https://www.sjcindiana.com/1933/Emergency-Management-EMA

Saint Joseph County Emergency Management Agency Indiana, 125 S. Lafayette Boulevard 1st Floor, South Bend, IN (2026)

06/29/2026

St. Joseph County – 2026 Summer Cooling Locations

In response to the extreme temperatures during the summer months, St. Joseph County has cooling sites throughout the county for our residents to use if they are in need to get out of extreme temperatures. Please note that currently, there are no overnight cooling locations available, but the following sites are open during the greatest heat of the day.

Locations Closed for Independence Day 7/4 and Labor Day 9/1
South Bend Cooling Centers
• St. Joseph Public Library Main Branch 304 S. Main Street, South Bend Monday-Thursday 9am-8pm, Friday-Saturday 9am-5pm, closed Sunday
• Martin Luther King Jr DREAM Center- ID is required 1522 W. Linden Avenue, South Bend Monday-Friday: 9am – 9pm Saturday: 9am – 5pm Sunday: 9am – 2pm
• Charles Black Community Center 3419 W Washington Street, South Bend Monday-Thursday 9am-9pm, Friday 9am-5pm, closed Saturday-Sunday
• Dismas Hub 402 E South St, 574-233-8522 Monday-Friday 1pm -7pm (www.dismashouseofindiana.org/programs)
• Health Plus Indiana 201 S. Williams St 574-234-2870 M,W 8:30am-4:30pm, T,Th 8:30am-6:30pm, F 8:30am-12:30pm
• Howard Park Event Center 219 S. St. Louis Blvd, South Bend Monday- Friday: 8am-8pm, Saturday 10am-8pm, Sunday 12pm-6pm
• Imani & Unidad 234 Chapin St. 574-288-2887 Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
• Kroc Center 900 W Western Avenue, South Bend Monday, Tuesday & Friday 9am-12pm
• O’Brien Center 321 East Walter Street, South Bend Monday-Thursday 5am-9pm, Friday 5am-7:30pm, Saturday 7am-3pm, Sunday 9am-2pm
• Unity Gardens 3701 Prast Blvd Monday-Friday 9am-7pm, Saturdays and Sundays 9am-5pm

Mishawaka Cooling Centers
• Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Library Main Branch 209 Lincolnway East, Mishawaka Monday-Thursday 9am-7pm, Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 9am-4pm, closed Sunday • Mishawaka Food Pantry 315 Lincoln Way West, Mishawaka Monday-Friday 10am-2pm

Water Bottle Filling Stations
• O’Brien Center 321 W Walter St South Bend • Howard Park 219 St. Louis Blvd, South Bend
• St. Joseph Public Library Main Branch 304 S. Main Street, South Bend
• Charles Black Community Center 3419 W. Washington St, South Bend https://alrt.se/u/j50yfNs002v

12/15/2025

St. Joseph County Winter Weather Operations – December 13, 2026

Thank you to everyone for your patience during the recent winter storm. With forecasts indicating the potential for snow accumulation this weekend, St. Joseph County crews are prepared to respond as conditions warrant. We would also like to provide a brief overview of what residents can expect during winter weather events. Moving forward, this platform will be used to share updates and keep residents informed during future storms. Future notices will be shorter and not contain the general information noted below.

Winter weather provides many challenges for road crews clearing the County’s over 2,100 lane miles of roadway and almost 850 cul de secs. During winter weather events, St. Joseph County Highway crews work to keep roads passable and safe for travel based on available resources, equipment, and weather conditions.

❄️ Level of Service – What to Expect
St. Joseph County does not operate under a bare-pavement policy during winter events. Our focus is on maintaining passable roadways. Passable means vehicles can safely travel at speeds appropriate for the weather conditions; it does not mean bare or dry pavement.

Main and secondary roads are prioritized first to maintain mobility and emergency access throughout the County. There are only a handful of Main Roads where the entire roadway is salted. On all other roads, salt is applied only at the critical areas such as bridges, intersections, curves and hills.

