>> Sreenivasan: ON THIS EDITION FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10: WITH WINDS TOPPING 130 MILES AN HOUR, HURRICANE IRMA HITS FLORIDA.

AMID GROWING CONCERNS OVER SAFETY, FLOODS, AND POWER LOSS, THE STATE BRACES FOR THE STORM TO LAST THROUGH TOMORROW.

NEXT ON PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND.

>> FROM THE TISCH WNET STUDIOS AT LINCOLN CENTER IN NEW YORK, HARI SREENIVASAN.

>> Sreenivasan: GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.

HURRICANE IRMA IS AFFECTING MILLIONS OF FLORIDIANS AFTER MAKING LANDFALL TODAY IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT STRUCK FLORIDA'S SOUTHERN TIP THIS MORNING BEFORE BEARING DOWN ON THE STATE'S WEST COAST.

AT LEAST 2.1 MILLION HOMES AND BUSINESSES IN FLORIDA HAVE LOST POWER.

AT LEAST 127,000 FLORIDA RESIDENTS ARE IN SHELTERS, MANY IN SCHOOL GYMNASIUMS AROUND THE STATE.

FLORIDA GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT HAS ACTIVATED ALL 7,000 MEMBERS OF THE STATE NATIONAL GUARD, WITH 30,000 GUARD SOLDIERS FROM ELSEWHERE POISED TO HELP OUT.

THIS EVENING, THE CITIES OF MIAMI, FORT LAUDERDALE, TAMPA- ST. PETE, AND ORLANDO ARE AMONG THOSE UNDER A CURFEW, MEANING ALL RESIDENTS MUST STAY INDOORS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

NEWSHOUR WEEKEND'S MEGAN THOMPSON HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: AFTER POUNDING CARIBBEAN ISLANDS FOR DAYS, HURRICANE IRMA MADE LANDFALL SHORTLY AFTER 9:00 A.M.

IN THE FLORIDA KEYS, AS A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE WITH SUSTAINED WINDS OF 130 MILES AN HOUR.

30,000 PEOPLE HEEDED THE CALL TO EVACUATE THE KEYS, BUT AN UNKNOWN NUMBER REMAINED, RIDING OUT THE STORM AT HOME.

>> I'M STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF MY ROAD, IT'S UP TO MY KNEES.

>> THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER WARNED OF LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGES THERE THAT COULD REACH TEN FEET.

MIAMI WAS SPARED A DIRECT HIT, BUT IRMA DRENCHED THE CITY WITH RAIN, FLOODING PARTS OF DOWNTOWN.

WINDS NEARING 100 MILES AN HOUR CAUSED HIGH-RISE CONSTRUCTION CRANES TO COLLAPSE.

MIAMI-DADE POLICE WARNED OFFICERS WON'T RESPOND TO EMERGENCY CALLS, BECAUSE OF THE RISK TO THEIR OWN SAFETY.

FORECASTERS SAY IRMA IS NOW TRACKING FARTHER WEST THAN ORIGINALLY PREDICTED, CRAWLING UP FLORIDA'S GULF COAST AT ABOUT EIGHT MILES AN HOUR.

BROCK LONG HEADS THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY.

>> STORM SURGE HAS THE HIGHEST POTENTIAL TO KILL THE MOST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE AND CAUSE THE MOST MONEY DAMAGE.

MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS WHEN PEOPLE FAIL TO HEED A WARNING EARLY FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND THEN THEY MAKE A LAST-MINUTE DITCH TO TRY TO GET TO A SHELTER OR INTO A FACILITY TO WITHSTAND THE WINDS AND IN SOME CASES THE WATER STARTS TO RISE, AND THEY GET TRAPPED.

>> Reporter: VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE VISITED FEMA HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON TODAY.

>> WHEREVER HURRICANE IRMA GOES, WE'LL BE THERE FIRST.

WE'LL BE THERE WITH RESOURCES AND SUPPORT, BOTH TO SAVE LIVES AND TO HELP TO RECOVER AND REBUILD THESE STATES AND THESE COMMUNITIES.

>> Reporter: TODAY, FROM CAMP DAVID, PRESIDENT TRUMP SPOKE TO THE GOVERNORS OF STATES IN IRMA'S PATH: FLORIDA, ALABAMA, GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND TENNESSEE.

HE SAID HE PLANS TO GO TO FLORIDA AS SOON AS HE CAN.

HE ALSO DECLARED A DISASTER DECLARATION FOR PUERTO RICO AND INCREASED THE AMOUNT OF FEDERAL AID FOR THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, WHERE AT LEAST FOUR PEOPLE HAVE DIED.

