Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Interview with Joe Allbaugh

Aired June 12, 2002 - 10:20   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Have other breaking news we need to get to in Colorado, and that is where the governor is warning people around the state to be on guard, and be ready for any shift in the volatile situation involving these wildfires.

The message echoed by Joe Allbaugh, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He is on the scene in Colorado and we have a chance to talk to him by phone right now with an update on the massive evacuations that still might need to take place in Colorado -- Mr. Allbaugh, good morning. Thanks for joining us.

JOE ALLBAUGH, DIRECTOR, FEMA: Good morning. How are you?

KAGAN: I'm doing fine. What about these Coloradans who are standing by, trying to find out if they need to flee their homes?

ALLBAUGH: Well, they're doing exactly what they need to do. And I wouldn't couch it as fleeing their homes. It would be an orderly evacuation, should the local officials deem that necessary. The most important thing is for Coloradans to pay attention to local authorities and if they say evacuate, then you need to evacuate.

KAGAN: While you have been out there, have you add a chance to survey the scene? Some people calling this is the worst fire they have ever seen, and even say it's worse than Yellowstone in 1988.

ALLBAUGH: Well, it is absolutely the worst fire I have ever seen in my life. Governor Owens and I toured two fires yesterday, one at -- a coal seam fire outside of Glenwood Springs, which seemed to be somewhat contained, and flaring up sporadically. And then the other one, the Hayman fire, down outside of Lake George, we were there yesterday afternoon while the winds were whipping up. A very serious situation.

Rick Cable (ph), who is the regional forester, says this is one of the worst that he's seen, and they're making sure that they're not putting unnecessarily lives in harm's way. They are trying to attack this fire by the air with slurry bombers and choppers, but the smoke is billowing up to 15, 20, 25,000 feet, and that is causing a problem in and of itself.

KAGAN: Mr. Allbaugh, just while I have you on the phone here, the big news over the last week out of Washington is the reorganization of the federal government, the creation of this new cabinet position for Homeland Security. Your name is floated out there as one of the possible people who could take this position. Would you be interested?

ALLBAUGH: Right now, I am focused on helping Coloradans tackle this number one fire in the nation, and I don't know how to respond to that, but I've got a job, and I'm doing it right now.

KAGAN: Well, sounds like it's a big job indeed, and we will let you go, because we know that you are trying to get from one place to another, and perhaps we can talk about at a different time.

ALLBAUGH: You bet. I'd love to do it. Thanks for your time.

KAGAN: Great. Joe Allbaugh, director of FEMA. Once again, the situation in Colorado. Much more on that situation in Colorado, still ahead in our newscast.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com