NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The City of New Orleans has released the numbers for the 2024 carnival season, and according to city officials, the celebration was a success.
On Feb. 16, city officials announced that the positive outcome was due to the work of the New Orleans Police Department, New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP), Louisiana State Police and a unified command team.
City officials say NOHSEP worked closely with law enforcement to coordinate public safety support during the carnival season.
This year’s festivities were labeled a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) 2 event. The SEAR helps to determine the risk level for events that may be considered potential threat targets and decide the level of needed safety resources, according to city officials.
The rating allowed the City of New Orleans to have additional federal support such as intelligence sharing, law enforcement assets, emergency medical assets, physical security equipment to bring enhanced patrols, and information sharing and intelligence assets.
The resources assisted NOHSEP in the Emergency Operations Center and the Real-Time Crime Center with help from members of:
- Department of Homeland Security
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- United States Coast Guard
- State Fusion Center
- State Fire Marshall
- Louisiana State Police
According to the numbers, between Feb. 2 and Feb. 13, NOPD, LSP, Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office and other partners reported making 383 arrests, and removing 143 guns from on or near the parade route in the French Quarter and Downtown.
The Orleans Parish Communications District reports receiving 24,449, 911 and 311 calls with 95.67% of emergency calls being answered in 15 seconds or less.
OPCD officials say they also managed to respond to 19,116 public safety incidents. The numbers during Mardi Gras exceed the national standard of 90%.
Officials with the New Orleans Health Department say they handled 1,729 patients at the first aid stations around the city staffed by 341 volunteers who worked 2,672 hours. They handed out bandaids, ice packs, and COVID-19 test kits.
NOHD also reports 156 patient care visits and 30 transfers to New Orleans EMS who received 3,173 calls for service up until Mardi Gras day with 567 indents being parade related.
On Feb. 13, they reported receiving 446 calls with 103 being parade related.
The recycling numbers for the second year of Recycle Dat reported collecting over 10 tons of material including:
- 4,288 pounds of glass
- 4,564 pounds of aluminum cans (about 154,263 cans)
- 12,729 pounds of beads and throws
- Includes 5,100 pounds collected at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, in partnership with Realcycle
- Also includes 2,144 pounds collected through the Krewe of Reuse program by the Downtown Development District, French Quarter Management District, Vieux Carre Property Owners, Residents and Associates and Glass Half Full
The Recycling Hub operated by the Osprey Initiative reportedly collected 306 pounds of plastic bottles which equals about 8,300 bottles.
Overall, the City of New Orleans officials marked Mardi Gras as a safe and successful celebration.
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