[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," CONCERNS OVER THE COVID-19 VACCINE DELTA VARIANT IS NOW SWEEPING THROUGH BRITAIN HAS BEEN DETECTED IN ARIZONA.

ON CRONKITE NEWS, OFFERS TO ADDRESS A CRITICAL BLOOD SHORTAGE IN THE STATE.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, SHOULD REAL LIFE ISSUES BE INCORPORATED IN THIS FICTIONAL TV.

THAT'S ALL COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING.

AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

A THE TELEGRAPH FIRE JUMPED A CONTAINMENT LINE AND IS SHOWING, QUOTE, EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.

IT HAS BURNED 20 STRUCTURED SINCE IT BEGAN.

THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF THE FIRE IS ONLY 24% CONTAINED.

OVERNIGHT THE FIRE JUMPED A CONTAINMENT LINE ALONG PIONEER PASS ROAD.

THE HIGH TEMPERATURES AND LOW HUMIDITY ARE FEEDING THE FIRE.

>>> HOUSE MINORITY WHIP REGINALD BOLDING SAID TODAY HE IS RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.

BOLDING IS EXPECTED TO BE JOINED BY FORMER MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER ADRIAN FONTES FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES SO FAR, INCLUDE INCLUDE TWO OTHER CANDIDATES.

>>> ONE MORE POLITICAL REPORT, SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA BROKE HER FOOT COMPETING IN A MARATHON IN WASHINGTON STATE.

>>> NEW INFORMATION ON HOW THE CORONAVIRUS TENDS TO SPREAD.

RESEARCH FROM YALE AND COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY SHOW THAT COLD, DRY WEATHER ARE LOW LEVELS OF ULTRA VIOLENT RADIATION ARE ASSOCIATED WITH MODERATELY INCREASED SPREAD OF COVID.

WARM, HUMID AND SUNNY WEATHER MAKES IT TOUGHER FOR THE VIRUS TO TRANSMIT.

HUMIDITY WAS THE BIGGEST FACTOR AT 9%.

>>> MORTALITY RATES AMONG RESIDENTS AT ASSISTED LIVING WERE UP 17% LAST YEAR.

>>> TODAY IS WORLD WITH BLOOD DOOR DAY, AND THE RED CROSS IS REPORTING WHAT IT DESCRIBES AS A SEVERE NEED FOR BLOOD.

IT IS DUE TO AN INCREASE IN ORGAN TRANSPLANTS AND TRAUMA PATIENTS.

>>> AND AN ECONOMIC NOTE, THE NATION'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR TEENAGERS IS THE HEALTHIEST IT HAS BEEN IN GENERATIONS.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.

IT'S THE LOWEST TEENAGE JOBLESS RATE SINCE THE EARLY 1950S.

>>> THE DELTA VARIANT OF COVID-19 WAS FIRST DETECTED IN INDIA LAST DECEMBER.

WE SPOKE WITH FORMER STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR, WILL HUMBLE, ABOUT WHAT THIS NEW VARIANT MEANS FOR ARIZONA.

>>> WILL HUMBLE, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

LET'S TALK DELTA VARIANT HERE.

WHAT IS THIS?

IS IT ANYMORE SERIOUS?

DOES IT TRANSMIT ANYMORE EASILY?

WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

>> THIS IS THE ANY VARIANT THAT CAME OUT OF INDIA.

WE CHANGED THE WAY WE TALK ABOUT THESE VARIANTS.

SO THE ONE THAT WAS FIRST DISCOVERED IN INDIA IS NOW CALLED THE DELTA VARIANT.

IT IS NO MORE DANGEROUS IN TERMS OF CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF THE ILLNESS, IN OTHER WORDS IT IS NOT MORE LETHAL, BUT IT IS A LOT MORE TRANSMISSIBLE, EVEN MORE SO THAN THE ALPHA VARIANT THAT IS DOMINANT HERE IN ARIZONA.

SO IT IS EVEN MORE TRANSMISSIBLE THAN THAT, AND REMEMBER HOW MUCH WE TALKED ABOUT HOW TRANSMISSIBLE THAT U.K. ALPHA VARIANT WAS.

