1 00:00:00,166 --> 00:00:03,336 Entergy is proud to support programing on LP 2 00:00:03,336 --> 00:00:06,473 and greener practices that preserve Louisiana. 3 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:10,110 The goal of our environmental and sustainability initiatives 4 00:00:10,110 --> 00:00:14,414 really is to ensure that our kids and future generations can be left 5 00:00:14,414 --> 00:00:17,016 with a cleaner planet. 6 00:00:27,727 --> 00:00:29,929 Additional support provided by the Fred Bea 7 00:00:29,929 --> 00:00:31,464 and Ruth B Ziegler Foundation 8 00:00:31,464 --> 00:00:34,667 and the Ziegler Art Museum located in Jennings City Hall. 9 00:00:35,001 --> 00:00:37,871 The museum focuses on emerging Louisiana artists 10 00:00:38,071 --> 00:00:41,508 and is an historical and cultural center for Southwest Louisiana 11 00:00:42,909 --> 00:00:46,379 and the Foundation for Excellence in Louisiana Public Broadcasting. 12 00:00:46,613 --> 00:00:48,648 With support from viewers like you. 13 00:01:03,763 --> 00:01:05,498 That stuff's going into the storm drain, 14 00:01:05,498 --> 00:01:07,834 and you may not see it, and this is the problem. 15 00:01:08,001 --> 00:01:11,437 Cleaning up Louisiana litter, how is that affecting impact 16 00:01:11,471 --> 00:01:12,538 in the environment? 17 00:01:12,538 --> 00:01:15,308 New Orleans natives making a healthier carnival season. 18 00:01:15,308 --> 00:01:17,911 So we're right on that tipping point where we have to worry 19 00:01:18,278 --> 00:01:21,214 how a melting glacier is threatening Louisiana's coast 20 00:01:21,447 --> 00:01:23,149 in 24 hours. 21 00:01:23,149 --> 00:01:26,052 Their life changed and not for the better. 22 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:28,421 An insurance option everyone should know. 23 00:01:29,289 --> 00:01:30,523 Hi everyone, I'm Kara St. 24 00:01:30,523 --> 00:01:31,958 Cyr and I'm Andre Moreau. 25 00:01:31,958 --> 00:01:34,927 Signs of peaking --That is the latest this week 26 00:01:35,061 --> 00:01:38,131 from state health officials about the Omicron variant of COVID. 27 00:01:38,431 --> 00:01:40,800 They say it shows signs of peaking. 28 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:44,537 Governor John Bel Edwards and top medical leaders say the numbers 29 00:01:44,537 --> 00:01:48,041 of people in the hospital and the positive tests have dropped 30 00:01:48,307 --> 00:01:51,911 for a second week in a row, though cases still remain high. 31 00:01:52,178 --> 00:01:55,148 If it is the case that we are peaking now and if the numbers do 32 00:01:55,481 --> 00:01:58,384 on a statewide basis, at least look to be trending 33 00:01:58,384 --> 00:02:00,853 in the right direction in the coming days or a week. 34 00:02:01,521 --> 00:02:04,891 It's still worth remembering that that still has 35 00:02:04,891 --> 00:02:06,826 an absolute level of very, very high. 36 00:02:06,826 --> 00:02:10,128 Basically the same place that we are now, which means it is 37 00:02:10,128 --> 00:02:13,765 true now, and it will remain true for the next couple of weeks 38 00:02:14,133 --> 00:02:17,036 that there's just more COVID out there in Louisiana 39 00:02:17,403 --> 00:02:19,472 than at any point prior in the pandemic. 40 00:02:19,605 --> 00:02:23,376 The risk of being exposed, the risk of contracting the risk 41 00:02:23,376 --> 00:02:27,480 at risk of bringing COVID home to your family is as high, 42 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:29,549 if not higher now, than at any point prior. 43 00:02:29,582 --> 00:02:32,118 I think that's important for folks to realize 44 00:02:32,351 --> 00:02:35,154 as we watch these numbers closely in the coming days. 45 00:02:35,388 --> 00:02:37,690 The total number of COVID cases in Louisiana 46 00:02:37,690 --> 00:02:41,527 over the course of this pandemic has officially surpassed 1 million. 47 00:02:41,861 --> 00:02:43,262 The Louisiana Department of Health 48 00:02:43,262 --> 00:02:46,933 reported 14,000 new cases and 37 new deaths this week. 49 00:02:47,233 --> 00:02:48,701 Infections and reinfections 50 00:02:48,701 --> 00:02:50,870 are still most common among the unvaccinated, 51 00:02:51,137 --> 00:02:53,139 and let's take a look at some of the other headlines 52 00:02:53,139 --> 00:02:54,640 making news across our state. 53 00:02:55,808 --> 00:02:57,743 After over five months of limited 54 00:02:57,743 --> 00:03:01,147 electricity from Hurricane Ida's destruction, Louisiana's 55 00:03:01,147 --> 00:03:04,850 Barrier Island Grand Isle finally has fully restored power. 56 00:03:05,318 --> 00:03:07,954 I'd made landfall August 29th, leaving Grand 57 00:03:07,954 --> 00:03:10,590 Isle nearly inaccessible for days after the storm. 58 00:03:11,090 --> 00:03:14,393 For months, the island has relied on large Entergy generators. 59 00:03:15,461 --> 00:03:19,165 This week, American Electric Power in Ohio based utility company 60 00:03:19,165 --> 00:03:20,800 announced plans for a new 100 61 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:23,569 million dollar transmission control center in Shreveport. 62 00:03:24,036 --> 00:03:27,206 The company currently provides electricity in the Texarkana area. 63 00:03:27,640 --> 00:03:29,308 The state offered incentive packages 64 00:03:29,308 --> 00:03:32,378 that include a 1 million dollar reward for infrastructure costs. 65 00:03:32,611 --> 00:03:36,382 Construction is set to begin with operations midyear 2023. 66 00:03:37,249 --> 00:03:39,985 New Orleans University Medical Center recently identified 67 00:03:39,985 --> 00:03:41,554 the first two known cases 68 00:03:41,554 --> 00:03:44,223 in Louisiana of a rare drug resistant fungus. 