Coming up next on NewsDepth ... A Nor'easter hits the East Coast with rain, high waves and strong winds.

Do you have any idea how old the Appalachian Mountains are?

Friends of the Crooked River have worked hard to conserve a great waterway.

A Michigan coffee shop is hiring adults with disabilities.

NewsDepth is now.

We're now in El Niño territory, and the weather phenomenon might become the strongest we've ever seen.

Hello, I'm Gabriel Kramer.

Thank you for joining us.

El Niño is a weather pattern defined by the conditions of the Pacific Ocean.

The opposite of El Niño is La Niña.

They are both Spanish words El Niño, meaning the boy, and La Niña, meaning the girl.

These phrases are also used to describe weather patterns in the United States.

El Niño means that the surface water in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean becomes warmer than normal.

During El Niño winter, The northern states often have milder winters, and the southern US can be cooler and wetter.

And for La Niña, when the Pacific Ocean becomes cooler than normal, the northern states often have colder and snowier winters, and the southern US tends to be warmer and drier.

Both events typically last nine months to two years, and usually occur every 2 to 7 years as part of a repeating climate cycle.

So far, we've seen much more hurricane activity in the Pacific Ocean and much less in the Atlantic.

The El Niño won't hit its peak strength until the winter, but parts of the country are already seeing signs of a Super El Niño season.

A Super El Niño is when the temperature rises 3.6 degrees above average over a three month period.

Last week, a rare early season Nor'easter slammed the northeast with flooding, high winds and power outages, and now communities across the northeast are recovering from a massive storm system that hit over the weekend.

Officials are urging residents to be careful even as a storm tapers down.

Reid Binion reports.

To be clear, we're not out of the woods just yet.

New Jersey governor Mikie Sherrill on Sunday warning residents not to let their guard down as a massive early season Nor'easter storm finally began to weaken.

I ask that you stay vigilant and continue to watch for updates so you're prepared if conditions change.

The storm battered communities across the northeast over the weekend with torrential rain, damaging high winds, massive waves and coastal flooding.

In Atlantic City, New Jersey, water levels hit the highest point since Superstorm Sandy in 2012, prompting evacuations and rescues along the Jersey Shore.

Even as the storm weakens, crews are working to restore electrical service, with tens of thousands of customers across the northeast still without power on Sunday.

The rare timing of this Nor'easter in early fall made power outage challenges a different beast for officials.

Unique nature of this storm is is the strength of the wind and the duration and the fact that the leaves are still green on the trees.

Nor'easter storms usually happen in winter.

Typically a Nor'easter, we have frozen ground, the leaves are gone off the trees and it's not as significant.

Thanks for the report, Reid.

You would think that a weather report like that would deter most people from spending too much time outside.

Not these guys.

In Delaware, despite strong winds and coastal flooding, some surfers and sightseers embraced the rough conditions.

Reporter Nicole Richter talks to surfers embracing all parts of Mother Nature.

For Beau Severn, he says coming out to the inlet and conditions like these is part of the experience.

It's a glorious day to battle Mother Nature.

He says when the waves get this big, you have to respect the water.

You definitely get butterflies in this moment, especially when it's this big.

Like I said, you get cool, calm, collected.

We're coming out here to have fun.

And that's what you got to remember and remember to look out for each other.

That's the biggest thing.

And definitely know your limits.

With waves crashing harder.

The wind picking up.

Not only are the waves dangerous, but water is making its way into low lying areas along the Delaware coast.

You can see standing water as conditions change along the shoreline.

And for people out here today, they're seeing just how quickly conditions can change.

It could be very dangerous that water comes in very, very fast.

As you can see, a buoy came in, they said it was down that way and then came all the way down here.

But it can be very, very dangerous.

And you don't see any boats running either.

Even with the rough conditions, some surfers are still getting in the water.

Surfing, it's not that bad.

I think, you know, with experience and like, you're fine as long as you're careful, as long as you stay with your buddies and you're just aware of what's going on.

