NEW ORLEANS — Mayor LaToya Cantrell today convened public safety officials and department heads to inform the public on the preparations underway for the 2024 Mardi Gras season. Ahead of major parades, City officials, alongside state and federal partners, are preparing parade routes and keeping residents informed to ensure the 2024 Carnival season is safe, sustainable, and celebratory.
The full press conference can be viewed here.
KEEPING RESIDENTS INFORMED
The New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP) will provide public information leading up to and during Mardi Gras events through the NOLA Ready campaign. Tips and resources about transportation, safety, what to bring and permitting are outlined online at ready.nola.gov.
Real-time updates related to weather, safety, traffic and parade delays will be provided on NOLA Ready social media (@nolaready) and via text message. Residents and visitors are encouraged to text “MARDIGRAS” (one word) to 77295 to subscribe to text updates.
PREPARING PARADE ROUTES
Neutral Grounds and Sidewalks
The Department of Parks and Parkways has trimmed trees along parade routes. Residents are reminded not to rope off areas of the neutral ground, public sidewalks or other public property, which is prohibited by law. Additionally, all items placed on the public right of way, including the neutral ground, four hours or more prior to the start of the parade are subject to removal by the Department of Parks and Parkways and the Department of Sanitation. Residents should not leave ladders, tents, grills or any other item on the neutral ground or along curbs and sidewalks overnight. Anything left will be disposed of.
For more information on what to bring and what not to bring to parades, visit ready.nola.gov/mardi-gras/what-to-bring/.
Trash & Recycling
Again, this year, the Department of Public Works (DPW) will install “gutter buddies” — barriers that block solid objects from entering drains — along parade routes. Residents and visitors are also encouraged to do their part to keep trash off the streets and out of the drainage system. Tips include cleaning up your area before you leave, depositing trash in public receptacles or carrying your trash with you to dispose of later. For more information, visit ready.nola.gov/mardi-gras/what-to-bring/.
Department of Sanitation crews will follow parades each day to clean routes. Parade goers are urged to stay clear of sanitation crews and their heavy equipment. Hot ashes, cinders and smoldering coals should never be discarded with trash to prevent equipment fires.
The Office of Resilience and Sustainability (ORS) and NOLA Ready are working with community partners across the city to expand existing sustainability efforts through the 2nd annual recycling program, Recycle Dat! Volunteers will collect beads, aluminum cans and glass along St. Charles Avenue during the day parades of Feb. 3-4 and Feb. 10-11. They will also offer bead collection bags to parade goers to fill and return or to take home to fill throughout the season. Residents and visitors are encouraged to visit ready.nola.gov/mardi-gras/recycling-2024/ for more information on Mardi Gras sustainability, including drop-off sites and krewes that are championing sustainable throws.
First Aid & Lost Children
First aid stations along the parade route provide basic care for parade goers’ minor injuries, which reduces the strain on first responders and local hospital emergency rooms. First aid stations are staffed by volunteers from the NOLA Ready Volunteer Corps, the New Orleans Health Department Medical Reserve Corps, the New Orleans EMS VIGOR program and the Southeast Louisiana Chapter of the American Red Cross. Parade goers are encouraged to go to a first aid station if in need of minor medical assistance; however, always call 9-1-1 during a medical emergency. On parade days, stations are open one hour before the first float of the first parade and until crowds disperse:
- St. Charles Avenue & Louisiana Avenue
- St. Charles Avenue & St. Andrew Street
- St. Charles Avenue & Howard Avenue (Harmony Circle)
- St. Charles Avenue & Canal Street
- North Hennessey Street & Orleans Avenue (Feb. 10 only)
- North Broad Street & Canal Street (Feb. 10 only)
Lost child stations are staffed by the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD). Because most families are quickly reunited near the area they were separated from, residents are encouraged to tell the nearest public safety official if a child is lost. On parade days, stations are open one hour before the first float of the first parade and until crowds disperse.
- St. Charles Avenue & Napoleon Avenue
- St. Charles Avenue & Jackson Avenue
- Canal Street & Baronne Street
NOPD will also distribute free, reusable identification bracelets to families at these locations. If the child is lost for any reason, law enforcement officers can immediately contact parents with the information on the bracelet.
Operation Mardi Gras
Operation Mardi Gras provides a safe, central location, operated by local victim service providers and partners, for any victim or survivor of a violent crime during the two major Mardi Gras weekends to meet directly with a service provider and get access to immediate support and resources available to them through the individual agencies. The Operation Mardi Gras Hub is located at the New Orleans Family Justice Center (701 Loyola Ave.) starting Friday, Feb. 2.
Any person who becomes a victim of a crime should first call 9-1-1- to report the crime to the police. They are then encouraged to call or visit the Operation Mardi Gras central hub to get immediate support. Victims or survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, homicide (immediate family member), human trafficking, shooting or carjacking are encouraged to reach out for support. Providers can be reached directly by calling (504) 355-0846 or a 24-hour helpline at (504) 866-9554.
