As New Orleans nears the anniversary of the New Year’s Day terror attack of 2025, public safety is top of mind heading into the 2026 holiday season. City leaders say the lessons learned from that tragedy are shaping a more proactive and visible security plan.
Colin Arnold, the director of New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says preparations are already in place to protect residents and visitors during a stretch that includes New Year’s celebrations, the Sugar Bowl, and the start of Carnival.
“We’ve learned from what happened,” Arnold says. “And we’ve put strategies in place to be more proactive moving forward.”…