69 00:03:44,590 --> 00:03:46,992 The fungus was found in at least 20 other states. 70 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:49,628 It's a harmful form of yeast that can be resistant 71 00:03:49,628 --> 00:03:51,731 to most of the common antifungal drugs. 72 00:03:52,264 --> 00:03:55,401 The CDC has determined the fungus to be an emerging global threat 73 00:03:55,401 --> 00:03:57,670 and says it's especially dangerous to hospital 74 00:03:57,670 --> 00:04:00,406 and nursing home patients with serious medical problems 75 00:04:01,574 --> 00:04:02,274 after two 76 00:04:02,274 --> 00:04:05,044 years of jazz fest cancelations due to the pandemic. 77 00:04:05,344 --> 00:04:09,148 Festival organizers have announced 2022 is a long awaited lineup. 78 00:04:09,615 --> 00:04:12,418 This year's jazz fest will run from Friday, April 29th 79 00:04:12,418 --> 00:04:15,521 through Sunday, May eighth, with Erica Badu, the WHO. 80 00:04:15,554 --> 00:04:18,324 Stevie Nicks and Foo Fighters as headliners, 81 00:04:19,391 --> 00:04:20,692 the governor announced this week. 82 00:04:20,692 --> 00:04:22,661 The Army Corps of Engineers will receive more 83 00:04:22,661 --> 00:04:25,197 than two and a half billion dollars for the state 84 00:04:25,464 --> 00:04:27,733 under the Biden bipartisan infrastructure law. 85 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:28,634 It includes 86 00:04:28,634 --> 00:04:31,971 recovery money for coastal projects and damage from Hurricane Ida. 87 00:04:33,038 --> 00:04:36,342 The 17th annual cinema on the Bayou will be held in-person 88 00:04:36,342 --> 00:04:37,877 and online this year. 89 00:04:37,877 --> 00:04:41,146 The film festival will present over 200 official selections, 90 00:04:41,413 --> 00:04:42,248 which will be available 91 00:04:42,248 --> 00:04:45,517 to watch online, as well as daily in-person screenings. 92 00:04:46,051 --> 00:04:48,187 All in-person screenings will be in compliance 93 00:04:48,187 --> 00:04:50,322 with applicable COVID 19 requirements. 94 00:04:50,689 --> 00:04:54,426 The festival's film schedule can be found at cinema on the by EW.com. 95 00:05:06,238 --> 00:05:08,207 And now to a story that we first talk to you 96 00:05:08,207 --> 00:05:10,676 about last week with Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. 97 00:05:10,943 --> 00:05:13,712 It's the governor's task force on litter abatement 98 00:05:13,979 --> 00:05:17,316 and beautification for the state of Louisiana statewide. 99 00:05:17,583 --> 00:05:21,620 Mary Constantine is a photographer and a clean environment advocate. 100 00:05:21,887 --> 00:05:23,622 You've worked on this for a long time 101 00:05:23,622 --> 00:05:25,824 and you are a member of this task force. 102 00:05:25,824 --> 00:05:27,860 So how will the task force work? 103 00:05:27,860 --> 00:05:30,062 Well, there's there's 26 of us. 104 00:05:30,062 --> 00:05:32,297 So when you think about it, that's pretty frightening. 105 00:05:32,498 --> 00:05:33,799 But my understanding 106 00:05:33,799 --> 00:05:35,167 is that they're going to break up into 107 00:05:35,167 --> 00:05:37,569 either teams or groups and then probably 108 00:05:37,569 --> 00:05:39,238 you'll be assigned maybe a couple. 109 00:05:39,238 --> 00:05:42,508 I'm not sure some of the work you've done with Capital Lake 110 00:05:42,508 --> 00:05:45,944 in Baton Rouge discussed that and how that will be a model 111 00:05:46,211 --> 00:05:48,313 to help the entire state work toward this. 112 00:05:48,347 --> 00:05:51,817 Will our stormwater coalition has been involved cleaning 113 00:05:51,817 --> 00:05:54,653 1200 bags of litter out of Capital Lake. 114 00:05:54,987 --> 00:05:58,323 342 tires, a couch and two toilets. 115 00:05:58,323 --> 00:06:02,094 And so we recognize 41 bags 116 00:06:02,094 --> 00:06:05,564 flow in every month and we came up with this model. 117 00:06:05,597 --> 00:06:08,634 You know, we cleaned it 15 times over from, 118 00:06:08,634 --> 00:06:10,869 I mean, made it pristine and we realized 119 00:06:10,869 --> 00:06:14,306 we we're just wasting our time because we don't have a litter 120 00:06:14,306 --> 00:06:17,309 capturing technologies in the outfalls. 121 00:06:17,309 --> 00:06:20,813 And in the north of the capital, Lake is right in downtown 122 00:06:20,813 --> 00:06:22,047 Baton Rouge near the state Capitol. 123 00:06:22,047 --> 00:06:24,483 So we came up with a model and it's a really easy model. 124 00:06:24,483 --> 00:06:27,019 If you get a storm water management program in place, 125 00:06:27,419 --> 00:06:29,955 you have permanent funding from utility bill. 126 00:06:30,355 --> 00:06:33,058 When you get the permanent funding, you drop in the equipment 127 00:06:33,058 --> 00:06:35,093 that's been around for 30 years in Florida. 128 00:06:35,093 --> 00:06:36,962 Now they've already they're very done this. 129 00:06:36,962 --> 00:06:39,398 All we have to do is learn from them 130 00:06:39,398 --> 00:06:41,166 and then you get you have the money, 131 00:06:41,166 --> 00:06:43,502 so you have the equipment serviced and cleaned. 132 00:06:43,769 --> 00:06:46,438 Then you get the Girl Scouts and all the volunteers. 133 00:06:46,438 --> 00:06:48,473 You go in to a legacy clean. 134 00:06:48,473 --> 00:06:50,909 You clean up our litter, our grandfather's litter 135 00:06:51,076 --> 00:06:54,046 one time deal, clean it up, probably have to do a touch up 136 00:06:54,046 --> 00:06:58,050 once a year, but the equipment is going to stop the 41 bags. 137 00:06:58,050 --> 00:07:01,053 And so this model is very different 138 00:07:01,053 --> 00:07:04,423 than any model you've ever seen when it comes to the watersheds. 