Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Hurricane Isabel to Make Landfall Tomorrow

Aired September 17, 2003 - 17:00   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.


WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Surf's up in North Carolina. With less than 24 hours until Hurricane Isabel makes landfall we'll take you all along the Carolina coast into Virginia where the wind and waves are getting more intense right now.
And, it's just not the seaside communities that need to take cover. Metropolitan areas like Washington, D.C. where I am they will see a type of storm these cities haven't seen in a long time.

And, we're following a breaking story also right now, two students held hostage at a community college.

Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Isabel's already knocking at the door.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's a coming.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm just not taking the chance this time.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're trying to save our boat from getting destroyed.

BLITZER: And may soon be knocking it down. Fierce winds extend hundreds of miles. Flooding will follow. Authorities are racing to avert disaster from the Carolinas to the nation's capital. Even major cities are at risk.

SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president got a briefing to make sure that we're doing everything we can.

BLITZER: The government's top emergency official will greet you.

A new warning to the United States, is it Saddam?

And, a former brass hat throws his hat into the ring.

GEN. WESLEY CLARK, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I intend to seek the presidency of the United States of America.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: CNN live this hour, WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, live from the nation's capital with correspondents from around the world. WOLF BLITZER REPORTS starts now.

BLITZER: It's Wednesday, September 17, 2003. Hello from Washington, I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting.

Just in from the National Hurricane Center the latest information on Hurricane Isabel. This very big and potentially devastating storm is about 315 miles south southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. It's packing maximum sustained winds of 105 miles an hour and is moving at a speed of 14 miles an hour.

Isabel is moving toward the north northwest and right now is expected to slam into North Carolina's Outer Banks tomorrow morning and then surge onto Virginia and Maryland. It's expected to gain speed as it approaches the coast.

A hurricane warning is now in effect from Cape Fear, North Carolina to the Virginia-Maryland line. Tropical storm warnings extend from South Carolina to New Jersey.

Right now Isabel is a category two hurricane. That means winds between 96 and 110 miles an hour. These storms are capable of damaging coastal -- containing damaging coastal floods and damage to homes can include doors, windows and roofs.

That's what residents along the North Carolina coast are preparing for right now. We have three reporters covering this story, CNN National Correspondent Susan Candiotti, Ed Lavandera and John Zarrella.

Let's begin with Susan. She's in Kill Devil Hills -- Susan.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Wolf.

Well, within the last hour we had some light rain showers here in Kill Devil Hills but now they've stopped, and take my word for it, the sun has tried to break through just a little while ago but this is one of the areas where they're expecting to get quite a pounding from Hurricane Isabel.

Let's give you a live look now at the ocean which is literally across the hallway from where I am standing in the motel where we are staying. They are expecting a storm surge of at least ten feet and possibly 20-foot waves or higher on top of that.

Now, the waves are crashing so quickly now that not even surfers are taking their chances out there. They're also talking about receiving rain of up to about a foot or so.

Now back here in Kill Devil Hills street side it still looks like a ghost town here and emergency management officials telling me just a short time ago they do consider the entire area of the Outer Banks, the evacuation of it, a success. They figure about 75 percent of the permanent residents are gone. Naturally, most of the tourists are long gone, people having boarded up their homes.

And, earlier this afternoon we rode with one of the patrol sergeants here who is going around checking on some of those area residents, including the elderly who decided to stay behind. Now, police and emergency management officials are pretty concerned that they are going to get a pretty good pounding from that storm surge and it could cause a lot of damage.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SGT. MARK GRANT, KILL DEVIL HILLS POLICE: A lot of the older homes that are right on the oceanfront every year would get the hurricanes or the Nor'easters. They take a beating all the time and every year we lose two or three cottages to the ocean. So, you know, with a storm of this magnitude, you know, we're probably going to lose a couple more just from the pounding surf.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Now everyone is hunkered down here and now it's just a matter, of course, of waiting. They are expected to start feeling hurricane force winds by later tonight -- back to you, Wolf.

