WDSU sits down withNew Orleans Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness for Mardi Gras
Updated: 5:15 PM CST Feb 26, 2025
DOWN WITH THE CITY’S DIRECTOR OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TO TALK ALL THINGS MARDI GRAS, AND WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE JANUARY 1ST. THE OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, AS IT AS IT’S FORMED RIGHT NOW, WAS CREATED IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE KATRINA. IT WAS THE THE KIND OF COMBINATION OF TWO OFFICES. THERE WAS AN OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND AN OFFICE OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. THEY WERE MERGED IN 2009. AND REALLY, WHAT OUR ROLE IS ON THE HOMELAND SECURITY SIDE IS TO MANAGE THE GRANT FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, PARTICULARLY WITH HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT FUNDING, WHICH GIVES US A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY EVERY YEAR THAT WE CAN USE TO GO TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT AND EMS AND KIND OF DO A NEEDS ASSESSMENT AS TO WHAT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT THEY NEED, KIND OF WHAT THE THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY AND DIFFERENT. RESOURCES ARE. AND THEN WE HELP THEM TRY AND PURCHASE THOSE SO THAT THEY, THEY CAN THEN MAINTAIN THEM AND, AND HAVE THEM IN THEIR ARSENAL TO RESPOND TO ANY TYPE OF, YOU KNOW, INCIDENT, EVENT, SPECIAL EVENT AND THE LIKE. AND SO THEN THE OTHER SIDE OF THE OFFICE IS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. AND THAT’S WHERE REALLY COMES IN, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THREE ROLES WE DO HAZARD MITIGATION, WHICH IS WORKING WITH THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY, VERY RESILIENT RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OVER THE YEARS. BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF PROGRAMS LIKE HOME ELEVATION AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND SOME OTHER GRANT PROGRAMS WHERE WE CAN GET THE RESIDENTS INTERESTED IN ELEVATING THEIR HOMES, BASICALLY MITIGATING THEIR PROPERTIES OR THEIR SITUATION TO AVOID, YOU KNOW, DAMAGE IN THE FUTURE, POSSIBLY FROM HURRICANES OR WEATHER. AND THEN A BIG PART OF OUR ROLE IS MASS COMMUNICATION. AND WHEN IT COMES TO NOLA KIND OF TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT ALREADY IS NOLA READY? IT’S JUST A GREAT PROGRAM. WE HAVE 300,000 SUBSCRIBERS THAT HAVE VOLUNTARILY SUBSCRIBED TO NOLA READY TEXT ALERTS. AND I MEAN, WHEN YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT A POPULATION OF THE CITY THAT’S AROUND 400,000, THERE’S PRETTY GOOD ODDS THAT I CAN SEND ONE MESSAGE, PARTICULARLY CONSIDERING ALL OF OUR MEDIA PARTNERS HAVE SUBSCRIBED TO IT AS WELL. I CAN SEND A MESSAGE ABOUT NEUTRAL GROUND PARKING RESTRICTIONS BEING LIFTED DURING A RAINSTORM, WHICH WAS NEVER EVEN THOUGHT OF UNTIL THE AUGUST 5TH FLOODS IN 2017. AND GET THAT WORD OUT WITHIN WITHIN SECONDS, WE’RE ABLE TO SEND VERY TARGETED TEXT AND EMAIL AND VOICE NOTIFICATIONS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH AROUND THE CITY SHOULD WE NEED TO. WE CAN SEND IT TO THE ENTIRE CITY. WE CAN GEO FENCE IT AND SEND IT TO A CERTAIN AREA OF THE CITY. SAY IF IT WAS A BOIL WATER ADVISORY THAT ONLY AFFECTED A SMALL AREA OF NEW ORLEANS. WE’RE ABLE TO KIND OF TARGET THAT AS WELL. BUT THAT THAT’S KIND OF THE KEY OF WHAT NOLA READY IS. IT’S IT’S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND PUBLIC INFORMATION AND MASS NOTIFICATION. WE ACTIVATE TYPICALLY ABOUT 30 TIMES A YEAR. THIS THIS FACILITY THAT YOU’RE AT RIGHT NOW ON THE NINTH FLOOR OF CITY HALL. PROBABLY A GOOD 25 OF THOSE 30 ACTIVATIONS ARE FOR SPECIAL EVENTS. FORTUNATELY, THEY’RE NOT FOR DISASTERS. IS THAT A LOT? WELL, CERTAINLY TO ACTIVATE A CITY’S EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER FOR, SAY, 25 MAJOR EVENTS