139 00:07:04,523 --> 00:07:05,958 Louisiana is a state 140 00:07:05,958 --> 00:07:09,895 that has gets more rainfall, more water than no one in raised. 141 00:07:09,895 --> 00:07:12,831 OK, so that will contribute to the problem 142 00:07:13,131 --> 00:07:15,867 of litter on the street going into streams and rivers. 143 00:07:15,867 --> 00:07:18,937 And what happens is unlike dry as a bone Arizona, 144 00:07:18,937 --> 00:07:20,906 they have wind problems. 145 00:07:20,906 --> 00:07:22,207 We have flooding problems. 146 00:07:22,207 --> 00:07:25,410 And so what happens to us because we're number one in rainfall? 147 00:07:25,844 --> 00:07:26,578 If you 148 00:07:26,578 --> 00:07:28,113 if you throw stuff out on the street 149 00:07:28,113 --> 00:07:32,184 or drops out of the garbage truck or gets there, somehow what happens 150 00:07:32,184 --> 00:07:35,320 is every two weeks it gets washed into this 151 00:07:35,454 --> 00:07:36,922 the sportsman's paradise, 152 00:07:36,922 --> 00:07:39,758 the soul, part B, it gets washed into there. 153 00:07:40,125 --> 00:07:43,161 And the storm drains are essentially freeway onramp 154 00:07:43,161 --> 00:07:48,567 systems, delivering massive payloads into what we live in play. 155 00:07:48,700 --> 00:07:49,734 And you mentioned Florida, 156 00:07:49,734 --> 00:07:52,337 why they are a great model for us to follow. 157 00:07:52,370 --> 00:07:54,172 Yeah, it's pretty obvious there. 158 00:07:54,172 --> 00:07:57,342 The weather is very similar to ours where we all go there to vacation 159 00:07:57,342 --> 00:08:00,479 because it's so beautiful, but they have the same topography. 160 00:08:00,879 --> 00:08:02,447 You know, we always like to look at Texas 161 00:08:02,447 --> 00:08:04,082 for business and things for Florida. 162 00:08:04,082 --> 00:08:05,317 If we want to look at the environment, 163 00:08:05,317 --> 00:08:07,953 look at Florida, they have the same topography 164 00:08:07,953 --> 00:08:09,321 and they're typically no foreign 165 00:08:09,321 --> 00:08:12,624 rainfall and we're number one and they did this 30 years ago. 166 00:08:12,757 --> 00:08:13,859 Our storm drains, 167 00:08:13,859 --> 00:08:16,361 it might have been built in the fifties and even earlier 168 00:08:16,361 --> 00:08:18,697 were never intended for single use items. 169 00:08:18,964 --> 00:08:21,233 So what happens is they get clogged up. 170 00:08:21,233 --> 00:08:25,470 And then when we create when we send in plastics and 171 00:08:26,271 --> 00:08:29,608 sediments, flood causing sediments, we create impermeable 172 00:08:29,608 --> 00:08:31,243 surfaces and soils. 173 00:08:31,243 --> 00:08:33,879 This is played out all over the state, right? 174 00:08:33,912 --> 00:08:37,249 And every year exactly what if you have storm drains 175 00:08:37,649 --> 00:08:40,518 and you're not, you know, taking care 176 00:08:40,751 --> 00:08:41,919 and you don't have good garbage 177 00:08:41,919 --> 00:08:43,688 contracts and you have a lot of people 178 00:08:43,688 --> 00:08:46,291 are throwing those kinds of things and it's ending up on the street. 179 00:08:46,791 --> 00:08:49,760 That stuff's going into the storm drain and you may not see it. 180 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:51,129 And this is the problem. 181 00:08:51,129 --> 00:08:53,097 But that is going to get delivered. 182 00:08:53,097 --> 00:08:56,333 That outfall is going to deliver that payload 183 00:08:56,333 --> 00:08:58,236 and it's going to get stuck somewhere. 184 00:08:58,236 --> 00:09:00,238 Some of it's going to go to the ocean, 185 00:09:00,238 --> 00:09:01,406 but some of it is going 186 00:09:01,406 --> 00:09:04,442 to get stuck in your favorite place to go hunting. 187 00:09:04,776 --> 00:09:06,778 The point is to keep Louisiana beautiful. 188 00:09:06,778 --> 00:09:11,249 We are the sportsman's paradise and this will go under the Visit 189 00:09:11,249 --> 00:09:14,986 Louisiana campaign, and that's where it's going to go from. 190 00:09:15,020 --> 00:09:17,355 So that's a lot of where this can happen. 191 00:09:17,355 --> 00:09:19,357 It's so great to have you here. Thank you very constaté. 192 00:09:19,457 --> 00:09:20,291 Thank you. Thank you. 193 00:09:34,272 --> 00:09:37,108 Louisiana sees a surge in our litter problem every year 194 00:09:37,108 --> 00:09:39,110 during Carnival season. Beads, stuffed 195 00:09:39,110 --> 00:09:41,246 animals into balloons are quintessential Mardi Gras. 196 00:09:41,279 --> 00:09:44,082 But these items often take a heavy toll on the environment. 197 00:09:44,449 --> 00:09:46,417 Experts say that most of the throws we catch at 198 00:09:46,417 --> 00:09:48,953 parades will end up in the streets or in landfills. 199 00:09:49,387 --> 00:09:51,623 New Orleans natives deep in the culture are creating 200 00:09:51,623 --> 00:09:53,625 something more sustainable to ease the burden 201 00:09:53,858 --> 00:09:57,095 on our country's landfills by producing biodegradable solutions. 202 00:09:57,428 --> 00:09:58,963 I spoke with the creators of Epiphany 203 00:09:58,963 --> 00:10:01,766 Throws, a business dedicated to making sustainable beads 204 00:10:01,966 --> 00:10:04,802 about the importance of an eco friendly carnival season. 205 00:10:05,470 --> 00:10:09,207 Mardi Gras produces nearly 1000 tons of trash each year. 206 00:10:09,507 --> 00:10:11,609 All the bags, beads and stuffed animals 207 00:10:11,609 --> 00:10:13,878 usually end up on the streets or in the garbage. 