State of Emergency issued for St. Louis County

Severe storms expected to hit the region on Friday night

Apr. 18, 2026 at 12:22am

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A dramatic landscape painting in muted tones, with a small town nestled in a valley beneath a sky filled with dark, foreboding storm clouds, conveying the overwhelming power of nature.As a severe storm system approaches, local and state officials take emergency measures to protect the St. Louis region.St. Louis Today

St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page has declared a State of Emergency ahead of severe storms forecast to hit the region on Friday night. The declaration follows a similar State of Emergency activation by Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe.

Why it matters

Issuing a State of Emergency allows local and state authorities to mobilize emergency resources, coordinate disaster relief efforts, and take additional precautions to protect public safety in the face of an impending severe weather event.

The details

The State of Emergency declaration by Dr. Sam Page comes as the National Weather Service has predicted a high risk of strong thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, and potential flash flooding across the St. Louis metropolitan area on Friday evening. Governor Kehoe's statewide emergency declaration enables state agencies to provide assistance to local governments as needed.

  • The State of Emergency was issued by St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page on April 18, 2026.
  • The severe storms are expected to hit the St. Louis region on Friday night, April 18, 2026.

The players

Dr. Sam Page

The St. Louis County Executive who declared a State of Emergency ahead of the severe storms.

Mike Kehoe

The Governor of Missouri who also activated a statewide State of Emergency in response to the impending severe weather.

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What’s next

Residents in the St. Louis area are advised to monitor weather forecasts closely, prepare emergency kits, and heed any evacuation orders or other safety instructions from local authorities as the severe storms approach.

The takeaway

The declarations of a State of Emergency at both the county and state level underscore the seriousness of the severe weather threat facing the St. Louis region and the need for coordinated emergency preparedness and response efforts to protect public safety.