City preps for Mardi Gras
Published 6:12 pm Monday, February 25, 2019
- A worker installs fencing at Waco Avenue on Monday in preparation for this year’s Mardi Gras festival. Mary Meaux/The News
Fences are up, water lines installed and ticket booths in place for Mardi Gras Southeast Texas.
The event, now in its 27th year, kicks off Thursday and runs through Sunday in downtown Port Arthur.
Earl Brown Sr., left, Harold Hatch and Jeff Green work on a ramp on Procter Street at Waco Avenue on Monday.
Mary Meaux/The News
Over at Procter Street and Waco Avenue under overcast skies Earl Brown Sr., Harold Hatch and Jeff Green worked to create an asphalt ramp over water lines while down the street, near the police station, a fence was set in place.
The city of Port Arthur’s Mobile Command Unit is in place and ready for this year’s Mardi Gras.
Mary Meaux/The News
Festival security
Law enforcement will be out in force for the event, which draws thousands. The Port Arthur Police Department’s Mobile Command Center was parked on Beaumont Avenue at Procter Street on Monday and work schedules completed that will put more than 300 law enforcement officers in place over the four-day event.
“We will have help from multiple local and outlying law enforcement agencies,” PAPD Deputy Chief Martin “Bubba” Blitch said.
There will be bicycle patrols with the parades, perimeter officers in vehicles and during parades and more.
Blitch thanked Jefferson County Sheriff’s Capt. Reggie Boykin, who handles the line-up of deputies along the parade route and Sgt. Luther Bracken, who coordinates the floats at the end of the parade to the Port of Port Arthur.
“Our main goal that we share with Mardi Gras Southeast Texas is that we want this to be a safe family event,” Blitch said. “Never in the 27-year-history have we had any serious issues.”
The Sheriff’s Office, he said, plays a pivotal role in security outside the gates and has done so since day one.
Blitch offered a few safety tips for the upcoming event:
- If people have small children please keep track of them. There is a “lost child” area, just in case. He said this has never been an issue.
- Pay attention to where you cannot park a vehicle. Illegally parked vehicles will be towed.
The department’s mobile command center will be manned by two dispatchers who will monitor two police channels, the fire department channel, public works, communication for the emergency medical services, communication for the wrecker service and anyone else they may need.
Blitch said they are the lifeline to anyone they need.