208 00:10:14,579 --> 00:10:17,448 Penny Orochi, Melissa Montgomery and Allison Taylor 209 00:10:17,448 --> 00:10:20,318 are a group of women working toward a healthier carnival season. 210 00:10:20,919 --> 00:10:22,554 Through talking to other people realized 211 00:10:22,554 --> 00:10:25,590 that we all had a major problem with the waste and the trash 212 00:10:25,890 --> 00:10:29,694 going on at Mardi Gras, and we heard some people saying 213 00:10:29,694 --> 00:10:31,296 they didn't even want to ride anymore 214 00:10:31,296 --> 00:10:34,098 because of all the trash , and it was just felt so wrong 215 00:10:34,098 --> 00:10:35,700 and people just leaving things on the street. 216 00:10:35,700 --> 00:10:38,336 And how is that affecting impact on the environment? 217 00:10:38,603 --> 00:10:41,706 Regular plastic beads are hazardous for several reasons. 218 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:44,642 They can last in landfills for up to 200 years, 219 00:10:44,709 --> 00:10:47,679 and they can damage storm drains needed to prevent flooding. 220 00:10:48,146 --> 00:10:50,848 Scientists have also linked to be paint to carcinogens. 221 00:10:51,349 --> 00:10:54,686 IronKey, Taylor and Montgomery created Epiphany throws so 222 00:10:54,686 --> 00:10:57,288 they could sell Mardi Gras products without the added risks. 223 00:10:57,922 --> 00:11:00,458 Let's let's be proud of what we throw and let's, 224 00:11:01,326 --> 00:11:04,362 you know, let's let's be the city that cares. 225 00:11:04,929 --> 00:11:09,233 Their throats are comprised of mainly two things are seeds 226 00:11:09,233 --> 00:11:11,169 and dead stock cotton textile 227 00:11:11,169 --> 00:11:13,438 epiphany throws offers ethically sourced 228 00:11:13,438 --> 00:11:15,206 painted beads made out of seeds 229 00:11:15,206 --> 00:11:17,341 that are strung together with cotton strings. 230 00:11:17,341 --> 00:11:20,511 The headdresses and bags are made from leftover factory cotton 231 00:11:20,712 --> 00:11:22,647 and old Mardi Gras costumes. 232 00:11:22,647 --> 00:11:23,514 Unlike regular 233 00:11:23,514 --> 00:11:26,851 plastic throws, these can degrade in about ten years or so, 234 00:11:27,452 --> 00:11:30,288 but the goal is really to make something people will remember. 235 00:11:30,488 --> 00:11:32,890 It's really nice to make that connection with the writer 236 00:11:32,890 --> 00:11:34,859 when they get something that's really exciting, 237 00:11:34,859 --> 00:11:36,494 they're like, Oh, this is different. 238 00:11:36,494 --> 00:11:38,296 Epiphany throws aren't the only group 239 00:11:38,296 --> 00:11:40,865 trying to make Carnival better for the environment. 240 00:11:40,865 --> 00:11:44,402 Now, Hero Catto, an LSU professor, developed a special type 241 00:11:44,402 --> 00:11:46,537 of Mardi Gras be that's eco friendly. 242 00:11:46,537 --> 00:11:49,807 As a biologist, I knew there is a product called 243 00:11:49,874 --> 00:11:52,276 Bio Rabaul Plastics. 244 00:11:52,810 --> 00:11:56,113 Kato's method starts with microscopic algae called a diatoms. 245 00:11:56,481 --> 00:11:57,415 If you harvest them, 246 00:11:57,415 --> 00:12:00,084 you can use their oil to create beads and a blooms. 247 00:12:00,918 --> 00:12:03,120 After Mardi Gras is over, they can degrade 248 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:04,889 in one or two years. 249 00:12:04,889 --> 00:12:07,959 Louisiana is a great place to grow the microalgae 250 00:12:08,426 --> 00:12:11,195 out of all of those to meet sun-dried. 251 00:12:12,230 --> 00:12:12,930 So why just 252 00:12:12,930 --> 00:12:15,800 regrow the microalgae and then 253 00:12:17,101 --> 00:12:19,670 directly produce plastics 254 00:12:19,670 --> 00:12:23,207 from the oil within the microalgae? 255 00:12:23,608 --> 00:12:27,178 Although the process is eco friendly, it's also very expensive. 256 00:12:27,545 --> 00:12:30,248 Kato's first batch of Mardi Gras beads would cost around 257 00:12:30,248 --> 00:12:32,984 $40,000 for only 3000 beads. 258 00:12:33,317 --> 00:12:37,722 On average, plastic ones only cost about 25 to $40 per case. 259 00:12:38,089 --> 00:12:40,291 Kato says he might be able to lower the cost 260 00:12:40,291 --> 00:12:42,360 if he can produce more beads quickly. 261 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:44,462 But even then, the price would still be higher 262 00:12:44,462 --> 00:12:45,997 than the plastic ones. 263 00:12:45,997 --> 00:12:48,532 If we produce a lot of amount 264 00:12:49,133 --> 00:12:52,470 and then the cost price 265 00:12:52,470 --> 00:12:56,407 could be down to about $0.20. 266 00:12:57,641 --> 00:13:00,578 Palm are still. 267 00:13:00,578 --> 00:13:03,481 You know, three times, four times more expensive than. 268 00:13:05,249 --> 00:13:09,186 They get on Mardi Gras beads, but ultimately, Kato says real 269 00:13:09,186 --> 00:13:12,423 sustainability is more sentimental than biodegradable products. 270 00:13:12,690 --> 00:13:15,960 If there's some sort of value attached to the items being thrown, 271 00:13:16,260 --> 00:13:17,695 then people will take them home 272 00:13:17,695 --> 00:13:20,798 instead of throwing them in the streets or in the garbage. 273 00:13:21,866 --> 00:13:25,102 2022 is Epiphany throws first full year of operation. 274 00:13:25,369 --> 00:13:28,105 They plan to expand their business and supply sustainable throws in 275 00:13:28,105 --> 00:13:30,241 bulk for big Mardi Gras crews in the future. 