[Music] [Applause]
who knew who knew that when it started
who knew who knew that when it started raining that Thursday night what was
raining that Thursday night what was
raining that Thursday night what was going to happen as a result who knew
going to happen as a result who knew
going to happen as a result who knew that when the water started rising in my
that when the water started rising in my
that when the water started rising in my community on Friday night that Saturday
community on Friday night that Saturday
community on Friday night that Saturday morning when I checked the little mark
morning when I checked the little mark
morning when I checked the little mark that I put out there that said the water
that I put out there that said the water
that I put out there that said the water is actually receding so from 8 o’clock
is actually receding so from 8 o’clock
is actually receding so from 8 o’clock Saturday morning until dooms Saturday
Saturday morning until dooms Saturday
Saturday morning until dooms Saturday morning the water went down five inches
morning the water went down five inches
morning the water went down five inches and I will never forget sitting in my
and I will never forget sitting in my
and I will never forget sitting in my easy chair saying thank you God we just
easy chair saying thank you God we just
easy chair saying thank you God we just dodged a big one and at 1:15 the water
dodged a big one and at 1:15 the water
dodged a big one and at 1:15 the water was in my house and by two o’clock there
was in my house and by two o’clock there
was in my house and by two o’clock there was a foot of water in my house so who
was a foot of water in my house so who
was a foot of water in my house so who knew now what do we need to learn what
knew now what do we need to learn what
knew now what do we need to learn what our takeaways from this I can tell you
our takeaways from this I can tell you
our takeaways from this I can tell you that my company does disaster
that my company does disaster
that my company does disaster preparedness from major companies and I
preparedness from major companies and I
preparedness from major companies and I didn’t have a clue as to what I was
didn’t have a clue as to what I was
didn’t have a clue as to what I was doing I can tell you the biggest lesson
doing I can tell you the biggest lesson
doing I can tell you the biggest lesson you need to learn almost everybody has
you need to learn almost everybody has
you need to learn almost everybody has one of these not all carriers are equal
one of these not all carriers are equal
one of these not all carriers are equal and Ted says that I can’t call names out
and Ted says that I can’t call names out
and Ted says that I can’t call names out but I’m going to tell you when Terry and
but I’m going to tell you when Terry and
but I’m going to tell you when Terry and I my wife and I were evacuated with our
I my wife and I were evacuated with our
I my wife and I were evacuated with our 95 pound dog I had the community phone
95 pound dog I had the community phone
95 pound dog I had the community phone because it was one of the only ones that
because it was one of the only ones that
because it was one of the only ones that worked and I just prayed that I would
worked and I just prayed that I would
worked and I just prayed that I would get it back at the animals so pay
get it back at the animals so pay
get it back at the animals so pay attention we’ve just started hurricane
attention we’ve just started hurricane
attention we’ve just started hurricane season give it some thought flood
season give it some thought flood
season give it some thought flood insurance
how did I get flood insurance my wife
how did I get flood insurance my wife and I had dinner with somebody one night
and I had dinner with somebody one night
and I had dinner with somebody one night their wife bought flood insurance the
their wife bought flood insurance the
their wife bought flood insurance the husband gripe because he was not in the
husband gripe because he was not in the
husband gripe because he was not in the flood zone and his wife was wasting
flood zone and his wife was wasting
flood zone and his wife was wasting money on useless flood insurance so the
money on useless flood insurance so the
money on useless flood insurance so the next day my wife bought flood insurance
next day my wife bought flood insurance
next day my wife bought flood insurance thank goodness because it it greatly
thank goodness because it it greatly
thank goodness because it it greatly enhanced our ability to come back on the
enhanced our ability to come back on the
enhanced our ability to come back on the commercial aspect ensure buildings don’t
commercial aspect ensure buildings don’t
commercial aspect ensure buildings don’t ensure Suites check your flood insurance
ensure Suites check your flood insurance
ensure Suites check your flood insurance policies if you’ve got different
policies if you’ve got different
policies if you’ve got different addresses and different policies don’t
addresses and different policies don’t
addresses and different policies don’t think they’re gonna group it as one
think they’re gonna group it as one
think they’re gonna group it as one because where my office is I’ve also got
because where my office is I’ve also got
because where my office is I’ve also got some rental space I have four flood