Public Restrooms
The Department of Property Management provides nearly 550 portable restrooms for public use along the parade route. View a map of restroom locations at routewise.nola.gov. Portable restrooms are allowed on private property; however, residents are reminded of the following regulations:
- If you plan to charge a use fee, you need a permit
- Do not place private portable restrooms on neutral grounds, public sidewalks or other public property
- Portable restrooms on flat beds in parking spots are considered abandoned property that can pose a security risk and will be towed at the owners’ expense
Sober Safe Spot
Avenues Recovery encourages residents in recovery to celebrate the joy and culture of Mardi Gras while staying committed to sobriety. The brainchild of Avenues Recovery alumni, the Sober Safe Spot, is a place to fully join in the revelry of Mardi Gras in a warm and welcoming atmosphere with like-minded members of the recovery community, their families and friends. The Sober Safe Spot is strategically placed along the parade route in New Orleans and in Metairie from Friday, Feb. 2 through Tuesday, Feb. 13. Everyone in or supporting recovery is welcome. Residents in New Orleans can find the Sober Safe Spot under the white flag near Napoleon Avenue & St. Charles Avenue.
OHL Sobering Center
Odyssey House Louisiana (OHL) operates the Sobering Center (732 North Claiborne Ave.) 24-hours a day, year-round, including throughout Mardi Gras. The Sobering Center allows intoxicated individuals to voluntarily recover from immediate acute alcohol impairment under the care of trained staff. Sobering Center staff monitor individuals at the facility and provide opportunities to access higher levels of care, such as medically assisted detox or substance use treatment. Transportation to and from the Sobering Center is available by calling the Outreach van at (504) 439-5941.
PLANNING FOR TRANSPORTATION IMPACTS
Alternatives to Driving
Parades and festivities draw many revelers and heavy traffic. Residents are encouraged to consider alternative transportation options to get there, including bus, streetcar, bike or for-hire rides. Visit RTA’s 2024 Mardi Gras Guide here. Download the LePass app to plan your trip, check service alerts, purchase fares and track your bus or streetcar in real-time.
Street Closures
Before parades begin or when crowd size warrants, NOPD will close the route to vehicles. See parade routes at routewise.nola.gov.
In anticipation of large crowds, NOPD will limit vehicles allowed to enter the French Quarter and will close some streets to vehicles completely. Additional intermittent street closures might be required as crowd size warrants. More information about traffic impacts, street closures and more is located at ready.nola.gov/mardi-gras/transportation/.
Parking Enforcement and Restrictions
The Department of Public Works will be enforcing parking regulations throughout the Mardi Gras season. Residents are reminded to pay close attention to posted signs and note that additions and changes are possible pending safety concerns.
Parking is restricted along all parade routes two hours before and after parades to ensure parade elements and Sanitation crews can access the street. More parking tips and information are available at ready.nola.gov/mardi-gras/transportation/#parking.
CARNIVAL SAFETY TIPS FROM THE NEW ORLEANS FIRE DEPARTMENT
The New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) would like to remind residents to take fire safety precautions throughout Carnival season:
- All Mardi Gras costumes should be made of flame-retardant materials
- Use caution when in the vicinity of flambeaux being used in parades
- Open flames are prohibited, and cooking with portable BBQ pits or similar equipment is strongly discouraged
- The use of such equipment along parade routes requires extreme caution to keep combustibles clear of large crowds
- BBQ pits and grills must be at least six feet back from the street curb
- Properly discard any hot ashes, cinders or smoldering coals
- Do not set up a BBQ pit or similar equipment in ANY intersection
- Be sure not to leave any cooking equipment on or unattended when you leave home
- Always ensure smoking materials are properly extinguished and discarded in approved receptacles
- Do not park in intersections or block fire hydrants
- Do not park on the opposite side of the street of a parade route
- Be prepared to move out of the way of approaching fire apparatus or other emergency vehicles
- All tents or tarps shall be flame-retardant and any tent over 120 square feet shall have an NOFD permit
- Discharging fireworks is illegal
NOFD would like to remind residents of the following safety measures in place, per City of New Orleans Ordinance 34-33:
- All ladders used by parade spectators shall be structurally sound
- No ladder, chairs, ice chests, chaise lounges, barbecue grills and other similar personal effects shall be placed in intersections or between curbs of public streets during the pendency of a parade
- Ladders, tents, grills and other personal effects shall be placed six feet back from the street curb
- Additionally, the practice of fastening two or more ladders together shall be prohibited
- It shall be prohibited to use ropes or other similar items to create a barricade or otherwise obstruct passage along public property, unless otherwise specifically authorized
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