Flagstaff, Arizona (AZ Family) — An arctic blast is dropping temperatures across the country, including Arizona.

As overnight temperatures dip into the 20s in Flagstaff, homeless advocacy groups are working to keep people safe and warm.

Ross Schaefer, Executive Director flagstaff shelter servicessaid the freezing cold was deadly.

In extremely cold conditions, hypothermia can occur in as little as 10 minutes and death can occur within an hour.

Nationwide, 700 homeless people die from hypothermia every year. There are about three to five deaths a year in Coconino County, Schaefer said.

“People are freezing to death in northern Arizona,” Schaefer said. “We’ve already had deaths from exposure this winter. So we want people to come indoors because they might not wake up in certain situations.”

Schaefer said it’s been a difficult year since the county’s only other emergency shelter closed in October.

“Since that day, we have set up an overflow shelter to ensure that the people who were staying at that organization each night had a place to escape,” Schaefer said. “Instead of serving 175 people here, we can serve 250 people if we want to, and that’s what we’re doing now.

Marvin Sutherland has been at the shelter for 15 months and said it helps to have a place to stay rather than fighting the cold outside.

“We had to keep moving all night,” Sutherland said.

Kind volunteers and staff also provide jackets, blankets, and sleeping bags to people who refuse to stay in shelters. We also provide meals and medical care.

“Obviously, the risk is very high here in northern Arizona as temperatures rise and it can become dangerous for people to be outside,” Schaefer said.

She added that they always need volunteers, but the public can help by simply keeping an eye out for those in need.

“You can call someone,” Schaefer said. “You can also call the non-emergency police number. We have resources to help you in that regard.”

of flagstaff police department The non-emergency number is 928-774-1414. The shelter can be contacted at 928-225-2533.

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