Extreme Winter Weather Info

The St. Louis region is due to see a major cold snap into single-digit temperatures with a high chance of snow this week. We’ve prepared some resources about cold weather safety for our community, including information about warming centers in St. Louis where folks can hunker down in the snow and wind chill to come.

We encourage our residents to take precautions in anticipation of the coming winter weather. This includes parking your car off the street to make room for snow plows prior to anticipated heavy snow. We’ve prepared a detailed story at https://www.marylandheights.com/news_detail_T31_R1526.php for those seeking information on plow operation. In addition, we encourage residents to prepare for possible effects of extreme low temperatures at home in order to ensure no damage to pipes or heating systems occurs. This includes:

  • Disconnecting faucets exposed to exterior walls or that are located outside the home
  • Running water at a trickle through unheated pipes/through pipes exposed to outdoor elements
  • Keeping your thermostat set to consistent room temperature even when not in the home to prevent possible freezing
  • If going away for a long period of time during cold weather, keep your temperature at least at 55 degrees to reduce risk of freezing. If possible, ask a trusted family member, friend, or neighbor to check on the property while you are away to ensure that no emergencies occur.

The primary St. Louis County Warming Center that services the Maryland Heights area is The Salvation Army Family Haven Shelter, located at 10740 Page Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63132. They can be called at (314) 423-7770. This is a 24/7 Warming Shelter that will remain open through March 31st. A full list of other warming centers located throughout St. Louis City can be found at: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/live-work/warming-centers.cfm, and a full list of warming centers located throughout the state of Missouri can be found at: https://mogov.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=fdba8e0ee9cf45fe83ed6c644e7b2bcb. A PDF list of available shelters prepared by the St. Louis County Department of Public Health can be accessed by clicking here.

In addition, both the Government Center and Community Center will accept those who need a place to get out of the cold during normal operating hours. However, we don’t have any shelter supplies available at our facilities – a dedicated shelter is needed for those looking for overnight/long-term assistance.

If you or someone you know is experiencing housing instability, call the St. Louis regional housing helpline at (314) 802-5444. If you need assistance finding a shelter, you can call the United Way at 2-1-1. As always, if you are having an emergency, please call 911.

Finally, we encourage our community to assist each other during times where our most vulnerable populations may be in need. One such way is by donating extra food, clothing, and shelter supplies (blankets, sleeping bags, etc…) to agencies in the area. Places to donate include local shelters like New Life Evangelistic Center in Overland (2428 Woodson Rd.), one of many agencies accepting supplies in the face of a surge in demand they will be facing throughout the winter.

If you have any other questions about resources related to utilities, food, clothing, etc., you can call our Community Development Social Worker, Claire, at (314) 738-2233.