Because the host metropolis for Tremendous Bowl LIX, New Orleans expects to welcome greater than 100,000 guests for the Feb. 9 sport between the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. Not less than 1,000,000 extra folks shall be celebrating Mardi Gras, town’s largest vacationer draw yearly, lower than a month later.
However a terrorist assault on New 12 months’s Day, which killed 14 folks and injured dozens extra on the tourist-filled thoroughfare of Bourbon Road, has solid a pall over town.
Since then, native, state and federal officers have sought to reassure guests relating to town’s security for the Tremendous Bowl and Mardi Gras. New or expanded safety efforts are deliberate, together with aerial surveillance and assigning extra plainclothes officers. Moreover, the Division of Homeland Safety, the federal company chargeable for public safety, together with antiterrorism and catastrophe prevention, upgraded its safety evaluation of town’s Mardi Gras parades to its highest score, which permits for extra funding and assets to be equipped. The Tremendous Bowl was already assessed at its highest stage.
“We’re doing all the things we are able to to handle the gaps that the New Orleans Police Division and the Louisiana State Police may need,” mentioned Eric DeLaune, a particular agent with D.H.S.’s Homeland Safety Investigations who’s main the federal coordination for Tremendous Bowl and Mardi Gras.
In accordance with the Homeland Safety Investigations workplace, safety efforts for each occasions will embody particular brokers stationed on rooftops and within the crowds, SWAT crew members on standby, surveillance drones, additional safety cameras across the metropolis, armored automobiles positioned at key factors, Ok-9 officers with bomb-sniffing canine, and patrols alongside the Mississippi River. Intelligence analysts will even be working to determine potential threats.
Throughout the Tremendous Bowl and its associated occasions, brokers will think about the neighborhoods close to Caesars Superdome: the Warehouse District and the French Quarter. Throughout Mardi Gras, the efforts shall be extra widespread throughout town.
The Homeland Safety Investigations workplace and town of New Orleans declined to supply particular numbers of regulation enforcement officers who shall be on responsibility between native, state and nationwide businesses, however in a press release town mentioned that the New Orleans Police Division “shall be staffed at one hundred pc.”
Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick of the New Orleans Police Division mentioned at a Jan. 10 information convention that the native police pressure could have “all arms on deck” throughout the Tremendous Bowl and, mixed with state and federal entities, there shall be “a whole lot and a whole lot of officers.”
“With completely all of the regulation enforcement cops you’re going to see on the market for Tremendous Bowl, you’re going to suppose you’re in a sea of blue,” the superintendent mentioned.
Along with foot patrols, town is putting in a brand new bollard system and short-term archers — heavy-duty metallic barricades — to dam standard roadways, together with Bourbon Road, from car visitors. Bourbon Road was the place a person driving a truck rammed into dozens of revelers early New 12 months’s Day after evading a parked police cruiser. Bollards had been put in in 2017, however some have been malfunctioning and below restore. The brand new work on bollards is predicted to proceed by February.
Earlier this month, the state started eradicating homeless encampments close to the Superdome and the French Quarter, a expensive, controversial effort undertaken earlier than the inflow of holiday makers arrives.
Tremendous Bowl safety
Tremendous Bowl host stadiums have a safety perimeter 3 times the dimensions of a regular-season sport, and the Superdome shall be protected by a 300-foot perimeter, in line with Tim Schlittner, a Nationwide Soccer League spokesman. He added that a number of layers of safety will embody entry checkpoints and fences across the stadium.
The N.F.L.’s safe areas will embody the Superdome, the Tremendous Bowl Expertise at New Orleans’ conference heart — described by the N.F.L. as a “soccer theme park” — and different smaller, league-sanctioned occasions.
The NFL’s clear bag coverage shall be in impact: Solely luggage which can be fabricated from clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and don’t exceed 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches shall be permitted, though followers are inspired to not carry any luggage in any respect. On-line, a listing of prohibited gadgets consists of banners, indicators, meals and drinks, selfie sticks and noisemakers.
For Mardi Gras, a brand new security designation
But Mardi Gras is a sprawling sequence of occasions throughout a number of neighborhoods over the course of a number of weeks. Its nature could put extra stress on town’s safety equipment.
Mr. DeLaune mentioned upgrading Mardi Gras this 12 months to a SEAR 1 occasion “provides us a possibility to function at the next stage and to verify to offer the group these assets they want.”
Particular person precautions guests can take
Traditionally, New Orleans has had a fame for being a metropolis that struggles with crime; however final 12 months, violent crime within the metropolis fell to its lowest ranges since 2019.
Nonetheless, guests are suggested to take the identical precautions as with touring to different city areas: be careful for pickpockets, don’t stroll alone at night time, keep conscious of your environment, have your I.D. on you and preserve your beverage in sight.
“Identical to in another metropolis, it’s important to have your head on a swivel and be paying consideration,” mentioned Mr. DeLaune. “Are you standing in a spot the place you’re uncovered to passing visitors? Are you standing in a spot that’s not well-lit?” He additionally really useful ensuring your cellphone is charged.
It will be sensible to permit for additional time to get by the improved safety that guests will now expertise. Staying with a gaggle can also be a good suggestion, as is making a plan earlier than you head out and sharing that plan with others.
For family and friends to trace your whereabouts, use a location-sharing service like Life360, “Discover My” on iPhone or “Private Security” on Android or Google Maps.
“Let folks know the place you’re going, and inform somebody who’s not there the place you’re going and what your plan is,” mentioned Seth Krummrich, vice chairman of consumer danger administration for the safety agency World Guardian and a retired Military colonel who used to stay in New Orleans.
Mr. Krummrich additionally recommends having two or three exit methods in thoughts — “if something occurs, I’m going this fashion” — and establishing a gathering place and time, in case somebody in your group will get misplaced or loses their cellphone.
As all the time, drive sober and defensively. “After 11 p.m. in New Orleans, I personally should assume {that a} quarter of the drivers on the market are inebriated,” he mentioned.
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