'I would probably die': how to help someone in this bitter cold

DETROIT (FOX 2) - The brutal, terrible cold is here and we're all trying to keep warm. But for the people who have nowhere to go in the frigid weather, a shelter is answering the call.

As arctic temps continue to make their way across Southeast Michigan, crews from Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries are on a mission to rescue homeless people from the cold. It's personal for Michael Colbert and coworker Herbert Morris. They both also called the streets home.

"It's tough. 20-some odd years ago I was just like them. (I was) homeless, (in the) penitentiary, everything," Colbert said.

54 hours of negative temperatures possible for Detroit area

Tuesday, they rode around to every street corner to help homeless people. They pick them up and take them to the Detroit Rescue Mission so they can shower, get food, a warm bed and much more.

"Link them to good services that will eliminate homelessness," DRMM President Dr. Chad Audi said.

Colbert and Morris answered the call throughout the day. One call took them to East 7 Mile and Ryan in Detroit where they found Earl Brown.

"Real important. I'll be 68 so I would probably die," Brown said.

But not everyone is willing to go seasily. Some people resist the help. 

"Frustrating because we know that in these type of elements people can die or lose limbs I've seen a number of times people losing limbs because of frostbite," Morris said.

Metro Detroit school and business closings

So the search continues to save lives.

If you need help or see someone that needs to be rescued from the bitter cold, contact DRMM at 313-993-6703 or go to DRMM.org.

If you see someone who needs a ride, LYFT is offering that too. Just use the code DTWJAYDEN19 and transportation to warming centers across Metro Detroit will be provided:

All five Oak Street Health Center locations:
    27155 Cherry Hill Rd. Inkster, MI 48141
    1142 E 9 Mile Rd. Hazel Park, MI 48030
    11260 E Jefferson Ave. Detroit, MI 48214
    18610 Fenkell Ave. Detroit, MI 48223
    13667 Eureka Rd. Southgate, MI 48195
Lathrup Village City Hall    27400 Southfield Rd. Lathrup Village MI 48076
Costick Activities Center    28600 W 11 Mile Rd, Farmington Hills 48336
Oak Park Community Center    14300 Oak Park Blvd,Oak Park 48237
Cass Community Social Services    1534 Webb Street Detroit, MI 48206
Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (Men Only)    3535 3rd Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201
Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (Women & Children)    3840 Fairview Detroit MI 48214
Lakeridge Village    15941 Fairfield St, Detroit, MI 48238
Orion Center    1335 Joslyn Rd, Lake Orion, MI 48360
Meadowbrook Commons    25075 Meadowbrook Rd, Novi, MI 48375
Novi Public Library    45255 W 10 Mile Rd, Novi, MI 48375
Troy Community Center    3179 Livernois Rd, Troy, MI 48084
Team Wellness Center    Eastern Market, 2925 Russell St, Detroit, MI 48207
St Mary's Student Parish    331 Thompson St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Adams Butzel Center    10500 Lyndon St, Detroit, MI 4823
Butzel Family Center    7737 Kercheval Detroit MI 48214
Clemente Center    2631 Bagley St, Detroit, MI 48216
Coleman A Young Recreational Center    2751 Robert Bradby Dr, Detroit, MI 48207
Crowell Recreation Center    16630 Lahser Rd, Detroit, MI 48219
Farwell recreation Center    2711 Outer Dr E, Detroit, MI 48234
Heilmann Community Center    19601 Crusade St Detroit, MI 48205
Kemeny Center    2260 S Fort St, Detroit, MI 48217
Lasky Center    13200 Fenelon St, Detroit, MI 48212
Northwest Activity Center    18100 Meyers Rd, Detroit, MI 48235
Patton Recreation Center    2301 Woodmere St, Detroit, MI 48209
Williams Recreation Center    8431 Rosa Parks Blvd, Detroit, MI 48206