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CNN Live At Daybreak

Killer Tornadoes Roar Through Midwest, Tennessee

Aired May 06, 2003 - 05:32   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: Our focus this morning is on those killer tornadoes that roared through the Midwest and Tennessee. The damage to property is now being totaled up. You already know the death toll, 38, seven in Kansas, 17 in Missouri and 14 in Tennessee.
In Gladstone, Missouri, a suburb of Kansas City, the storm left a wide path of debris from homes in its wake. Authorities say 200 homes are damaged, many of them considered total losses.

In Jackson, Tennessee, more than 60,000 people were still without power last night. Hundred have been forced to remain in shelters just because so many homes are damaged or destroyed. Eleven of Tennessee's 14 deaths were in Jackson.

The governor of Kansas has declared disasters or emergencies in several counties. Curfews now in effect in several communities in Kansas and the other states hit by the storm.

Is it over or is more severe weather on the way?

Let's check in with Arch Kennedy now -- good morning, Arch.

ARCH KENNEDY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, no, it's not over, Carol.

In fact, a new tornado warning floor Lawrence County and Tennessee this morning. We are continuing to see severe weather and we're going to have another pretty big outbreak, I think, as we get through the afternoon. It's going to be a little farther west, and we'll show you that in just a moment.

But right now, here's where it's at. Here's where it's happening. We're looking at the Deep South from the Carolinas through northern Georgia, parts of Tennessee. And along with this severe weather, we are also dealing with flash flooding. We have numerous flash flood watches throughout parts of Tennessee, Georgia and the Carolinas for today.

Now, we do have another severe weather outbreak possible a little later on through the afternoon, a little farther west, and we'll show you just where that is and what we can expect across the country, Carol, in just a few.

COSTELLO: All right, thank you, Arch.

We appreciate it.

People living in communities flattened by the weekend killer tornadoes are far, are faced, rather, with the monumental task of rebuilding. Some people lost everything except the clothes on their backs.

Reporter Lynn Kowano of our affiliate station KCTV shows us how the Red Cross is helping out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And sandwiches we've got still in here and those have been going great.

LYNN KOWANO, KCTV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sherrie McQuitty's family flocks to the Red Cross delivery truck, hoping for a hot meal.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pizza.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You guys are prepared, huh?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There you go.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... put into cups.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: I want Gator Ade.

KOWANO: Her four kids haven't eaten much since their home blew apart.

SHERRIE MCQUITTY, RESIDENT: We don't want to be greedy, but we've got a lot of people.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We don't have nothing. We don't have clothes. We have nothing.

KOWANO (on camera): Just in this one area of Kansas City, Kansas, Roansurnich (ph), about 23 homes gone, leveled. But residents didn't want to leave their stuff. They stayed here because they were afraid of looters.

(voice-over): Many residents are now living in tents.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You'll see a pop up tent.

KOWANO: Red Cross volunteers are finding these people first, the hardest hit.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They have brought food in, real good about it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you guys need gloves, first aid kits?

KOWANO: Basic needs for a community where the only thing still standing is the spirit.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because it's old glory. We made it, you know? We made it so...

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Seven deaths blamed on the tornadoes in Kansas. Another 50 people were hurt.

For a complete update on the tornadoes, log onto our Web site at cnn.com/weather.

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 6, 2003 - 05:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Our focus this morning is on those killer tornadoes that roared through the Midwest and Tennessee. The damage to property is now being totaled up. You already know the death toll, 38, seven in Kansas, 17 in Missouri and 14 in Tennessee.
In Gladstone, Missouri, a suburb of Kansas City, the storm left a wide path of debris from homes in its wake. Authorities say 200 homes are damaged, many of them considered total losses.

In Jackson, Tennessee, more than 60,000 people were still without power last night. Hundred have been forced to remain in shelters just because so many homes are damaged or destroyed. Eleven of Tennessee's 14 deaths were in Jackson.

The governor of Kansas has declared disasters or emergencies in several counties. Curfews now in effect in several communities in Kansas and the other states hit by the storm.

Is it over or is more severe weather on the way?

Let's check in with Arch Kennedy now -- good morning, Arch.

ARCH KENNEDY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, no, it's not over, Carol.

In fact, a new tornado warning floor Lawrence County and Tennessee this morning. We are continuing to see severe weather and we're going to have another pretty big outbreak, I think, as we get through the afternoon. It's going to be a little farther west, and we'll show you that in just a moment.

But right now, here's where it's at. Here's where it's happening. We're looking at the Deep South from the Carolinas through northern Georgia, parts of Tennessee. And along with this severe weather, we are also dealing with flash flooding. We have numerous flash flood watches throughout parts of Tennessee, Georgia and the Carolinas for today.

Now, we do have another severe weather outbreak possible a little later on through the afternoon, a little farther west, and we'll show you just where that is and what we can expect across the country, Carol, in just a few.

COSTELLO: All right, thank you, Arch.

We appreciate it.

People living in communities flattened by the weekend killer tornadoes are far, are faced, rather, with the monumental task of rebuilding. Some people lost everything except the clothes on their backs.

Reporter Lynn Kowano of our affiliate station KCTV shows us how the Red Cross is helping out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And sandwiches we've got still in here and those have been going great.

LYNN KOWANO, KCTV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sherrie McQuitty's family flocks to the Red Cross delivery truck, hoping for a hot meal.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pizza.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You guys are prepared, huh?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There you go.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... put into cups.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: I want Gator Ade.

KOWANO: Her four kids haven't eaten much since their home blew apart.

SHERRIE MCQUITTY, RESIDENT: We don't want to be greedy, but we've got a lot of people.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We don't have nothing. We don't have clothes. We have nothing.

KOWANO (on camera): Just in this one area of Kansas City, Kansas, Roansurnich (ph), about 23 homes gone, leveled. But residents didn't want to leave their stuff. They stayed here because they were afraid of looters.

(voice-over): Many residents are now living in tents.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You'll see a pop up tent.

KOWANO: Red Cross volunteers are finding these people first, the hardest hit.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They have brought food in, real good about it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you guys need gloves, first aid kits?

KOWANO: Basic needs for a community where the only thing still standing is the spirit.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because it's old glory. We made it, you know? We made it so...

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Seven deaths blamed on the tornadoes in Kansas. Another 50 people were hurt.

For a complete update on the tornadoes, log onto our Web site at cnn.com/weather.

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