276 00:13:45,022 --> 00:13:46,757 Louisiana loses a football field 277 00:13:46,757 --> 00:13:49,660 worth of land every hour and a half to sea level rise. 278 00:13:49,994 --> 00:13:52,830 That's a tennis court worth of land every few minutes 279 00:13:53,230 --> 00:13:56,600 as rising temperatures quickly melt glaciers in the Arctic states 280 00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:58,569 like Louisiana stand to lose a lot more 281 00:13:58,569 --> 00:14:00,738 if they're quickly disappearing coastlines. 282 00:14:00,738 --> 00:14:03,507 Brett Gehring, a professor at Tulane University, explains why 283 00:14:03,507 --> 00:14:05,943 a glacier enhanced Arctic air is melting so quickly 284 00:14:06,176 --> 00:14:08,612 and how Louisiana could be affected. 285 00:14:08,612 --> 00:14:11,949 7289 miles away from Louisiana's 286 00:14:11,949 --> 00:14:14,718 coast, a threat is brewing in the heart of the ocean. 287 00:14:15,719 --> 00:14:17,788 The Thwaites Glacier is a massive ice 288 00:14:17,788 --> 00:14:20,057 approximately the size of Great Britain. 289 00:14:20,057 --> 00:14:22,159 It's been slowly melting for decades 290 00:14:22,159 --> 00:14:25,296 and is responsible for 4% of global sea level rise. 291 00:14:25,930 --> 00:14:28,532 Scientists like Brant Gehring say we could see 292 00:14:28,532 --> 00:14:31,502 catastrophic levels of flooding if we don't act fast. 293 00:14:32,269 --> 00:14:34,471 Thwaites Glacier is up to a kilometer deep 294 00:14:34,972 --> 00:14:39,410 or more in place, so a significantly different 295 00:14:40,644 --> 00:14:42,479 different magnitude of 296 00:14:42,479 --> 00:14:46,016 of flowing water just in a frozen state. 297 00:14:46,550 --> 00:14:48,619 Gehring is part of a network of scientists 298 00:14:48,619 --> 00:14:51,388 researching the Thwaites Glacier and its impact on sea level 299 00:14:51,855 --> 00:14:54,058 during his tenure as the principal investigator 300 00:14:54,058 --> 00:14:56,493 at the International Thwaites Glacier collaboration. 301 00:14:56,860 --> 00:14:58,195 He's seen the temperature of the water 302 00:14:58,195 --> 00:15:00,597 underneath the ice mass rise with climate change, 303 00:15:00,798 --> 00:15:03,233 which is creating a huge problem for the Antarctic 304 00:15:03,233 --> 00:15:06,036 ice shelves that hold the glacier above water. 305 00:15:06,036 --> 00:15:09,073 The West ice sheet in the East Ice Sheet keep the weights planted 306 00:15:09,073 --> 00:15:10,240 in the ground. 307 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:12,743 The East Ice Sheet is above sea level and is considered 308 00:15:12,743 --> 00:15:16,480 stable by most scientists, but the West ice sheet isn't 309 00:15:17,915 --> 00:15:18,215 warm. 310 00:15:18,215 --> 00:15:20,184 Water is breaking off chunks of the sheet, 311 00:15:20,184 --> 00:15:23,353 which causes pieces of the glacier to break into the Pacific Ocean. 312 00:15:23,821 --> 00:15:26,824 The more the glacier breaks, the higher sea level rises. 313 00:15:27,024 --> 00:15:29,626 So we're right on that tipping point where we have to worry. 314 00:15:29,993 --> 00:15:33,831 For coastal states, the sea level rising could cause severe problems 315 00:15:34,198 --> 00:15:35,065 in Louisiana, 316 00:15:35,065 --> 00:15:37,835 where the coast is already disappearing at a devastating rate. 317 00:15:38,268 --> 00:15:41,238 Experts predict the glacier could add another two feet of water. 318 00:15:41,538 --> 00:15:45,409 Gehring says that type of increase would cause more storm surges 319 00:15:45,542 --> 00:15:47,311 and mass flooding on the coast. 320 00:15:47,311 --> 00:15:49,413 Gehring says that these impacts may come a lot 321 00:15:49,413 --> 00:15:51,615 sooner than scientists anticipated. 322 00:15:51,615 --> 00:15:56,320 There is an immediate impact that if water does start 323 00:15:56,320 --> 00:16:01,258 to get under the glacier on the order of a half a foot 324 00:16:01,258 --> 00:16:06,063 to a foot may happen within the next few decades to 50 years. 325 00:16:06,330 --> 00:16:09,967 So time scales that you and I are going to be living through, 326 00:16:09,967 --> 00:16:12,703 and children are most certainly going to have to be 327 00:16:12,703 --> 00:16:14,838 dealing with those impacts in the near future. 328 00:16:15,205 --> 00:16:16,139 While this prediction 329 00:16:16,139 --> 00:16:18,375 is generally accepted among glacier scientists, 330 00:16:18,375 --> 00:16:20,510 not everyone agrees with the timeline. 331 00:16:20,510 --> 00:16:22,879 Some argue that the meltdown could take up to ten years 332 00:16:22,879 --> 00:16:23,981 before we see effects, 333 00:16:23,981 --> 00:16:26,917 while others argue that we're already experiencing them now. 334 00:16:27,317 --> 00:16:29,553 There have been thoughts about geoengineering. 335 00:16:29,886 --> 00:16:32,356 It's very unlikely that those are going to work. 336 00:16:32,556 --> 00:16:35,959 The one thing we can do right now is start to conserve 337 00:16:36,193 --> 00:16:40,030 in any way we can just to slow the impacts of climate change. 338 00:16:40,430 --> 00:16:42,532 Climate change has inertia. 339 00:16:42,532 --> 00:16:44,000 It has momentum. 340 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:48,038 And so what we did as a world 20, 30 years ago, 341 00:16:48,071 --> 00:16:52,342 the atmospheric system, the oceans, they're all still evolving 342 00:16:52,342 --> 00:16:53,510 and responding to that. 343 00:16:53,510 --> 00:16:55,645 But the sooner we can act, the better. 