Following the Jan. 1 truck attack that killed 14 people in the heart of New Orleans, extra barricades have been placed along Mardi Gras parade routes and law enforcement officers can be seen at nearly every intersection of the French Quarter.

Mardi Gras gives people the opportunity to celebrate before the Lenten season, where people become more disciplined and give up habits for 40 days.

With Mardi Gras celebrations under way, the city of New Orleans is ramping up security measures in response to the heightened threat level following the New Year's Day attack on Bourbon Street. Law enforcement agencies at the local,