New York City Police are stepping up security for Thursday’s annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Thousands of police officers will line the parade route and spectators will have to go through security checkpoints.
“Everyone’s going to be wand for security reasons. There’s no packages or umbrellas allowed within the route,” NYPD Chief of Patrol Rodney Harrison said.
Counterterrorism teams will be out in full force with bomb sniffing dogs. Blocker cars and sand filled dump trucks will also help keep the route safe.
“Our job is to offer maximum protection against any type of incident at the parade, but it’s also to make sure that we don’t protect it to the point that it’s not fun,” NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Counterterrorism said.
The 92nd annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will feature marchers and bands as it does every year. But high winds could ground the famous balloons that soar amongst New York City’s skyscrapers.
If wind gusts reach 34 miles per hour or stronger, the balloons won’t be able to fly. Temperatures for the parade are expected to be in the 20’s, making it one of the coldest Thanksgiving’s in recent memory.
The NYPD is also warning that the parade will lead to street closures in Midtown. Commuters are urged to take mass transit.
Photo Credit: Getty Images