ELSEWHERE IN THE CARIBBEAN, CLEAN-UP AND RESCUE EFFORTS CONTINUED.

IN HAITI, DOZENS OF AREAS WERE FLOODED, AND 10,000 PEOPLE REMAINED IN SHELTERS.

THE DUTCH PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCED THAT IN ST. MAARTEN, A DUTCH TERRITORY, THE DEATH TOLL HAD RISEN TO FOUR.

IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL OF HAVANA, PEOPLE HAD TO NAVIGATE THE FLOODED STREETS BY BOAT.

FORECASTERS SAID HURRICANE IRMA WOULD CONTINUE UP FLORIDA'S WESTERN COAST AND MOVE INLAND OVER THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE AND SOUTHWEST GEORGIA.

ATLANTA WAS UNDER ITS FIRST-EVER TROPICAL STORM WARNING.

>> Sreenivasan: BEFORE IRMA HIT, FLORIDA GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT URGED MORE THAN SIX MILLION FLORIDA RESIDENTS TO EVACUATE THEIR HOMES TO GET OUT OF HARM'S WAY.

MANY LEFT SOUTH FLORIDA FOR POINTS NORTH, LIKE ORLANDO.

THAT'S WHERE NEWSHOUR WEEKEND'S IVETTE FELICIANO REPORTS ON THE CHALLENGES FACING SOME PEOPLE SEEKING SHELTER.

>> Reporter: COLLEGE STUDENT MICHELLE SONG AND HER CHURCH GROUP CAME THIS SHELTER TODAY AT A MIDDLE SCHOOL IN SEMINOLE COUNTY, NORTH OF ORLANDO.

>> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THEY PROVIDE US FOOD, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT NOT HAVING THINGS TO EAT LATER.

>> Reporter: IT CAN HOLD UP TO 160 EVACUEES, AND WHEN WE VISITED, IT STILL HAD ROOM FOR PEOPLE TRICKLING IN.

WALT GRIFFIN, THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THIS AREA, SAID HIS NINE SCHOOLS ARE SHELTERING 1,100 EVACUEES.

>> I'VE CHECKED OUT THE FOOD AND THE SPACE AT EVERY SINGLE LOCATION, AND IT LOOKS PHENOMENAL.

>> Reporter: ROY DAVIS IS HOMELESS AND SAYS HE'D BE WEATHERING THE STORM ON THE STREET IF HE DIDN'T HAVE THIS OPTION.

>> IT'S WARM, IT'S AIR CONDITIONED, THERE'S ALSO A TELEVISION AND RESTROOMS, WHICH AREN'T LOCKED AT NIGHT.

SO IT'S REALLY GOOD.

>> Reporter: YET SOME MIGRANTS AND RECENT IMMIGRANTS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA'S GROWING LATINO COMMUNITY ARE AVOIDING CITY AND COUNTY SHELTERS.

>> THE BIGGEST THING HAS BEEN LANGUAGE BARRIER.

>> Reporter: FATHER JOSE RODRIGUEZ RUNS AN EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO.

HE'S RECEIVED CALLS FROM CONCERNED PARISHIONERS WHO DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH AND COULDN'T FIND INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE TO GO FOR SHELTER DURING MANDATORY EVACUATIONS.

HE HELPED SET UP THIS UNOFFICIAL SHELTER INSIDE AN EPISCOPAL RETREAT AND CONFERENCE CENTER IN THE TOWN OF OVIEDO.

>> FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING IN FROM THE OUTSIDE, THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW THE LANDSCAPE OF ORLANDO.

AND SO MANY PEOPLE DID WHAT THEY NORMALLY DO-- THEY PICKED UP THEIR PHONE, THEY DIALED UP THEIR LOCAL PRIEST, AND THE PRIEST SAID, "WE HAVE A PLACE FOR YOU TO COME, WE HAVE A REFUGE FOR YOU."

>> Reporter: REBECCA PEREZ IS AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT FROM MEXICO AND CAME HERE WITH HER THREE CHILDREN INSTEAD OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHELTER IN KISSIMMEE, WHERE THEY LIVE.

>> ( translated ): I NEVER EXPECTED THAT THE CHURCH WOULD SUPPORT ME IN THIS WAY.

ALL OF MY FAMILY IS IN NEW YORK.

THIS CHURCH IS MY FAMILY.

THEY'RE MORE THAN FAMILY.

>> Reporter: PEREZ WAS WORRIED IF A GOVERNMENT SHELTER ASKED TO FILL OUT FORMS, HER PERSONAL INFORMATION COULD END UP IN THE HANDS OF FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENTS.