344 00:16:55,645 --> 00:16:58,482 Gehring says that limiting CO2 exhausts is one thing 345 00:16:58,482 --> 00:17:00,050 people can do to slow the ice, 346 00:17:00,050 --> 00:17:03,086 but ultimately proactive protections are our best bet. 347 00:17:03,220 --> 00:17:07,457 I think we need to, as a state start to be more proactive 348 00:17:07,457 --> 00:17:11,328 in terms of potentially moving businesses off of the coast, 349 00:17:11,994 --> 00:17:15,165 potentially moving residences away from the coast 350 00:17:15,464 --> 00:17:19,035 outside of, say, you know, vacation type homes. 351 00:17:20,203 --> 00:17:21,805 You know, we just have to be wiser 352 00:17:21,805 --> 00:17:25,876 with how we are preparing rather than reacting. 353 00:17:26,510 --> 00:17:29,146 The international Thwaites Glacier collaboration is studying 354 00:17:29,146 --> 00:17:30,646 the ice mass closely. 355 00:17:30,646 --> 00:17:32,449 So far, there hasn't been any consensus 356 00:17:32,449 --> 00:17:36,319 on how to stop the ice sheet from melting. 357 00:17:48,464 --> 00:17:49,098 That hurricane 358 00:17:49,098 --> 00:17:51,835 either damaged your home, maybe any other hurricane, 359 00:17:52,102 --> 00:17:55,939 did you get everything in repairs to rebuild or recover the value? 360 00:17:56,239 --> 00:17:59,476 A second opinion is recommended from leading home lenders 361 00:17:59,676 --> 00:18:02,579 and that comes in the form of a public insurance adjuster. 362 00:18:02,879 --> 00:18:06,850 They'll visit you free of charge and they act solely on your behalf. 363 00:18:07,550 --> 00:18:10,453 one of the things that we experience the most is 364 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:13,757 we're dealing with people who've been through a trauma, 365 00:18:14,424 --> 00:18:16,059 and it's horrific. 366 00:18:16,059 --> 00:18:20,730 In 24 hours, their life changed and not for the better. 367 00:18:21,031 --> 00:18:23,667 Susan Magee and her working partner, Emile Wolfhard, 368 00:18:23,900 --> 00:18:25,969 are public insurance adjusters. 369 00:18:25,969 --> 00:18:27,671 They're hired by a homeowner 370 00:18:27,671 --> 00:18:30,740 and work for the homeowner, not an insurance company. 371 00:18:30,907 --> 00:18:34,577 In the wake of damage to a property, most of the people 372 00:18:34,577 --> 00:18:37,681 that we get that don't know about public adjusters are out. 373 00:18:37,681 --> 00:18:40,283 Googling help help me with my insurance. 374 00:18:40,583 --> 00:18:42,285 Then we pop up. 375 00:18:42,285 --> 00:18:44,587 They work with the Noble Public Adjuster Group, 376 00:18:44,888 --> 00:18:48,458 one of the nation's largest and the creator of the reality TV 377 00:18:48,458 --> 00:18:49,926 show Insurance Wars. 378 00:18:53,329 --> 00:18:55,031 They say the point of the show 379 00:18:55,031 --> 00:18:59,402 is to educate people what a public adjuster does and why. 380 00:18:59,669 --> 00:19:03,139 As a public adjuster, when we walk into a house 381 00:19:03,139 --> 00:19:06,976 or a building after a catastrophic event, a hurricane, 382 00:19:07,710 --> 00:19:10,880 an earthquake, we know the telltale signs 383 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:14,951 to look for first cracks in the sheetrock separation 384 00:19:14,951 --> 00:19:15,885 with a crown molding, 385 00:19:15,885 --> 00:19:18,621 cracks and tile. We know to look at the chimney 386 00:19:18,621 --> 00:19:20,690 if they've got chimneys wind damage. 387 00:19:20,690 --> 00:19:23,359 When you're looking at the outside, you're looking for shingles lift. 388 00:19:23,893 --> 00:19:25,128 I'm haeg certified. 389 00:19:25,128 --> 00:19:28,798 Lift doesn't necessarily necessitate a damage. 390 00:19:29,032 --> 00:19:31,834 So there's got to be a better inspection than simply lift. 391 00:19:32,202 --> 00:19:35,939 But you're looking for stucco very fine cracks 392 00:19:36,372 --> 00:19:38,942 that you will often miss unless you know what to look for. 393 00:19:39,609 --> 00:19:42,979 It's what happened to John Caldara and her family in Homa. 394 00:19:43,413 --> 00:19:46,482 We talked with her in the days following Hurricane Ida. 395 00:19:46,950 --> 00:19:47,417 You couldn't 396 00:19:47,417 --> 00:19:50,420 tell the extent of the damage from the outside of her house. 397 00:19:50,687 --> 00:19:54,924 Even though Ida's cat four winds peeled off every layer of roofing 398 00:19:54,924 --> 00:19:58,761 there was allowing water to intrude in every way. 399 00:19:59,162 --> 00:20:01,230 And then, as the days went on, we would see 400 00:20:01,831 --> 00:20:05,234 mildew growing in all the rooms, so I knew they were 401 00:20:05,234 --> 00:20:07,070 wetter than what I could see. 402 00:20:07,070 --> 00:20:09,138 Called a Reira is an actress who found out 403 00:20:09,138 --> 00:20:10,540 about public adjusters 404 00:20:10,540 --> 00:20:14,677 when she was cast as a homeowner in an episode of Insurance Wars. 405 00:20:15,178 --> 00:20:18,715 The role wasn't a hard one to play because she and her family 406 00:20:18,715 --> 00:20:21,351 were living through it in real time. Chris? 407 00:20:21,451 --> 00:20:23,419 Hi, Chris. Hey, Amber. Hi, Bob. 408 00:20:23,419 --> 00:20:24,587 Nice to meet you. 409 00:20:24,587 --> 00:20:27,023 Welcome to my once beautiful home. 410 00:20:27,056 --> 00:20:27,857 Yeah. 411 00:20:28,358 --> 00:20:32,295 When the wind gets into the attic, it puts an incredible amount 412 00:20:32,295 --> 00:20:36,399 of pressure inside that attic and the house almost Belcher's goes 413 00:20:37,567 --> 00:20:39,769 and as it does the 414 00:20:39,769 --> 00:20:43,072 all the ceiling boards, the windows, everything is affected 415 00:20:43,072 --> 00:20:43,940 by that belch. 