Full Notification

Extreme Cold Weather Information
With the extreme cold weather forecast for over the next several days, the City of Sturgis is urging residents to stay safe during these dangerous conditions.  First and foremost, the City is recommending that residents stay indoors in a warm location, preferably at home.  Residents are also encouraged to stay off roads if possible; recent weather has left roads slippery, and the extreme cold limits the effectiveness of de-icing treatments.

Residents are asked to be prepared for the extreme cold in all situations.  If you are forced to travel, please pack an emergency kit in case you are stranded in the cold; include jumper cables, sand, a flashlight, warm clothes, blankets, bottled water, and non-perishable snacks and keep the gas tank full.  For those that need to be outside, limit the time spent outdoors, wear (and layer) appropriate clothing, and understand the warning signs of frostbite and hypothermia.

The City of Sturgis has a warming station open at Young Auditorium on Tuesday until 8:00 pm and Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.  Keystone Place in Centreville has space available for those that need overnight space to keep warm.  They can be contacted at 269-467-7078.  After 8:00 p.m. calls for warming shelter assistance can be made to St. Joseph County Central Dispatch at 269-467-4195.  In case of a life-threatening emergency, please call 911.

For those staying at home, be sure to watch out for a few things during the cold snap.  First, keep an eye out for neighbors, especially the elderly; the elderly and young children are most susceptible to the cold weather.  Second, be prepared for power outages.  Keep supplies available.  If you experience a power outage, please contact the City of Sturgis Electric Department 24 hour power outage reporting ling at (269) 659-7255. 

In addition, watch out for freezing water pipes.  Signs pipes may be freezing include a slight decrease in water pressure, water becoming rusty or cloudy, and extremely cold water (less than 35 degrees).  Homes most at risk include those with a history of freezing water lines, those with smaller water service lines (5/8” meters), and those whose water service line travels under the street or driveway. The City of Sturgis recommends that residents allow a slow stream of water around the size of a pencil to run continuously from a single faucet.  This will not guarantee that water lines won’t freeze, but it is the best possible preventative measure.

Residents are also asked to use caution when using heating sources other than a furnace.  Only use generators and grills outdoors and away from windows to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.  Never attempt heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven. 

Over the next several days, please be sure to pay attention to weather reports and the City’s various communication methods for the most current information.  The City offers alerts through Nixel; you can sign up at sturgismi.gov.  You can also follow the City’s Facebook page at facebook.com/sturgismi.