EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 Strong winds sweeping through El Paso on Tuesday forced organizers of a Mardi Gras block party in West El Paso to make last-minute changes, including moving parts of the celebration indoors and scrapping a planned stage.<\/p>\n
Organizers said the gusts created challenges as crews were setting up, with items blowing around and safety becoming the top priority. \u201cWhile we were setting up, I mean, we had turf flying around. We had a lot of decor, flying around,\u201d one organizer said.<\/p>\n
Jordan Salas reports on strong winds force changes at West El Paso Mardi Gras block party (Credit: KFOX14)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
RECOMMENDED: Strong winds kick off El Paso\u2019s windy season, toppling trees and blowing dust<\/a><\/p>\n Because of the wind, organizers said they could not put up a stage and had to adjust the layout. Parts of the event were moved inside, and the outdoor setup was simplified.<\/p>\n \u201cWe couldn’t put up a stage because of the wind. So we had to move the party indoors,\u201d an organizer said.<\/p>\n Despite the changes, the event continued and drew more people as the night went on. <\/p>\n One person at the event said the wind was \u201cpretty bad, but it\u2019s not going to hold us back.\u201d<\/p>\n