1 00:00:00,233 --> 00:00:00,933 >> Sreenivasan: FOR AN UPDATE 2 00:00:00,933 --> 00:00:02,266 ON THE RECOVERY EFFORTS AFTER 3 00:00:02,266 --> 00:00:03,900 HURRICANE IDA'S DEVASTATION IN 4 00:00:03,900 --> 00:00:05,833 LOUISIANA, NEWSHOUR COMMUNITIES 5 00:00:05,833 --> 00:00:07,466 CORRESPONDENT ROBY CHAVEZ JOINED 6 00:00:07,466 --> 00:00:09,033 US FROM NEW ORLEANS EARLIER 7 00:00:09,033 --> 00:00:10,700 TODAY. 8 00:00:10,700 --> 00:00:11,666 ROBY, LAST TIME WE SPOKE WITH 9 00:00:11,666 --> 00:00:14,200 YOU, YOU WERE PREPARING FOR IDA, 10 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:15,866 AND HERE YOU ARE NOW IN THE 11 00:00:15,866 --> 00:00:16,533 AFTERMATH. 12 00:00:16,533 --> 00:00:18,066 WHAT'S THE LAST FEW DAYS BEEN 13 00:00:18,066 --> 00:00:18,966 LIKE? 14 00:00:18,966 --> 00:00:19,933 >> WELL, LOOK, IT'S BEEN A TOUGH 15 00:00:19,933 --> 00:00:20,700 WEEK, YOU KNOW. 16 00:00:20,700 --> 00:00:23,333 NO POWER, NO WATER, NO FOOD. 17 00:00:23,333 --> 00:00:24,866 IT'S BEEN VERY, VERY TOUGH FOR A 18 00:00:24,866 --> 00:00:26,366 LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY OUR 19 00:00:26,366 --> 00:00:28,600 FOLKS WHO ARE ON FIXED INCOME 20 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:29,700 AND LOW INCOME. 21 00:00:29,700 --> 00:00:30,666 YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT BIDEN CAME 22 00:00:30,666 --> 00:00:32,600 TO TOWN YESTERDAY. 23 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:33,800 THAT BROUGHT SOME SMILES TO 24 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:34,266 FOLKS. 25 00:00:34,266 --> 00:00:35,533 AND HE DID WHAT HE ALWAYS DOES; 26 00:00:35,533 --> 00:00:37,200 HE WAS A CONSOLER IN CHIEF. 27 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:38,800 HE SPENT SEVERAL HOURS ON THE 28 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:41,700 GROUND, HANDHOLDING WITH FOLKS, 29 00:00:41,700 --> 00:00:42,966 LISTENING TO THEM. 30 00:00:42,966 --> 00:00:44,600 HE ALSO BROUGHT SOME GOOD NEWS. 31 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:46,033 HE TOLD THEM THAT FEMA WAS GOING 32 00:00:46,033 --> 00:00:48,200 TO PAY FOR THEIR HOTELS IF THEY 33 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:49,533 HAD TO GO OUT OF TOWN. 34 00:00:49,533 --> 00:00:51,500 HE ALSO GAVE A WARNING TO 35 00:00:51,500 --> 00:00:52,633 INSURANCE COMPANIES, SAYING, 36 00:00:52,633 --> 00:00:53,766 "DON'T HIDE BEHIND THE FINE 37 00:00:53,766 --> 00:00:55,533 PRINT, JUST PAY OFF THOSE CLAIMS 38 00:00:55,533 --> 00:00:56,566 AS THEY COME." 39 00:00:56,566 --> 00:00:57,633 ALSO BROUGHT RELIEF TO THE 40 00:00:57,633 --> 00:01:00,166 20,000 LINEMEN THAT ARE IN TOWN 41 00:01:00,166 --> 00:01:03,066 TRYING TO FIX THE POWER HERE IN 42 00:01:03,066 --> 00:01:04,866 SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA. 43 00:01:04,866 --> 00:01:06,266 THEY HAVE BEEN LIVING IN HOTELS 44 00:01:06,266 --> 00:01:08,000 WITHOUT WATER AND WITHOUT 45 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:08,866 ELECTRICITY. 46 00:01:08,866 --> 00:01:09,833 SO, THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THEM UP 47 00:01:09,833 --> 00:01:12,566 NOW IN A CRUISE SHIP AND SET UP 48 00:01:12,566 --> 00:01:13,400 OTHER SHELTERS. 49 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:15,166 AND SO, THAT IMPORTANT WORK CAN 50 00:01:15,166 --> 00:01:15,766 CONTINUE. 51 00:01:15,766 --> 00:01:16,500 >> Sreenivasan: ROBY, WHERE ARE 52 00:01:16,500 --> 00:01:17,333 YOU JOINING US FROM? 53 00:01:17,333 --> 00:01:18,233 WHAT'’’S BEHIND YOU, THERE? 