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CNN Live At Daybreak

Interview with Jim Charrier, Missouri Emergency Management Agency

Aired May 05, 2003 - 06:04   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: For more now on those deadly tornadoes, Jim Charrier of the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency joins us live by phone from Jefferson City.
Good morning.

JIM CHARRIER, MISSOURI EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY: Good morning.

COSTELLO: Hey, let's talk about Lawrence County. That was the hardest hit and where most of the fatalities happened. Discuss the damage for us there.

CHARRIER: Lawrence County was hit very hard. The center downtown area was pretty well cleaned out, from what I understand. They're having some significant power outages. We're expecting some of the power to be out at a minimum of 48 hours. So, that's going to present a lot of challenges to us. A lot of people don't think about it, but that power also pumps the drinking water and a lot of those other resources.

COSTELLO: Oh, definitely so. People have to go out and buy bottled water, or emergency management officials, like yourself, have to provide bottled water for people.

I wanted to talk about Pierce City, too, because word is that the downtown area there is wiped out. In fact, a police officer says that a tornado stayed on the ground for one-half hour. What kind of damage does that do?

CHARRIER: Anytime a tornado stays on the ground for an extended period of time it causes a tremendous amount of damage. Our buildings are just not designed to handle that kind of a load for that kind of time. Especially some of our more rural communities have older downtown business districts, and they are very susceptible.

COSTELLO: Pierce City itself, the downtown area, is it wiped out?

CHARRIER: The reports that I have is that it has severe damage. I'm not sure what the term "wiped out" means. I hesitate to use that, but I know they have had extensive and severe damage down there.

COSTELLO: How widespread is the damage in Missouri?

CHARRIER: It covers 16 counties that have reported so far. We expect that may expand. But it covers a big chunk of the state. The areas just north of Kansas City, just below Kansas City and the southwest corner is where it seems to be the most hard-hit.

COSTELLO: Because it's such a wide area of damage, are there enough people to handle this? Or will you need outside help?

CHARRIER: We're already responding to it. Of course, our priorities are always life, safety and getting folks to shelter should they need a place just to stay, and take care of that. The National Guard has been activated. They're already in the field. Some of them are pulling security missions. Others are providing generators and power support. We also have the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and our other -- some faith-based groups, volunteers are working.

COSTELLO: Fatalities, sir. Can you bring us up-to-date on that?

CHARRIER: We're still counting. At the state level, we are still counting nine confirmed fatalities in the state.

COSTELLO: Understand. So, what's the next step from here?

CHARRIER: This morning, MEMA is working closely with FEMA Region 7, and we're going to provide damage assessment teams to the affected areas after daylight, when we can get a good visual and see where things really are.

COSTELLO: I was just curious. Where were you when the storm hit?

CHARRIER: I was actually on my way back from Cass County, which is one of the ones that was greatly affected.

COSTELLO: And what was that like? Were you caught in the middle of it?

CHARRIER: No, actually I was running just ahead of it. I saw it in my rearview.

COSTELLO: So, you were driving really fast.

CHARRIER: I was going the speed limit.

COSTELLO: Going the speed limit. But it was fast enough to escape the storm, because, you know, we're seeing video of this storm here. At least one of the tornadoes had touched down, and I'm telling you, if I saw that out my car window I'd be driving a little faster than the speed limit.

CHARRIER: Yes.

COSTELLO: Mr. Charrier, many thanks to you. We appreciate you joining us live, because I know you're incredibly busy already this morning.

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




Agency>


Aired May 5, 2003 - 06:04   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: For more now on those deadly tornadoes, Jim Charrier of the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency joins us live by phone from Jefferson City.
Good morning.

JIM CHARRIER, MISSOURI EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY: Good morning.

COSTELLO: Hey, let's talk about Lawrence County. That was the hardest hit and where most of the fatalities happened. Discuss the damage for us there.

CHARRIER: Lawrence County was hit very hard. The center downtown area was pretty well cleaned out, from what I understand. They're having some significant power outages. We're expecting some of the power to be out at a minimum of 48 hours. So, that's going to present a lot of challenges to us. A lot of people don't think about it, but that power also pumps the drinking water and a lot of those other resources.

COSTELLO: Oh, definitely so. People have to go out and buy bottled water, or emergency management officials, like yourself, have to provide bottled water for people.

I wanted to talk about Pierce City, too, because word is that the downtown area there is wiped out. In fact, a police officer says that a tornado stayed on the ground for one-half hour. What kind of damage does that do?

CHARRIER: Anytime a tornado stays on the ground for an extended period of time it causes a tremendous amount of damage. Our buildings are just not designed to handle that kind of a load for that kind of time. Especially some of our more rural communities have older downtown business districts, and they are very susceptible.

COSTELLO: Pierce City itself, the downtown area, is it wiped out?

CHARRIER: The reports that I have is that it has severe damage. I'm not sure what the term "wiped out" means. I hesitate to use that, but I know they have had extensive and severe damage down there.

COSTELLO: How widespread is the damage in Missouri?

CHARRIER: It covers 16 counties that have reported so far. We expect that may expand. But it covers a big chunk of the state. The areas just north of Kansas City, just below Kansas City and the southwest corner is where it seems to be the most hard-hit.

COSTELLO: Because it's such a wide area of damage, are there enough people to handle this? Or will you need outside help?

CHARRIER: We're already responding to it. Of course, our priorities are always life, safety and getting folks to shelter should they need a place just to stay, and take care of that. The National Guard has been activated. They're already in the field. Some of them are pulling security missions. Others are providing generators and power support. We also have the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and our other -- some faith-based groups, volunteers are working.

COSTELLO: Fatalities, sir. Can you bring us up-to-date on that?

CHARRIER: We're still counting. At the state level, we are still counting nine confirmed fatalities in the state.

COSTELLO: Understand. So, what's the next step from here?

CHARRIER: This morning, MEMA is working closely with FEMA Region 7, and we're going to provide damage assessment teams to the affected areas after daylight, when we can get a good visual and see where things really are.

COSTELLO: I was just curious. Where were you when the storm hit?

CHARRIER: I was actually on my way back from Cass County, which is one of the ones that was greatly affected.

COSTELLO: And what was that like? Were you caught in the middle of it?

CHARRIER: No, actually I was running just ahead of it. I saw it in my rearview.

COSTELLO: So, you were driving really fast.

CHARRIER: I was going the speed limit.

COSTELLO: Going the speed limit. But it was fast enough to escape the storm, because, you know, we're seeing video of this storm here. At least one of the tornadoes had touched down, and I'm telling you, if I saw that out my car window I'd be driving a little faster than the speed limit.

CHARRIER: Yes.

COSTELLO: Mr. Charrier, many thanks to you. We appreciate you joining us live, because I know you're incredibly busy already this morning.

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




Agency>