IS IT A BIG PROBLEM IN ARIZONA?

I DON'T SEE IT AS A HUGE PROBLEM, BECAUSE OUR HIGH AT-RISK PEOPLE ARE STILL IN LARGE PART VACCINATED, BUT WHERE THIS VARIANT IS VERY CARRY, HONESTLY IS IN PLACES LIKE SOUTHERN ASIA, IN AFRICA WHERE THEY REALLY HAVE ALMOST NOT EVEN GOTTEN STARTED VACCINATING.

SO WE WENT THROUGH OUR DECEMBER, JAN SURGE WITH THE ALPHA VARIANT, THE U.K.

VARIANT.

THESE COUNTRIES ARE GOING THROUGH SURGES WITH THIS DELTA VARIANT, AND IT'S A BIG PROBLEM IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD, NOT SO MUCH IN ARIZONA.

>> IF YOU ARE IN ARIZONA, IF YOU HAVE BEEN VACCINATED YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS, CORRECT?

>> NO.

THE DELTA VARIANT IS COVERED BY THE VACCINES, NO MATTER WHAT YOU GOT.

YOU ARE COVERED FOR THE DELTA VARIANT.

THE PROBLEM IS, WE DO STILL HAVE A COUPLE OF MILLION ARIZONANS WHO HAVE DECIDED NOT TO GET VACCINATED, SO FOR THAT COHORT OF PEOPLE IT IS MORE DANGEROUS, IN THE SENSE IT SPREADS MORE EASILY.

AND KIDS UNDER 11 STILL DIDN'T GET THE VACCINE.

WE ALSO KNOW THEY ARE UNLIKELY TO HAVE A BAD OUTCOME, BUT FOR UNVACCINATED PERSONS, YEAH, THAT DELTA VARIANT IS PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE IT SPREADS SO EASILY.

BUT IT'S NOT ANYMORE LETHAL.

>> LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT WHY SO MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT VACCINATED.

IN ARIZONA, OUR VACCINATION RATE IS LAGGING BEHIND THE NATIONAL AVERAGE AND SEEMS TO BE LOSING PACE.

WHAT IS GOING ON?

>> YOU ARE RIGHT.

WE'RE ABOUT 40TH IN THE NATION, IF NOT 41ST, AND WE HAVE BEEN DROP IN THE RANKINGS ALMOST WEEKLY.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE ELECTORAL MAP, AND COMPARE THAT TO THINK U.S., THERE'S A PRETTY CLOSE CORRELATION.

WE HAVE MORE VACCINATIONS IN THOSE STATES THAT PUT THEIR VOTES TOWARDS PRESIDENT BIDEN.

AND THAT REFLECTS, NUMBER 1 -- AND THIS BARES OUT IN SURVEYS THAT DEMOCRATS ARE MORE INCLINED AND MORE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT GETTING VACCINATED THAN REPUBLICANS.

THE OTHER THING IS, I THINK, THAT THOSE STATES ALSO TEND TO HAVE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS WHO REALLY EMBRACE MASS VACCINATION, WHO EMBRACE WORKING WITH FEMA TO GET THOSE VACCINES OUT TO UNDERSERVED AREAS.

SO IT'S A COMBINATION OF PSYCHE OF THE POPULATION, AND THE HELP THE GOVERNMENTS ARE GIVING OUT.

>> THESE DECISIONS, EARLY COVID DECISIONS QUOTE, ARE LETHAL, YOU SAID.

EXPLAIN, PLEASE.

>> YEAH, WE KNEW WHAT WAS COMING IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY.

WE KNEW WHAT WORKED.

FROM WE KNEW IF YOU CLOSED DOWN BARS, RESTAURANTS AND NIGHTCLUBS, YOU COULD HAVE A DRAMATIC EFFECT ON LOWERING THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS.

WE KNEW FROM ALL OF THE SURVEILLANCE DATA, FROM ALL OF THE MODELING, THAT WE WERE IN FOR A HUGE SURGE IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY AND INTO FEBRUARY, AND THE DIRECTOR AND GOVERNOR DECIDED NOT TO IMPLEMENT THOSE MEASURES THAT WORKED SO WELL IN JULY.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT A BIG SHUTDOWN ORDER.