416 00:20:43,940 --> 00:20:46,976 Then what happens is afterwards, when the is released, 417 00:20:47,276 --> 00:20:49,679 the ceiling boards that have been pressed down 418 00:20:49,679 --> 00:20:52,582 when they were pressed down the nails that held them off 419 00:20:52,582 --> 00:20:53,983 and that pushed those nails down 420 00:20:53,983 --> 00:20:55,618 when the ceiling boards got up again. 421 00:20:55,618 --> 00:20:57,253 Nothing pushes the nails up, 422 00:20:57,253 --> 00:20:58,855 so you start to see this little nail 423 00:20:58,855 --> 00:21:01,724 pops in the ceiling boards and cracks around the windows. OK? 424 00:21:01,858 --> 00:21:03,126 And then water or whatever. 425 00:21:03,126 --> 00:21:05,728 Then then yeah. Then then it starts. 426 00:21:06,295 --> 00:21:07,196 The public adjuster 427 00:21:07,196 --> 00:21:10,766 she hired discovered there was more damage inside her home. 428 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:13,503 She says they sent out structural engineers 429 00:21:13,769 --> 00:21:16,138 twice, sent out air quality experts. 430 00:21:16,439 --> 00:21:19,609 In the end, all the floors, all the ceilings 431 00:21:19,742 --> 00:21:22,144 and most of the walls were replaced. 432 00:21:22,411 --> 00:21:25,381 You provide a service to a lot of people don't even know exists. 433 00:21:25,414 --> 00:21:27,083 Yes, and that's the amazing thing 434 00:21:27,083 --> 00:21:29,452 we want to, especially here in Louisiana, because 435 00:21:30,620 --> 00:21:33,789 after the fact, you hear people over and over saying, 436 00:21:33,789 --> 00:21:34,590 Oh my gosh, I'm 437 00:21:34,590 --> 00:21:37,727 sure I'm not getting nearly what I need to get this thing fixed. 438 00:21:37,894 --> 00:21:40,897 A lot of our clients, we have insurance adjusters as our clients, 439 00:21:41,330 --> 00:21:44,600 insurance employees, as our clients because they know the value. 440 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:47,570 We have some insurance adjusters that I mean, we really want what 441 00:21:47,737 --> 00:21:48,571 they recommend. 442 00:21:48,571 --> 00:21:50,906 The clients get a public adjuster, you know. 443 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:54,844 So we wish more folks understood the value we do. 444 00:21:55,177 --> 00:21:58,648 And the heartbreak is when you get somebody who 445 00:21:59,315 --> 00:22:01,450 has insurance, they're 80 years old, 446 00:22:01,817 --> 00:22:05,454 they've lost their home and they have no way to get it back. 447 00:22:05,788 --> 00:22:07,890 On average, most of our clients are 448 00:22:09,058 --> 00:22:12,628 60 to 90 days out from the event, and they haven't gotten 449 00:22:12,628 --> 00:22:14,864 what they need or they've gotten a small check in. 450 00:22:14,864 --> 00:22:17,400 The insurance carrier has said, OK, we've paid. 451 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:19,402 We're done. That's it. 452 00:22:19,402 --> 00:22:22,738 And so they bring us in because they can't 453 00:22:22,738 --> 00:22:24,740 get the work done at that point. 454 00:22:24,740 --> 00:22:26,675 Do you increase the length of the claim? 455 00:22:26,675 --> 00:22:28,844 And our answer is no. 456 00:22:28,844 --> 00:22:31,280 The insurance company was going to give you X. 457 00:22:31,647 --> 00:22:33,449 We've not increased the length of that. 458 00:22:33,449 --> 00:22:35,084 They're still going to give you X. 459 00:22:35,084 --> 00:22:37,520 What we're doing is our time takes for the stuff 460 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:39,288 they weren't going to give you. 461 00:22:39,288 --> 00:22:41,991 So we've not increased the time to get what the insurance 462 00:22:41,991 --> 00:22:45,060 company was going to give you, where it takes us time to get what 463 00:22:45,060 --> 00:22:48,297 they should give you now, have they some insurance companies that 464 00:22:48,998 --> 00:22:51,066 or some claims that pay well, that part, right? 465 00:22:51,300 --> 00:22:53,269 So I want to be careful not to generalize, 466 00:22:53,269 --> 00:22:57,406 but where there's a lack of payment alignment isn't made whole. 467 00:22:57,406 --> 00:23:00,910 Again, we extend the time not for what they were going to get. 468 00:23:00,910 --> 00:23:02,311 That time is set. 469 00:23:02,311 --> 00:23:04,380 That's what they weren't going to get to say. 470 00:23:04,380 --> 00:23:06,615 X Company has told 471 00:23:07,616 --> 00:23:09,618 this family, this is what you're going to get for it. 472 00:23:09,852 --> 00:23:11,353 They're not satisfied they call you. 473 00:23:11,353 --> 00:23:13,355 Yes, you come exactly 474 00:23:13,355 --> 00:23:17,059 examine the situation and say, Well, look at this, this and this. 475 00:23:17,159 --> 00:23:18,327 We've not 476 00:23:18,794 --> 00:23:20,930 only got to tell them what we want, 477 00:23:21,297 --> 00:23:24,433 we've got to be able to articulate why we're asking for that 478 00:23:24,900 --> 00:23:27,269 unless we can answer the why the insurance company 479 00:23:27,269 --> 00:23:29,471 is under no obligation to give us the what. 480 00:23:29,471 --> 00:23:31,807 So we base that why on six things. 481 00:23:31,807 --> 00:23:32,374 I don't know 482 00:23:32,374 --> 00:23:33,275 if there's any value 483 00:23:33,275 --> 00:23:34,977 in understanding them, but the things like 484 00:23:34,977 --> 00:23:37,079 we're not asking for pixies and goblins, 485 00:23:37,079 --> 00:23:38,814 we're asking for things based on state 486 00:23:38,814 --> 00:23:42,818 statutes, building code, manufacturer requirements, 487 00:23:43,118 --> 00:23:46,889 case law history expert opinion, what the policy says. 488 00:23:47,056 --> 00:23:47,589 So probably. 