IS A LOT. AND WHAT WE CONSIDER A MAJOR EVENT IS ANY EVENT THAT HAS OVER 100,000 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT IS A LOT. BUT WE ACTUALLY THE CITY HOSTS ALMOST 250 SPECIAL EVENTS PER YEAR THAT WE THAT WE SEND TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SO THAT THEY CAN EVALUATE THOSE. AND THAT’S WHERE YOU GET THE SAUCIER RATING. SO A SEER IS A SPECIAL EVENT RATING, AND IT’S A SCALE FROM 1 TO 5, ONE BEING A SUPER BOWL, A ROSE BOWL. NOW MARDI GRAS, AN EVENT THAT HAS INTERNATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE. IT HAS A LOT OF EYES ON IT AND HAS A LARGE ATTENDANCE. AND FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT SPECIFICALLY, DOES ANYTHING CHANGE WITH THE GOING FROM SEER TWO TO SEER ONE FOR MARDI GRAS? NOT AS MUCH FROM SEER TWO TO SEER ONE. BUT HAVING A SEER 1 OR 2 EVENT IS A BIG DEAL. IT IT AMPS US UP IN THE WAY THAT WE HAVE A LOT MORE PEOPLE UP HERE IN OUR IN OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER. YOU KNOW, YOU’RE GOING TO YOU’RE GOING TO GO FROM HAVING A, YOU KNOW, I’D SAY A LOWER LEVEL. I DON’T WANT TO SAY LOWER LEVEL, BUT A. LOWER TIERED SPECIAL EVENT, YOU KNOW, MAY HAVE A LOT MORE CITY. REPRESENTATION WITHIN OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER, WHICH WOULD BE EXPECTED. WHEN YOU GET SOMETHING LIKE A SUPER BOWL OR NOW MARDI GRAS, YOU’RE GETTING A LOT MORE FEDERAL PRESENCE. YOU’RE GETTING A LOT MORE STATE PRESENCE. YOU’VE GOT STATE POLICE, YOU’VE GOT NATIONAL GUARD. AND THEN JUST THE WHOLE. GAMUT OF FEDERAL PRESENCE FROM, LIKE I SAID, FBI AND OTHERS. IT DEFINITELY IT BRINGS A LOT MORE NEED FOR COORDINATION. YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU’RE UTILIZING EVERY RESOURCE THAT COMES YOUR WAY AND COMES TO THE CITY. YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU’RE UTILIZING IT IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE. WHEN IT COMES TO MARDI GRAS FOR YOUR TEAM. WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT? COMMUNICATION WITH THE PUBLIC IS BIG WITH OUR OFFICE, YOU KNOW, UTILIZING OUR OUR ROUTE WISE, OUR PARADE TRACKER NOT MEANT TO COMPETE WITH OUR OUR FRIENDS IN THE MEDIA WHO I THINK HAVE GREAT PARADE TRACKERS. THIS ONE MAYBE OFFERS A LITTLE BIT MORE, JUST AS FAR AS WHERE THE PORTA POTTIES ARE, WHICH IS A HUGE DEAL WHERE THE FIRST AID STATIONS ARE. WHERE YOU CAN BRING A LOST CHILD. SOME OF THE MORE PUBLIC SAFETY ORIENTED THINGS. WE’VE GOT A LITTLE BUTTON ON THERE WHERE YOU CAN YOU CAN SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING, AND IT’LL GO RIGHT TO THE RIGHT PHONE NUMBER. AND PERSON THAT NEEDS TO DO THAT. SO. IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US TO PROVIDE THAT LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION TO THE PUBLIC SO THAT THEY’RE KIND OF AWARE OF WHAT’S GOING ON AROUND THEM DURING THIS, THESE NEXT TWO WEEKS OF, OF, YOU KNOW, PARADES AND, AND ACTIVITY AND FUN. AND THEN THE OTHER MAJOR ROLE IS JUST, AGAIN, COORDINATING THE RESOURCES THAT ARE HERE AND GIVING THE MAYOR AND THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP OF THE CITY KIND OF A GOOD SNAPSHOT EVERY COUPLE HOURS THROUGH WHAT WE CALL SITUATION REPORTS OR SITREPS. GIVING THEM A GOOD IDEA OF WHAT IS GOING ON ON THE GROUND. IS THERE A POWER OUTAGE IN GENTILLY THAT MAY BE CAUSING SOME SORT OF ISSUE THAT’S GOING TO AFFECT THE MOVEMENT OF FLOATS AROUND THE CITY? I MEAN, THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE ONE OF THE THINGS IS HAVING ENTERGY UP HERE AS SOON AS THERE’S A, YOU KNOW, MYLAR CONFETTI TYPE SITUATION. PLEASE DON’T BRING MYLAR CONFETTI TO THE PARADES. BUT IT DOES. IT TAKES POWER OUT. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE’S THERE’S LARGER ISSUES. DO YOU HAVE TO DO YOU STOP A PARADE IN ORDER TO FIX THE POWER, OR DO YOU LET THE PARADE PASS FOR TWO HOURS AND LET PEOPLE SIT WITHOUT POWER FOR TWO HOURS? AND WHEN IT’S COLD, LIKE IT IS TODAY? YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION. AND THAT’S, I THINK, A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE OF, YOU KNOW, HEADS THAT HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND MAKE A REAL QUICK DECISION ABOUT WHAT WE’RE GOING TO DO. I’D BE REMISS IF I DIDN’T INCLUDE WEATHER IN THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE WEATHER SERVICE UP HERE WITH US, EMBEDDED WITH US DURING MARDI GRAS FOR EVERY PARADE. AND SO WE’RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, DOWN TO THE MINUTE WHAT THE WEATHER IS GOING TO BE, BECAUSE IF THERE’S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO AVOID PEOPLE GETTING RAINED ON AND POTENTIALLY WORSE, LIGHTNING, HIGH WINDS, YOU KNOW, WE DON’T WANT TO CANCEL PARADES, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A VERY, VERY NARROW WINDOW AND NOT A LOT OF MAKEUP TIME OR MAKEUP DAYS TO DO THESE PARADES. SO IF WE CAN, YOU KNOW, AND I CALL IT THREADING THE NEEDLE, IF WE CAN RUN A PARADE AN HOUR EARLY AND IT FINISHES AN HOUR EARLY OR EVEN A HALF HOUR EARLY, AND THEN THE RAIN STARTS, WE CONSIDER THAT A HUGE WIN AND THAT WE’VE, YOU KNOW, MADE IT A MORE ENJOYABLE FOR THE PUBLIC, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, MORE SAFE FOR EVERYONE, FOR THE RIDERS, FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT ARE DOING LONG HOURS. YOU KNOW, WE SEE THE POLICE OFFICER STANDING OUT THERE ON THE PARADE ROUTE FOR HOURS ON END. I MEAN, WE DON’T WANT TO GET THEM SOAKING WET OR GET THEM EXPOSED TO LIGHTNING AND OTHER WEATHER CONDITIONS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT’S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF KIND OF THE COORDINATION THAT IT TAKES. WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET EVERYBODY TOGETHER AND SAY, HEY, LET’S RUN THIS ONE PARADE AN HOUR LATER, SAY, OR AN HOUR EARLIER, AND YOU CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN WHAT THE EXPERIENCE IS THAT DAY. AND THE SAFETY LEVEL IS. AND WHEN IT COMES TO PLANNING, WHAT KIND OF THINGS ARE YOU GUYS KIND OF JUST PREPARING FOR? BECAUSE THERE’S ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY OF SOMETHING WITH A CAR OR SHOOTING, OR WEATHER. YEAH, IT’S I MEAN, WE’VE WE’VE HAD AN OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE OF JANUARY 1ST, WE’VE HAD A KIND OF A, I THINK A BACK TO BASICS APPROACH ON WHAT WE HAVE TO DO FOR MARDI GRAS. A LOT OF THE MARDI GRAS PLANNING, IT GOES ON YEAR ROUND. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T UNDERSTAND. THIS ISN’T SOMETHING THAT JUST COMES TOGETHER WITHIN THE LAST MONTH OF OF, YOU KNOW, BEFORE MARDI GRAS, YOU KNOW. I ALWAYS LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE THAT THE FIRST MEETING FOR MARDI GRAS 2026 WILL LITERALLY BE A WEEK AFTER FAT TUESDAY THIS YEAR, AND WE MEET EVERY MONTH WITH ALL THE CREWS. WE MEET AT LEAST QUARTERLY, I SHOULD SAY, BUT WE MEET MONTHLY AS A GROUP. TALKING ABOUT MARDI GRAS, TALKING ABOUT WHAT? WHAT’S GOING TO BE THE CHALLENGE OR WHAT’S THE OUTLOOK FOR THE NEXT YEAR. AND SO IT IS A YEAR LONG CYCLE THAT WE DO PLANNING THESE THINGS, BUT THINGS DO COME UP, I THINK, AND LIKE I SAID, JANUARY 1ST WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS. AND SO YOU’RE GOING TO SEE AN ENHANCE. AND YOU HEARD THIS MORNING AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE, YOU’RE GOING TO SEE AN ENHANCED LOOK AT HOW WE VIEW VEHICLES. BUT IT’S MORE THAN THAT. IT’S YOU KNOW, JANUARY 1ST ALSO SAW THIS INDIVIDUAL PUT IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES AND COOLERS. ON IN THE FRENCH QUARTER. AND FORTUNATELY THOSE DID NOT DETONATE. THOSE DID NOT GO OFF. BUT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT I REMEMBER THINKING AFTER JANUARY 1ST, WHEN YOU’RE THINKING ABOUT MARDI GRAS, IS HOW ARE YOU GOING TO REGULATE COOLERS ON A PARADE ROUTE? AND THE ANSWER IS YOU’RE NOT GOING TO. BUT WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO DO IS