BLITZER: Susan Candiotti on the scene for us. She's going to be very, very busy.

We're going to get back to our hurricane coverage in just a moment.

But only within the past few minutes our Senior White House Correspondent John King had an exchange with the president. He asked the president about Saddam Hussein and 9/11. I want you to listen to the exchange between John King and the president.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Mr. President, Dr. Rice and Secretary Rumsfeld both said yesterday that they have seen no evidence that Iraq had anything to do with September 11 yet on "Meet the Press" Sunday the vice president said Iraq was a geographic base for the terrorist and he also said I don't know and we don't know when asked if there was any involvement. Your critics say that this is some effort, deliberate effort to blur the line and confuse people. (Unintelligible.)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We've had no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with September the 11th. Now, what the vice president said was that he has been involved with al Qaeda and al-Zarqawi, an al Qaeda operative was in Baghdad. He's the guy that ordered the killing of a U.S. diplomat. He's a man who's still running loose involved with the poisons network, involved with Ansar al-Islam. There's no question that Saddam Hussein had al Qaeda ties.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Al Qaeda ties but no evidence the president says that Saddam Hussein had any involvement in the 9/11 terror attacks, the president responding to a question from our Senior White House Correspondent John King. We'll get more on that as this story develops.

Let's get back to the hurricane, Hurricane Isabel. Our Ed Lavandera is on the front lines awaiting the hurricane as well. Let's bring in Ed. Ed, tell us where you are and what you're seeing and hearing.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Wolf.

Well, we are on the northern edge of Topsail Island further south from where Susan Candiotti was reporting from just a short while ago. As you look here along the coastline you're looking toward the south here, rather peaceful.

The surf is up significantly a little bit from what residents here have been telling us. They are used to getting waves here but definitely the clouds have started to move in. We've seen occasional gusts of stronger winds starting to approach here as well but for the most part it's a very quiet island.

There are not mandatory evacuations in place here but voluntary evacuations and the town manager says that when calling evacuations when you're dealing with people who are veterans of dealing with these types of storms, when you're talking about evacuations you're walking a very fine line.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DON BETZ, TOWN MANAGER: We don't have the hurricane conditions that warrant or justify the immediate forced evacuation of the permanent residents as well as the visitors. You don't want to use that tool unless you really mean it and it's necessary because the next time people might not move.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: Well, people are paying attention. They've been spending the day boarding up windows and protecting their homes and a lot of people, there are about 3,000 people that live on this island year round, many of those people have headed out to go inland but they've taken care of what they needed to take care of here before doing that -- Wolf.

BLITZER: That's pretty prudent advice. Thanks very much Ed Lavandera out there in North Carolina.

CNN's John Zarrella has covered many hurricanes for CNN. He's joining us right now as well. John, you're on videophone. Tell us where you are and what's going on.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN MIAMI BUREAU CHIEF: Wolf, we are in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and that's a little bit inland from the coastline and behind me is the Pasquotank River which flows into the Albemarle Sound and, of course, the great concern is that as Hurricane Isabel moves inland the storm surge will be pushed up in the sound and then up into the Pasquotank River and flood this area some of it behind me. In 1999, when Hurricane Floyd swept through here many people remember that inland flooding was responsible for some 50 deaths from the hurricane in eastern North Carolina. It is a very serious concern. Mandatory evacuations ordered here in Pasquotank County and across the bay there in Camden County.

We are actually standing at the Elizabeth City Coast Guard Air Station and throughout the day today last minute preparations have been made to button up, as they call it, this air base.

They were working on the last of some C0130s. There are four of them that are stationed here, working on the last of the helicopters that they have here, preparing to have them move out and move inland and move them inland to Charlotte, North Carolina.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CMDR. DREW PEARSON, U.S. COAST GUARD: That will allow us to be poised to respond after the storm comes through or during the storm. We'll be able to launch out of Charlotte to mariners in distress or anything that comes up as the storm passes through, just being the Coast Guard, being always ready.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZARRELLA: There is a great deal of concern here for the potential for inland flooding. The Coast Guard said it will be ready if called upon and necessary to look for people and the word of advice is if the rivers start to overflow, if the banks of these inlets start to overflow do not try to venture out in your automobiles. That's how nearly every one of the people killed in Hurricane Floyd died is when they were swept away by flood waters -- Wolf.

