Audubon Aquarium closes for inspections

Audubon Nature Institute closed the Audubon Aquarium and Audubon Insectarium in downtown New Orleans on Tuesday, May 19, to run annual hurricane-preparedness checks before the Atlantic season begins on June 1. The organization said the one-day shutdown was meant to let staff test emergency systems tied to animal care and facility operations. Local station WWL-TV reported the inspections covered electrical systems, backup power and other critical infrastructure. Audubon said the facilities were scheduled to reopen Wednesday morning. ### Why did the aquarium and insectarium close this week? Tuesday’s closure was planned rather than storm-driven. Audubon said in a May 15 newsroom post that the aquarium and insectarium would close on May 19 so teams could test emergency preparations ahead of hurricane season. (newsroom.audubonnatureinstitute.org) The Audubon Aquarium page and the organization’s hours page both flagged the same date, saying the attraction was “Closed Tuesday, May 19 for annual hurricane preparedness.” The closure applied to the insectarium as well, which is included with aquarium admission. ### What exactly were crews inspecting? WWL-TV reported the work included checks of electrical systems, backup generators and other critical infrastructure. (newsroom.audubonnatureinstitute.org) Audubon said the purpose of the closure was to test multiple systems needed to protect the health and safety of animals at the two downtown attractions. (audubonnatureinstitute.org) Audubon did not describe the inspection as a response to a specific storm threat. Instead, the organization framed it as a preseason exercise, similar to annual hurricane-readiness work done before June 1. ### Why does hurricane preparation require a full-day shutdown? (wwltv.com) Audubon said the downtown sites have “multiple systems to check” before the season starts. The organization’s statement said those checks are broader than household storm preparation because the facilities must maintain life-support and operating systems for animals as well as public spaces. (newsroom.audubonnatureinstitute.org) New Orleans facilities routinely prepare for hurricane season because the Atlantic season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. The annual testing at the aquarium and insectarium fits that calendar, with the closure scheduled nearly two weeks before the season’s official start. (newsroom.audubonnatureinstitute.org) ### Was the closure part of a broader Audubon announcement? Audubon’s newsroom listed the May 19 closure among its recent institutional updates, and the aquarium’s visitor page carried the same notice. WWL-TV reported the shutdown as part of broader hurricane preparations at Gulf Coast facilities this week. The Audubon Aquarium sits at 1 Canal Street along the Mississippi River near the French Quarter. (newsroom.audubonnatureinstitute.org) The organization says the aquarium houses more than 3,600 animals from more than 250 species, which helps explain why backup power and systems testing are central to preseason planning. ### When were visitors told to come back? Audubon’s May 15 announcement said the aquarium and insectarium would reopen at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 20. (newsroom.audubonnatureinstitute.org) The hours page now lists both attractions as open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last ticket sold at 4 p.m., and says visitors should check the website for the most current operating information. (audubonnatureinstitute.org) June 1 is the next date on the calendar that matters for the facility’s storm planning, because that is the start of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season referenced in Audubon’s closure notice. (newsroom.audubonnatureinstitute.org)