Chicago City Wire

The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) is urging residents and visitors in Chicago to remain vigilant as several major events are scheduled across the city this weekend. The OEMC will monitor these activities and weather conditions from its Operations Center, coordinating public safety resources as needed with relevant stakeholders.

A key message from the city is the importance of reporting suspicious activity. “If you notice something suspicious, notify onsite security or call 9-1-1. If You See Something, Say Something is a national anti-terrorism public awareness campaign that emphasizes the importance of reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement authorities,” officials stated.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to use the Chicago OEMC app for alerts, safety tips, weather updates, street closures, and event information. The app can be downloaded from both Apple App and Google Play stores or accessed at Chicago.gov/OEMC.

Traffic Control Aides will be present at major events to help manage traffic flow. Among this weekend’s events are:

- The Chicago Triathlon on August 23–24 at Grant Park, DuSable Lake Shore Drive, and Foster Beach. Around 7,500 athletes are expected for five different races across Saturday and Sunday.

- The Chicago House Music Festival and Conference runs August 21–24 at locations including the Chicago Cultural Center and Millennium Park.

- Taste of Greektown takes place on Halsted Street between Adams and Van Buren from August 22–24.

- Edison Park Fest occurs on N. Olmsted Ave., also from August 22–24.

- Navy Pier will hold a fireworks show on Saturday night at 10 p.m., part of a series running through August.

For public safety along Grant Park and the lakefront path, residents are reminded about numbered pole markers that can assist first responders in locating individuals during emergencies or serve as meeting points if people become separated.

The city recommends using public transportation to attend these large-scale events. Both CTA and Metra plan additional service over the weekend; more information can be found at TransitChicago.com or Metra.com.

“OEMC advises Chicagoans to be aware of weather conditions and to follow instructions and heed all warnings from public safety officials. Residents are encouraged to check the weather before heading out,” officials said.

Alerts regarding weather or emergencies will be issued by OEMC as needed throughout the weekend.

For more information on emergency preparedness or OEMC services—which include 9-1-1 call taking/dispatching, emergency management, traffic management, and coordination with police/fire departments—residents can visit Chicago.gov/OEMC or follow OEMC social media channels.