Collection:LPB

Genre: News, Public Affairs, Panel

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2008-09-24

Duration: 00:56:44

Subjects: Emergency management | Disaster response and recovery | Hurricanes | Natural Disasters | Hurricane Gustav, 2008 | Hurricane Ike, 2008 | Filmed panel discussions | Electric power failures | Public utilities | Louisiana Public Service Commission | Louisiana. Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness | ENTERGY | Jindal, Bobby, 1971- | United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency | Named storm deductibles | Homeowners insurance | Louisiana. Department of Social Services

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Host
• Freeman, Craig Host
• Gautreaux, Kevin Producer
• Godoy, Al Associate Producer
• Baron, Stuart Interviewee
• Holeman, Jeff Interviewee
• Campbell, Foster Speaker
• Helmick, Randy Speaker
• Cooper, Mark Interviewee
• Richardson, Jim Interviewee
• Donelon, Jim Interviewee
• Hathorn, Millie Speaker
• Meche, Cheryl Speaker
• Heavy, Leonore Speaker
• Hathorn, Frank Speaker
• Shrum, Wesley Speaker
• Hymel, Susan Speaker
• Bailey, Bob Speaker
• Celestine, Larry Speaker
• Dowty, Rachel Speaker
• Cola, April Speaker
• Daigle, Shirley Speaker
• Santos, Pat Panelist
• Conley, Renae Panelist
• St. Blanc, Lawrence Panelist
• Richardson, Jim Panelist

This episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square” from September 24, 2008, features Craig Freeman leading a discussion between the audience members and panelists on the state’s response to Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike. A background report on the two storms precedes the discussion and includes interviews with Jeff Holeman of Entergy, Mark Cooper of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP), and Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon. The audience members discuss: the response of the energy companies to Hurricane Gustav; the government’s response to Hurricane Gustav, including the performance of Governor Bobby Jindal; the lessons learned from these storms; the feasibility of burying power lines; the need for preventive maintenance on trees near power lines; FEMA’s response to the storms; and the collaboration and cooperation between government agencies. A panel of experts then joins the audience to answer their questions. The panelists are: Pat Santos, the Assistant Deputy Director of Emergency Management at GOHSEP; Renae Conley, the president of Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana; Lawrence St. Blanc, the Executive Secretary of the Louisiana Public Service Commission; and Dr. James Richardson, an economist and the Director of the Public Administration Institute at LSU. They discuss: the impact of the named storm deductibles on homeowners insurance premiums; GOHSEP’s response to Hurricane Gustav, including the coordination of the unprecedented evacuation of south Louisiana; Entergy’s preparation and response to Hurricane Gustav; the role of the Public Service Commission in coordinating the utility companies during a disaster; the upcoming Public Service Commission audit of the electric companies; the cost of the power restoration to consumers; the problems with the emergency food stamps program administered by the Department of Social Services; ways to make homes more weather resistant; and the impact of the storms on businesses interested in investing in Louisiana. Hosts: Beth Courtney and Craig Freeman