>> ( translated ): THE FIRST THING THEY ASK IS DO YOU HAVE A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER?

AND OBVIOUSLY I DON'T HAVE ONE.

THAT'S HAPPENED TO ME MANY TIMES BEFORE.

>> Reporter: 50 MILES WEST, IN POLK COUNTY, DANIEL BARAJAS, WHO RUNS A GRASSROOTS IMMIGRANT RIGHTS ORGANIZATION, HAS TURNED HIS FAMILY'S HOME INTO MAKESHIFT SHELTER FOR THE UNDOCUMENTED.

POLK COUNTY ORDERED EVERYONE LIVING IN MOBILE HOMES, AS MANY IMMIGRANTS DO, TO EVACUATE.

>> MY FAMILY IS STAYING HERE IN SOLIDARITY.

WE KNOW THAT THESE PEOPLE WILL NOT BE RECEIVING ASSISTANCE.

AND IF THERE'S ANY ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR IT, BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SENT OUT A PRESS RELEASE STATING THAT IMMIGRATION AGENTS WILL BE PRESENT WITH FEMA.

>> Reporter: BARAJAS POSTED THIS VIDEO ON FACEBOOK GIVING ADVICE, AFTER THE POLK COUNTY SHERIFF TWEETED THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WOULD BE CHECKING IDs AT THE DOORS OF ALL COUNTY SHELTERS.

SO WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN CALLING YOU?

>> IS IT TRUE?

WILL THEY BE DETAINED?

WILL THEY BE PRESSURED INTO ASKING?

SOME FAMILIES HAVE BEEN SO SCARED THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO THE SHELTERS AND STAYING BEHIND IN THE MOBILE HOMES.

IT'S HEARTBREAKING.

>> Reporter: FOR SOME LATINO CITIZENS, LIKE 25-YEAR-OLD CHRISALEE CUEVAS WHO WAS EVACUATED FROM HER APARTMENT WEST OF ORLANDO, LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND STATUS ISSUES AREN'T A CONCERN.

SHE AND NINE RELATIVES RENTED TWO ROOMS AT THE ECONOLODGE IN KISSIMMEE.

YET AS AN EMPLOYEE IN THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE DEPARTMENT AT DISNEY WORLD'S MAGIC KINGDOM, SHE LOST INCOME THIS WEEKEND, BECAUSE THE PARK IS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING RIGHT NOW?

>> KIND OF DEVASTATED.

IT'S GOING TO BE ROUGH, BECAUSE I HAVE TO PAY MY HEALTH INSURANCE, I HAVE TO PAY CAR INSURANCE, I HAVE TO PAY RENT FOOD.

I'M A STUDENT AS WELL.

FULL TIME JOB, FULL TIME STUDENT.

GAS MONEY TO TRAVEL.

FOOD TO BUY.

IT'S GOING TO BE ROUGH.

>> Sreenivasan: IVETTE FELICIANO JOINS ME NOW FROM ORLANDO.

IVETTE, I'M SURE THAT THE FOLKS YOU SPOKE WITH WHO ARE STAYING AT THIS HOTEL ARE HAPPY TO BE AWAY FROM THE STORM'S DEADLINESS.

BUT SOME OF THEM LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK, I'M ASSUMING THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT THE COSTS ASSOCIATED.

>> Reporter: THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT, HARI.

THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THIS HURRICANE IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS FOR, ESPECIALLY CHRISALEE, WHO WE SPEAKING TO.

SHE WORKS AT DISNEY WORLD.

AND IT'S NOT JUST HER THAT THIS IS AFFECTING.

HER BOYFRIEND WORKS AT DISNEY WORLD, SHE LIVES WITH HIM, AND SEVERAL OF HER FAMILY MEMBERS.

AND THEY'RE ALL MISSING THESE DAYS OF WORK.

AND SHE WAS TELLING ME, HER UNCLE IS ACTUALLY GOING TO COVER EVERYONE'S HOTEL COSTS, WHICH ARE OF COURSE INFLATED AT THIS POINT AND THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO PAY HIM BACK.

>> Sreenivasan: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RIPPLE EFFECTS, ESPECIALLY OF PEOPLE HAVE FAMILIES... A LOT OF PEOPLE IN FLORIDA HAVE RELATIVES IN THE CARIBBEAN OR FURTHER SOUTH AFFECTED BY THE STORM.

>> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT WAS THE CASE FOR CHRISALEE AND HER FAMILY.

HER FAMILY IS IN PUERTO RICO.

