but they re working aggressively to try to get some of the power back on in this area. this, again, martin, was the hardest hit area for the storm in and of itself because as you can see, across the street it s much more of a commercial area. we re standing more on the residential side. and we just saw in about an hour ago, too, there was a group, a choreographed group of hazmat workers, fema representatives and first responders that were walking this area with service dogs. they were checking it out. we were told from the very start of our day here, because there is a very strong smell of gas, to be very careful. not be move around a lot. because they just couldn t, you know, they couldn t say, clear our safety, but they still let us in because they know we need to talk about this story and cover this story. but told us to be, you know, cautious. so they came in today with their service dogs and were walking, working through. so there s still so much that people are still trying to
behind a lot of damage. city officials is estimating damage at $1.5 billion but that number is expected to rise as the full scope becomes clear. janet napolitano getting a firsthand look at recovery efforts manager with tennessee s governor. he is also visited a blood bank. live from nashville with more on that. secretary napolitano telling tennesseeians that help and support has arrived. we have new video touring devastation. the governor of tennessee as well as nashville s name and fema representatives. we know that 16,000 residents have applied for aid. price tag is $1.5 billion. secretary telling reporters the government isn t wasting any time in getting monetary support to this area adding that the president is being briefed constantly. take a listen. i think tennesseans can be
my constituent area. so i feel the pain of people who are still suffering. let me say this, we re probably losing 30 to 40,000 homes, hundreds of thousands of kars. these numbers are going to be astronomical. we have no time for anyone dividing on the funding for the state of texas. you mentioned the cars, the homes, do you have a sense, are you able at this point to get your head around what day-to-day life in houston and the area is going to be like in the months first few years after this? what s it going to be like a year from now as a result of this storm? well, let me tell you, we have heard from those who have been through this, and as well, experts, fema representatives, that this may be years of recovery. our local officials, mayor and county judge and others, years of recovery. what i ve seen is already places