ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. – August 15, 2007-"Against the Tide: The Battle for New Orleans," an original CNBC one-hour documentary analyzing how the New Orleans business community has recovered from the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina two years later, will be broadcast Sunday, August 26th at 10PM ET, on CNBC, First in Business Worldwide.
From an in-depth look at "The Road Home"-a program created to give federal funds to Katrina-struck homeowners-to a look at the small businesses that have helped revive New Orleans, CNBC examines the business side of the New Orleans recovery effort.
"Unlike many of the other Hurricane Katrina anniversary programs, CNBC focuses on the businesses and their integral role in the revival of the city," said Josh Howard, Vice President Long Form and Special Programming. "The documentary investigates how the business community responded to the crisis and the stories behind which businesses rebuilt and which businesses to this day are still lost in the tragedy."
CNBC Senior Correspondent Scott Cohn reports on the slow pace of recovery for post-Katrina New Orleans homeowners and the struggles of homeowners to rebuild their lives from the foundation up. Cohn investigates "The Road Home" which is beset by a staggering array of failures including a massive budgetary shortfall, botched home assessments, inadequate staffing and computer malfunctions resulting in lots of heartache over the past two years.
CNBC reporter Mary Thompson explores the decision of the Shell Oil Company to return to New Orleans. Shell had every reason to leave, but led by Frank Glaviano, the head of production in the Americas and a native of the 9th Ward, they've committed themselves to the city. Thompson and Glaviano walk through the 9th Ward and meet some of the workers to whom the company leased homes at cost. They also visit the Mars Platform, the largest oil rig in the Gulf, to get a sense of the severe damage Shell suffered there.
CNBC reporter Trish Regan investigates the status of the levees and the work of the U.S. Army Corps -- its failures before Katrina and allegations that the work currently being done is less than adequate. Regan interviews Robert Bea, the Berkeley engineer who survived Hurricane Betsy in 1965 as a kid, and as a result, developed a fascination with storm control. He co-authored the study for the National Science Foundation on the failures that led to Katrina and discusses where the U.S. Army Corps is going wrong now.
CNBC reporter Scott Wapner follows the NFL New Orleans Saints and their triumphant return to the city. Wapner discusses the controversy over the state money that went into rebuilding the Louisiana Superdome and interviews New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Superdome General Manager Doug Thornton. Wapner also examines whether the corporate base in the city is strong enough to support an NFL team in the long run.
CNBC Senior Economics Reporter Steve Liesman reveals how small businesses, and the entrepreneurs who run them, have become the driving force in the revival of the city. Liesman profiles a daycare center owner who charged through city red tape to build a new facility and continues to rely on her faith to pull her through the tragedy. Liesman also visits the owner of a 50's era bowling alley who was the first in his area to rebuild.
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