489 00:23:47,589 --> 00:23:50,326 But with the policy said yes, the homeowner should get out. 490 00:23:50,326 --> 00:23:53,629 So those six things onto the Y. 491 00:23:53,862 --> 00:23:56,098 Susan, we've done what, 1214? 492 00:23:56,098 --> 00:23:58,300 I don't know how many thousand claims we've done as a company, 493 00:23:58,934 --> 00:24:01,570 how many of those have gone to court up to this week, 494 00:24:02,037 --> 00:24:05,140 including this week zero , not a single claim, 495 00:24:05,341 --> 00:24:08,344 the insurance company understands with what we present. 496 00:24:09,111 --> 00:24:12,681 If it comes before any legal opinion, it's obvious 497 00:24:12,681 --> 00:24:13,916 that's got to be paid. 498 00:24:13,916 --> 00:24:17,953 So our job is to provide the why and the better we answer the why, 499 00:24:18,120 --> 00:24:20,055 the more effectively the carrier is going to settle. 500 00:24:22,758 --> 00:24:23,959 In Louisiana, the average 501 00:24:23,959 --> 00:24:26,829 cost for a public adjuster is $5,000. 502 00:24:27,062 --> 00:24:30,499 The sales and marketing executives of Greater Baton Rouge awarded LPB 503 00:24:30,499 --> 00:24:34,236 President and CEO Beth Courtney with the now Mitchell Doty Lifetime 504 00:24:34,236 --> 00:24:35,804 Achievement Award on Thursday 505 00:24:35,804 --> 00:24:38,240 at a luncheon in Baton Rouge, Beth's daughter, 506 00:24:38,240 --> 00:24:40,476 Julie George Moore, accepted the award on her behalf. 507 00:24:40,776 --> 00:24:43,579 In a video was shown with a recorded message of 508 00:24:43,579 --> 00:24:45,481 thanks for the acknowledgment of her work. 509 00:24:45,481 --> 00:24:46,748 Let's take a look. 510 00:24:47,249 --> 00:24:49,017 Thank you all very much. 511 00:24:49,017 --> 00:24:52,154 It is a real honor for me to receive the Neil Mitchell 512 00:24:52,154 --> 00:24:54,790 Dhoti Lifetime Achievement Award. 513 00:24:55,157 --> 00:24:57,493 I had the pleasure of working with Nil, 514 00:24:57,759 --> 00:25:01,430 which makes receiving this award all the more special. 515 00:25:01,697 --> 00:25:05,701 Helping to establish the statewide network that is Louisiana 516 00:25:05,701 --> 00:25:09,171 public broadcasting is something I am very proud of. 517 00:25:09,438 --> 00:25:12,541 And your knowledge GMA today, I truly appreciate. 518 00:25:12,875 --> 00:25:13,809 As you well know, 519 00:25:13,809 --> 00:25:17,579 the media landscape has certainly changed a great deal 520 00:25:17,946 --> 00:25:22,517 since I began my career in public media almost five decades ago. 521 00:25:22,718 --> 00:25:24,553 But one thing that was true then 522 00:25:24,553 --> 00:25:28,390 and that is true now, is that a story told with integrity 523 00:25:28,624 --> 00:25:32,194 and with purpose is always relevant and meaningful. 524 00:25:32,494 --> 00:25:36,198 As LPB continues to break new ground in digital 525 00:25:36,198 --> 00:25:39,568 first productions alongside its documentaries, 526 00:25:39,801 --> 00:25:43,405 news, stories and its library of educational resources, 527 00:25:43,639 --> 00:25:45,774 being true to our mission continues 528 00:25:45,774 --> 00:25:48,577 to be the key to success and longevity. 529 00:25:48,844 --> 00:25:49,478 Thank you. 530 00:25:49,478 --> 00:25:52,781 Sales and marketing executives of Greater Baton Rouge 531 00:25:52,781 --> 00:25:57,219 for this award and for the good work you are doing every day. 532 00:25:58,320 --> 00:25:58,653 You know there. 533 00:25:58,653 --> 00:26:00,655 There's no doubt Beth has been a pioneer in public 534 00:26:00,655 --> 00:26:03,492 broadcasting and also a pioneer in public broadcasting for women. 535 00:26:03,525 --> 00:26:05,160 Yeah, that's absolutely true. 536 00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:07,229 Well, everyone, that is our show for this week. 537 00:26:07,229 --> 00:26:10,899 Remember, you can watch anything LPB anytime, wherever you are 538 00:26:11,066 --> 00:26:15,070 with our LPB PBS app, you can catch LPB news and public affairs 539 00:26:15,070 --> 00:26:17,272 shows , as well as other Louisiana programs 540 00:26:17,272 --> 00:26:18,907 you've come to enjoy over the years. 541 00:26:18,907 --> 00:26:21,810 And please like us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and now. 542 00:26:21,843 --> 00:26:23,578 Tick tock and tick tock. That's right. 543 00:26:23,578 --> 00:26:25,847 Well, if everyone here at Louisiana Public Broadcasting. 544 00:26:26,081 --> 00:26:27,783 I'm Andre Moreau and I'm Kara St. 545 00:26:27,783 --> 00:26:28,984 Cyr, until next time. 546 00:26:28,984 --> 00:26:31,119 That's the state we're in. 547 00:26:55,911 --> 00:26:59,114 Entergy is proud to support programing on LP 548 00:26:59,114 --> 00:27:02,250 and greener practices that preserve Louisiana. 549 00:27:03,018 --> 00:27:05,887 The goal of our environmental and sustainability initiatives 550 00:27:05,887 --> 00:27:09,858 really is to ensure that our kids and future generations can be 551 00:27:09,858 --> 00:27:11,493 left with a cleaner planet. 552 00:27:23,872 --> 00:27:26,041 Additional support provided by the Fred Bea 553 00:27:26,041 --> 00:27:29,044 and Ruth B Ziegler Foundation and the Ziegler Art Museum 554 00:27:29,044 --> 00:27:31,146 located in Jennings City Hall. 555 00:27:31,146 --> 00:27:34,049 The museum focuses on emerging Louisiana artists 556 00:27:34,249 --> 00:27:37,619 and is an historical and cultural center for Southwest Louisiana 557 00:27:39,020 --> 00:27:42,424 and the Foundation for Excellence in Louisiana Public Broadcasting. 558 00:27:42,691 --> 00:27:44,726 With support from viewers like you.