Studer Community Institute

Prepping for the chill

November 18, 2014
/ Mollye Barrows
/ community-dashboard

What does it take to keep warm when temperatures dip into the 30’s? Simply staying indoors with the heat on does the trick for many folks, but not everyone has that option or even wants to avoid the cold. Myrtle Grove neighbors Darrell Gipson and Steven Newhouse plan to go fishing tonight at Alabama Point in Orange Beach. “Two layers of everything,” Newhouse said. “Two pairs of longjohns, couple of pairs of socks, couple of pairs of pants. Layer like you’re up north.” The men like to fish when it turns cold like this. They say the smaller fish make their way into the pass where the water’s a bit warmer and that attracts the bigger fish they’re after, redfish and black drum. “They’re crazy, too,” said Gipson with a smile. Before they brave the cold to fish, they first took time to help Gipson’s father cover his citrus trees with blankets. “The cold last night nearly got them,” said Gipson. “We’re taking what we have and covering them up and we got a light on under them.” Plants, pipes, and pets are priority for a lot of people when the weather turns freezing. For others it’s simply staying bundled up until the mercury rises. The homeless at Sean’s Outpost off Michigan Highway in West Pensacola are layering their clothes, fueling up their heaters, and burning campfires. A dozen or so people have tents neatly erected throughout the woods at the outreach site. “I use lanterns,” said Nate, who chose not to give us his full name. “They produce heat. Got a propane heater.” The 55-year-old Georgia man says he lost his job to a sleeping disorder and has been living at the campsite for about a year. “It’s a little cold, but it ain’t going to last forever,” said Nate. “We look out for each other.” So do area churches, volunteers, and other nonprofits who regularly drop off food and other supplies when the weather turns cold. “Liberty Church brought us thermals, socks, and gloves,” said Lance McKane. Then patting his dog’s head he said, “Booger keeps me warm. Most of the time at dark we just go inside.” There are numerous nonprofit agencies in Escambia County that help the homeless and others who can’t maintain heat by providing shelter. Many take refuge at the Waterfront Rescue Mission or with assistance from the American Red Cross. In Santa Rosa County, churches also open their doors to give people shelter from the cold. The volunteers opened their doors last night and will again tonight and Thursday to accommodate those escaping near record breaking temperatures. But for locals like Steven Newhouse, you don’t run from the cold, you just prepare for it. “I was in the military,” Newhouse said. “They teach you to dress for it and keep going.”

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Prepping for the chill

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