54 00:01:18,233 --> 00:01:19,066 >> WELL, WE'RE IN THE GREATER 55 00:01:19,066 --> 00:01:20,700 NEW ORLEANS AREA, AND THIS IS A 56 00:01:20,700 --> 00:01:21,866 STRIP MALL, AND YOU CAN SEE SOME 57 00:01:21,866 --> 00:01:22,933 OF THE DESTRUCTION HERE. 58 00:01:22,933 --> 00:01:24,433 IT LITERALLY RIPPED THE WHOLE 59 00:01:24,433 --> 00:01:26,500 SIDE OF THIS BUILDING DOWN. 60 00:01:26,500 --> 00:01:27,566 WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF THAT KIND 61 00:01:27,566 --> 00:01:28,900 OF DESTRUCTION-- THOUSANDS OF 62 00:01:28,900 --> 00:01:30,600 POWER POLES DOWN ON TOP OF 63 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:31,800 HOMES, SOME OF THESE 64 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:34,733 300-YEAR-OLD TREES DOWN. 65 00:01:34,733 --> 00:01:36,233 AND SO, THERE'S A LOT TO BE 66 00:01:36,233 --> 00:01:37,866 CLEARED OUT OF THE ROADS, WHICH 67 00:01:37,866 --> 00:01:39,366 IS MAKING IT CHALLENGING FOR 68 00:01:39,366 --> 00:01:41,300 SOME OF THE WORKERS WHO ARE 69 00:01:41,300 --> 00:01:43,733 WORKING ON RESTORING THE POWER. 70 00:01:43,733 --> 00:01:44,800 >> Sreenivasan: WHAT'S THE FUEL 71 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:45,833 SITUATION LIKE? 72 00:01:45,833 --> 00:01:48,166 I MEAN, GETTING THESE POWER 73 00:01:48,166 --> 00:01:50,433 LINES UP MEANS THAT THERE HAVE 74 00:01:50,433 --> 00:01:53,066 TO BE GENERATORS IN THE INTERIM, 75 00:01:53,066 --> 00:01:55,466 OR EVEN HOW THESE LINE TRUCKS 76 00:01:55,466 --> 00:01:57,000 CAN GET TO THE PLACES THEY NEED 77 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:58,033 TO GET TO. 78 00:01:58,033 --> 00:01:59,333 >> YEAH, THAT IS PROBABLY THE 79 00:01:59,333 --> 00:02:01,200 MOST DIFFICULT SITUATION RIGHT 80 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:03,233 NOW, WITHOUT POWER, IS TO KIND 81 00:02:03,233 --> 00:02:05,800 OF GET FUEL IN THIS AREA. 82 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:08,133 YOU KNOW, THERE WERE SOME 83 00:02:08,133 --> 00:02:10,500 SIX OF THE 16 REFINERIES WENT 84 00:02:10,500 --> 00:02:12,000 DOWN DURING THE STORM, AND 85 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:14,066 THAT'’’S CAUSING A HUGE SHORTAGE. 86 00:02:14,066 --> 00:02:16,000 GASBUDDY DID A CALCULATION JUST 87 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:17,066 HERE IN NEW ORLEANS. 88 00:02:17,066 --> 00:02:20,566 SOME 67% OF THE GAS STATIONS ARE 89 00:02:20,566 --> 00:02:21,500 SHUT DOWN. 90 00:02:21,500 --> 00:02:23,000 AND AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, FOLKS 91 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:24,466 ARE WAKING UP VERY EARLY IN THE 92 00:02:24,466 --> 00:02:26,266 MORNING TO STAND IN THESE LINES. 93 00:02:26,266 --> 00:02:28,266 IT'’’S BEEN VERY, VERY HOT. 94 00:02:28,266 --> 00:02:29,666 THREE OR FOUR DAYS OF HEAT 95 00:02:29,666 --> 00:02:31,766 ADVISORIES, FEELING LIKE 105 96 00:02:31,766 --> 00:02:32,566 DEGREES. 97 00:02:32,566 --> 00:02:33,966 TEMPERS HAVE FLARED. 98 00:02:33,966 --> 00:02:35,400 THERE HAVE BEEN FIGHTS AT GAS 99 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:36,066 STATIONS. 100 00:02:36,066 --> 00:02:37,666 WE'VE EVEN HAD ONE SHOOTING, 101 00:02:37,666 --> 00:02:39,333 WHERE A PERSON WAS KILLED. 