The New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness joined local, state and federal public safety officials to host the first full-scale exercise of the City Assisted Evacuation system at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on Wednesday, May 17.
Hundreds of volunteers “role played” as evacuees and helped representatives from various agencies practice the steps required to safely evacuate residents in the event of a city-wide emergency. City-Assisted Evacuation provides transportation from 17 Evacuspots to the Union Passenger Terminal (1001 Loyola Ave.) where individuals then board a bus to a State or Federal shelter out of harm’s way.
In 2015, the City received a $500,000 grant from the U.S. DOT Federal Transit Administration to support a full-scale simulation exercise of the City-Assisted Evacuation plan, with special emphasis on vulnerable/special needs populations.
With 1.1 million square feet of contiguous exhibit space, an award winning staff and first class amenities, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is the sixth largest convention center in the nation, a consistent Top 10 host of the largest number of conventions and tradeshows annually, and one of the city’s “Top Workplaces.” As “Louisiana’s Economic Engine,” Convention Center event activity has produced $53.7 billion in economic impact since its 1985 opening, including $3.4 billion in new tax revenue for state and local governments. For more info, visit http://mccno.com.
