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CNN Live At Daybreak
Update on Progress of Hurricane Isidore
Aired September 26, 2002 - 06:23 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We want to head live now to Biloxi, Mississippi, where Eric Horng is standing by. And, boy, it's really raining there, thanks to Isidore.
ERIC HORNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Certainly. You know, this is, Carol, not the same storm it was just a few days ago, but Isidore still packing some punch. But at this point the winds are not the biggest concern. In fact, throughout the day, as the day goes on, it could be downgraded to a tropical depression.
But at this point officials concerned about the heavy rains and the possibility of tornadoes, flash flood watches, tornado warnings posted throughout the Gulf Coast region as Isidore makes its presence known.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HORNG (voice-over): Sheets of rain and powerful winds signaled Isidore's arrival early Thursday along the central Gulf Coast. Though the storm is not expected to reach hurricane strength, forecasters say it could dump up to 20 inches of rain on parts of the Southeastern U.S., with precipitation reaching as far north as the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys.
Earlier, as Isidore churned its way closer, thousands of residents in low lying coastal communities evacuated. As schools and businesses closed, shelters opened.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We only have one life and when that's gone, you don't get it back. And to not go somewhere to be safe, to me that's asinine.
HORNG: Others boarded up their homes and hunkered down, determined to ride out the storm.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If it was too bad I'd leave, but it's not going to be bad.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't think it's going to be real bad, but if it is, we're going to be ready.
HORNG: In Mississippi, the state's gaming board chose not to roll the dice with Isidore, closing seaside casinos. Emergency officials meantime imposed a dawn to dusk curfew. In New Orleans, which has a low point below sea level, water lapped at the doors of bars and restaurants and rain put a damper on the usual revelry in the city's French Quarter. Officials, meantime, closed Interstate 10, which runs through the city, after rising waters stranded several cars.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HORNG: Well, Isidore, as you might imagine, snarling air traffic, as well. Airports throughout the region, including in New Orleans, Mobile, Alabama and here in Biloxi, Mississippi remain open but nothing is going in and out. And air traffic at those airports expected to be affected throughout the day. In fact, this storm system is so large expected to dump rain up into the Tennessee/Ohio Valleys that air traffic throughout the Southeastern United States could be affected today.
In Biloxi, Mississippi, reporting live, I'm Eric Horng -- Carol, back to you.
COSTELLO: OK. Try to stay dry, Eric, but I know that's impossible today.
OK, thanks a lot.
The rainfall, the storm surges, we've got it all. It's just a click away. For all the details on tropical storm Isidore just go to our Web site. That's cnn.com, AOL keyword: CNN.
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 26, 2002 - 06:23 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We want to head live now to Biloxi, Mississippi, where Eric Horng is standing by. And, boy, it's really raining there, thanks to Isidore.
ERIC HORNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Certainly. You know, this is, Carol, not the same storm it was just a few days ago, but Isidore still packing some punch. But at this point the winds are not the biggest concern. In fact, throughout the day, as the day goes on, it could be downgraded to a tropical depression.
But at this point officials concerned about the heavy rains and the possibility of tornadoes, flash flood watches, tornado warnings posted throughout the Gulf Coast region as Isidore makes its presence known.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HORNG (voice-over): Sheets of rain and powerful winds signaled Isidore's arrival early Thursday along the central Gulf Coast. Though the storm is not expected to reach hurricane strength, forecasters say it could dump up to 20 inches of rain on parts of the Southeastern U.S., with precipitation reaching as far north as the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys.
Earlier, as Isidore churned its way closer, thousands of residents in low lying coastal communities evacuated. As schools and businesses closed, shelters opened.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We only have one life and when that's gone, you don't get it back. And to not go somewhere to be safe, to me that's asinine.
HORNG: Others boarded up their homes and hunkered down, determined to ride out the storm.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If it was too bad I'd leave, but it's not going to be bad.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't think it's going to be real bad, but if it is, we're going to be ready.
HORNG: In Mississippi, the state's gaming board chose not to roll the dice with Isidore, closing seaside casinos. Emergency officials meantime imposed a dawn to dusk curfew. In New Orleans, which has a low point below sea level, water lapped at the doors of bars and restaurants and rain put a damper on the usual revelry in the city's French Quarter. Officials, meantime, closed Interstate 10, which runs through the city, after rising waters stranded several cars.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HORNG: Well, Isidore, as you might imagine, snarling air traffic, as well. Airports throughout the region, including in New Orleans, Mobile, Alabama and here in Biloxi, Mississippi remain open but nothing is going in and out. And air traffic at those airports expected to be affected throughout the day. In fact, this storm system is so large expected to dump rain up into the Tennessee/Ohio Valleys that air traffic throughout the Southeastern United States could be affected today.
In Biloxi, Mississippi, reporting live, I'm Eric Horng -- Carol, back to you.
COSTELLO: OK. Try to stay dry, Eric, but I know that's impossible today.
OK, thanks a lot.
The rainfall, the storm surges, we've got it all. It's just a click away. For all the details on tropical storm Isidore just go to our Web site. That's cnn.com, AOL keyword: CNN.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