BLITZER: CNN's John Zarrella who has covered many of these hurricanes for us on CNN. John thanks very much.

Forecasters are keeping their particular eye on the storm's upper right quadrant. That section can contain the most damaging winds and sometimes will spin off tornadoes even well inland. It also can bring some of the heaviest rain and can continue to pose a threat after the storm has made landfall.

Just minutes ago the director of the National Hurricane Center gave the latest forecast for this storm.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAX MAYFIELD, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER: At 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time the center of Hurricane Isabel was located about 315 miles south southeast of the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

It's moving toward the north northwest about 14 miles per hour. That's a little faster forward motion than we've seen in the last 24 hours. It remains a very powerful category two hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale with maximum sustained winds that are 105 miles per hour. Now, on our forecast track the center of the hurricane should be nearing the North Carolina coast around Noon on Thursday but it's a large hurricane and those tropical storm force winds are likely to be getting to the North Carolina coast late tonight near midnight.

The forecast track continues inland. The red area that you see here represents the area of hurricane force winds over eastern North Carolina, southeastern Virginia, but the blue area shows the area of tropical storm force winds and this is a very large area including much of eastern North Carolina, eastern Virginia, all of Maryland, the Delmarva and even up into New Jersey.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Max Mayfield with the latest information.

As we saw just a few moments ago, Kill Devil Hills is one of the North Carolina towns that lie directly in Isabel's path. We're joined now by the Mayor Sherry Rollason. Mayor, thanks very much for joining us. Most of the people I take it have left is that right?

MAYOR SHERRY ROLLASON, KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C.: That is correct, Wolf. We had a mandatory evacuation that started yesterday at 12:00 Noon and it went very smoothly. In fact, when the control group met this morning we gave it an A-plus. It was one of the best evacuations that we had.

Everybody is taking this storm very seriously and the ones, very few people are left and they are -- what I want to stress to them the ones that have stayed is to please stay inside. Do not get out on the road and go sightseeing because we're going to be in for a long night and a long day tomorrow.

BLITZER: What about you, mayor, personally? What do you do? Where do you stay during this hurricane?

ROLLASON: I am staying hunkered down to my residence which is a -- far enough away from the ocean and away from the sound that I feel pretty safe there.

BLITZER: Is everything done now that could have been done to prevent any, God forbid, deaths or serious injury?

ROLLASON: Everything is done. It's just now to sit back and wait and to stay put and everything has been secured and we've done the best that we can.

BLITZER: And flooding, do you anticipate serious flooding in Kill Devil Hills?

ROLLASON: We anticipate some with the ocean, the surge, and it's hard to tell how much and as well as on the sound side. There will be sound side flooding as well as on the ocean.

BLITZER: Mayor Sherry Rollason, good luck to you, good luck to all of your constituents over there. We'll be staying in close touch with you.

ROLLASON: Thank you.

BLITZER: And here's you chance to weigh in on this story. Our web question of the day is this. "Should government restrict building in hurricane-prone areas"? We'll have the results later in this broadcast but you can vote right now, cnn.com/wolf.

We're also in addition to covering this hurricane we're following a breaking news story right now, more on the hostage situation at a Tennessee community college. That's coming up in just a few minutes.

Also coming up evacuations, warnings, and watches, all along the coast but who's really vulnerable to Isabel's fury? If you live inland stay tuned. You won't want to miss this.

Then, Washington, D.C. learns a lesson from the past and prepares for Isabel's fury in the very near future.

Plus, a new tape urges Iraqis to follow orders allegedly, allegedly from Saddam Hussein himself.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Coming up he briefed President Bush on Hurricane Isabel. Now, he's about to brief you. The man in charge of emergency response for the United States, I'll talk with him. That's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Some breaking news we're keeping a close watch on right now, a hostage drama continues at a college in west Tennessee. An armed man took a group of students and a teacher hostage today at Dyersburg State Community College later releasing some of the hostages.