102 00:02:39,333 --> 00:02:41,500 WE'RE HOPING BY MID-NEXT WEEK, 103 00:02:41,500 --> 00:02:42,800 A LOT OF THE POWER WILL COME 104 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:43,533 BACK ON. 105 00:02:43,533 --> 00:02:45,366 THAT SHOULD ALLEVIATE SOME OF 106 00:02:45,366 --> 00:02:46,266 THE PROBLEMS. 107 00:02:46,266 --> 00:02:47,300 >> Sreenivasan: HAVE PEOPLE WHO 108 00:02:47,300 --> 00:02:50,100 HAD AN OPTION TO LEAVE, LEFT, 109 00:02:50,100 --> 00:02:51,866 CONSIDERING THAT, AS YOU POINT 110 00:02:51,866 --> 00:02:54,433 OUT, SOUTHERN LOUISIANA IN THE 111 00:02:54,433 --> 00:02:56,233 MIDDLE OF SUMMER CAN ALREADY BE 112 00:02:56,233 --> 00:02:57,866 HOT AND STICKY, BUT ESPECIALLY 113 00:02:57,866 --> 00:02:59,400 BAD WITHOUT ANY AIR CONDITIONING 114 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:00,966 OR POWER FOR IT? 115 00:03:00,966 --> 00:03:01,933 >> YOU KNOW, THE BIG CONCERN IS 116 00:03:01,933 --> 00:03:03,966 THE ELDERLY AND THOSE FOLKS ON 117 00:03:03,966 --> 00:03:05,966 FIXED INCOMES AND LOW INCOMES. 118 00:03:05,966 --> 00:03:07,266 THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE MONEY 119 00:03:07,266 --> 00:03:07,666 TO GO. 120 00:03:07,666 --> 00:03:09,166 SO, THAT FEMA SUPPORT WILL 121 00:03:09,166 --> 00:03:10,466 CERTAINLY HELP FOLKS KIND OF 122 00:03:10,466 --> 00:03:11,700 GET THROUGH THIS TRANSITION 123 00:03:11,700 --> 00:03:14,466 PERIOD UNTIL THE WATER IS ON AND 124 00:03:14,466 --> 00:03:15,433 THE POWER IS ON. 125 00:03:15,433 --> 00:03:17,300 YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME SENIORS 126 00:03:17,300 --> 00:03:18,966 IN HIGH RISES HERE IN NEW 127 00:03:18,966 --> 00:03:20,533 ORLEANS WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING 128 00:03:20,533 --> 00:03:21,633 AND WITHOUT WATER. 129 00:03:21,633 --> 00:03:23,000 THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAD TO GO 130 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:24,533 IN AND-- AND HELP THEM OUT. 131 00:03:24,533 --> 00:03:26,133 SO, IT'S GOING TO BE A-- A TOUGH 132 00:03:26,133 --> 00:03:26,966 TIME. 133 00:03:26,966 --> 00:03:29,200 WE EXPECT THAT NEW ORLEANS AREA 134 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:32,233 WILL GET POWER ON VERY SHORTLY. 135 00:03:32,233 --> 00:03:33,900 BUT WE'RE ALONG THE COAST IN 136 00:03:33,900 --> 00:03:35,900 SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA, LAFOURCHE, 137 00:03:35,900 --> 00:03:37,366 TERREBONNE, GRAND ISLE, SOME 138 00:03:37,366 --> 00:03:39,566 62% OF THE HOMES DOWN THERE ARE 139 00:03:39,566 --> 00:03:40,066 DESTROYED. 140 00:03:40,066 --> 00:03:41,733 AND SO, THEY'RE NOT EXACTLY SURE 141 00:03:41,733 --> 00:03:43,133 WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO GO OR HOW 142 00:03:43,133 --> 00:03:44,833 THEY'’’RE GOING TO REBUILD. 143 00:03:44,833 --> 00:03:45,466 >> Sreenivasan: ROBY, WHEN 144 00:03:45,466 --> 00:03:46,700 YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 145 00:03:46,700 --> 00:03:48,100 ELDERLY, WHAT ABOUT THE NURSING 146 00:03:48,100 --> 00:03:49,766 HOMES IN THE REGION WHO HAVE 147 00:03:49,766 --> 00:03:51,000 ALSO LOST POWER? 148 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:52,733 WHAT HAVE THEY BEEN DOING? 149 00:03:52,733 --> 00:03:54,033 >> YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE EXTREME 150 00:03:54,033 --> 00:03:56,233 CHALLENGES DURING THIS HURRICANE 151 00:03:56,233 --> 00:03:57,766 WAS TO MOVE SOME OF THOSE FOLKS 152 00:03:57,766 --> 00:04:00,233 IN NURSING HOMES TO A SAFE AREA. 153 00:04:00,233 --> 00:04:02,900 WELL, SOME 800 FOLKS WERE HOUSED 154 00:04:02,900 --> 00:04:05,833 IN A MASS SHELTER, IN DEPLORABLE 155 00:04:05,833 --> 00:04:06,633 CONDITIONS. 