A winter storm is expected to sweep through the Midwest this weekend, Jan. 24-25, and St. Louis County is preparing for the consequences. Experts say that county residents could see anywhere from 6-12 inches of snow.
“St. Louis County is prepared, no matter where you stand, on the coldest season of the year,” county executive Sam Page said. “The forecast is ominous. When we wake up, we’ll see several inches of snow on the ground and bitterly cold temperatures, which will make driving extraordinarily hazardous.”
According to Stephanie Leon Streeter, Director of Transportation and Public Works, the ploughing of streets will “take some time” and could continue through next week. Pre-treating with rock salts will begin on Friday night, and Manager of Operations Ryan Pierce expects it will take road crews 8-10 hours to complete the pre-treatment.
Page urges county residents to stay home if they can. If you must leave your home, he urges you to drive slowly and leave plenty of time for yourself to reach your destination. Residents should avoid parking their cars on subdivisions streets — this allows snow ploughs to maneuver more easily.
Page’s final warning was about residents’ furry friends, saying, “They don’t tolerate this weather any better than we do.” Pets should not be left outside in the cold for longer than necessary, and they should avoid getting rock salt on their paws.
Kevin McKenna, Acting Director of Human Services, said that those in the unhoused community who are in need of a warming center should 211 for assistance and entry into a shelter. One such shelter is located at The Salvation Army at 10740 Page Ave., though it is unclear how many people they are able to shelter.
Walk-in day services are also offered from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Loaves and Fishes Resource Center, 2055 Concourse Drive.
“Importantly, we know the needs of our unhoused are not resolved by one night in a warm bed,” McKenna said. “We hope the residents accessing our services over the next few days are able to get connected to our other supportive services.”
