17th Feb, 2006. New Orleans, Louisiana. Preparations for Mardi Gras are in full swing at Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World at the company's headquarters on the West Bank of the city. Staff are running at full speed ahead to have floats, props and preparations in place for Mardi Gras Krewes to roll in the next few weeks as Mardi Gras descends on the ravaged city of New Orleans. Old props catch the light away in a corner of one of the many warehouses in the complex.