some rental space I have four flood
some rental space I have four flood insurance policies which is good but I
insurance policies which is good but I
insurance policies which is good but I got four deductibles which ain’t so good
got four deductibles which ain’t so good
got four deductibles which ain’t so good so you know what’s in there what’s not
so you know what’s in there what’s not
so you know what’s in there what’s not covered generators aren’t covered our
covered generators aren’t covered our
covered generators aren’t covered our building our office we are first
building our office we are first
building our office we are first responders of type for our clients
responders of type for our clients
responders of type for our clients without the generator we can’t function
without the generator we can’t function
without the generator we can’t function but the insurance company doesn’t deem
but the insurance company doesn’t deem
but the insurance company doesn’t deem that important so therefore they wave a
that important so therefore they wave a
that important so therefore they wave a wand and it’s not covered if you have
wand and it’s not covered if you have
wand and it’s not covered if you have flood insurance check your policy you’ll
flood insurance check your policy you’ll
flood insurance check your policy you’ll be amazed at what is not covered in your
be amazed at what is not covered in your
be amazed at what is not covered in your policy one of the things that they tell
policy one of the things that they tell
policy one of the things that they tell you you can’t do is you can’t be your
you you can’t do is you can’t be your
you you can’t do is you can’t be your own general contractor I am educated to
own general contractor I am educated to
own general contractor I am educated to be a general contractor I am licensed to
be a general contractor I am licensed to
be a general contractor I am licensed to be a general contractor I practice it
be a general contractor I practice it
be a general contractor I practice it every day and have for the past thirty
every day and have for the past thirty
every day and have for the past thirty some odd years but the insurance company
some odd years but the insurance company
some odd years but the insurance company says you can’t be your general
says you can’t be your general
says you can’t be your general contractor and if you are we’re not
contractor and if you are we’re not
contractor and if you are we’re not going to pay you any overhead and profit
going to pay you any overhead and profit
going to pay you any overhead and profit to cover what you do after a lot of long
to cover what you do after a lot of long
to cover what you do after a lot of long negotiations they have acquiesced but I
negotiations they have acquiesced but I
negotiations they have acquiesced but I know multiple parties that they just
know multiple parties that they just
know multiple parties that they just took with
took with
took with insurance company said on first blush
insurance company said on first blush
insurance company said on first blush and moved along and the other thing that
and moved along and the other thing that
and moved along and the other thing that I’ll tell you that it has been
I’ll tell you that it has been
I’ll tell you that it has been immeasurable help to me is we use an
immeasurable help to me is we use an
immeasurable help to me is we use an insurance agent
insurance agent
insurance agent we don’t go online and buy our insurance
we don’t go online and buy our insurance
we don’t go online and buy our insurance we didn’t go to somebody that says I can
we didn’t go to somebody that says I can
we didn’t go to somebody that says I can help you and they take your money and
help you and they take your money and
help you and they take your money and they take their piece out of it and they
they take their piece out of it and they
they take their piece out of it and they send it to the insurance company we have
send it to the insurance company we have
send it to the insurance company we have a real-life agent in that agent was
a real-life agent in that agent was
a real-life agent in that agent was responsible for us getting not only our
responsible for us getting not only our
responsible for us getting not only our money for our residence in record time
money for our residence in record time
money for our residence in record time we had all of our flood insurance money
we had all of our flood insurance money
we had all of our flood insurance money in the bank within 30 days after the
in the bank within 30 days after the
in the bank within 30 days after the flood
flood
flood due to my insurance agent on my
due to my insurance agent on my
due to my insurance agent on my commercial end I’m still in the fight
commercial end I’m still in the fight
commercial end I’m still in the fight but I can tell you we’re going to reap
but I can tell you we’re going to reap
but I can tell you we’re going to reap hundreds of thousands of dollars more
hundreds of thousands of dollars more
hundreds of thousands of dollars more because the agent has got my back
because the agent has got my back
because the agent has got my back pay attention to that it’s very
pay attention to that it’s very
pay attention to that it’s very important whether it’s a home or
important whether it’s a home or