I'M TALKING ABOUT TARGETS ON THOSE CLOSED IN DOOR ENVIRONMENTS WHERE PEOPLE STAY A LONG TIME.

THAT'S WHERE WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE LIVES, AND THEY DECIDED NOT TO DO THAT.

THOSE ARE LETHAL DECISIONS >> AND THE FORMER SURGEON GENERAL SAYS ARIZONA IS DOING QUITE WELL, ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, AND WE CONSIDERS THINGS LIKE A HIGH RETIREMENT POPULATION, THE BORDER WITH MEXICO, LOTS OF SNOW BYRDAKIRD ACTIVITY.

DOES HE HAVE A POINT?

>> IF YOU CONTROL FOR AGENT DEEM LOGICALLY, WE'RE STILL AMONG THE WORST IN THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF DEATH RATES PER CAPITA.

I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR DR. CARMONA, BUT I WHOLEHEARTEDLY DISAGREE WITH THIS ASSESSMENT OF STATE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION.

>> SCHOOL YEAR IS GOING TO BE STARTING UP IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FOR SCHOOLS AND VACCINATIONS?

QUICKLY, IF YOU COULD.

>> GET YOUR KIDS VACCINATED OVER THE SUMMER, SO THEY ARE READY TO GO IN THE FALL.

FOR THOSE KIDS IN THE K THROUGH 5 GROUP, THEY WILL NOT QUALIFY FOR THE VACCINE YET.

THERE ARE TWO NEW STUDIES THAT SHOWED THAT MITIGATION MEASURES WERE FOLLOWED PROPERLY IN SCHOOLS WAS VERY EFFECTIVE IN SLOWING THE SPREAD.

AND FOR PARENTS TO ENKOUR AGE THEIR SCHOOL BOARDS TO KEEP MITIGATION MEASURES IN PLACE FOR K-5 KIDS WHO DON'T YET QUALIFY FOR THE VACCINE.

>> WILL HUMBLE, GOOD INFORMATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> TAKE CARE.

>>> UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," ARE WORK SCHEDULES KEEPING PEOPLE FROM GETTING COVID VACCINATIONS?

>>> COVID VACCINATIONS CAN TAME TIME IN TERMS OF SCHEDULING AND ESPECIALLY WITH POSSIBLE IMMUNE RESPONSES AND SIDE EFFECTS, THAT CAN BE A PROBLEM FOR HOURLY PAID EMPLOYEES AND THOSE WHO CAN'T GET TIME OFF TO GET VACCINATED.

WE LEARNED MORE FROM DR. SWAPNA REDDY, FROM ASU'S COLLEGE OF HEALTH SOLUTIONS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION, THIS STUDY.

48% OF PEOPLE THAT AREN'T VACCINATED, AREN'T VACCINATED BECAUSE OF TIME-OFF WORRIES.

TALK TO US ABOUT THIS.

>> YEAH, WE HAVE INCHED UP IN OUR VACCINATION RATE IN THE U.S., BUT WE HAVE KIND OF SLOWED DOWN QUITE A BIT RECENTLY, RIGHT.

AND IT IS LOOKING REAL TRUDGY TO GET TO THAT 80% GOAL THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS SET.

SO FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE NOT VACCINATED, WHY ARE THEY NOT VACCINATED?

AND WHAT IS REALLY INTERESTING IS ALMOST HALF OF THOSE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED YET ARE DOING -- OR REFRAINING FROM VACCINATION, BECAUSE THEY FEEL -- THEY FEAR THAT THEY WILL NOT HAVE PAID TIME OFF IN CASE THEY GET SICK AFTER THE VACCINE, AND ONE OUT OF SIX FOLKS THAT GET AT LEAST THE PFIZER VACCINE GET A FEVER.

I WAS ONE OF THEM.

SO IT'S A VALID CONCERN TO BE CONCERNED, IF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE SIDE EFFECTS AFTER THE VACCINE, AND ABOUT 50% OF THOSE THAT ARE UNVACCINATED ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE SIDE EFFECTS AND IF THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE PAID TIME OFF.

