With the big game just around the corner, all eyes are on the Crescent City and that applies to security as well.
Speaking to WWL’s Tommy Tucker, Colin Arnold, Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness for the City of New Orleans, emphasizes that if you should come across any suspicious-looking items (such as unattended coolers or backpacks), call it in.
“That’s probably one of the tougher situations you might find yourself in is running across an item that is unattended and doesn’t necessarily look suspicious,” Arnold says. “I’m telling people to call it in. Call 911. We’ve got numerous explosive sensing canines. Over one hundred are out here this entire week for this very purpose,” he adds.
Arnold suggests telling the 911 operator that there is a bag unattended, along with the bag’s description and exact location. Above all else, Arnold emphasizes NOT to touch the item in question.
Arnold does expect a fast-paced, exciting week in New Orleans and says locals may need to be patient with the extra time it may take to get from place to place with the influx of visitors and special events.
“The public may need to be a little patient with some traffic issues at times, but as long as we keep that in mind, we should have a fun week,” Arnold goes on to say.
He also emphasizes that locals shouldn’t be afraid to get out and see the sights. “The city’s ready. We’ve got lots of additional security measures out there both because of the Super Bowl and because of the event in January. There’s a reason the game has been held in this city eleven times now,” adds Arnold.