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CNN Live Today

Interview with Brandon Lofton

Aired September 25, 2002 - 10:42   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: Now back to tropical storm Isidore. Its heavy rains and rising waters of high tide have already started lashing Louisiana's Grand Isle. That is a barrier home to some 1,500 people.
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered. That happened yesterday. Joining us to discuss that, Officer Brandon Lofton. He is with the Grand Isle Police Department -- officer, good morning.

BRANDON LOFTON, GRAND ISLE POLICE DEPARTMENT: Good morning.

KAGAN: First of all, let us know what conditions look like in your part of the world right now.

LOFTON: Right now, it is pretty calm. The sky is a little dark. There is no raining, and the wind is about 17 miles an hour right now. As of now, it is pretty clear.

KAGAN: But much bigger elements are on the way?

LOFTON: Yes, ma'am. We just saw -- waiting to see what is going to happen.

KAGAN: Well, you are waiting, but everyone else has been pretty much been told to get off the island, right?

LOFTON: Right. There was a mandatory evacuation yesterday around 1:00, and there is still people leaving today.

KAGAN: But people pretty much seem to be cooperating?

LOFTON: Yes ma'am.

KAGAN: And folks like you, though, are going to stay behind.

LOFTON: Yes. There is us, there is the fire department, and town officials that are going to stay for the duration, until the end.

KAGAN: And once you choose to stay, that's probably pretty much it, because as I understand it, there is only one road out.

LOFTON: Yes, ma'am. LA Highway 1. One way in, and one way out.

KAGAN: And that is probably going to get flooded.

LOFTON: Maybe. We have to wait and see when the tide comes up and the storm hits land -- we'll have to see what is going to happen. KAGAN: What is going to be your role?

LOFTON: I will be here until the end, helping people as much as we can, and just staying close to the phone and the news to make sure everything goes well.

KAGAN: Officer, have you ever ridden out one of these storms before?

LOFTON: I have ridden out a few of them.

KAGAN: And what is your biggest concern going into this one?

LOFTON: The high water.

KAGAN: And what is the biggest thing people can do as a precaution for that?

LOFTON: Just -- if they can get out, and if they haven't already gone, just go ahead and go, and get safe. And tie all their things down, board up their houses, and hope for the best.

KAGAN: All right. Well, we will be doing just that for you. That's Officer Brandon Lofton with the Grand Isle Police Department. Good luck, sir.

LOFTON: Thank you, ma'am.

KAGAN: We'll be checking back with you.

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







Aired September 25, 2002 - 10:42   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Now back to tropical storm Isidore. Its heavy rains and rising waters of high tide have already started lashing Louisiana's Grand Isle. That is a barrier home to some 1,500 people.
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered. That happened yesterday. Joining us to discuss that, Officer Brandon Lofton. He is with the Grand Isle Police Department -- officer, good morning.

BRANDON LOFTON, GRAND ISLE POLICE DEPARTMENT: Good morning.

KAGAN: First of all, let us know what conditions look like in your part of the world right now.

LOFTON: Right now, it is pretty calm. The sky is a little dark. There is no raining, and the wind is about 17 miles an hour right now. As of now, it is pretty clear.

KAGAN: But much bigger elements are on the way?

LOFTON: Yes, ma'am. We just saw -- waiting to see what is going to happen.

KAGAN: Well, you are waiting, but everyone else has been pretty much been told to get off the island, right?

LOFTON: Right. There was a mandatory evacuation yesterday around 1:00, and there is still people leaving today.

KAGAN: But people pretty much seem to be cooperating?

LOFTON: Yes ma'am.

KAGAN: And folks like you, though, are going to stay behind.

LOFTON: Yes. There is us, there is the fire department, and town officials that are going to stay for the duration, until the end.

KAGAN: And once you choose to stay, that's probably pretty much it, because as I understand it, there is only one road out.

LOFTON: Yes, ma'am. LA Highway 1. One way in, and one way out.

KAGAN: And that is probably going to get flooded.

LOFTON: Maybe. We have to wait and see when the tide comes up and the storm hits land -- we'll have to see what is going to happen. KAGAN: What is going to be your role?

LOFTON: I will be here until the end, helping people as much as we can, and just staying close to the phone and the news to make sure everything goes well.

KAGAN: Officer, have you ever ridden out one of these storms before?

LOFTON: I have ridden out a few of them.

KAGAN: And what is your biggest concern going into this one?

LOFTON: The high water.

KAGAN: And what is the biggest thing people can do as a precaution for that?

LOFTON: Just -- if they can get out, and if they haven't already gone, just go ahead and go, and get safe. And tie all their things down, board up their houses, and hope for the best.

KAGAN: All right. Well, we will be doing just that for you. That's Officer Brandon Lofton with the Grand Isle Police Department. Good luck, sir.

LOFTON: Thank you, ma'am.

KAGAN: We'll be checking back with you.

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