important whether it’s a home or businesses we don’t need any outside
businesses we don’t need any outside
businesses we don’t need any outside consultants in helping us plan for
consultants in helping us plan for
consultants in helping us plan for disasters again I told you that’s what
disasters again I told you that’s what
disasters again I told you that’s what we do we’ve got a major bank that as
we do we’ve got a major bank that as
we do we’ve got a major bank that as soon as has a disaster the first number
soon as has a disaster the first number
soon as has a disaster the first number they call those hours to help them what
they call those hours to help them what
they call those hours to help them what I do in my own house we were going to
I do in my own house we were going to
I do in my own house we were going to evacuate our house using an oversized
evacuate our house using an oversized
evacuate our house using an oversized inflated turtle with a rug on top of it
inflated turtle with a rug on top of it
inflated turtle with a rug on top of it to the dogs claws wouldn’t pop it and
to the dogs claws wouldn’t pop it and
to the dogs claws wouldn’t pop it and tie ourselves in the rope and probably
tie ourselves in the rope and probably
tie ourselves in the rope and probably would have gotten killed so how’s that
would have gotten killed so how’s that
would have gotten killed so how’s that for disaster preparedness it’s really
for disaster preparedness it’s really
for disaster preparedness it’s really overused but it’s not unimportant plan
overused but it’s not unimportant plan
overused but it’s not unimportant plan how are you going to get out we have a
how are you going to get out we have a
how are you going to get out we have a second floor we stayed up there we had a
second floor we stayed up there we had a
second floor we stayed up there we had a generator we were good the generator
generator we were good the generator
generator we were good the generator went out by Saturday night all of the
went out by Saturday night all of the
went out by Saturday night all of the Cajun Navy had done most of their work
Cajun Navy had done most of their work
Cajun Navy had done most of their work by Sunday morning my wife was getting a
by Sunday morning my wife was getting a
by Sunday morning my wife was getting a little bit anxious we did find the Cajun
little bit anxious we did find the Cajun
little bit anxious we did find the Cajun Navy one more time
Navy one more time
Navy one more time they came thank God for the Cajun Navy
they came thank God for the Cajun Navy
they came thank God for the Cajun Navy because they came on their own without
because they came on their own without
because they came on their own without compensation and couldn’t do enough to
compensation and couldn’t do enough to
compensation and couldn’t do enough to help
help
help and that is one of the most positive
and that is one of the most positive
and that is one of the most positive things about Louisiana that we can ever
things about Louisiana that we can ever
things about Louisiana that we can ever offer to anybody all right I have to
offer to anybody all right I have to
offer to anybody all right I have to tread lightly I’m from the government
tread lightly I’m from the government
tread lightly I’m from the government and I’m here to help not the government
and I’m here to help not the government
and I’m here to help not the government works by process not speed the
works by process not speed the
works by process not speed the government works by process not
government works by process not
government works by process not efficiently it’s the way they do it
efficiently it’s the way they do it
efficiently it’s the way they do it you’re not going to change it so either
you’re not going to change it so either
you’re not going to change it so either accept it or walk away the government in
accept it or walk away the government in
accept it or walk away the government in all of its offerings didn’t provide a
all of its offerings didn’t provide a
all of its offerings didn’t provide a lot of help to us there’s a difference
lot of help to us there’s a difference
lot of help to us there’s a difference between what the government advertises
between what the government advertises
between what the government advertises and what the government does and I’ll be
and what the government does and I’ll be
and what the government does and I’ll be very specific on that SBA loans if
very specific on that SBA loans if
very specific on that SBA loans if you’re an individual we can give you a
you’re an individual we can give you a
you’re an individual we can give you a loan at one point two five percent
loan at one point two five percent
loan at one point two five percent that’s a great interest rate if you’re a
that’s a great interest rate if you’re a
that’s a great interest rate if you’re a business we can give you a loan at four
business we can give you a loan at four
business we can give you a loan at four and a quarter percent again really good
and a quarter percent again really good
and a quarter percent again really good interest rate the only catch is if you
interest rate the only catch is if you
interest rate the only catch is if you have credit those rates don’t apply to
have credit those rates don’t apply to
have credit those rates don’t apply to you if you have credit and you’re an
