Freedom of Information Act

FOIA is the state Freedom of Information Act. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140), records in the possession of public agencies may be accessed by the public upon written request. [Illinois FOIA statute] Pursuant to Section 2 (c), “public records” are all records, reports, forms, writings, letters, memoranda, books, papers, maps, photographs, cards, tapes, recordings, electronic data processing records, recorded information, and all other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, having been prepared or having been or being used, received, in the possession of or under the control of any public body.

The primary responsibility of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) is to better prepare Illinois for natural, manmade or technological disasters, hazards or acts of terrorism. IEMA-OHS coordinates the state’s disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery programs, maintains a 24-hour communications center and operates the State Emergency Operations Center. IEMA-OHS is also responsible for protecting Illinois residents from the potentially harmful effects of ionizing radiation, administering more than two dozen programs to protect citizens and the environment.

Prior to submitting a FOIA request, please visit the IEMA-OHS website for information concerning the various programs of IEMA-OHS. Your search may help you:

1. To obtain information that is free and immediately available;
2. To obtain information already available at a minimal fee;
3. To contact IEMA-OHS program staff who can answer questions and assist defining your written information request;
4. To contact other state agencies that may also have relevant information.
   
   

To access IEMA-OHS's information, a FOIA request must be submitted. The request can be submitted in one of three ways:

1. By printing out the FOIA request form, filling it out, and mailing it to the following address:
   Freedom of Information Officer
   IEMA-OHS
   1035 Outer Park Dr.
   Springfield, IL 62704
   
   
2. By filling out the FOIA request form and faxing it to the attention of the FOIA Officer at (217) 524-3698.
3. By completing the Online FOIA Request Form​ and then clicking the "Submit Request" button.
   
   

IEMA-OHS's public records are maintained and organized within each IEMA-OHS division by program, site location, facility name, grant/contract project, annual chronology, individual name, date, etc. Consequently, it is important to provide specific descriptive information when requesting information through the FOIA process in order to identify the appropriate division’s files, database, archive, etc.

IEMA-OHS public records are maintained in various media formats that may include paper, microfilm, digital images, and computerized records. In certain situations information cannot be cost effectively converted into a paper or electronic format. In these situations, special arrangements, such as onsite viewing or your use of commercial copy vendors, may be necessary.

This website information concerning the IEMA-OHS FOIA program is being provided as required by Section 4 of the FOIA (5 ILCS 140/4). This website information may be revised and/or updated in the future.​