An artic system that has put Mississippi in a deep freeze with nighttime temperatures in the teens and highs reaching either at or below freezing, is raising concerns for homeless people out in the elements and waterlines for both the city and homeowners.

“We’ve been fortunate so far,” said North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield, who is over public works and utilities, “We’ve had only one 6-inch pipe break at Adams and Fayette Street, but it has been fixed.”

Some city residents, he said, have not been as fortunate.

“We’ve had 10 or 12 calls from people wanting us to come turn their water off because they’ve had broken pipes.”

Locally, homeless shelters opened their doors to people seeking refuge from the cold.

Earnie Hall, director of River City Rescue Mission on Washington Street, said he has a room he opened up and moved in beds.

“We’re prepared. The sheriff called me up and told me to be prepared, so we’ve been looking for it,” he said. But so far, few people have taken advantage of the offer of shelter.

“It’s not wet cold; it’s just cold,” he said. “If it were sleeting and snowing, we’re probably be filled up. We’re here for them if they need us.”

Mayfield said people need to take precautions to protect pipes when the temperatures get below freezing, adding they need to let their faucets trickle. If they have outside faucets on the house, they need to be covered.

If their homes are built standard, that is off the ground, they need to wrap their pipes with insulation, and if they have vent openings around the house, they need to cover most of them so there is not a direct flow of wind hitting the pipes.

The abnormal cold temperatures are expected to stick around through the end of the week and into the weekend.

Warren County Emergency Management Director John Elfer said that although the predicated precipitation that didn’t materialize this past weekend, residents should still be prepared for “dangerously cold temperatures for the next few days.”

“Please continue to ensure your heating sources are in good working order and check on the elderly and infirmed,” Elfer said Tuesday, adding that folks should also check on their outdoor pets.