IRMA DIDN'T DIRECTLY HIT THEM, BUT MANY PEOPLE ON THE ISLAND ARE DEALING WITH POWER OUTAGES OR TAKING IN HURRICANE VICTIMS FROM OTHER ISLANDS AND ALSO PEOPLE IN THE MEXICAN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, OF COURSE MEXICO WAS HIT WITH THAT DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE EARLIER IN THE WEEK.

AND OF COURSE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE IN THIS AREA HAVE FAMILY IN HOUSTON, WHO DEALT WITH HURRICANE HARVEY RECENTLY.

SO ON TOP OF THE STRESS OF BEING ABLE TO FIND THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED, THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT FAMILY, SOME OF WHICH THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SPEAK TO AS OF YET.

>> Sreenivasan: IVETTE FELICIANO JOINING US FROM ORLANDO TONIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Sreenivasan: WE TALKED TO EVACUEES IN FLORIDA ABOUT WHAT THEY CARRIED NORTH AS THEY FLED THE STORM.

READ MORE AT pbs.org/newshour.

AMONG THE MANY STRUCTURES AT RISK FROM HURRICANE IRMA ARE FLORIDA'S BRIDGES.

17% OF THE 12,000 BRIDGES IN FLORIDA ARE RATED "STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT" OR "FUNCTIONALLY OBSOLETE," ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION.

"USA TODAY" REPORTER BRETT MURPHY IS COVERING THAT PART OF THE STORY, AND JOINS ME NOW BY SKYPE FROM NAPLES, FLORIDA.

BRETT, FIRST OF ALL, THESE ARE NOT GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE SIZE BRIDGES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT DEFINE THOSE TERMS.

WHAT MAKES SOMETHING FUNCTIONALLY OBSOLETE OR STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT?

>> YEAH, SO, MOST OF THEM ARE FUNCTIONALLY OBSOLETE, AND WHAT THAT MEANS...

IT COULD MEAN A RANGE OF THINGS, BUT IT BOILS DOWN TO THEY NEED TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED WITHIN SIX YEARS, THEY LIKE TO SAY.

AND THAT COULD MEAN JUST THAT THE ROAD IS TOO NARROW, THE BRIDGE IS TOO WIDE, IT MIGHT NOT BE TALL ENOUGH, IT MIGHT NOT HAVE ADEQUATE WATER DRAINAGE.

THERE IS A LOT OF LITTLE THINGS THAT COULD MAKE IT FUNCTIONALLY OBSOLETE.

A LOT OF TIMES IT AFFECTS OLDER BRIDGES.

A MUCH SMALLER PERCENT OF THEM ARE WHAT'S CALLED STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT.

STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT IS MORE SERIOUS-- THERE ARE FAR FEWER BRIDGES THAT ARE STRUCTURAL DEFICIENT, BUT THOSE NEED TO BE FIXED OR REPLACED A LOT SOONER, AND THEY COULD HAVE SOME CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE.

THEY MIGHT BE UNSAFE, BUT MOST OF THESE BRIDGES AREN'T NECESSARILY DANGEROUS OR UNSAFE.

BUT WHAT COULD MAKE THEM DANGEROUS OR UNSAFE IS A HUGE HURRICANE.

>> Sreenivasan: ALL RIGHT, LET'S TALK ABOUT A HURRICANE IMPACTS A BRIDGE'S STRUCTURE AND MAKES IT MORE DANGEROUS.

ON THE ONE HAND WE ARE USED TO SEEING WATER, WATER USUALLY FLOWS OVER BUT WHAT ABOUT THE PRESSURE FROM UNDERNEATH?

>> THAT IS THE BIG CONCERN, ESPECIALLY WITH A STORM LIKE THIS, WITH SUCH A LARGE SURGE POTENTIAL, IT COULD RAISE THE WATER BENEATH THE BRIDGE UP TO FIVE, TEN, 20 FEET, WHICH HAPPENED WITH HURRICANE KATRINA, WHICH DEVASTATED DOZENS OF BRIDGES IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA.

WHAT HAPPENS IS THE SURGE CREATES A POCKET OF AIR BENEATH THE BRIDGE THAT PUSHES THE WATER UPWARDS AND THE BRIDGES AREN'T MEANT TO MAKE THAT SORT OF ANTI-GRAVITY FORCE.

SO THE BEARINGS UNDERNEATH, THEY BEND UPWARDS AND UPWARDS UNTIL THEY BREAK OR THEY CAN JUST OVERTURN COMPLETELY AND THE BRIDGE WILL LITERALLY TWIST AND TOPPLE.