you if you have credit and you’re an
you if you have credit and you’re an individual it’s a three and a quarter
individual it’s a three and a quarter
individual it’s a three and a quarter percent rate and if you’re a business
percent rate and if you’re a business
percent rate and if you’re a business and you have credit it’s a six and a
and you have credit it’s a six and a
and you have credit it’s a six and a quarter percent rate I can beat that
quarter percent rate I can beat that
quarter percent rate I can beat that every day of the week so be careful it
every day of the week so be careful it
every day of the week so be careful it does apply to some people it didn’t
does apply to some people it didn’t
does apply to some people it didn’t apply to us and if you’re gonna count on
apply to us and if you’re gonna count on
apply to us and if you’re gonna count on that to help you out you may be
that to help you out you may be
that to help you out you may be disappointed and just listen to the
disappointed and just listen to the
disappointed and just listen to the newscast as to who is still disappointed
newscast as to who is still disappointed
newscast as to who is still disappointed as of today nine months after a little
as of today nine months after a little
as of today nine months after a little bitty one see if I can get through this
bitty one see if I can get through this
bitty one see if I can get through this one quickly in order to get an SBA
one quickly in order to get an SBA
one quickly in order to get an SBA number or a file you need to have a FEMA
number or a file you need to have a FEMA
number or a file you need to have a FEMA number no problem I went to FEMA and
number no problem I went to FEMA and
number no problem I went to FEMA and said okay what do I need to do fill this
said okay what do I need to do fill this
said okay what do I need to do fill this out there’s this little line that says
out there’s this little line that says
out there’s this little line that says give us your reported taxable income for
give us your reported taxable income for
give us your reported taxable income for 2015 said guys
2015 said guys
2015 said guys my house went underwater don’t have all
my house went underwater don’t have all
my house went underwater don’t have all that stuff well get it from your CPA CPA
that stuff well get it from your CPA CPA
that stuff well get it from your CPA CPA went underwater all his service went
went underwater all his service went
went underwater all his service went underwater doesn’t have it I said I
underwater doesn’t have it I said I
underwater doesn’t have it I said I think I know what it is approximately
think I know what it is approximately
think I know what it is approximately let me give that to you and they said
let me give that to you and they said
let me give that to you and they said won’t work because we’re gonna pull your
won’t work because we’re gonna pull your
won’t work because we’re gonna pull your tax returns and if what you tell us
tax returns and if what you tell us
tax returns and if what you tell us doesn’t match what we pull then you’re
doesn’t match what we pull then you’re
doesn’t match what we pull then you’re denied and I said wait you’re gonna
denied and I said wait you’re gonna
denied and I said wait you’re gonna point you in bill what I got yes but
point you in bill what I got yes but
point you in bill what I got yes but until you tell us what it is doesn’t
until you tell us what it is doesn’t
until you tell us what it is doesn’t apply I don’t have a FEMA number I don’t
apply I don’t have a FEMA number I don’t
apply I don’t have a FEMA number I don’t have an SBA number today
FEMA likes to call you a lot they’re
FEMA likes to call you a lot they’re very polite and I’m sure they do help
very polite and I’m sure they do help
very polite and I’m sure they do help certain people but if you’re gonna count
certain people but if you’re gonna count
certain people but if you’re gonna count on them be careful all right this is one
on them be careful all right this is one
on them be careful all right this is one everybody’s seen looking at a general
everybody’s seen looking at a general
everybody’s seen looking at a general contract to get my house done he tells
contract to get my house done he tells
contract to get my house done he tells me every general contract that gets paid
me every general contract that gets paid
me every general contract that gets paid up front big big big problem you all
up front big big big problem you all
up front big big big problem you all have seen the general contract is now
have seen the general contract is now
have seen the general contract is now that are in jail because they took money
that are in jail because they took money
that are in jail because they took money and they left and they did it to the
and they left and they did it to the
and they left and they did it to the most vulnerable people out there so
most vulnerable people out there so
most vulnerable people out there so that’s not quite true
that’s not quite true
that’s not quite true I can tell you going forward if you do
I can tell you going forward if you do
I can tell you going forward if you do engage a general contractor no money
engage a general contractor no money
engage a general contractor no money upfront you asked for his license u.s.