Authorities say the man is refusing to negotiate and has made no demands. We'll have more information on this story as soon as it becomes available. Stay with us for that.

In one form or another Isabel is expected to reach the nation's capital which already is acting like a city under siege. Lawmakers are leaving. Schools will be closing down and the federal government may soon announce it's doing the same.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): A city accustomed to political disasters gets ready for a natural one. The Washington, D.C. area certainly has experience with big storms. It got plowed over with snow this past winter and several hurricanes and parts of them have made their way inland to the nation's capital. Now, Isabel has her sights set on the seat of power.

TOMMY THOMPSON, HHS SECRETARY: The Washington, D.C. area, the Virginia area, Alexandria, Arlington could be hit very hard with rain and wind.

BLITZER: The best estimates three to six inches of rain in the D.C. area possibly more, winds at tropical storm strength 40 to 60 miles an hour, possibly stronger. Experts predict possible tornado watches for the region.

A weaker storm about two weeks ago nearly delivered a knockout blow. Hundreds of thousands of D.C. area residents lost power, this time preemptive measures. The city's bus and rail system indicating it may shut everything down temporarily and even if some of the federal government closes the most vital agencies for these situations will do the opposite.

THOMPSON: Of course us, the Department of Health and Human Services, are going to be probably even staffing up because we're going to have to make sure that we take care of any kind of contingencies, any kind of emergencies that take place.

BLITZER: The White House will coordinate disaster response with federal, state, and local emergency groups but the White House is also a house, taking some of the precautions you and I might.

MCCLELLAN: We are working to secure items that may be blown away in the event of the high winds here and so they will be secured by tomorrow afternoon. This could include flags. It could include the awnings around the complex.

BLITZER: On Capitol Hill, several members of the House and Senate putting Thursday's business aside and leaving town. Some school systems in the area have already said they'll close. Power crews from other regions on their way to help in the aftermath, a capital bracing for a siege.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And, joining us now for what the U.S. government is doing to get ready for this huge and potentially devastating hurricane, Michael Brown, Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, better known as FEMA. He's at the FEMA center here in the nation's capital.

Director Brown thanks very much for joining us. What exactly is your estimate of how devastating this could be for this area, North Carolina, Virginia, all the way up to Washington, D.C., maybe beyond into Pennsylvania and New Jersey?

MICHAEL BROWN, FEMA DIRECTOR: Well, Wolf, I heard in one of your earlier reports that there's a very good chance of inland flooding and I want to emphasize that.

Something that most people may not realize is that more than 50 percent of the deaths in a hurricane occur because of flooding and right now the entire eastern seaboard all the way from North Carolina up through New Jersey and New York the ground is just saturated.

So, if Isabel comes onboard, hits land with a lot of rain which we expect her to do there's a very good chance of flooding and that's going to cause a lot of problems.

BLITZER: Well, what can people do at this late hour is to prevent that kind of flooding to prevent the damage from it.

BROWN: Well, there's not so much they can do right now at this late hour to prevent the flooding but there are a lot of things that they can do to take care of themselves and their family members.

You know it only takes six inches of water moving across a highway to actually lift and move a car and so oftentimes people look at a little bit of water going across a road and think, oh I can make it across there.

The next thing you know they're being swept away. People just need to be smart about these things and recognize that these flood waters are very dangerous. Don't put yourself in harm's way.

BLITZER: I know, Director Brown, you recently briefed the president on what's going on and I see a lot of activity over at the FEMA command center. What did you tell the president?

BROWN: Well, that we have everything in place. I'm very proud of the people that work in FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security. We have literally thousands of people out in the field right now. We have pre-positioned over 77 semi-trailers of equipment and supplies. We have the urban search and rescue teams on alert ready to deploy, swift water rescue, building rescue.

