STEVEN BESHEAR: One
thing that I would just
go back and emphasize,
and we've all
talked about it
throughout this hour,
is the importance of
effective communication.
And when you're a governor
or when you're a mayor,
you don't really realize.
I think, the effect you can
have sometimes just by people
hearing you and
hearing from you.
I know during that ice
storm, as Jay said,
I called up the
entire National Guard,
and they said, what
do you want us to do.
I said, I want you in every
town in our state walking
up and down the streets
and knocking on doors
and checking on people.
And let's make sure
everybody's OK.
And so they were doing that.
And I went down.
There were a few
little radio stations
that were still on the air.
And I got on the radio
stations and just talked
to people about, we're
OK, everything's going
to be all right and all that.
And interestingly enough,
later on, I kept hearing,
you know what?
When I saw the National
Guard walking up the street,
I knew we'd be OK.
When I heard your voice on the
radio, it was going to be OK.
And I mean, my God.
You don't realize the effect
you can have on people
by just being there
and being a part of it
and communicating to people
and just telling them,
hey we're here.
- Giving them a hug.
STEVEN BESHEAR: That's right.
You're giving them a
hug and you're saying,
we're going to be OK.
And that's probably one of
the most important things we,
as people that have been
in leadership roles,
can understand, is the
effect you can have.
JAY NIXON: Mm-hmm
I'll tell you another.
It sounds, it sounds almost
goofy, but pets are important.
The number of people that
die because they won't leave
their house because they want
to stay with their dog or cat,
even if a tornado is
coming or a flood.
Without going through
specific examples of that,
I've been involved in some
of that sort of stuff.
And you have to have
a plan where people
can take, know where
their kids are,
have a place that they can
take their pets with them.
It's amazing how many people
die because they would rather
stay with their dog or cat.
And there's no real point to
that, other than have a plan.
And I don't know where
Huck is right now, my dog,
but it's important.
People will not leave.
I mean, they just won't.
I mean, because a lot
of times, as you said,
you got to get these
folks out of there
if there's a flood coming.
PETER SHUMLIN: Tim, I just
want to give you a plug to.
CHRISTINE GREGOIRE: Biggest
thing I've learned is,
people when they're hit
with one of these disasters,
are unbelievably resilient.
They will take that disaster,
they will ready themselves,
they will get right
back on and get going.
And so in a time in our country
when things are so divided,
there's no division
whatsoever when
there's a natural disaster.
Everybody comes together.
There's this resilience by
those who've been victimized.
There's this outpouring
of love and thought
and religious affiliations that
really want to help and make
something happen.
So I think our
country, quite frankly,
is at its best when we
encounter one of these things,
because we see the
true nature of people
and how great they can be.
And it's a lesson that I've
learned time and time again
in responding to
these disasters.
PETER SHUMLIN: Good point.
The only closing
thing I'd say is,
thanks to the School of
Public Health here at Harvard.
Because we've all done,
all four of we governors
have done some form
of fellowship here.
And what my message
continues to be, guess what.
There's never been
a time where it's
more important to be dedicating
yourself to solutions public
health.
Because all of this is
landing on your doorstep.
I mean, all of this.
And you've never had a
generation of students,
of people who are focusing
on the mission of this school
where your time and your
timing is more important.
It's all coming your way.
So thank you for having
this conversation.