>> YEAH, AND 25% OF AMERICANS SIMPLY DON'T HAVE SICK LEAVE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

25% OF AMERICANS THAT ARE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR DO NOT HAVE PAID SICK LEAVE.

THE UNITED STATES IS THE ONLY DEVELOPED NATION IN THE WORLD THAT DOES NOT HAVE A FEDERAL PAID SICK LEAVE POLICY.

SO IT IS UP TO THE STATE AND VERIYS GREATLY BY STATE.

ONE THING -- FIRST OF ALL, A LOT OF WORKERS ARE NOT NECESSARILY AWARE OF ALL OF THE POLICIES AND LEGISLATION, SO THAT PERSPECTIVE SHUN IS REALLY IMPORTANT HERE, AND ANOTHER PIECE THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IS, LOOK, DURING COVID, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, A REALLY IMPORTANT PIECE OF IT RIGHT NOW IS THAT COMPANIES AND EMPLOYERS GET TAX CREDITS -- CAN GET TAX CREDITS FOR GIVING THEIR EMPLOYEES TIME OFF TO GO GET THE VACCINE AND ALSO TIME OFF FOR SIDE EFFECTS.

THEY CAN USE TO DO THAT.

BUT EMPLOYERS DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

AND IT ONLY APPLIES TO SMALL AND MID-SIZED EMPLOYERS.

AND ABOUT 50% OF THOSE WHO WORK IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WORK FOR THOSE REALLY LARGE EMPLOYERS.

SO IT IS A CONFUSING KIND OF WHAT IS AVAILABLE, WHAT IS NOT AVAILABLE, BUT WHAT WE SEE IS THAT IT HAS REALLY SERVED AS A BARRIER IN PERCEPTION AND ACCESS FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED.

>> AND HOW DO WE BETTER IMPROVE THOSE NUMBERS AND THAT ACCESS?

>> YEAH, WE WANT TO BE REALLY CAREFUL THAT WE DON'T FALL ON FALSE NARRATIVE.

THERE IS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT -- OKAY, WHO IS LEFT THAT HASN'T RECEIVED THE VACCINE YET, AND WHAT WE DO KNOW IS A BIG PORTION OF WHO IS LEFT ARE DEFINITELY -- YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT AT VACCINATION RATES WITH THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE AT.

SO -- AND ALSO WE'RE NOT AT VACCINATION RATES WITH THOSE THAT DO NOT HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE AT.

WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO FIGURE OUT IS WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS, AND INSTEAD OF FALLING BACK ON THIS NARRATIVE THAT IT IS ALL ABOUT VACCINE HESITANCY, IT SEEMS TO BE A LOT ABOUT ACCESS.

IT'S LESS ABOUT DO THEY WANT TO GET THE VACCINE, AND MORE ABOUT DO THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN GET THE VACCINE, SO THINKING ABOUT INFORMING INDIVIDUALS ABOUT WHAT THEIR OPPORTUNITIES ARE.

WHAT PAID SICK LEAVE LOOKS LIKE, ESPECIALLY UNDER THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, AND ALSO INCENTIVIZING AND INFORMING EMPLOYERS ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GET THEIR EMPLOYEES VACCINATED TO GET OUR ECONOMY BACK IN SHAPE.

>> AND BEFORE YOU GO, YOU MENTIONED INSTEAD OF -- FOR EMPLOYERS TO GET THIS DONE, WHAT ABOUT JUST INSENTTIVES IN GENERAL TO GET FOLKS VACCINATED?

IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS A HOT TOPIC RIGHT NOW, TRUE?

>> HOT TOPIC.

SO WHAT WE'RE HEARING ABOUT EVERY DAY IS A NEW INCENTIVE TO GET A VACCINE.

WE HAVE PRIVATE BUSINESSES THAT ARE GIVING OUT STUFF, AND THEN WE HAVE STATE GOVERNMENTS GIVING OUT STUFF, SO LOTTO TICKETS, RIGHT?

CARS, BONDS, MARIJUANA IN SOME CASES, ALL KINDS OF INCENTIVE.