We have the national disaster medical teams. They're in place ready to respond. President Bush is, you know, just being the kind of compassionate, concerned guy he is about individuals, has told me make sure we respond, we respond quickly and efficiently. My response is yes, sir, we will do that and we have the people and the manpower and equipment in place to do it.

BLITZER: Director Michael Brown of FEMA thanks very much. Good luck to you. We'll be counting on you. A lot of our viewers, of course, will as well.

BROWN: Thank you.

BLITZER: Thank you very much.

And, as we count down the hours to Isabel's expected landfall tomorrow, a reminder you can stay with CNN for complete hurricane coverage starting at 5:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.

We'll track the storm's path, keep you up to date on travel advisories with live reports from up and down the East Coast. I'll be live here in Washington, D.C. for complete coverage of that as well.

And, while the U.S. braces for Isabel a new tape hits the airwaves in the Arab world with new orders supposedly for the Iraqi people.

And, more on the threat of Isabel, living inland won't necessarily protect you. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: A threatening new audio tape, apparently from Saddam Hussein, has drawn the keen attention of CIA analysts who are trying to determine if it's the real thing but Iraqis, it seems, couldn't care less.

Our Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson has the story from Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With interest verging on apathy Iraqis tuned in to hear the latest apparent Saddam tape, the message a mixture of the old, a call to arms for Iraqis to fight U.S. troops, and the new, a call for the U.S. troops to get out of Iraq.

PURPORTED VOICE OF SADDAM HUSSEIN (through translator): We call on you to withdraw your troops as quickly as possible and without any conditions because there is no reason for more losses that will be catastrophic for America.

ROBERTSON: The voice which sounds like Saddam Hussein advised President Bush to admit defeat and negotiate with former Iraqi officials in U.S. custody. It also urges Arabs to come and fight U.S. troops.

HUSSEIN (through translator): You can contact whoever is representing the people of Iraq and the brave resistance all over great Iraq.

ROBERTSON: Outside the Baghdad Nights (ph) Cafe where only months ago crowds would gather to hear the latest tape purporting to be Saddam, patrons played dominoes, interest in the former dictator negligible.

"He's an idiot" says this waiter. "He's delirious like an old person."

"In his 30 years he was not able to accomplish anything for the Iraqi" says this writer, "so I doubt he'll be able to accomplish anything now."

A handful, however, clamor after the old days including another waiter.

"If Saddam wants to oust America he can. We have mujahadeen. We have Fedayeen and we even have weapons."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON: Whether or not it is Saddam Hussein it's worth noting the voice sounds old, tired, pauses, even repeats a paragraph in the statement, possibly as tired delivering the message as the Iraqi people appear to be hearing it -- Wolf.

BLITZER: CNN's Nic Robertson reporting live from Baghdad, Nic thanks very much.

Tracking Isabel with high tech tools, we'll follow the path of the storm.

Could you be getting a day off work before Isabel even strikes? We'll tell you. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN. We're tracking the storm. You may know where Hurricane Isabel is right now, but do you know where it will be when you wake up in the morning? Are you in for a surprise? We'll tell you.

First, the latest headlines.

(NEWSBREAK)

BLITZER: Now, updating our top story.

CNN meteorologist Brad Huffines and Rob Marciano are both tracking Hurricane Isabel as it moves closer and closer to shore. They're joining us from the CNN Center in Atlanta.

Rob, let's begin with you.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, Wolf, let's go right to the specifics. The latest numbers out of the National Hurricane Center from reconnaissance aircraft do center the storm on its track that its been with the past couple of days. So that continues.

Right now, as far as the numbers are concerned, we're 315 miles to the south, southeast of Cape Hatteras. Winds still sustained at 105, although the recon aircraft said, you know, it did find some pretty strong winds up there. It is possible that it goes to Category 3. But right now we're holding onto Category 2 status. And it is picking up steam with movement to the north, northwest now at 14 miles an hour.

There is the center of this thing. And the track remains the same. Everybody across the Carolina coastline, the east North Carolina coastline, especially through Moorehead City will be in the path of this thing. But that's not quite as important as the sheer size of this. We have winds, tropical storm forces winds, that go out about 300 miles from this system. So do not concentrate so much on the exact path of this thing because we're looking at winds that are going to affect a lot of people.