upfront you asked for his license u.s.
upfront you asked for his license u.s. for their insurance u.s. for their
for their insurance u.s. for their
for their insurance u.s. for their references which you check out and you
references which you check out and you
references which you check out and you ask for structured payments and any good
ask for structured payments and any good
ask for structured payments and any good general contractor will take care of you
general contractor will take care of you
general contractor will take care of you under that scenario if they don’t
under that scenario if they don’t
under that scenario if they don’t proceed with extreme caution
okay the new normal
okay the new normal we’re in the new normal now who’s coming
we’re in the new normal now who’s coming
we’re in the new normal now who’s coming back who’s not there was a young lady
back who’s not there was a young lady
back who’s not there was a young lady that was leasing a space for me that the
that was leasing a space for me that the
that was leasing a space for me that the name of the business was pink abbu which
name of the business was pink abbu which
name of the business was pink abbu which is a play on pink and blue and she did
is a play on pink and blue and she did
is a play on pink and blue and she did ultrasounds and she said that Denham
ultrasounds and she said that Denham
ultrasounds and she said that Denham Springs was the
Springs was the
Springs was the absolute best place but her open her new
absolute best place but her open her new
absolute best place but her open her new business and she had saved and she was
business and she had saved and she was
business and she had saved and she was working another job and she was working
working another job and she was working
working another job and she was working another job while she set that up in two
another job while she set that up in two
another job while she set that up in two weeks before the flood she came into her
weeks before the flood she came into her
weeks before the flood she came into her own business in two weeks later she lost
own business in two weeks later she lost
own business in two weeks later she lost everything she had worked for she’s not
everything she had worked for she’s not
everything she had worked for she’s not coming back there’s a lot of other
coming back there’s a lot of other
coming back there’s a lot of other people there’s neighborhoods some will
people there’s neighborhoods some will
people there’s neighborhoods some will come back some will not
come back some will not
come back some will not you know there’s also businesses some
you know there’s also businesses some
you know there’s also businesses some will come back some will not
will come back some will not
will come back some will not Popeyes is gone but you know maybe
Popeyes is gone but you know maybe
Popeyes is gone but you know maybe there’s another bigger stronger better
there’s another bigger stronger better
there’s another bigger stronger better business that’s going to come back and
business that’s going to come back and
business that’s going to come back and replace Popeyes we don’t know yet and
replace Popeyes we don’t know yet and
replace Popeyes we don’t know yet and we’re not going to know for years what
we’re not going to know for years what
we’re not going to know for years what the ramifications of business is coming
the ramifications of business is coming
the ramifications of business is coming and going on we can only pray that what
and going on we can only pray that what
and going on we can only pray that what we lost we replace with something better
we lost we replace with something better
we lost we replace with something better and we know that can happen employee
and we know that can happen employee
and we know that can happen employee shortages are part of what we deal with
shortages are part of what we deal with
shortages are part of what we deal with now in my denim office we have about 26
now in my denim office we have about 26
now in my denim office we have about 26 people that come to the office 13 of
people that come to the office 13 of
people that come to the office 13 of them lost their homes I can tell you it
them lost their homes I can tell you it
them lost their homes I can tell you it was a very very tough situation trying
was a very very tough situation trying
was a very very tough situation trying to keep a business going because while I
to keep a business going because while I
to keep a business going because while I got great clients they really wanted to
got great clients they really wanted to
got great clients they really wanted to take care of their stuff before you take
take care of their stuff before you take
take care of their stuff before you take care of your staff so we did and we had