Thank you, Nicole.

Hurricanes can also have long lasting impacts.

Flooding can destroy homes and roads.

Storms can also trigger erosion and landslides, damaging ecosystems.

Let's take a look at how a hurricane from two years ago changed the landscape of a mountain range.

Hurricane Helene was a major hurricane that struck the southeastern United States in September 2024.

Flooding and erosion particularly damaged the Appalachian Mountain region.

But new LiDAR technology is helping scientists map landslides caused by Hurricane Helene, revealing how debris traveled through mountain valleys.

LiDAR stands for Light Detection And Ranging.

It's a high tech 3D scanner that uses laser pulses to create detailed maps of the Earth's surface.

This new data collected in North Carolina, can help with future hazard planning and developing decisions in vulnerable areas.

Meghan Danahy has more.

The most significant tool after the event is what we call LiDAR change.

LiDAR is a technology that can see the bare ground surface through the trees and forest canopy.

And we actually have new LiDAR from after the storm.

It's really a sort of a never before seen application of the technology within this region.

We quite literally have a snapshot of how Helene changed the mountains.

And it's incredibly powerful to to aid decision making.

Doctor Prince walked me through a LiDAR change map for the valley we were standing in in the Swannanoa Mountains of Buncombe County.

There were a dozen or more landslides just in this one very small area.

See several of these big red scars in the landscape.

And those are actually landslide scars from Helene.

When these slides occurred, they very suddenly released a huge amount of soil, rock and all the big tall trees growing on it.

And all of that material very quickly flowed down the stream channel that we're we're standing in here.

Purple areas show mapping that has been done over the years to try to understand how the land might behave in extreme storm events.

Actual slides and red scars from Helene match up nicely so that knowledge can truly help people avoid bad outcomes in the future.

We don't know which one of these individual hazard locations will produce a slide in an extreme storm, but we have to assume that they all can.

What we specifically learned with Helene is that these slides that don't even look particularly big on a map can have a tremendously long reach.

They can travel a huge distance downstreams.

This technology can also show us where we might need to remove a large amount of debris that may have piled up on a mountainside or in a stream bed.

Piling a huge amount of debris, particularly the woody debris, can redirect stream flow.

It could redirect a future flood.

It might redirect a future debris flow in an unfavorable direction.

Does that mean you should totally avoid living in parts of these mountains?

Absolutely not.

You just have to know the risks and carefully select where you call home.

We're really trying to take this experience and turn it into an opportunity to help everybody understand what can happen and how they can avoid it.

Thank you, Meghan.

It's amazing to see changes to the Appalachian Mountains in real time.

Considering how old the Appalachians are, they must have gone through some big transformations.

How old are the Appalachian Mountains, you ask?

Let's just say they're a lot older than this continent.

Jeff St.

Clair takes us more than 400 million years in the past for this week's Spot on Science.

The Appalachian Mountains are so old.

How old are they?

They're older than dinosaurs.

Older than trees.

Even older than life on land.

The Appalachian Mountains are 480 million years old.

So old, they've worn down to less than half the original height.

They were once as tall as the world's highest peaks, the Himalayas.

But over millions of years have eroded or worn down to the rolling mountains we see today.

Let's get into it.

The name Appalachian comes from the Apalachee Indian tribe of Florida.

Early Spanish explorers mistakenly used their name for North America's eastern mountain range.

The Appalachians, also pronounced Appalachians, go by other names, too.

You might have heard of the Allegheny Mountains, the Cumberland Mountains, the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Smoky Mountains, the Piedmonts, and others.

They are all part of the Appalachians.

The mountain range formed when huge continental masses smashed together, pushing layers of rock thousands of feet into the air.

The Earth looked much different at that time.

Remember, we're talking hundreds of millions of years ago.

All the land in the world was smushed together in one supercontinent called Pangea.

But when Pangaea began to slowly separate and the Atlantic Ocean began to form between Africa and America, the Appalachian mountain range was split in half by the drift.