AND A LOT OF THAT IS GETTING A LOT OF PRESS AND EXCITEMENT, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO FIGURE OUT, ARE THESE INCENTIVES WORKING?

AND SOME SEEM TO BE WORKING FOR A LITTLE BIT.

SO IN OHIO WHEN THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE GOVERNOR CAME OUT ABOUT POSSIBLY WINNING LOTTO, OR FREE COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR GETTING THE VACCINE, WE SAW AN UPTICK IN VACCINE IN THAT STATE BY 33%, BUT FOR THE MOST PART WE'RE NOT SEEING A HUGE UPTICK IN BEHAVIOR CHANGE.

IT SEEMS LIKE THOSE THAT IDENTIFY AS DEMOCRAT SEEM TO BE MORE READY TO GET A VACCINE, BUT THE INCENTIVES DON'T SEEM TO INCREASE THE RATES IN THOSE FOLKS WHO JUST DON'T WANT TO GET IT.

SO NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOLKS WHO EITHER HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO IT, OR ARE RIGHT ON THE FENCE ABOUT IT.

>> ALL RIGHT DR. SWAPNA REDDY, FROM ASU'S COLLEGE OF HEALTH SOLUTIONS ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> ARIZONA IS CURRENTLY IN STATE OF EXTREME DROUGHT WITH NO SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN SITE, AND WITH THAT LACK OF WATER, IT IS INCREASINGLY IMPACTING WILDLIFE.

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT ISSUE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING OUT THERE?

>> IT'S -- IT'S PRETTY CRISPY, AND PRETTY DEPRESSING.

ABOUT 95% OF ARIZONA RIGHT NOW IS IN SEVERE EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT.

SO OUR WILDLIFE ARE USED TO THESE KIND OF DRY PERIODS, BUT WE'RE IN A PRETTY EXCEPTIONAL PERIOD RIGHT NOW.

>> WHICH ARE MOST EFFECTED?

>> THERE ARE NEW WILDLIFE SPECIES THAT ARE NOT EFFECTED BY THIS LEVEL OF DROUGHT.

WHEN YOU THINK RAIN IN THE DESERT IN AN ENVIRONMENT LIKE THIS.

THE GREEN VEGETATION SUPPORTS THE PLANT EATERS, THE PLANT EATERS SUPPORT THE PREDATORS, SO WHEN YOU DON'T GET THAT BASIC INPUT OF WATER AND SOIL MOISTURE TO GROW THOSE PLANTS, IT REVERBERATES UP THROUGH THE FOOD WEB.

>> WHAT HAPPENS TO THESE ANIMALS?

DO THEY DIE OFF?

OR CHANGE MIGRATORY PATTERNS.

>> BOTH OF THOSE.

IN SOME CASES THEY DIE OFF.

ESPECIALLY THE SMALLER ANIMALS THAT DEPEND SO MUCH ON THAT FIRST NUTRITIONAL LAYER.

THE LARGER ANIMALS LIKE DEER, THEY CERTAINLY ARE EFFECTED BY LOWER NUTRITION, LOWER FAT RESERVES, AND FAT RESERVES ARE IMPORTANT FOR WILDLIFE TO GET THEM THROUGH PERIODS LIKE THIS.

AND IF THEIR WATER HOLE DRIES UP, THEY HAVE GOT TO SEARCH FOR ANOTHER WATER HOLE OR OTHER FOOD SOURCES, AND THAT PUTS THEM AT GREATEST RISK.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, GOING INTO AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT IS SIMPLY NOT A GOOD THING FOR WILDLIFE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SPECIES THAT USE SOME OF THE URBAN AREAS, EVEN SOME OF THE COYOTES COMING IN, SO SOME OF THE ANIMALS ARE APT DAED TO AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT, BUT WITH A DROUGHT LIKE THIS, YOU SEE MUCH MORE CONCENTRATION BECAUSE THEY HAVE GOT SOME SHELTER, AND SHADE FROM THE HEAT, IRRIGATED WATER, GARDENS AND DOG FOOD, SO WHAT IS NOT TO LIKE ABOUT BEING IN THE CITY.