>> AND THE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, EVEN THOSE TINY THINGS YOU TALKED ABOUT, THAT ENDS UP IMPACTING A BRIDGE'S INTEGRITY?

>> EXACTLY, YES.

THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE BRIDGE IS ONLY AS GOOD AS HOW IT'S ABLE PASS WATER BENEATH IT.

IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS DRAINING WATER EITHER FROM THE ROAD OR FROM UNDER OR FROM THE SIDES, AND THAT BRIDGE COULD BE MUCH MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CRUMBLING OR FROM THAT WATER PRESSURE I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT.

>> Sreenivasan: A LOT OF THESE BARRIER ISLANDS, THIS IS THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE GOING TO GET ON OR OFF THE ISLANDS, I MEAN THESE TINY LITTLE BRIDGES THAT MIGHT BE OLDER?

>> A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS ARE KIND OF CUT OFF FROM THE MAINLAND, EXCEPT FOR ONE OF THESE REALLY SMALL BRIDGES, A LOT OF TIMES THEY ARE VERY OLD, A LOT OF THE MIAMI HISTORIC BRIDGES HAVE BEEN THERE FOR ABOUT 100 YEARS.

THESE CONNECT JUST NEIGHBORHOODS OR BEACH COMMUNITIES.

THEY'RE REALLY ONLY WAY OF PASSAGE ON TO THE MAINLAND.

AND THEY ARE SUSCEPTIBLE.

THEY MAY NOT BE HUGE OR LONG, MAYBE JUST ONE BLOCK LONG BRIDGES BUT THEY ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR FIRST RESPONDERS AFTER THE STORM.

>> Sreenivasan: I IMAGINE COST IS A FACTOR IN WHY ALL OF THESE DON'T GET FIXED IN ONE FELL SWOOP.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, FLORIDA IS ACTUALLY REALLY ON TOP IT COMPARED TO A LOT OF STATES, GIVEN THE NUMBER OF BRIDGES HERE 12,000 ALL OVER THE STATE, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HERE HAS DONE A GOOD JOB KEEPING UP WITH THE MAJOR BRIDGES, ESPECIALLY SEVEN MILE BRIDGE CONNECTING THE KEYS, A LOT OF THEM IN TAMPA BAY, CAPE CORAL, A LOT OF THE MAIN BRIDGES THAT...

THE ARTERIES THAT FIRST RESPONDERS ARE GOING TO NEED, HAVE BEEN CHECKED, HAVE BEEN INSPECTED, AND ARE UP TO CODE.

BUT THERE'S JUST SO MANY OF THOSE SMALL ONES THAT IT'S A REALLY HARD TASK FOR F.D.O.T.

TO KEEP UP WITH REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS FOR DEFICIENT BRIDGES ALL OVER THE STATE.

THAT'S WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.

>> Sreenivasan: BRETT MURPHY OF THE USA TODAY JOINING US FROM THE EXERCISE ROOM OF A FIREHOUSE WHERE HE'S SHELTERING IN NAPLES, FLORIDA.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Sreenivasan: IN HOUSTON AND ALONG THE TEXAS COAST, WHERE HURRICANE HARVEY STRUCK LAST MONTH, ONLY 20% OF RESIDENTS HAD CURRENT FLOOD INSURANCE POLICIES.

AND ONCE HURRICANE IRMA PASSES THROUGH FLORIDA, THERE WILL BE RENEWED CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHO PAYS TO REBUILD.

AS REUTERS REPORTED THIS WEEK, THERE IS A SMALL PRIVATE INSURANCE MARKET THERE THAT MAY OFFER AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT'S TO COME.

SUZANNE BARLYN OF REUTERS IS THE REPORTER ON THAT STORY AND SHE JOINS ME NOW.

LET'S TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHEN WE SEE THE STORM SURGE MAPS, WE SEE THE FLOODING THAT FLORIDA IS ABOUT TO EXPECT, HOW MANY PEOPLE IN FLORIDA ARE READY FOR THIS FROM AN INSURANCE PERSPECTIVE?

>> FLORIDA HAS THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF N.F.I.P.

POLICIES IN THE THE ENTIRE N.F.I.P SYSTEM.

>> Sreenivasan: THAT IS THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM.

>> YES, THERE ARE 1.7 MILLION N.F.I.P.

POLICIES IN FLORIDA.

IT'S ABOUT 35% OF THE ENTIRE N.F.I.P.

SYSTEM.

