NEW ORLEANS, La. – As storms rolled through New Orleans, forcing the rescheduling of all Sunday Mardi Gras parades, Mayor LaToya Cantrell made the difficult decision to board a first-class flight to the Maldives, reportedly to “cope with the overwhelming grief” of the situation.

“Look, this a real unfortunate event for the city, y’all feel me?” Cantrell announced from a private beach, sippin’ on gin & juice (laid back). “You know as a leader, I gotta do what’s best for my mental stability so I can keep servin’ the people at the highest level. And ain’t nowhere better to reflect than a $1,500 a night overwater villa, ya heard me?”

City officials confirmed the mayor’s sudden departure, explaining that while New Orleans residents were left to endure thunderstorms, semi-flooded streets and canceled festivities, Cantrell was “sacrificing her time” at a five-star spa, meditating on how this tragedy could have been avoided.

Sources say she plans to return once the parades resume or when her room service bill exceeds the city’s annual budget—whichever comes first. “Y’all gone be aight, just vibe till I get back,” Cantrell told concerned residents.