CNN "The Lead With Jake Tapper" - Transcript: Interview with Sen. John Kennedy
Interview
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TAPPER: Understandably so. Gary Tuchman in New Orleans, thanks so
much.
Let's bring in Republican Senator John Kennedy of the state of Louisiana. He spoke with President Trump about the storm earlier today. He's joining us on the phone from Baton Rouge.
Senator Kennedy, always good to have you on.
Tropical Storm Barry expected to make landfall overnight. What's your biggest concern right now?
SEN. JOHN KENNEDY (R-LA) (via telephone): The water. It was starting to feel the effects. I mean, you can see it. I just came from New Orleans and Baton Rouge and you could smell it. You could smell that a storm is coming.
I think it will hit in about 15 hours and go up the middle of the state. It is about 200 miles wide. Winds, you know, not good, but I've been through worse storms. Water is our concern, number one, you get 10 to 20 inches of rain, you're go fog flood even if your on pike's peak and we're concerned about the levees overtopping.
Look, I've been through a lot of these. Every storm is different but they have two things in common, they make you realize that the power of nature can humble the power of human beings anytime it wants to, and the other thing I always learn is if you are not scared, you're either a fool or a liar.
TAPPER: Right.
KENNEDY: But we are ready, as ready as we can be. The president called me this morning and he's declared an emergency. We're getting great help from Homeland Security and from FEMA. And my people are tough as a boot and we'll get through it.
TAPPER: The governor of Louisiana, John Bel Edwards was asked if Louisiana is better for a hurricane compared to past storms such as Katrina.
Take a listen to his response.
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GOV. JOHN BEL EDWARDS (D), LOUISIANA: Our state is better prepared. But that comes with a caveat. You never know what Mother Nature is going to serve until she has served it.
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TAPPER: Do you believe that preparations in Louisiana have been adequate, Senator?
[16:20:02] KENNEDY: Yes, I do. And they're better. I was there during Katrina. I was serving as a state treasurer. It was a dumpster fire at all levels, federal and state and local. We had nowhere to go but up, but we're infinitely better prepared and
all levels of government are coordinated, the federal resources are here. That doesn't mean that this is going to be a cake walk or this is the big rock candy mountain here, this is a serious storm but we're as ready as we can be for it. We have our protocols that have all been followed.
TAPPER: There are people obviously in low-lying areas that are under mandatory evacuations. Some of them, however, are not leaving. Take a listen to the reasoning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm worried, but I don't know, it is not that bad of a storm I don't think. I could be wrong. We'll see.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As long as you got electricity you could still make it. But I'm not going nowhere for this. I don't see it going to be too bad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TAPPER: Senator, what is your message to people in the mandatory evacuation areas who are not leaving and who think they can just ride out the storm?
KENNEDY: Well, my first response is a lot of people stay to protect their property. The most important things in life aren't things. Worry about your life, worry about your family's life.
We've got shelters set up all across south Louisiana, all you have to do is give somebody a call and we'll come get you, and we'll get you to safer ground. Don't -- don't be stuck on stupid. Get out if you feel at all at risk.
The problem with the rainfall and the levee topping is we don't know exactly where, if at all, the levee will top and we can't predict where the heavy rain will be. Now, the gentleman you just had on, he may be fine. But if he gets 20 inches of rain over a short period of time, two days, he's likely to flood. And he's putting himself at risk.
TAPPER: All right. Senator John Kennedy, Republican of Louisiana, thank you so much. We appreciate your time, sir.
KENNEDY: Thanks, Jake.
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