THERE ARE, HOWEVER, A SMALL NUMBER OF POLICIES NOW THAT ARE CROPPING UP AS PART OF A PRIVATE FLOOD INSURANCE SYSTEM THAT INSURERS AND REGULATORS IN THE STATE WOULD LIKE TO SEE INCREASE.

>> Sreenivasan: IS THERE A NEED HERE?

IS THERE A GAP BETWEEN WHAT THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM WILL COVER AND PEOPLE THAT ARE KIND OF STILL AT RISK BUT CAN'T QUALIFY FOR THIS?

>> FLOOD INSURANCE IS A HUGE DEBATE IN CONGRESS RIGHT NOW.

IT'S A HUGE DEBATE AMONG STATE REGULATORS, ESPECIALLY IN THE RUN UP TO SEPTEMBER 30, WHICH WAS THE DATE THE N.F.I.P.

AUTHORIZATION WAS TO EXPIRE.

ON FRIDAY, PRESIDENT TRUMP EXTENDED THAT FOR ANOTHER THREE MONTHS.

AND ONE OF THE OPTIONS ON THE TABLE IS TO ALLOW MORE PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES TO WRITE FLOOD INSURANCE SO THAT THE N.F.I.P.

WOULD NOT BE SADDLED WITH HUGE DEBTS SUCH AS THOSE THAT CAME ABOUT IN THE WAKE OF HURRICANE KATRINA AND HURRICANE SANDY.

>> Sreenivasan: IS THERE A CONCERN HERE THAT THE FLOOD INSURANCE MARKET COULD LOOK LIKE A LITTLE LIKE THE HEALTH CARE MARKET?

I MEAN, IS THIS THE TENSION BETWEEN WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A MANDATE THAT EXISTS AND HOW PRIVATE INSURERS CAN COMPETE WITH THE N.F.I.P.?

>> IT IS A CONCERN.

ONE OF THE ISSUES WE THAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW WITH THE FLOOD INSURANCE MARKET IS SO MANY HOMEOWNERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE N.F.I.P.

COVERAGE AS A CONDITION OF THEIR MORTGAGE.

THE CONCERN THAT CRITICS OF PRIVATE FLOOD INSURANCE HAVE IS ALLOWING TOO MANY PRIVATE INSURERS INTO THE AREA AND LOOSENING THOSE RESTRICTIONS AND ALLOWING PRIVATE FLOOD INSURERS TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING MORTGAGES, WOULD LEAD THE N.F.I.P.

WITH RISKIER PROPERTIES AND PREMIUMS THAT THE N.F.I.P.

SUBSIDIZES WHILE THE PRIVATE INSURERS PICK OFF THE BETTER RISKS FOR THEMSELVES.

>> Sreenivasan: ONE OF THE THINGS WE SEE AFTER THESE NATURAL DISASTERS IS KIND OF A NATIONAL CONVERSATION, SAYING, "SHOULD WE BE BACKING THIS COASTAL BEAUTIFUL HOUSE BUT YOU'RE GOING TO REBUILD IT AT KIND OF OUR EXPENSE?

MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE BUILT THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE."

>> IT IS A DEBATE THAT HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER THE MOST POLAR OPPOSITES THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE IN WASHINGTON, ALL ADVOCATING TO REFORM THE SYSTEM.

BUT EACH OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS WANTS A LITTLE PIECE OF SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

>> Sreenivasan: ALL RIGHT, SUSAN BARLYN OF REUTERS.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME, IT WAS A PLEASURE.

>> Sreenivasan: BEFORE HITTING FLORIDA, HURRICANE IRMA SWEPT THROUGH THE CARIBBEAN, INCLUDING PUERTO RICO, THE ISLAND THAT'S HOME TO 3.5 MILLION U.S. CITIZENS.

THE STORM DESTROYED HUNDREDS OF HOMES AND CAUSED POWER OUTAGES FOR THREE-QUARTERS OF THE ISLAND'S RESIDENTS, THOUGH POWER IS GRADUALLY BEING RESTORED.

IRMA IS ALSO BLAMED ON AT LEAST THREE DEATHS IN PUERTO RICO.

JOINING ME NOW VIA SKYPE TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT IS THE GOVERNOR OF PUERTO RICO, RICARDO ROSSELLO.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

FIRST OFF, LET'S GET AN UPDATE.

HOW BAD HAS IT BEEN?

YOU'VE HAD A COUPLE DAYS NOW TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE DAMAGE.

>> YES, LUCKILY, HARI, WE HAVE PREPARED FOR THIS EVENT, WE'VE BEEN PREPARING FOR FIVE MONTHS FOR A CATASTROPHIC EVENT, ESTABLISHING THE PROTOCOLS, MAKING SURE WE HAVE OWNERS FOR EVERY ONE OF THE WORK STREAMS THAT HAVE TO BE IMPLEMENTED.