156 00:04:06,633 --> 00:04:07,800 THIS WEEK, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT 157 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:09,400 WENT IN, SHUT IT DOWN, AND HAD 158 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:11,400 TO TRANSPORT A LOT OF THOSE 159 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:12,833 FOLKS FROM-- ALL OF THE FOLKS TO 160 00:04:12,833 --> 00:04:14,166 A DIFFERENT FACILITY. 161 00:04:14,166 --> 00:04:14,966 AND SO, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE 162 00:04:14,966 --> 00:04:16,933 EXTREME CHALLENGES THAT FOLKS 163 00:04:16,933 --> 00:04:18,300 ARE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP 164 00:04:18,300 --> 00:04:20,266 AN EYE ON, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE 165 00:04:20,266 --> 00:04:21,200 WHO HAVE SOME MEDICAL 166 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:22,233 CHALLENGES. 167 00:04:22,233 --> 00:04:22,966 >> Sreenivasan: I KNOW LAST WEEK 168 00:04:22,966 --> 00:04:24,233 WE SPOKE BRIEFLY ABOUT YOUR 169 00:04:24,233 --> 00:04:24,800 RELATIVES. 170 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:26,500 HOW DID THEY FARE THROUGH THIS? 171 00:04:26,500 --> 00:04:27,733 >> ME, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, 172 00:04:27,733 --> 00:04:29,900 BECAUSE I LIVE HERE, SPENT A 173 00:04:29,900 --> 00:04:31,233 COUPLE OF DAYS WITHOUT PHONE, 174 00:04:31,233 --> 00:04:32,366 WITHOUT THE INTERNET, WITHOUT 175 00:04:32,366 --> 00:04:33,700 ANY WAY TO COMMUNICATE, 176 00:04:33,700 --> 00:04:34,766 COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. 177 00:04:34,766 --> 00:04:36,466 AND SO, I DIDN'T HEAR FROM MY 178 00:04:36,466 --> 00:04:39,000 FAMILY UNTIL MID-WEEK WHEN I WAS 179 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:40,100 ABLE TO GO DOWN THERE ACTUALLY 180 00:04:40,100 --> 00:04:43,233 WITH A CREW TO DO SOME SHOOTING. 181 00:04:43,233 --> 00:04:44,200 THEY'RE DOING WELL, THEY'RE 182 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:45,800 SAFE, THEIR HOUSE IS INTACT. 183 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:47,100 BUT A LOT OF THEIR NEIGHBORS ARE 184 00:04:47,100 --> 00:04:47,733 HURTING. 185 00:04:47,733 --> 00:04:49,066 YOU KNOW, THE HARD PART IS, YOU 186 00:04:49,066 --> 00:04:50,066 KNOW, THIS IS AN AREA IN 187 00:04:50,066 --> 00:04:51,333 SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA THAT KIND OF 188 00:04:51,333 --> 00:04:52,766 STAYS THE SAME, AND THAT BRINGS 189 00:04:52,766 --> 00:04:54,133 SOME COMFORT WHEN YOU GO HOME, 190 00:04:54,133 --> 00:04:54,500 YOU KNOW? 191 00:04:54,500 --> 00:04:55,466 NOTHING CHANGES. 192 00:04:55,466 --> 00:04:57,533 AND WHEN YOU GET TIRED OF KIND 193 00:04:57,533 --> 00:04:59,000 OF THE BUSY CITY LIFE, YOU CAN 194 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:00,533 GO HOME AND KIND OF JUST RELAX, 195 00:05:00,533 --> 00:05:03,366 AND EVERYTHING STAYS THE SAME. 196 00:05:03,366 --> 00:05:04,833 IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T LOOK LIKE 197 00:05:04,833 --> 00:05:05,900 THAT ANYMORE. 198 00:05:05,900 --> 00:05:06,633 >> Sreenivasan: NEWSHOUR'S 199 00:05:06,633 --> 00:05:08,066 ROBY CHAVEZ JOINING US FROM 200 00:05:08,066 --> 00:05:08,866 NEW ORLEANS TONIGHT. 201 00:05:08,866 --> 00:05:10,033 THANKS SO MUCH. 202 00:05:10,033 --> 00:05:11,033 >> THANK YOU, HARI.