As North Texas braces for another temperature drop, Fort Worth Police say they’re investigating two deaths this week believed to be caused by the cold. Officers say on Tuesday, they were called to the 2900 block of E. Seminary Dr. around 4:41 p.m. Firefighters arrived on-scene to find an unres ponsive woman in the field, who was pronounced dead. On Wednesday, around 12:5 p.m., police said they were called to the 6900 block of Northwest Loop 820 service road. They said firefighters once again responded to the scene and found a man dead inside a tent. Police said that although they’re still investigating, they believe both people were experiencing homelessness. “We have increased patrols during the extreme weather conditions we have had, but not specifically in these neighborhoods. The increase was city wide,” a police spokesperson said in an email to NBC 5. He also said they are aware of more cold temperatures this weekend, “and will have resources available for anyone that needs a warming station or shelter.” Craig Trojacek, spokesperson for the Fort Worth Fire Department, said their HOPE Team has been working to stay ahead of the cold weather impact, starting their cold weather messaging in the fall. “Go out there and make the message clear: It’s going to get dangerously cold. We beg you to please seek shelter,” he said. But, it’s not easy: There is only one of two HOPE Teams covering the city’s 460+ square miles. And sometimes, people don’t want help. “Some of it is because they’re worried about leaving their personal belongings back,” Trojacek said. He said his team talked to nearly 500 people experiencing homelessness ahead of the winter storm, and over 300 of them refused help. “We cannot force anybody to do anything they do not want to do,” he said. He said the HOPE Team comes back to check on anyone who chooses to stay outside. “Because our guys are out there day in and day out throughout the year, they know these individuals on a first-name basis most of the time,” he said. The department said they handed out over 300 blankets, gloves and handwarmers and helped take 150 people to local shelters during the winter storm. Trojacek said they also reunited over 20 people with their loved ones. In a picture posted to Facebook this week, the department showed one HOPE Team member carrying a man in distress on his back during Sunday’s storm check-ups. Fort Worth Fire says their HOPE Team came back to check on a homeless encampment where people had refused to leave prior to the storm. “Due to the distance from the transport bus and the steep terrain, the team encountered significant logistical challenges. Four individuals had no shoes, as their footwear had become soaked and frozen overnight. Because of the conditions and terrain, the team made the decision to physically carry individuals up the hill to ensure their safety,” the department explained. Trojacek said the HOPE Team also responds to injuries, which include hypothermia during extreme cold. He said they are positioned to do the same this next go around. “It’s a big task, it’s a community task,” he said. One of the shelters that the City of Fort Worth partners with is the Presbyterian Night Shelter, one of the places for people to check-in for help during the cold. Brenda Rios, Chief Philanthropy Officer, said they had about a thousand people per night during the storm, which included men, women, and children. “Our demand surged,” she said. She said they extended intake hours, dished out more food and meals, and even had staff stay overnight to be able to serve. “We had staff that slept here on campus so that they didn’t have to drive out in the icy weather or be stranded on the side of the road,” Rios said. She said they’re prepared to do it all again, as long as the city’s overflow shelters are activated, they too are in emergency mode. Rios said it’s “heartbreaking” to hear that police are investigating two cold-weather-related deaths. She said, although she doesn’t know the circumstances around those deaths, she wants everyone to know there is a warm place for them. “I mean, the conditions are so harsh that everybody deserves to have a safe, warm place to sleep, just to rest their head and so that they can figure things out the next day,” Rios said. NBC 5 asked the City of Fort Worth if it will be adding any additional resources to help keep people out of the cold. A spokesperson said the city is discussing that now. “A key part of emergency operations is monitoring the situation and escalating resources to meet changing needs. We do this both during an emergency to make in-the-moment decisions and activations as well as in after-action reviews to make decisions for future responses. The City will be reviewing how we can continue to build and strengthen our response during a cold weather emergency,” said Bethany Warner with the city manager’s office. ...read more read less