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.”