Parts of it are still hanging around across the ocean in Scotland, Ireland and Norway.

How do we know that?

Well, geologists started looking at rocks there and found they're the same as ones we have right here in the US.

The Appalachians are also home to one of the world's oldest rivers, which, strangely enough, is called the New River.

Some of you have probably walked or driven by it without knowing its history.

The river was flowing even as the mountains were growing, and over time carved a channel known as the New River Gorge in West Virginia.

One of my favorite places for hiking and whitewater rafting.

Are you hearing the call of the wild?

It could be the AT calling.

The Appalachian Trail is famous for its continuous stretch of more than 2000 miles from Georgia up to Maine.

With plenty of trailheads, you can take a short hike for a day or backpack for months.

But if you're really adventurous, you can hike the International Appalachian Trail through the highlands of Scotland.

So how old are the Appalachian Mountains?

Pretty old, I'd say.

But believe me, there are still plenty of new things to discover if you ever get a chance to explore.

The Appalachian Trail continues in Scotland?

That is amazing.

Thank you, Jeff.

From the Appalachian Mountains, Let's take a stop in one of my favorite parts of northeast Ohio - the Cuyahoga River.

Inspired by seeing clean waterways elsewhere, longtime environmental advocate Elaine Marsh dedicated decades to restoring the Cuyahoga River.

Elaine has helped lead conservation efforts, dam removals, and public engagement initiatives that transformed the once-polluted river into a healthier resource with a group called Friends of the Crooked River.

But if you ask her, their work is still not done.

They still continue to educate the community about the importance of a healthy river.

Let's join her on a kayak ride along the Cuyahoga River in this week's Sketchbook.

We are in the upper watershed of the Cuyahoga River, upstream of Eldon Russell Park.

And just look at this glorious place.

It's hard to believe we're less than 30 miles from the city of Cleveland, and that even we're in Northeast Ohio.

Perfect environment for a biodiverse bird and animal and fish population.

I grew up in various places in and around Cleveland, Ohio, and as a kid I was very interested in all things outdoors.

And how I got to water was that it was a place that was avoided because it was too dirty.

There were many fires on the Cuyahoga River.

We didn't know how unusual it was until the entire world started reacting, saying, you know, when rivers are burning, people are in trouble.

In the late 1980s, a small group of us got together and sat around our kitchen table, and the people there were interested in recreation.

They were interested in the chemistry of the river.

They were interested in health.

They were interested in education.

They were interested in art.

So that's how we came to be Friends of the crooked River.

A lot of our role has been support of projects and policies.

We had been involved with dam removal since 1996, when the Ohio EPA did a study of a 20 mile section of river.

And what they found from that study is that the reason aquatic life, the fish standards weren't attaining in that section was not because of discharges, but because of barriers in the river, specifically dams.

So we remove the Kent Dam.

Once that dam was removed and people saw the benefits, those benefits were that they could still fish the river, but they could also paddle the river.

All these places where dams were these communities rediscovered the value of their waterfront.

It wasn't easy, but we found a way to go through.

And now we have a resource we can be proud of.

And it is a place that is no longer shunned.

The river is a place that people go for solace, for recreation, for enjoyment.

Northeast Ohio claims the Cuyahoga River as one of its best quality of life places.

Special thanks to arts producer Jean Marie Papoi for sharing that story with us.

And that brings us to our poll for the week.

What's your favorite outdoor activity?

Run, swim or hike up to our poll page to vote.

You can choose between hiking, kayaking, fishing, mountain biking, or simply having a picnic.

Do you like to recycle?

Recycling can be done at home, at school, in a public places like the park.

I think recycling is very important.

I recycle cans, bottles and even cardboard.

This week's A+ Award is going to a very special group of students who just like me, make sure to recycle.

The Eco Elite 8 Planet Protectors recycling program at Copopa Elementary School in Columbia Station.

The Eco Elite 8 Planet Protectors independently recognized a problem within their school.

