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CNN Live Today

Winter Storm Slams Eastern U.S.

Aired February 17, 2003 - 11:19   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.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: A powerful and deadly winter storm is moving through the Mid-Atlantic states and the northeast this morning, and we've got two reports for you on this winter wallop.
Jason Carroll is in New York where a blizzard warning has been issued, and Patty Davis is standing by at Reagan National Airport, which as been shut down by the storm.

First, let's go to Jason. Jason -- take it away.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All right, let's start with me right here in New York City under a blizzard warning, and you can see the reason why. Near white-out conditions right here near Central Park, wind gusts up to 35 miles an hour. That's what we've been experiencing basically all morning long.

More people seem to be venturing out as the morning continues. Some people deciding this is a good time to have fun. See some of these guys running through here, actually enjoying the snow. That's because they don't have to work in it, right? They can just sit here and play in the snow. But for those who have to work in the snow, like me, it's a lot harder to deal with. I do have some snow boots here -- or snow shoes to help me navigate my way through things.

In terms of navigating your way through the city, it's been very difficult. As you can see here on the roadways, things very treacherous, some 1,500 snow plows out on the road, 140,000 tons of salt out on the roads as well to help people out.

In terms of the area airports, they're looking at major delays at JFK, LaGuardia, as well as Newark airport in New Jersey, 50 percent of the flights there cancelled because of severe weather. So, if you're planning to do any traveling in or out of this area, it stands to reason you need to call and keep in contact with your carrier.

In terms of further south in Pennsylvania, the state of Pennsylvania under a state of emergency. Same situation in New Jersey, they're also under a state of emergency. In fact, in New Jersey, Leon, the National Guard has been called out in southern New Jersey to help people who have been stranded in their cars to help them out.

At this point, New York State is not under a state of emergency, but things are expected to get a little bit worse before they get better. The brunt of this storm expected to really blow through our area later on this afternoon. Things are then by late afternoon or early evening supposed to taper off just a bit. I am desperately waiting for that to happen -- Leon.

HARRIS: Good deal. And you get to play in the snow shoes for a little bit longer, too.

And we'll let you know, Jason, the word that we're getting here is that LaGuardia has been closed. And with no word yet on JFK, we hear that's barely open at this point. And Newark, no word on that, but we understand they're still having the same difficulties. But LaGuardia, we do understand is shut down. So, you folks up there, you're going to have to stick around for quite awhile.

Let's go now to CNN's Patty Davis, who is standing by at Reagan National Airport in Washington.

And, Patty -- what's it looking like there?

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, let's add Reagan National to the list of those airports that have announced they are closed for the day -- that announcement just coming out from a spokeswoman here. They had hoped to open this airport this afternoon. Now it looks like 7:00 a.m. tomorrow.

The reason why? The crews out here on the runway need time to go ahead and plow those areas for the planes to get through. The crews are taking a break right now, much deserved. They've been out here since 3:00 a.m. working to get things open.

Dulles International Airport is open, one runway operating. A spokesman there saying that they do hope to get a second one open today.

BWI, Baltimore-Washington International, hoping to reopen this afternoon at some point, but they have had a lot of airlines canceling.

Even if these airports do open, the airports are saying that the airlines are simply not flying into them.

Let's just show you how deep the snow is out here. They got about 15 inches at Reagan National, but about 25 up in Silver Spring, Maryland. But, look, this is one of the snow drifts, and you can see I am up to my knee right now in snow. So, a hard time getting out there.

But that's the situation here at the airport. Some passengers are sticking it out at the airports, hoping at some point to get out, but it looks increasingly futile, at least here at Reagan.

Back to you -- Leon.

HARRIS: Wow! Great pictures there. And, Patty, maybe when he gets finished, Jason Carroll will send you the snow shoes he's using. All right.

DAVIS: Sounds good.

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 February 17, 2003 - 11:19   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: A powerful and deadly winter storm is moving through the Mid-Atlantic states and the northeast this morning, and we've got two reports for you on this winter wallop.
Jason Carroll is in New York where a blizzard warning has been issued, and Patty Davis is standing by at Reagan National Airport, which as been shut down by the storm.

First, let's go to Jason. Jason -- take it away.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All right, let's start with me right here in New York City under a blizzard warning, and you can see the reason why. Near white-out conditions right here near Central Park, wind gusts up to 35 miles an hour. That's what we've been experiencing basically all morning long.

More people seem to be venturing out as the morning continues. Some people deciding this is a good time to have fun. See some of these guys running through here, actually enjoying the snow. That's because they don't have to work in it, right? They can just sit here and play in the snow. But for those who have to work in the snow, like me, it's a lot harder to deal with. I do have some snow boots here -- or snow shoes to help me navigate my way through things.

In terms of navigating your way through the city, it's been very difficult. As you can see here on the roadways, things very treacherous, some 1,500 snow plows out on the road, 140,000 tons of salt out on the roads as well to help people out.

In terms of the area airports, they're looking at major delays at JFK, LaGuardia, as well as Newark airport in New Jersey, 50 percent of the flights there cancelled because of severe weather. So, if you're planning to do any traveling in or out of this area, it stands to reason you need to call and keep in contact with your carrier.

In terms of further south in Pennsylvania, the state of Pennsylvania under a state of emergency. Same situation in New Jersey, they're also under a state of emergency. In fact, in New Jersey, Leon, the National Guard has been called out in southern New Jersey to help people who have been stranded in their cars to help them out.

At this point, New York State is not under a state of emergency, but things are expected to get a little bit worse before they get better. The brunt of this storm expected to really blow through our area later on this afternoon. Things are then by late afternoon or early evening supposed to taper off just a bit. I am desperately waiting for that to happen -- Leon.

HARRIS: Good deal. And you get to play in the snow shoes for a little bit longer, too.

And we'll let you know, Jason, the word that we're getting here is that LaGuardia has been closed. And with no word yet on JFK, we hear that's barely open at this point. And Newark, no word on that, but we understand they're still having the same difficulties. But LaGuardia, we do understand is shut down. So, you folks up there, you're going to have to stick around for quite awhile.

Let's go now to CNN's Patty Davis, who is standing by at Reagan National Airport in Washington.

And, Patty -- what's it looking like there?

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, let's add Reagan National to the list of those airports that have announced they are closed for the day -- that announcement just coming out from a spokeswoman here. They had hoped to open this airport this afternoon. Now it looks like 7:00 a.m. tomorrow.

The reason why? The crews out here on the runway need time to go ahead and plow those areas for the planes to get through. The crews are taking a break right now, much deserved. They've been out here since 3:00 a.m. working to get things open.

Dulles International Airport is open, one runway operating. A spokesman there saying that they do hope to get a second one open today.

BWI, Baltimore-Washington International, hoping to reopen this afternoon at some point, but they have had a lot of airlines canceling.

Even if these airports do open, the airports are saying that the airlines are simply not flying into them.

Let's just show you how deep the snow is out here. They got about 15 inches at Reagan National, but about 25 up in Silver Spring, Maryland. But, look, this is one of the snow drifts, and you can see I am up to my knee right now in snow. So, a hard time getting out there.

But that's the situation here at the airport. Some passengers are sticking it out at the airports, hoping at some point to get out, but it looks increasingly futile, at least here at Reagan.

Back to you -- Leon.

HARRIS: Wow! Great pictures there. And, Patty, maybe when he gets finished, Jason Carroll will send you the snow shoes he's using. All right.

DAVIS: Sounds good.

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