Days of freezing temperatures gripped south Louisiana including on Mardi Gras.
Despite the chill and icy conditions, the Eunice Mardi Gras Association held its 125th run, but the route was shortened for about 50 participants.
A combination of freezing rain, sleet and snow fell in the area on Monday closing roads and causing power outages.
Eunice Mayor Scott Fontenot said the city went without any serious weather-related incident.
On Tuesday evening a gas leak occurred at 5th and Walnut, he said. the leak was repaired by Wednesday.
Some roads remained iced-over because they remained in the shade. The icy condition was relieved somewhat by sunshine on Monday afternoon and most of Tuesday.
Fontenot said there was about a two-hour power outage on Tuesday. The city’s sewer plant remained operating with a backup generator.
Mardi Gras is usually a day when 2nd Street in Eunice is filled with music and people, but this year the street was nearly empty.
Temperatures on Wednesday morning remained below freezing and were accompanied by rain forecast to turn into snow.
The chill pressured water-provider Lawco.
Billy Edrington, Lawco president, said the elevated tanks were at 20% of capacity and the water system was pumping about two-and-half times more water than average.
Putting pressure on the system was people leaving their faucets dripping, he said.
Edrington said the last time the freezing conditions occurred that affected the water system was in December 2017 and January 2018.
Brian Soileau, of the Savoy-Swords Water System, said water might be shut off Wednesday night if needed. The system has experienced low pressure, but is holding up, he said Wednesday afternoon.
Eunice Fire Chief Mike Arnold said firefighters received 18 calls from Saturday through Wednesday morning ranging from medical issues to gas leaks.
Tuesday afternoon firefighters reported to a wreck on Ruppert Lake Road that resulted in critical injuries to one person, he said.
Arnold said emergency responders were warned about black ice on roads as they responded to calls.