YOU’RE GOING TO ASK PEOPLE TO PAY MORE ATTENTION. YOU’RE GOING TO ASK PEOPLE TO KIND OF ASSESS THEIR OWN RISK. ABOUT WHAT AND THEIR SURROUNDINGS ON A PARADE ROUTE. AND YOU’RE GOING TO BRING IN, LIKE I SAID, SOME OF THOSE RESOURCES. YOU KNOW, DOGS THAT THAT CAN SNIFF, YOU KNOW, BOMBS AND, AND EXPLOSIVES HANDLING EXTRA EXPLOSIVE EXPLOSIVES TEAMS. EXCUSE ME, THAT WILL BE COMING INTO TOWN BECAUSE WE WILL GET MORE CALLS REGARDING THIS. I’M I’M QUITE CERTAIN WE WILL GET MORE CALLS FOR UNATTENDED BAGGAGE, UNATTENDED COOLERS AND THE LIKE. WE’VE SEEN IT UPTICK SINCE JANUARY 1ST, AND IT WAS OBVIOUSLY A SLIGHT UPTICK DURING SUPER BOWL. BUT I FULLY, YOU KNOW, ENVISION THAT HAPPENING DURING MARDI GRAS. SO OUR GOAL WILL BE GET A DOG THERE QUICKLY. DOG DOESN’T HIT ON IT. IT’S PROBABLY OKAY. GET A TEAM THERE. THEY CAN TAKE A QUICK X RAY PHOTO AND WE’LL KNOW WHAT’S IN THAT COOLER. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT. AND IN KIND OF A NEW ENVIRONMENT. AS FAR AS VEHICLE ATTACKS YOU’RE GOING TO SEE SOME MORE BARRIERS AND MORE PHYSICAL STRUCTURES THAT ARE OUT THERE. CERTAINLY IN THE FRENCH QUARTER WHERE THERE’S A LOT OF PEDESTRIANS, BUT ALSO ALONG THE PARADE ROUTE, BECAUSE LET’S LET’S FACE IT, THE PARADE ROUTE ITSELF BECOMES A VERY PEDESTRIAN DENSE AREA. AND WE CAN’T PHYSICALLY, NOT EVEN WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WE CAN’T PHYSICALLY BUBBLE WRAP THE CITY OR COVER EVERYTHING. BUT WE’RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO REDUCE THE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMETHING LIKE JANUARY 1ST TO HAPPEN. HOW DID YOUR AGENCY RESPOND TO THAT? SO THAT THAT NIGHT, OUR RESPONSIBILITY IN THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER IS TO COVER THE OFFICIAL CITY EVENT, WHICH WAS THE FIREWORKS AND THE CONCERT ON DECATUR STREET. AND ONCE THAT IS SECURED, AT ABOUT 130 AND NOPD DEPARTED FROM THERE, WE DEACTIVATED THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER, BUT THEN GOT A PHONE CALL, LITERALLY, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE HOURS LATER ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. SO THEN WE IMMEDIATELY GOT EVERYBODY BACK UP HERE, REACTIVATED THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU GUYS HAVE LEARNED FROM THE JANUARY 1ST INCIDENT? WE PUT TOGETHER A PLAN ON ALL THESE THINGS, AND WE RELY ON THE PLANS FROM OUR PARTNER AGENCIES TO, TO TO COME IN TO US. I THINK THAT REVIEWING THOSE PLANS VERY CAREFULLY IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, I FELT LIKE WE’VE ALWAYS DONE, BUT I THINK WE CAN DO MAYBE EVEN A LITTLE BIT BETTER. AND SO THOSE ARE KIND OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY WANT TO, TO FOCUS ON. AND THEN JUST THE COMMUNICATION. IT’S ALWAYS THERE’S ALWAYS COMMUNICATION ISSUES. WHEN WHEN YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, MAJOR INCIDENTS LIKE THIS, I THINK A LOT OF AGENCIES ARE LOOKING BACK AND SAYING, WHAT COULD WE DO BETTER? YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THAT THERE’S THERE’S ROOM FOR THERE’S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. I THINK THAT. WE HAVE LEARNED THROUGH SOME OF THE OTHER, OTHER EVENTS THAT WE’VE HAD, AND I’M THINKING PARTICULARLY OF, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE WHEN WE HAVE TO LIFT THE PARKING RESTRICTIONS, THAT’S A VERY NUANCED DECISION THAT INVOLVES, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE WEATHER AND LOOKING AT THE, YOU KNOW, THE RAINFALL THAT’S ALREADY OCCURRED, LOOKING AT WHAT THE ANTICIPATED RAINFALL IS FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. AND IT’S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE I HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO SAY, JUST LIFT IT EVERY TIME. IF IT’S GOING TO RAIN, LIFT IT. I HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT SAY LIKE, WHY DO YOU EVEN LIFT IT? PEOPLE ARE GOING TO PARK WHERE THEY’RE GOING TO PARK, YOU KNOW, AND TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, YOU KNOW, THAT’S TRUE. YOU NEED TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I HAVE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LIKE MIKE KAREM, WHO RUNS PARKS AND PARKWAYS, WHO, YOU KNOW, IS A GOOD FRIEND AND TELLS ME EVERY TIME WE LIFT PARKING RESTRICTIONS. I MEAN, IT DESTROYS THE NEUTRAL GROUNDS AND ALL THE WORK THAT THEY’VE DONE ON THE NEUTRAL GROUNDS AS FAR AND THE TREE CANOPY AND AND SO THERE’S SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOU’RE GOING TO DO THAT. JUST THAT ONE DECISION, WHICH SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY EASY DECISION. BUT APPLYING THAT TYPE OF OF THOUGHT AND DECISION MAKING INTO EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, I THINK IS WHAT OUR GOAL IS. YOU KNOW, THAT’S THAT WE’RE ALWAYS TRYING TO BE BETTER AND QUICKER AT THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE AND AT THE THE NOTIFICATIONS THAT WE’RE ABLE TO, TO MAKE FROM THOSE DECISIONS. AND SO BRINGING THAT ALL BACK, I THINK THAT THERE ARE THINGS FROM JANUARY 1ST THAT WE ARE TAKING VERY SERIOUSLY AND THAT, YOU KNOW, WE’LL CREATE SOME CHANGES. NOW FOR MORE ON THIS INTERVIEW, YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE, WDSU.COM. REPORTING IN NEW ORLEANS I’M CASSIE SCHERM. WD
WDSU sits down withNew Orleans Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness for Mardi Gras
Updated: 5:15 PM CST Feb 26, 2025
With the arrival of Mardi Gras 2025, the City of New Orleans, in partnership with local, state, and federal public safety agencies, has announced a public safety and event coordination measures. With a major focus on security, community engagement, and accessibility, this year’s festivities will be supported by a broad network of law enforcement, emergency services, and agency partners.The New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP) will activate the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) throughout the parades, with coordinating partners from local, state, and federal agencies. Due to the federal government’s update of Mardi Gras 2025 to SEAR 1 status, from February 21 to March 4, there will be an increased level of activation with enhanced coordination and prioritization of federal resources and personnel.WDSU sits down with the director on what we can expect.To stay updated during Mardi Gras in New Orleans, visit ready.nola.gov/mardi-gras for information on parade routes, first aid stations, lost child stations, recycling hubs, public toilets, and more. For real-time alerts on parade delays, weather impacts, and more, register by texting “MARDI GRAS” to 77295.
With the arrival of Mardi Gras 2025, the City of New Orleans, in partnership with local, state, and federal public safety agencies, has announced a public safety and event coordination measures.
With a major focus on security, community engagement, and accessibility, this year’s festivities will be supported by a broad network of law enforcement, emergency services, and agency partners.
The New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP) will activate the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) throughout the parades, with coordinating partners from local, state, and federal agencies. Due to the federal government’s update of Mardi Gras 2025 to SEAR 1 status, from February 21 to March 4, there will be an increased level of activation with enhanced coordination and prioritization of federal resources and personnel.
WDSU sits down with the director on what we can expect.
To stay updated during Mardi Gras in New Orleans, visit ready.nola.gov/mardi-gras for information on parade routes, first aid stations, lost child stations, recycling hubs, public toilets, and more. For real-time alerts on parade delays, weather impacts, and more, register by texting “MARDI GRAS” to 77295.
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