>> Sreenivasan: SO, HOW LONG IS THAT GOING TO TAKE?

LET'S TAKE POWER, FOR INSTANCE.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT-- HOW DOES THE ELECTRIC GRID GET BACK UP AND RUNNING?

>> WE'VE BEEN MAKING STRIDES.

OUR ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE, IT'S NO SECRET IS VERY WEAK.

SINCE WE CAME INTO OFFICE ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS AGO, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH PLANS TO ESTABLISH INVESTMENTS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE THAT PRODUCES RELIABLE AND COMPETITIVE ENERGY.

I HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT TO THE PUBLIC WORKERS AND THE UTILITIES THEY'VE BEEN MAKING GREAT STRIDES.

AND WE'RE TALKING CLOSE TO 750,000 PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T HAVE ELECTRICITY WHEN THE HURRICANE HIT.

NOW ELECTRICITY HAS BEEN RESTORED AND EVERY DAY GRADUALLY WE HAVE BEEN MAKING STRIDES.

OF COURSE TO MAKE A FINAL DETERMINATION, SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE HAVE TO SEE HOW CRITICAL THE DAMAGE WAS DONE.

SO THAT ASSESSMENT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW, WITH OUR AGENCIES AND WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS WELL.

>> Sreenivasan: I KNOW THE WHITE HOUSE HAS SENT OUT A DECLARATION OF DISASTER FOR PUERTO RICO.

HOW MUCH MONEY ARE YOU GOING TO BE NEEDING AND ASKING FOR ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING FEMA IS GOING TO BE GETTING REQUESTS FROM TEXAS AND FLORIDA, AS WELL.

>> YES, WELL, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN MOVING ALONG, PASSING AND AID BILL FOR BOTH HARVEY AND IRMA AND OF COURSE WE ARE GOING TO BE PART OF THAT.

AGAIN, WE WANT TO BE... WE WANT TO REBUILD PUERTO RICO BUT WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

THAT'S WHY WE'VE BEEN MAKING EFFORTS TO HELP OUT, SOME OF OUR FELLOW U.S. CITIZENS THAT WERE STRANDED IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND SAN MARTIN, PUERTO RICO IS IN A GOOD POSITION TO PUSH FORWARD.

>> Sreenivasan: SO HOW MANY DAYS WOULD YOU SAY IT WILL BE UNTIL PUERTO RICO IS BACK UP TO 100 PERCENT, THAT THE LIGHTS ARE ON, THE BUSINESSES ARE OPEN AGAIN?

>> RIGHT, SO I CAN TELL YOU CERTAIN THINGS.

TOMORROW MOST OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM STARTS.

WE EXPECT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM NOT TO START TOMORROW BUT IN THE NEXT COMING DAYS.

AND ALL TEACHERS AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES WILL GO TO THE SCHOOLS SO THAT THEY CAN ASSESS THE DAMAGE.

>> Sreenivasan: ALSO I'VE BEEN SEEING REPORTS OF SOME OF YOUR HOSPITALS HAVE BEEN GENERATING OR OPERATING ON LESS THAN 100%, SEVERAL OF YOUR SCHOOLS STILL LACK ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER.

HOW DO THOSE THINGS GETS BACK UP AND RUNNING?

>> WELL, CRITICAL FOR US RIGHT NOW IS TO GET WATER RUNNING FOR EVERYBODY.

SO AT OUR PEAK WE HAVE 33% OF THE PEOPLE WITHOUT WATER IN PUERTO RICO.

RIGHT NOW, IT IS ABOUT 7%.

THE MAIN REASON IS, IT'S COMBINED WITH THE ENERGY SUPPLY, TO PUT WATER THROUGH.

SO IT'S BEEN OUR PRIORITY FOR THE ENERGY CORPORATION TO MAKE SURE WATER CAN FLOW THROUGH AND AS WELL TO MAKE SURE WE POWER OUR HOSPITALS.

AT THE ONSET OF THIS EVENT WE HAD ABOUT HALF THE HOSPITALS WORKING ON GENERATORS.

NOW WE HAVE ONLY ABOUT 8 TO 9% OF THEM WORKING ON GENERATORS.

>> Sreenivasan: IS THERE A DOLLAR FIGURE THAT YOU'VE COME UP WITH ON THE IMPACT THAT IRMA HAS HAD ON PUERTO RICO SO FAR?

>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THAT PROCESS.

