Mayor Spencer Declares State of Emergency as Severe Weather Shuts Down Non-Essential Government Services

Mayor Spencer Issues Emergency Declaration Amid Severe Winter Storm

Mayor Cara Spencer has officially declared a State of Emergency for the City of St. Louis as a dangerous winter storm and extreme cold grip the region. The declaration, which went into effect early Monday morning, provides the city with additional resources and legal tools to manage emergency operations and ensure the safety of residents. In a statement from the Mayor's office, officials emphasized that the current focus is on maintaining basic city services, reliable public safety, and clearing primary transportation routes.

As part of the emergency response, the Department of Human Services has activated Code Blue Level 4 protocols. This activation has brought more than 600 emergency shelter beds online to protect the city's unhoused population during the extreme cold, which is expected to persist throughout the day with temperatures remaining well below freezing.

City Government Operations and Meeting Cancellations

The severe weather has caused significant disruptions to the typical Monday government schedule. City Hall and other non-essential municipal buildings are closed for non-essential operations today, January 26, 2026. While non-essential offices are shuttered, essential personnel, including members of the Street Division and emergency services, remain active. Essential offices that are operating today were placed on a delayed opening schedule, officially beginning service at 10:30 a.m.

St. Louis City Municipal Court sessions scheduled for today have been officially canceled. According to a notice from the Municipal Court, all cases will be automatically continued to a later date, and no summons or warrants will be issued for failure to appear today. Defendants are advised to check CaseNet in the coming days for updated court appearances.

Status of Scheduled Boards and Commissions

Despite the widespread closures, two significant government bodies had sessions listed on the city's official calendar for today:

• Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees: A meeting was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. to discuss the management of city employee pension funds.
• St. Louis Preservation Board: The monthly meeting was set for 4:00 p.m. to review historical preservation applications and city architectural standards.

Given the closure of non-essential operations, these meetings are likely to be postponed or moved to a virtual format. The Board of Aldermen is not in full session today, as its next regular meeting is not scheduled until Friday, January 30. However, the Mayor’s emergency management team continues to coordinate with various departments to monitor the storm's impact on infrastructure and public utilities.