A security report from 2019 has highlighted potential security vulnerabilities on Bourbon Street, particularly in relation to the street's bollard system. The report, conducted by New York-based security firm Interfor International, emphasized the need for improvements to prevent incidents such as ramming attacks. Interfor's CEO, Don Aviv, expressed surprise at the lack of protective measures in place for pedestrians on New Year's Eve, especially when compared to the extensive security measures implemented during Mardi Gras.
Aviv raised concerns about the effectiveness of the bollard system and suggested that more robust security measures should have been in place to prevent such attacks. He noted that recommendations for enhancing the bollard system were part of a broader security assessment conducted five years ago in the French Quarter.
