Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Hurricane Katrina was one of the deadliest hurricanes ever to strike the United States, killing 1,833 people, displacing hundreds of thousands more and causing more than $100 billion in damage. Louisianans wanted change and climate action, but 20 years on, a state ravaged by climate disasters is now ground zero for a whole new kind of storm: liquefied natural gas facilities. The Trump administration okayed several new LNG plants on the Gulf this year, but residents are still picking up the pieces after the first LNG plants entered their neighborhood under Democratic administrations. In this episode, Laura speaks to Louisianans whose lives have been turned upside down by the expansion of LNG exports, and an expert who says minority communities benefit little from the jobs in the petrochemical facilities that surround them, yet suffer disproportionate pollution effects. Their message? Climate refugees exist in the U.S., and there will be more: “Wake up, open your eyes!”

“[I’m a] climate refugee, more than once . . . I'm no scientist, but I'm more of an expert than the experts. Living it’s a whole different ball game.” - Travis Dardar

“[Companies] demand big tax incentives to come here . . . We are last in transportation, last in healthcare, last in education . . . We’re almost last in every measurable area because we give tax breaks to the big oil companies and petrochemical companies.” - General Russel L. Honoré

“Donald Trump doesn't live next to an oil refinery and he never will.” - Kimberly Terrell

GUESTS:
Travis Dardar: Commercial Fisherman; Founder, Fishermen Involved in Sustaining our Heritage (FISH)
General Russel L. Honoré: Decorated 37-Year Army Veteran; Commander, Joint Task Force Katrina; Founder, GreenARMY
Kimberly Terrell: Visiting Scientist, Center for Applied Environmental Science (CAES); Former Research Scientist & Director, Community Engagement, Tulane Environmental Law Clinic

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CREDITS:
Executive Producer: Laura Flanders
Supervising Producer: Sabrina Artel
Senior Producer: Jeremiah Cothren
Senior Consulting Producer: Rory O’Connor
Senior Video Editor: David Neumann
Video Editor: Veronica Delgado
Audio Director: Jeannie Hopper
Development Director: Sarah Miller
Communications Director: Janet Hernandez

SPECIAL THANKS
Gina Kim
Anne Rolfes

ADDITIONAL CREW
Camera & Sound
Dan T. Peters Media, Dan T. Peters
Calvin Blue Jr.

ADDITIONAL FOOTAGE
Sharon Wilson, Oilfield Witness

0:00 - The New Storm: LNG Facilities in Louisiana
4:05 - What It’s Like to Live by a LNG Facility
9:16 - An Ecological Disaster Waiting to Happen
14:10 - Silencing Science
20:20 - Public Outcry & What’s Next