Public Notice: Winter Storm Emergency and City Service Closures

Official State of Emergency Declared

Mayor Paul Young has declared a formal State of Emergency for the City of Memphis, effective through the week of January 26, 2026. This declaration was issued in response to significant accumulations of sleet and ice from Winter Storm Fern. The emergency order facilitates federal reimbursement for emergency expenditures and allows for streamlined contracting to manage road clearing and public safety efforts throughout the metropolitan area.

School and Government Closures

Due to hazardous road conditions and extreme cold, the following institutions and offices will remain closed on Monday, January 26, 2026:

• Memphis-Shelby County Schools: All campuses are closed. All extracurricular activities and scheduled school events have been canceled for the day.
• Suburban School Districts: Public schools in Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland, and Millington are also closed.
• County Government: The Shelby County Board of Commissioners meeting scheduled for this afternoon has been canceled and rescheduled for February 2. Additionally, the Shelby County General Sessions courts, Clerk’s Office, and Assessor of Property office are closed.
• Higher Education: Rhodes College and Christian Brothers University remain closed to in-person activities. The University of Memphis has transitioned to modified operations, including remote classes and work for all faculty and staff.

Utility and Infrastructure Updates

Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) has announced that all community offices will be closed on January 26. While the utility reports that its three primary services are currently functional, crews remain on standby to address spotty outages caused by icy limbs and individual line failures. MLGW has confirmed that service disconnections for non-payment are suspended during this period of extreme weather. Public Works officials report that while priority routes have received multiple plow runs, side streets remain treacherous and unplowed. Motorists are strongly urged to stay off the roads to allow emergency crews to work.

Public Health and Emergency Shelters

In response to the dangerous temperatures, the city has activated emergency warming centers to assist vulnerable residents:

• Hospitality Hub: Located at 590 Washington Ave., currently open for women only.
• First Baptist Church: Located at 200 E. Parkway North, operating as a warming center for men only.

Separately, the Shelby County Health Department continues to advise residents to monitor for symptoms related to a recent measles exposure alert at Memphis International Airport. While the primary threat is currently the winter storm, health officials request that anyone experiencing fever or a red rash contact their healthcare provider via telephone before attempting to visit a clinic or emergency room in person.