NEW ORLEANS – Local citizens and visitors will see a rise in Coast Guard presence in the air and along the water as units of Coast Guard Sector New Orleans begin operating an increased patrol schedule during Mardi Gras festivities here.
The increased security initiatives will include extra patrols, deployment of additional crewmembers and resources, and joint cooperation with local law enforcement to keep New Orleans citizens and visitors safe on and around the water.
Coast Guard Sector New Orleans crews, along with officers from the New Orleans Police Department, will provide increased smallboat patrols along the Mississippi River to protect maritime facilities and vessels, and monitor for any suspicious activity.
Crews from Marine Safety & Security Team Galveston, Texas, and New Orleans will patrol the river daily with 25-foot smallboats maintaining a security presence, conducting patrols and boardings.
Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans will fly law enforcement overflights with the upgraded, more capable HH-65C Dolphin helicopter, assisting the NOPD by monitoring for suspicious or dangerous behavior.
New Orleans citizens and visitors are urged to report any suspicious or dangerous activity to local law enforcement officials or to the Coast Guard’s National Response Center at (800) 424-8802.
Aside from the Coast Guard’s increased security patrols, members from the Coast Guard will be riding a Mardi Gras parade float this year in eight parades. The themed float is modeled after a Coast Guard cutter and is used as part of the service’s recruiting efforts.