care of your staff so we did and we had
care of your staff so we did and we had to take care of employ so they could
to take care of employ so they could
to take care of employ so they could come back and that we had to work hard
come back and that we had to work hard
come back and that we had to work hard to make that go and it’s people helping
to make that go and it’s people helping
to make that go and it’s people helping each other and then new practices that
each other and then new practices that
each other and then new practices that didn’t occur before the flood that
didn’t occur before the flood that
didn’t occur before the flood that manifested itself doing the flood that I
manifested itself doing the flood that I
manifested itself doing the flood that I think will become part of a new norm and
think will become part of a new norm and
think will become part of a new norm and a specific example is a prehung door if
a specific example is a prehung door if
a specific example is a prehung door if you ever bought a prehung door it comes
you ever bought a prehung door it comes
you ever bought a prehung door it comes with the door the frame and the trim
with the door the frame and the trim
with the door the frame and the trim attached to one side and you put it in
attached to one side and you put it in
attached to one side and you put it in the door opening and you nail it up and
the door opening and you nail it up and
the door opening and you nail it up and then you put the trim on the other side
then you put the trim on the other side
then you put the trim on the other side well because of the hundreds of
well because of the hundreds of
well because of the hundreds of thousands of doors that were lost and
thousands of doors that were lost and
thousands of doors that were lost and needed to be replaced in order to
needed to be replaced in order to
needed to be replaced in order to expedite that the doors now come without
expedite that the doors now come without
expedite that the doors now come without trim on either side
trim on either side
trim on either side so number one you hope the trim is
so number one you hope the trim is
so number one you hope the trim is delivered
delivered
delivered number two you hope the trim is the
number two you hope the trim is the
number two you hope the trim is the right trim and number three is you got
right trim and number three is you got
right trim and number three is you got to put the trim on yourself well peg
to put the trim on yourself well peg
to put the trim on yourself well peg your carpenter to do it I might be wrong
your carpenter to do it I might be wrong
your carpenter to do it I might be wrong but I am of the opinion that that’s part
but I am of the opinion that that’s part
but I am of the opinion that that’s part of the new normal we will never see trim
of the new normal we will never see trim
of the new normal we will never see trim attach the doors again long after the
attach the doors again long after the
attach the doors again long after the floods are gone so you know as we as we
floods are gone so you know as we as we
floods are gone so you know as we as we go forward you’ve got to be responsible
go forward you’ve got to be responsible
go forward you’ve got to be responsible for yourself understand what you have
for yourself understand what you have
for yourself understand what you have working for you and what you don’t
working for you and what you don’t
working for you and what you don’t please try and figure out where you’re
please try and figure out where you’re
please try and figure out where you’re going before it happens because the
going before it happens because the
going before it happens because the plastic turtle was not going to get me
plastic turtle was not going to get me
plastic turtle was not going to get me where I needed to go the people in front
where I needed to go the people in front
where I needed to go the people in front of me have talked about our
of me have talked about our
of me have talked about our opportunities in our strengths and it’s
opportunities in our strengths and it’s
opportunities in our strengths and it’s a great community I love it here
a great community I love it here
a great community I love it here I want to be part of the rebuilding
I want to be part of the rebuilding
I want to be part of the rebuilding process take care of yourself look to
process take care of yourself look to
process take care of yourself look to your neighbors help your neighbors
your neighbors help your neighbors
your neighbors help your neighbors they’re gonna help you so thank you for
they’re gonna help you so thank you for
they’re gonna help you so thank you for your time
[Music]
[Music] you
”
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