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CNN Live Today

Interview with Missouri Governor Bob Holden

Aired May 05, 2003 - 10:07   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: We want to go next door, to Missouri now, to Kansas. One town in that state reporting extensive damage, Pierce City. That is in southwestern Missouri. Not even the town's National Guard Armory, which is where people were huddled for safety, was spared, as the tornado stayed there a remarkable 30 minutes.
Well, joining us now by phone is Missouri Governor Bob Holden.

Governor, good morning to you. And can you give us an idea of exactly how your day has been so far? What have you seen?

GOV. BOB HOLDEN (D), KANSAS: Well, I'm going to be going down to southwest Missouri this morning. I was in Northmore City last night, just north of Kansas City, and we're finding devastation throughout the western and southern part of the state. In fact, my folks are telling me that it's the most widespread series of tornadoes probably in the history of this state.

HARRIS: Do you have any other numbers or information about the totals of the casualties yet?

HOLDEN: We are considering now 13 to 15 unreported deaths at this point. It could go higher. Over 50 counties possibly could be in the area itself. And so, I mean, it's very widespread from southwest Missouri all the way up through north of Kansas City.

HARRIS: How about numbers of missing?

HOLDEN: We still don't know. I mean, there were people in the armory in southwest Missouri. Pierce City has been hit, Stockton, all throughout southwest Missouri. And, you know, we're getting scattered reports now, and we're trying to get it all pulled together.

HARRIS: Yes, that story that we heard this morning out of Pierce City, it was especially distressing, as we heard there were a number of people who were huddled in this armory that were trying to get out of the storm. Do you have any idea of how many people may have actually been inside there?

HOLDEN: Not yet. I know that several people were in that armory and other shelters in the area. The series of tornadoes throughout southwest Missouri was just extensive. And as I said, we've got 15 deaths reported up to this point. Emergency management people are trying to get a handle on it throughout southwest Missouri.

HARRIS: Do you have any idea, Governor, of how much warning people may have gotten? HOLDEN: Some got very little warning. In fact, when I was visiting with people in the North Kansas City area last night, they didn't hear any thunder, any lightning. They just saw it, and within a minute or two it was on top of them. This has been a massive storm that really ravaged parts of Missouri.

HARRIS: Absolutely incredible. And as you were talking, we're looking at some of the pictures that we've been getting in, just absolutely amazing devastation. From what we hear about Pierce City, almost every building in that town has been damaged, if not destroyed.

HOLDEN: Yes, I've been told that the center area is just pretty well gone. The Stockton area, the center city area is gone. Several other cities in southwestern Missouri have been damaged extensively. We've got the National Guard out working on it. We've already moved to federal level to get an emergency declaration of emergency, so we can access federal funds. And we're doing everything possible to be of help to the citizens in these areas.

HARRIS: Well, if citizens are able to watch this morning, do you have a message for them?

HOLDEN: Well, one, be sure and contact the local officials if they need anything. Be very careful. Stay in your home. And we'd ask the citizens that are not impacted directly to stay out of the area. Let the emergency people do their job.

HARRIS: Do you know, Governor, how the situation is with the other utilities and the telephone service? Is it possible for people who are outside that area who may have relatives there, is it possible for them to call in?

HOLDEN: It's possible, but in some of these rural areas of the state they are having difficulty getting emergency utilities back on. So, be mindful, and let the emergency people do their job.

HARRIS: You have any troubles at all with any dangers like downed power lines causing trouble?

HOLDEN: We haven't heard of any yet, but I am sure that there could be isolated cases throughout many of these communities.

HARRIS: Governor Bob Holden, we'll let you go. We understand you have a very, very busy and tough day ahead of you. Good luck.

HOLDEN: Thanks, Leon.

HARRIS: All of the best to you and fellow Missourians dealing with this incredible string of tornadoes that just wreaked havoc across the center of the country yesterday and part of the South as well.

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 May 5, 2003 - 10:07   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We want to go next door, to Missouri now, to Kansas. One town in that state reporting extensive damage, Pierce City. That is in southwestern Missouri. Not even the town's National Guard Armory, which is where people were huddled for safety, was spared, as the tornado stayed there a remarkable 30 minutes.
Well, joining us now by phone is Missouri Governor Bob Holden.

Governor, good morning to you. And can you give us an idea of exactly how your day has been so far? What have you seen?

GOV. BOB HOLDEN (D), KANSAS: Well, I'm going to be going down to southwest Missouri this morning. I was in Northmore City last night, just north of Kansas City, and we're finding devastation throughout the western and southern part of the state. In fact, my folks are telling me that it's the most widespread series of tornadoes probably in the history of this state.

HARRIS: Do you have any other numbers or information about the totals of the casualties yet?

HOLDEN: We are considering now 13 to 15 unreported deaths at this point. It could go higher. Over 50 counties possibly could be in the area itself. And so, I mean, it's very widespread from southwest Missouri all the way up through north of Kansas City.

HARRIS: How about numbers of missing?

HOLDEN: We still don't know. I mean, there were people in the armory in southwest Missouri. Pierce City has been hit, Stockton, all throughout southwest Missouri. And, you know, we're getting scattered reports now, and we're trying to get it all pulled together.

HARRIS: Yes, that story that we heard this morning out of Pierce City, it was especially distressing, as we heard there were a number of people who were huddled in this armory that were trying to get out of the storm. Do you have any idea of how many people may have actually been inside there?

HOLDEN: Not yet. I know that several people were in that armory and other shelters in the area. The series of tornadoes throughout southwest Missouri was just extensive. And as I said, we've got 15 deaths reported up to this point. Emergency management people are trying to get a handle on it throughout southwest Missouri.

HARRIS: Do you have any idea, Governor, of how much warning people may have gotten? HOLDEN: Some got very little warning. In fact, when I was visiting with people in the North Kansas City area last night, they didn't hear any thunder, any lightning. They just saw it, and within a minute or two it was on top of them. This has been a massive storm that really ravaged parts of Missouri.

HARRIS: Absolutely incredible. And as you were talking, we're looking at some of the pictures that we've been getting in, just absolutely amazing devastation. From what we hear about Pierce City, almost every building in that town has been damaged, if not destroyed.

HOLDEN: Yes, I've been told that the center area is just pretty well gone. The Stockton area, the center city area is gone. Several other cities in southwestern Missouri have been damaged extensively. We've got the National Guard out working on it. We've already moved to federal level to get an emergency declaration of emergency, so we can access federal funds. And we're doing everything possible to be of help to the citizens in these areas.

HARRIS: Well, if citizens are able to watch this morning, do you have a message for them?

HOLDEN: Well, one, be sure and contact the local officials if they need anything. Be very careful. Stay in your home. And we'd ask the citizens that are not impacted directly to stay out of the area. Let the emergency people do their job.

HARRIS: Do you know, Governor, how the situation is with the other utilities and the telephone service? Is it possible for people who are outside that area who may have relatives there, is it possible for them to call in?

HOLDEN: It's possible, but in some of these rural areas of the state they are having difficulty getting emergency utilities back on. So, be mindful, and let the emergency people do their job.

HARRIS: You have any troubles at all with any dangers like downed power lines causing trouble?

HOLDEN: We haven't heard of any yet, but I am sure that there could be isolated cases throughout many of these communities.

HARRIS: Governor Bob Holden, we'll let you go. We understand you have a very, very busy and tough day ahead of you. Good luck.

HOLDEN: Thanks, Leon.

HARRIS: All of the best to you and fellow Missourians dealing with this incredible string of tornadoes that just wreaked havoc across the center of the country yesterday and part of the South as well.

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