The holidays are over, but the weather outside has remained a bit more frightful than most Coast residents prefer — frozen pipes led to a busted water line at a West Harri­son County condo complex Tuesday and boil water notices in both Bay St. Louis and Waveland; and some Coast residents ushered in the New Year from within the confines of a Cold Weather Shelter.

According to fire officials, a rup­ture in a sprinkler system pipe at a Pass Christian condo complex caused at least eight homes to flood this week.

Local temperatures plunged be­low freezing most of the week. In re­sponse to the deep freeze, Emergen­cy Management Agencies across the Coast opened Cold Weather Shel­ters. Officials say shelters are auto­matically opened anytime the temperature drops below freezing.

The freezing temperatures also caused problems for many Bay St. Louis and Waveland residents. After wa­ter systems failed Tuesday, both cities issued “boil water” notices due to loss of water pressure, which creates a situ­ation where contaminants can siphon back into the system.

The city of Diamondhead experienced a much different problem this week — nearly 1,300 residents were left with­out electricity early Tuesday morning after a truck crashed into a power pole, knock­ing down lines. According to Coast Electric Power Asso­ciation, linemen had the lines back up by around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Emergency officials say with extended cold weather also comes the threat of fire hazards.

Mississippi Fire Marshal Mike Chaney has issued a heating safety alert.

“Everyone must use extra precaution when using space heaters,” Chaney said in a news release. “Space heat­ing poses a much higher risk of fire, death and injury than central heating. And, it cannot be stressed enough that you should never use a stove or oven to heat a home.”

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Story by Stacey Cato