Parade season is here! And for the first time, Mardi Gras in New Orleans is getting the same level of federal public safety assistance as the Super Bowl.
So what does that mean for parade goers? Mostly, New Orleans Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Director Collin Arnold is asking people to be careful about what they bring with them to parades, and how they handle those items.
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"No unattended coolers," Arnold warned. "And I really want to make a distinction about leaving coolers unattended. Bring them if you have them. Keep them near you."
Before driving a rented pickup truck down a crowded Bourbon Street early in the morning on New Year's Day, Shamsud-Din Jabbar left coolers filled with explosives in the French Quarter. Luckily, he was unable to detonate them.
Arnold says anything that seems suspicious or out of place should be reported, either to NOPD or through the NOLA Ready smartphone app.
"If you do see an unattended cooler and you're getting that sense that there's nobody there, please report that immediately," he urged.
He said let the authorities determine if something is actually a threat -- but that can only happen if people help act as their eyes and ears.