Subdivisions and residential streets are addressed only after main routes are passable. Initial subdivision plowing typically consists of one pass in and one pass out to allow two-way traffic. This method does not clear the roadway curb to curb but provides sufficient width for two-way traffic.

Curb-to-curb cleanup in subdivisions occurs only when weather conditions allow and when it does not compromise main and secondary road operations. Even at this stage, bare pavement should not be expected.

Bare pavement should not be expected during or immediately following winter weather events, especially when temperatures remain below freezing. Depending on snowfall amounts and sustained cold conditions, it may take several days of above-freezing temperatures before roads return to bare pavement.

Subdivision roads are not salted. During significant snowfall events, snow can become compacted on subdivision streets. When temperatures rise above freezing, this compacted snow often turns to slush, and because thawing is uneven, patches of ice can remain on the roadway. Our crews will return to subdivisions to plow slush and address icy areas as best as possible. These conditions can worsen when temperatures fluctuate between above freezing during the day and refreeze overnight. While crews work to address these issues as quickly as possible, it may take several consecutive days of above-freezing temperatures for conditions to fully improve.

🔄 Cul-de-Sac Operations
During the initial pass in a cul-de-sac, snow is pushed toward the center of the roadway to allow access and maintain traffic movement. When crews are able to return for full cleanup, the snow is redistributed more evenly along the edge of the roadway. As a result, every home within a cul-de-sac will receive snow along its frontage.

There are more than 850 cul-de-sacs in the unincorporated areas of the County, and completing full cleanup in all of them takes considerable time. We appreciate residents’ patience as crews work through these areas.

To help crews plow more effectively, residents are asked to avoid parking along cul-de-sacs during and immediately following snow events whenever possible.

🚗 Please Drive for Conditions
Motorists are reminded to slow down, allow extra stopping distance, and stay at least 200 feet behind snowplows. Plow trucks may stop or back up to apply materials—please give them room to work.

📞 Questions or Concerns
For non-emergency questions, please contact the Department of Infrastructure, Planning & Growth at (574) 235-7800 during regular business hours. For emergencies, please call 911.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as our crews work throughout the winter season to maintain safe and passable roads. https://alrt.se/u/gjkmfesqkJZ

12/15/2025

St. Joseph County Winter Weather Operations – December 13, 2026

Thank you to everyone for your patience during the recent winter storm. With forecasts indicating the potential for snow accumulation this weekend, St. Joseph County crews are prepared to respond as conditions warrant. We would also like to provide a brief overview of what residents can expect during winter weather events. Moving forward, this platform will be used to share updates and keep residents informed during future storms. Future notices will be shorter and not contain the general information noted below.

Winter weather provides many challenges for road crews clearing the County’s over 2,100 lane miles of roadway and almost 850 cul de secs. During winter weather events, St. Joseph County Highway crews work to keep roads passable and safe for travel based on available resources, equipment, and weather conditions.

❄️ Level of Service – What to Expect
St. Joseph County does not operate under a bare-pavement policy during winter events. Our focus is on maintaining passable roadways. Passable means vehicles can safely travel at speeds appropriate for the weather conditions; it does not mean bare or dry pavement.

Main and secondary roads are prioritized first to maintain mobility and emergency access throughout the County. There are only a handful of Main Roads where the entire roadway is salted. On all other roads, salt is applied only at the critical areas such as bridges, intersections, curves and hills.

Subdivisions and residential streets are addressed only after main routes are passable. Initial subdivision plowing typically consists of one pass in and one pass out to allow two-way traffic. This method does not clear the roadway curb to curb but provides sufficient width for two-way traffic.

Curb-to-curb cleanup in subdivisions occurs only when weather conditions allow and when it does not compromise main and secondary road operations. Even at this stage, bare pavement should not be expected.

Bare pavement should not be expected during or immediately following winter weather events, especially when temperatures remain below freezing. Depending on snowfall amounts and sustained cold conditions, it may take several days of above-freezing temperatures before roads return to bare pavement.