AFTER I'M DONE HERE I'M GOING TO A FEW OF THE MUNICIPALITIES TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE WITH THE MAYORS AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SO WE CAN GET AN EXPEDITED ANSWER ON HOW MANY MUNICIPALITIES QUALIFY AS A DISASTER AREA.

THE PRESIDENT HAS ALREADY DECLARED A FEW OF THE MUNICIPALITIES DISASTER AREAS, PROBABLY SOME MORE WILL BE SHORTLY ANNOUNCED AS WELL.

>> Sreenivasan: ALL RIGHT, GOVERNOR OF PUERTO RICO, RICARDO ROSSELLO, THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Sreenivasan: THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY HAS RECORDED 60 POWERFUL AFTERSHOCKS IN THE MEXICAN CITY AT THE EPICENTER OF THURSDAY'S CRUSHING 8.1 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE, WHICH KILLED AT LEAST 90 PEOPLE.

AS RESCUERS SEARCHED THE RUBBLE FOR POSSIBLE SURVIVORS, SOLDIERS CARTED AWAY THE DEBRIS OF DEMOLISHED BUILDINGS IN JUCHITAN, WHERE THOUSANDS HAVE BEEN LEFT HOMELESS.

DONATIONS HAVE BEEN POURING INTO MEXICO CITY, AND THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT IS SENDING BOXES OF FOOD AND BOTTLED WATER BY CARGO PLANES.

IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, THE BUDDHIST- MAJORITY GOVERNMENT OF MYANMAR TODAY REJECTED A CEASEFIRE DECLARED BY MINORITY MUSLIM ROHINGYA INSURGENTS, SAYING IT DOES "NOT DEAL WITH TERRORISTS."

THE INSURGENTS DECLARED THE CEASEFIRE TO ALLOW AID TO REACH ROHINGYA REFUGEES FLEEING ARMY ATTACKS AND ALLEGED PERSECUTION TO CAMPS IN NEIGHBORING BANGLADESH.

REFUGEES HAVE ACCUSED MYANMAR'S ARMY OF PLANTING LAND MINES IN THE PATH OF THE ESCAPING REFUGEES AND GAVE REUTERS THIS VIDEO OF WHAT THEY SAID WERE MINES.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORTED THE MINES WOUNDED TWO REFUGEES TODAY.

MYANMAR OFFICIALS HAD NO COMMENT.

THE UNITED NATIONS HAS APPEALED FOR FOOD, MEDICINE, AND SHELTER FOR AS MANY AS 400,000 REFUGEES INSIDE BANGLADESH NEAR THE BORDER.

IN HER FIRST BROADCAST INTERVIEW SINCE LAST YEAR'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, HILLARY CLINTON TOLD CBS SUNDAY MORNING TODAY SHE'LL NEVER AGAIN BE A CANDIDATE FOR OFFICE, BUT SHE ISN'T DONE WITH POLITICS.

DISCUSSING HER CAMPAIGN MEMOIR "WHAT HAPPENED," WHICH IS BEING PUBLISHED THIS WEEK, MRS. CLINTON DESCRIBED HOW SHE INITIALLY SPENT HER TIME AFTER LOSING.

>> OFF I WENT INTO A FRENZY OF CLOSET CLEANING, LONG WALKS IN THE WOODS, PLAYING WITH MY DOGS, YOGA, ALTERNATE NOSTRIL BREATHING, WHICH I HIGHLY RECOMMEND, TRYING TO CALM MYSELF DOWN, AND, YOU KNOW, MY SHARE OF CHARDONNAY.

IT WAS A VERY HARD TRANSITION.

>> CLINTON SAID HER BIGGEST MISTAKE WAS HAVING USED A PRIVATE EMAIL SERVER AS SECRETARY OF STATE, AN ISSUE THAT DOGGED HER CAMPAIGN.

HEAR MORE FROM THE FORMER FIRST LADY, SECRETARY OF STATE, AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE THIS FRIDAY ON THE NEWSHOUR WHEN SHE SITS DOWN WITH JUDY WOODRUFF.

STAY WITH THE NEWSHOUR TOMORROW ON AIR AND ONLINE FOR CONTINUING COVERAGE OF HURRICANE IRMA AND ITS IMPACT ON FLORIDA AND THE SOUTHEAST UNITED STATES.

IRMA HAS BEEN DOWNGRADED TO A CATEGORY 2 STORM.

SEE THE LIVE TRACKING MAP AT OUR WEBSITE, PBS.ORG/NEWSHOUR.

THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND.

I'M HARI SREENIVASAN, THANKS FOR WATCHING.