JEFFERSON COUNTY — Due to the continued state of emergency in Mt. Vernon and Jefferson County, residents are reminded that there will be a boil water order until an all clear has been given. This could take several days.

In preparation for a loss of water, residents should turn off water heaters and disable their ice makers in their freezers.

Electric water heaters can be disabled by shutting off the breaker, while gas units should turn to pilot only by the valve. This will reduce damage to your water heater and can prevent a fire.

Ice makers can continue to try to pull water into the system and could burn up if there’s no water. This will reduce damage to your machine and can prevent a fire.

ALL fire districts in Jefferson County are under a burn ban until further notice.

The Rend Lake Conservancy District urged all of their customers yesterday to put a boil water order in place. In Jefferson County: Mt. Vernon, Bonnie, Dix-Kell, Northeast, Waltonville, and Woodlawn customers are all under a boil water order.

Residents who need water are encouraged to stop at the Rolland Lewis Building at Mt. Vernon’s Veterans Park. Volunteers are handing out bottled water with a limit of one case per person. Mt. Vernon City Councilman Mike Young tells WMIX there is large supply of bottled water on hand.