An overwhelming amount of recyclable materials were being discarded in regular trash.

Rather than simply noticing this issue and moving on, they decided to take action.

They approached their principal with a well-thought-out idea to improve the building's recycling efforts.

"I saw lots of extra paper in the garbage can every day.

I thought we could help the environment by doing more than just throwing it away", said Breanna, one of the founding members.

Their commitment extended far beyond their initial idea.

The group invested a significant amount of time researching recycling practices to ensure their efforts were both effective and educational.

Then they shared what they learned with the kindergarten and first grade students helping to build awareness in their school.

The Eco Elite 8 Planet Protectors also developed a consistent and organized system to sustain their program.

Each day, immediately following their school's morning announcements, they follow a schedule to collect paper and plastic bags from every classroom in the building.

Another founding member, Cora considers this project a win-win, "I get the privilege of helping the environment, but also get to have an amazing time with friends while I do it."

Peyton, a third grader, says a single person can do harm or help the planet.

"By doing something little.

I can make a big difference.

I do my best to recycle the right way."

Their principal, Carla Ashworth says, "Beyond their impressive planning and execution, these students embody kindness, intelligence and teamwork.

It has truly been a joy to work with them and support their efforts.

These girls have a bright future ahead of them!"

Congratulations to the Eco Elite 8 Planet Protectors for winning this week's A+ Award!

Keep up all of your hard work, dedication to the cause, and growing leadership skills.

You all know NewsHound.

He loves milk, his toys and barking, but most of all he loves making new dog friends.

Newshound is live at the dog park, showing us all of his tips and tricks to making new dog friends.

Hey there, NewsHound!

You're reporting live from Rocky River Dog Park today.

So tell us, when you're trying to make new friends, what's your approach?

Do you introduce yourself first?

Nope.

You just start wrestling with a dog as soon as you see them.

That might work for you, but I don't think that strategy would work for humans.

Well, I hate to interrupt your playtime, but do you have a story for us today?

Wow!

You and our intern, Olivia, produced a story about a new species of cat?

The cat has leopard like spots and colors, but a distinct face and body size.

This new cat species, named the Leopardus Tilcayo, has a small, scrunched up face, small and round ears with long whiskers.

To learn more about what scientists have learned from this kitten, check out the full story on our website and YouTube channel.

I was told by NewsHound's mom that he had to take a bath after going to the dog park, because he was covered in so much slobber.

Thanks, NewsHound and Olivia.

Let's get back to the news.

Recent natural disasters, including wildfires and flooding, have caused fewer and fewer people to visit the Grand Canyon, and local businesses in Arizona are feeling the dip, too.

Reporter Mason Carroll highlights how extreme weather events can have lasting economic impacts long after the immediate danger has passed.

The Grand Canyon is one of the Seven Wonders of the world and brings in millions of tourists every year.

It was breathtaking.

You'll just... It's something you can't ... unexplainable.

Flora Dewey is one of those tourists visiting from Reno.

But the Grand Canyon has taken a hit in visitation numbers last year, and likely this year.

In 2024, 4.9 million people visited the canyon almost at pre-pandemic numbers.

But the park recorded 4.4 million in 2025.

Experts point to the Dragon Bravo fire scaring people away, and this year, the flooding did the same.

It literally stopped everybody.

We had cancellations.

Restaurants had nobody coming in.

Stoney Ward is the general manager at Buckwild Hummer Tours.

He says last year hit them hard.

They were expecting this year to be better, but ... This has been our slowest year ever since, since we were open.

He says people are being scared away, either by misinformation around the flooding or water restrictions, so they're going to have to make some hard decisions soon.

We're all figuring out like how to survive laying people off, possibly.

It was devastating.

It was truly devastating.

There is good news, as park officials say they could begin pumping water from the Bright Angel Creek intake to a new water treatment plant by November 16th, so water can reach the people who live here and the hotels by Thanksgiving.

Now, that's months away.

But Dewey says the water restrictions didn't impact her trip at all.

