews are mobilized to get all service lines back in service. This strategy makes the best use of personnel and equipment.

Once transmission lines, substations and distribution circuits can again deliver power, CWLP assigns priority to lines that serve hospitals, police departments, emergency services and other facilities that are essential to public health and safety.

Other restoration work is prioritized by repairs that affect the largest number of customers. For example, a repair serving 200 customers is done before a repair serving five customers. This is the quickest way to restore power to the most customers.

Learn More