HOUSTON, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Houston Police Department Chief Art Acevedo said Tuesday he believes that two homeless people died because of freezing temperatures.
In the social media, Acevedo also asked for the public's help to assist organizations, like Homeless Outreach Team and Patrol, to find the homeless population shelters.
Freezing temperatures across parts of Texas have prompted efforts to help the homeless stay warm and traffic officials to warn about possible icy roads.
The coldest night of the season, thus far, is expected Tuesday night. Temperatures will drop into minus four degree Celsius in Houston.
The Houston Red Cross opened a temporary Warming Center from 8:00 p.m. Tuesday until 8:00 a.m. Wednesday for those in need of a warm place to stay overnight.
U.S. National Weather Service issued a hard freeze warning until Wednesday morning for parts of Central Texas, including Austin and south to San Antonio. A freeze warning for South Texas included McAllen, Edinburg, Pharr and Weslaco.
Tuesday's deep freeze stretched from South Texas to Canada and from Montana through New England. In Texas, freezing temperatures were reported in Amarillo, Lubbock, Dallas, Austin and Houston.