(01/30/2019) - A visitor to Mid-Michigan from Key West, Florida, is definitely out of her element in the record breaking cold snap this week.
"Bone chilling, deep cold, makes you want to get inside," said Shari Sullenger.
The frigid weather made life miserable for everyone who ventured out in the elements on Wednesday.
"This is the coldest that I have been since I was 12 years old and lived in Fairbanks, Alaska," said Sullenger.
The high in Fairbanks today was actually 18 degrees. Flint only made it to 2 degrees -- and that was at 2 a.m. Mid-Michigan stayed below zero after that with wind chills tumbling to -40 at times.
Sullenger runs boat charters in Key West. She's visiting family in Mid-Michigan.
"My friends down there are saying it's so cold, it's 60 degrees, and I'm saying you guys have no idea," she added.
The "Arctic Plunge" headline pretty much sums it up. Most of the locals who ventured out Wednesday afternoon said they came prepared.
"I have bibs on, and two layers underneath that, and two or three layers here," said Jim Heck.
High school student Evan Connors described what he's wearing, "My hat, and double pair of jeans and just gloves."
A wise decision given that when it's this cold, frostbite can cause irreversible skin damage in as little as 10 minutes depending on the wind.
Malcolm Thomas is not taking any chances when it comes to keeping his house warm.
"Got an add-on on the back of the house and it gets pretty cold with that air seeping in, " he said. "Decided to come out here and grab there to avoid all issues."
He's in good company. Home Depot says heaters and car batteries are their top selling items right now.
But not everyone was hunkering down on Wednesday.
Finding a parking spot at the YMCA on Pierson Road was no easy task. The manager said Wednesday was the busiest day this week with parents and kids anxious to get out of the house.
"Luckily, my wife works for the school system so she's been off the whole week. She told me it's getting a little bit challenging to keep them occupied," Paul Czarnecki said,
A father-daughter trip to the gym seemed in order.
"Coming here to the gym is a perfect way for them to get out some energy," Czarnecki said.
His daughter said she actually hopes school is not cancelled on Friday.
"At home it kind of gets boring, there's stuff to do at school," Mallory Czarnecki said.