PORT ARTHUR — Several melted down candles and an ashtray filled with crushed cigarette butts lay next to a mattress on the floor of an abandoned house on Fort Worth Avenue.

Small bags of chips and some candy bars are near the head of the bed and two religious pictures are in a corner. Tennis shoes are arranged neatly near the door, well worn house slippers not far away.

Particles of dust dance in Port Arthur Police Office Rocky Bridges’ flashlight beam, moving past a small unused TV, plastic bottles filled with urine and clothes.

“Abandoned houses like this are all over town,” Bridges said. “People will call if they see a lot of activity but we don’t usually get calls during the daytime.”

A blanket covers a window, darkening the small room and keeping the freezing wind at bay somewhat and thin blankets serve as bedding.

The unknown man staying in the vacant home may be out of the cold but is living in a home with no utilities and no heat.

Even colder temperatures are in the forecast this week.

Matthew Clay, meteorologist with the National Weather Service-Lake Charles, said an Arctic cold front is expected to push through the area on Thursday, ushering in some of the coldest temperatures seen in the region since 1996.

Gusty winds will accompany the low temperatures thus dropping the wind chill factor into the single digits with negative digits predicted for the lakes areas.

Ken Hill, director of Port Cities Rescue Mission in Port Arthur, said there has been an increase in people looking for a place to stay, which is normal during cold weather.

“What’s putting a strain on us is the recent closing of a Beaumont shelter,” Hill said. “They are scrambling to find places for those people, and are calling us.”

Typically, during cold weather, people who normally do not want to stay at the mission and abide by rules set there, will come in and make application to stay there, Hill said.

Port Cities can house about 250 people.

Some of the city’s homeless end up arrested for minor incidents during cold snaps and spend a day or two in jail, Bridges said.

“This gives them a chance to clean up a bit, brush their teeth, take a shower and have hot meals,” he said. “But this is not the answer to the problem.”

Bridges takes time out of his day to check on the area’s homeless, often bringing them hot coffee or a bite to eat, estimates there are about 50 or less persons in the city who are truly homeless.

The Texas Department of State Health Services offers cold weather health precautions, saying freezing temperatures, chilling winds and snow can cause serious health problems including frostbite and hypothermia.

Precautions

• Wear several layers of loose-fitting clothing, mittens, a hat and a face cover when outdoors.

• Stay dry.

• Be extra cautious in the wind. A strong wind, even in only moderately cold weather, can cause a wind chill far below freezing.

• At the first signs of possible frostbite – redness or pain in any skin area – get out of the cold or protect any exposed skin.

• Watch for hypothermia symptoms.

• Confusion, drowsiness, slurred speech, a drop in blood pressure, shallow breathing and a pinkish tint to the skin.

• Anyone with hypothermia symptoms is in immediate danger and should receive medical help right away.

• Check on elderly or sick people, especially if they live alone or in isolated areas.

mmeaux@panews.com