Packed our own water.

Stop the stores.

Made sure we had enough.

Ward adds, the canyon is always grand and businesses could really use your support.

Thank you for the report, Mason.

On our last episode, we learned about inflation and how it can make everyday items more expensive.

For our poll, we wanted to know if you've noticed prices going up this year.

59% of you said you think everything is more expensive.

27% said you noticed the price hike, but just on some things.

9% of you said you weren't sure.

And another 5% said you haven't noticed a difference.

On our last episode, we also asked you to create your own company.

Let's check out your business plans by opening up our inbox.

A fifth grader from Kensington Intermediate School in Rocky River wants to open a gourmet restaurant.

"I would like to make a mac and cheese company.

I would make all the types of mac and cheese and sell it."

Now, this fifth grader from Wadsworth Intermediate School in Wadsworth was inspired by their dog to hit the road.

"I would have my own car company.

It would be called Border Carllie.

It's like collie and car mixed together.

I will make trucks and sometimes semis.

Another feature is that it will also have an area for costume wrapping and paint jobs."

A sixth grader from Ayer Elementary in Cincinnati will love to make a career out of being active.

"If I had to make my own business, it would be called Suder Sports because I love to play and watch sports.

Suder sports would sell sports equipment and you would be able to watch lots of sports there."

A fourth grader from Ft.

Meigs Elementary in Perrysburg already started their small business.

"I started a business with my friends making bracelets.

We're seeing them for $2 and we're going to some fairs, and our business is called Starlight Studios.

And a fourth grader from Muraski Elementary School in Strongsville has an eye for architecture and interior design.

"I would sell paintings and build important buildings all at the same time.

And my besties could help with my business."

If I could start a business, I would make Filipino style clothing.

Kind of like this one that my friends made.

Thank you all for writing.

Supporting a small business directly contributes to the local people and the communities nearby.

Everybody Coffee in Michigan shows just how it's all connected.

By creating meaningful jobs for people with disabilities, promoting inclusion, residents see their daily coffee order as an investment in their community.

Jolie Sherman talks to the owner and the baristas at this coffee shop.

The heart of our business is the inclusion of everybody.

Jenny Brown is the owner and CEO of Everybody Coffee, located on Lawrence Street in downtown Pontiac.

You're a pro!

A place she opened with her older sister, who she calls her role model.

My sister, Becca, is the best, kindest, hardworking, funny person I've ever known.

In 2010, their family started Dutton Farm, a nonprofit that provides skill building and supportive employment to individuals with disabilities.

The nonprofit provides the kind of pipeline for training, job readiness support, job coaching for individuals to be successful in the workplace.

And then the social enterprise, Everybody Coffee is just one of the businesses that provides employment opportunities for people.

And Becca will tell you, being a barista is much more than a job.

Yeah, I have my dream is to work a coffee job, yeah.

My favorite job is the register.

Thank you!

Push that.

Push this button?

Okay.

I like the sound it makes.

You know, you're in a coffee shop when you hear this sound.

I tell myself every customer that comes and every dollar that gets spent is like a vote for the type of world we want to see in the future.

Thanks, Jolie.

For our Career Callouts this season, we'll focus specifically on entrepreneurs across Ohio.

An entrepreneur is a person who starts and operates a business.

On our next episode, we'll visit a coffee shop in Cleveland to learn what it takes to run a small business.

But we need your help coming up with interview questions.

So tell us, what do you want to know about owning a coffee shop?

Students can use our inbox form online to send in their questions.

That's all the time we have for today's episode of NewsDepth, but we'd love to keep the conversation going because we always like to hear from you, and there are plenty of ways for you to stay in touch with us.

You can write to us.

We're at 1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio.

Our zip code here is 44115.

You can email us at newsdepth@ideastream.org Plus you can catch all of our special segments on YouTube.

Hit subscribe if you're old enough so you don't miss out on any of our new videos.

Thank you for joining us.

I'm Gabriel Kramer.

See you next week.