Subdivision roads are not salted. During significant snowfall events, snow can become compacted on subdivision streets. When temperatures rise above freezing, this compacted snow often turns to slush, and because thawing is uneven, patches of ice can remain on the roadway. Our crews will return to subdivisions to plow slush and address icy areas as best as possible. These conditions can worsen when temperatures fluctuate between above freezing during the day and refreeze overnight. While crews work to address these issues as quickly as possible, it may take several consecutive days of above-freezing temperatures for conditions to fully improve.

🔄 Cul-de-Sac Operations
During the initial pass in a cul-de-sac, snow is pushed toward the center of the roadway to allow access and maintain traffic movement. When crews are able to return for full cleanup, the snow is redistributed more evenly along the edge of the roadway. As a result, every home within a cul-de-sac will receive snow along its frontage.

There are more than 850 cul-de-sacs in the unincorporated areas of the County, and completing full cleanup in all of them takes considerable time. We appreciate residents’ patience as crews work through these areas.

To help crews plow more effectively, residents are asked to avoid parking along cul-de-sacs during and immediately following snow events whenever possible.

🚗 Please Drive for Conditions
Motorists are reminded to slow down, allow extra stopping distance, and stay at least 200 feet behind snowplows. Plow trucks may stop or back up to apply materials—please give them room to work.

📞 Questions or Concerns
For non-emergency questions, please contact the Department of Infrastructure, Planning & Growth at (574) 235-7800 during regular business hours. For emergencies, please call 911.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as our crews work throughout the winter season to maintain safe and passable roads. https://alrt.se/u/x4X7T5sAXqD

12/13/2025

❄️ St. Joseph County Winter Weather Operations Update

Thank you to everyone for your patience during the recent winter storm. With forecasts indicating the potential for snow accumulation this weekend, St. Joseph County crews are prepared to respond as conditions warrant. We would also like to provide a brief overview of what residents can expect during winter weather events. Moving forward, we plan to utilize this platform to share updates and keep residents informed during future storms.

🚧 What to Expect

The County does not operate under a bare-pavement policy. Our goal is to keep roads passable, not necessarily dry and bare.
Main and secondary roads are prioritized first for mobility and emergency access. Salt is only used primarily at critical locations such as bridges, intersections, curves, and hills.
Residential streets and subdivisions are plowed after main routes are passable. Initial plowing typically includes one pass in and one pass out to allow two-way traffic.
Subdivision roads are not salted. Salt is only applied at the entrance(s) and hills in Subdivisions. Compacted snow, slush, and refreezing can occur during temperature swings, and crews will address these areas as conditions allow.
Cul-de-sacs: During the first pass, snow is pushed toward the center for access. During full cleanup, snow is redistributed along the edges, meaning all homes in a cul-de-sac will receive snow along their frontage. With about 850 cul-de-sacs in the unincorporated area of St. Joseph County, full cleanup takes time—thank you for your patience. If possible, please avoid parking along cul-de-sacs during and after snow events when possible.

🚗 Drive for Conditions
Slow down, allow extra stopping distance, and stay at least 200 feet behind snowplows. Give crews room to work.

📄 More Information
For full details on St. Joseph County’s winter operations, including levels of service and snow-plowing procedures, please see the full document here:
👉 12-12-2025 Winter Operations Notice

📞 Questions
During business hours, 8:00 AM to 4:30 on Monday through Friday, for non-emergency questions or requests, contact Infrastructure, Planning & Growth at (574) 235-7800 during business hours. In case of an emergency please call 911.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as our crews work to keep roads safe and passable this winter. https://alrt.se/u/j50yfNsyZkD

11/17/2025

The Mishawaka County Annex Building is now Open. We appreciate your understanding during this brief closure.

Saint Joseph County Emergency Management Agency Indiana

06/29/2026

12/15/2025

12/15/2025

12/13/2025

11/17/2025

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