worst-scenario, a meltdown, they re worried about the radiation already crippled through japan. it may move through for weeks possibly even months. msnbc science and environment expert jeff corwin joins us know. we have the report from mick, everybody fine on the ronald reagan and the helicopters that traveled through the cloud. the flooding has caused the fact that they had to have these steam releases, which is inevitable now as they re trying to cool down these nuclear power plants. explain the steam that s being released and what it can go how far it could actually travel. well, thomas, it s important to note that as they release the steam, it s done as a basic precaution and way to alleviate all the strain that s happening within the conductive material of this reactor. that s very different than an actual blow like you would see with chernobyl, for example. so while we are getting some steam carrying trace amounts of
briefings later this afternoon. meantime, msnbc science and environment expert jeff corwin tells us more about the efforts to save sea turtles from the gulf. this is ground zero of a conservation project. the mission is to save the next generation of sea turtles put in jeopardy. we were there and this is what we witnessed. the oil spill has had a truly profound impact on the whole ecology of this region. a lot of people would argue that resources are limited and should be focused on other things. why are sea turtles so important? why should we care? and why should we save them? well, they are a threatened species. and that is our job as an agency to try to recover them. and, in fact, six of the sea turtle species are threatened or endangered. we need to do all we can do to
for example, the bird stories we have been features, the louisiana brown pelican, this is the state bird, okay? this is a bird that became nearly extinct in 1963. they recovered this bird but now it s facing another threat. again, one of many, many different species that are being attacked by this oil, and frankly i m not seeing it evaporate because of this hurricane. if anything, keith, the hurricane makes cleaning up this mess even more of a challenge because when you have seas that are pushing from five feet to 12 feet, there s no way you can have the boats out there skimming. you can t have the first responders out there rescuing wildlife. this whole place right now is in the eye of this storm. msnbc science and environment expert jeff corwin in pensacola beach, florida, for us. thank you. some of the most devastating pictures yet of the extent of the damage coming from an alabama conservativist named john wathen who has been flying over the spill whenever he can to document in
can. we re being inhibited right now by the weather. for more on the situation along the coast let s turn now to msnbc science and environment expert jeff corwin who is at pensacola beach this evening. good evening, jeff. reporter: how are you doing, keith? the storm surge, what is it expected to actually do? what are the material results? keith, if you look behind me, you can actually see these waves have come alive. as a result of hurricane alex and, of course, i m standing here on pensacola beach. this beach is famous for its ivory sand, but not today. as these waves lap up onto the shore, it brings up this incredibly toxic stuff. can you see that, keith? this is the crude that is washing with the lap of every additional wave onto this beach. and it stretches as far as my eyes can see and throughout this entire coastline, and as this storm gets more fierce, it brings more of this crude. and it s incredible to me, keith, to think that this oil
among those americans most afraid of losing their jobs are the democrats who could lose control of the house and even the senate if the economy doesn t improve. we ll look at november s electoral map and get into the perilous road ahead for democratic incumbents. plus, remember this ad? you gentlemen revolted over a tea tax, a tea tax. now look at us. are you with me? gather your armies. we ll ask this republican congressional candidate rick barber to explain himself, and let me finish tonight with a tribute to the king of the night, larry king. let s start with hurricane alex and the effect it s having on the oil spill in the gulf. jeff corbin is an msnbc science and environment expert. he s with us now from pensacola. sir, briefly, how does the thread and reality i should say of this incoing hurricane going to affect this horror in the gulf of mexico. chris, i can answer that