Officials advise fans to have a plan in place if attending Super Bowl parade
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
With more than 1 million people possibly attending Wednesday's Super Bowl parade in Kansas City, ensuring public safety will be a large undertaking.
Kansas City Police Department Chief Stacey Graves said Monday that 600 KCPD officers will work the parade, along with more than 250 outside agencies, 34 other law enforcement agencies and federal partners.
"No one is more prepared than us," Graves said. "We are going to make sure Kansas City has a safe, fun day."
If people become separated from their group at the parade, they are advised to find a KCPD officer. Missing people and children will be taken to one of seven reunification locations, according to the official parade website.
Those sites include:
- UMB Bank locations at 928 and 1800 Grand Boulevard
- The Kansas City Missouri Police Department
- T-Mobile Center Concourse
- Resurrection Downtown
- Blue Cross & Blue Shield
- Lunchland at Crown Center
However, Safe Kids Columbia Coordinator Jenny Brooks said reunification locations should be a last resort.
"Try to do all the things to prepare instead of having to do that, because it would probably be pretty scary in that crowd," Brooks said.
Fans are encouraged to make a plan ahead of time in case they get separated from their group, especially if they are attending the parade with children.
Brooks said one way to plan ahead includes knowing what children are wearing and having pictures of them to show police in case they get separated.
People are also encouraged to designate a meeting place close to where they are standing for the parade or the rally.
While cellphone reception will likely be limited due to the large crowd, older children are encouraged to share their location with their parents on their phone.
For younger children, parents and guardians should put their contact information somewhere on their child and tell them to find a police officer if they get lost.
"I would recommend you putting like a sticker on the inside of their jacket and then showing them where that is so that they know if they get lost and they go to a police officer, they can show them their mother's contact information," Brooks said.
Graves also said in the press conference KCPD has come across some children in years past that had notes attached to their wrists or around their neck with this information.
Brooks said while it may sound grim, parents should also talk to their children about stranger danger before the parade. Tell a child to kick and make lots of noise if they get taken away from their family and explain the location of the trunk release in case of an emergency.
To keep track of small children and make sure they don't wander off, she said to keep them in a stroller or wear a baby in a front carrier or baby wrap.
Brooks also said parents should be aware of potential fall risks off of curbs and remind children to stay back from vehicles coming down the parade route.
People also need to always be paying attention to their surroundings.
"If you're walking across a crowded street, keep your head up and your phone down," Brooks said. "If you're looking at your phone, you're not aware of your surroundings."
If people notice anything suspicious, they should report it immediately by finding a police officer or calling 911.
If people need medical attention, they should locate a Kansas City Fire Department firefighter. The KCFD will have crews along the parade route and at Union Station and will have a staffed EMS medical tent on the east side of the National World War I Museum.
The parade will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday at 6th Street and Grand Boulevard. It's expected to last about an hour and a half, with a rally taking place in front of Union Station at 12:45 p.m.
More information about parking and travel can be found online.
For those who aren't attending the parade but still want to witness the celebration, both the parade and rally will be aired Wednesday on Fox 22 KQFX and streamed on ABC17News.com.