>> WHAT CAN BE DONE TO KEEP THEM IN THE WILD AND PROTECTED?

>> YEAH, WE ALL ENJOY WILDLIFE IN THE CITY AND URBAN AREA, BUT IT'S NOT GOOD TO PROVIDE SOME KIND OF AN ATTRACTANT.

SO ENJOY THEM AT A DISTANCE, BUT DON'T PROVIDE INCENTIVE.

WILDLIFE ARE REALLY, REALLY GOOD AT REMEMBERING WHERE THEY GOT A REWARD.

SO IF THEY GOT WATER OR FOOD SOMEWHERE, AND THEY WERE HANG OUT AND NOBODY BOTHERED THEM, THEY REMEMBER THAT, AND THEY WILL COME BACK TO THAT.

SO THESE DROUGHT PERIODS ARE A REALLY IMPORTANT TIME TO GOT TEACH THEM SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> ARE THERE AREAS THAT ARE BEING HIT ESPECIALLY HARD?

>> UNFORTUNATELY THERE ISN'T ANY AREAS THAT ARE LOOKING BETTER.

THE SOUTHWESTERN PART OF THE STATE IS PROBABLY BETTER THAN ANY OTHER PARTS OF ARIZONA.

BUT 95% IS UNDER EXTREME DROUGHT, SO IT REALLY IS EFFECTING EVERYBODY.

>> I KNOW THERE ARE MAN MADE WATERING SITES.

HOW REMOTE ARE THESE THINGS, AND GAME AND FISH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HAULING WATER AROUND TO HELP AS WELL.

TALK ABOUT THIS.

>> YEAH, WE HAVE DEVELOPED ABOUT 3,000 OF THESE ARTIFICIAL CATCHMENTS OR WATER SOURCES OUT THERE FOR WILDLIFE, AND THEY ARE REALLY REMOTE, BECAUSE THAT IS THE IDEA TO GET WATER OUT TO PLACES WHERE THEY MAYBE USED TO HAVE WATER, SO WE GET SOME WATER OUT THERE.

AND THESE ARE CATCHMENTS ARE ARTIFICIAL DEVICES THAT HAVE A BIG FLAT SPACE LIKE A DRIVEWAY, AND IT RUNS INTO A TANK WHERE IT IS STORED AND THEN IT COMES OUT INTO A WATER DRINKER, SO WE CAN HOLD AND PROVIDE WATER THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

1950S AND 60S, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE KIND OF ENGINEERING AND FORTHOUGHT TO BUILD THEM BIG ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND BROUGHTS LIKE THIS, SO WE END UP HAULING WATER AND REFILLING THEM IN PERIODS OF DROUGHTS LIKE THIS.

WE HAVE FOUR TRUCKS THAT ARE DESIGNED FOR HAULING WATER, AND THOSE TRUCKS HAVE BEEN GOING NON-STOP OUT THERE, TO TRY TO KEEP THOSE WATER SOURCES RUNNING.

IN ADDITION, WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS FROM SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN ORGANIZATIONS ARE USING THEIR OWN TRUCKS, GRABBING A WATER TRAILER TO HELP HAUL WATER.

SO IT'S REALLY AN ALL-OUT EFFORT.

WE HALLED 2.4 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER LAST YEAR.

WE LEARNED HOW TO DESIGN THEM, AND HOW BIG THEY NEED TO BE TO REALLY BE SELF-SUFFICIENT AND NOT REQUIRE THAT KIND OF MAINTENANCE.

>> IF SOMEONE WANTS TO HELP, WHERE DO THEY GO?

>> YEAH, WE HAVE SOMETHING SET UP THAT WILL HELP PEOPLE.

AND THAT IS SENDWATER.ORG, OR YOU CAN TEXT THE WORD SENDWATER, ALL ONE WORD, TO 41444, SO EVERYBODY CAN PITCH IN.

>> GOOD INFORMATION.

THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU.

GLAD TO BE HERE.

>>> THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, AN ARIZONA UTILITY REACTS TO THE EXTREME HEAT.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, SHOULD REAL LIFE ISSUES BE INCORPORATED INTO FICTIONAL TV?

♪♪