I'd go with the portable.
Do you mean the large portables that exhaust outside? Or the super portable (Lifesmart) I linked to just above?
Don't you need to have a window open if you use an evaporative aircon (or even for exhaust for a refrigerative aircon)?
If it wasn't for the fact that it's temporary, I'd say move to a safer area.
Another option is a couple of fans. I found on hot nights if you lie on top of a slightly damp towel and have the fan blow air over you, it's not too bad. The damp towel draws a lot of heat out of your body.
I have two small high ones I can keep open, and found one portable with a hose long enough to reach one of those.
I am happy to report that I finally understand that no where is safer :) We don't really have police presence/action anymore and the criminals aren't abiding by our descriptions of safe neighbourhood. (Big, recent learning curve for me.)
Yeah, I definitely do all the basic tricks: open windows during cool air, shut them and curtains during warm air (these two already cool it many degrees), fans, wet sheet, sleep on floor, etc.