Already rain bands starting to come into Cape Hatteras, winds out of the north at 20 miles an hour. We expect tropical storm force winds later on tonight and then landfall sometime during the afternoon, right around there, and then up to the northwest it will go as we go on through tomorrow afternoon. To the east of this storm is where you'll find the most damage. They'll be some flooding rains in Cape Hatteras, of course, and up through Washington D.C. also will see some rainfall. That will be substantial. And then the hurricane force winds, which right now extend out to about 115 miles an hour, could very well hold together right up in through Virginia, Wolf.

You can hide from the wind, certainly. But as far as the water, the storm surge, the tide and rains, that's another story, and Brad has that. Back to you.

BLITZER: All right, Brad -- let's bring in Brad. Brad Huffines is also this story for us.

Brad, tell us what else we need to know about this hurricane.

BRAD HUFFINES, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, Wolf, we talk about the winds and the rain frequently. And you hear the term storm surge. I'm going to use our keyhole to show you exactly what the storm surge means and what it will mean with this hurricane.

Let me show you a very close in view of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. You're used to seeing a map projection like that. But not quite like this. We're zooming in to Cape Hatteras and Cape Point. And those places have been hit with so many hurricanes that a lot of the houses a are already been built for such things.

However, once you get into a place like the Nuff River, heading up the River towards James City, this is really when you begin to see some serious problems with the potential for storm surge, because the storm surge means that the winds are blowing inland. And as the winds are blowing inland, a lot of this water in the Nuff River could very well push ashore and cause flooding around Bay Point, around Northwest Creek, possible around James City. Some very heavy flooding around Newburn is possible as well.

I'm going to take you to another location across the North Carolina Outer Banks and across the inland river. Some very serious storm surge flooding could also occur along the Tar River.

I want to show you something now. As you begin to look at this area right here, this is an area along the river that may hold some sewage treatment. And because of that, as the storm surge waters begin to move up the river, we can see a lot of this type of flooding damage cause some of this storm -- some of the sewer water to actually leak into ground water and begin to move up the actual river.

So that's why we're looking very seriously at this storm surge because, Wolf, where the storm surge hits, that's where you begin to see the really micro-damage, where it really affects individuals where they live -- Wolf.

BLITZER: That could be incredibly ugly. Thanks very much, Brad Huffines and Rob Marciano, for that important information.

And please check out our Web site, cnn.com to keep track of Hurricane Isabel as it moves closer and closer to shore. You can also find tips on what to do if you're threatened by a hurricane as well as a history lesson of past hurricanes.

You've seen the anticipation on the ground. Now we look to the sky for answers about Isabel.

Then...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLARK: Why has America lost the respect of so many people around the world?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: A retired U.S. army general with some tough talk for the president. He now wants his job.

And 25 years later, the risks one president took on the path toward peace.

First, our "News Quiz" answer.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: In the eye of the monster. What you are seeing is an Air Force C-130 plane flying through the eye of Hurricane Isabel.

After taking off from Homestead Air Force Base in Florida, the plane penetrated Isabel's four -- four times. Each time the crew dropped global positioning devices through the storm. The devices transmitted key data on the storm before dropping into the water. Please be sure to join Anderson Cooper tonight. "ANDERSON COOPER 360" 7:00 p.m. Eastern. You can then see the complete trip through the eye of Hurricane Isabel. You won't want to miss it. Tonight, "ANDERSON COOPER 360" 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

Hurricane warnings are up all along the Virginia coast as Isabel approaches. CNN Kathleen Koch is keeping an eye on the situation. She's joining us live from Virginia Beach, Virginia.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening, Wolf. This Virginia resort town of 435,000 is rapidly becoming a ghost town. Mandatory evacuations kicked into place in Virginia for all residents in low lying areas in the path of the storm.

In Norfolk nearby, the Navy has told all nonessential personnel to evacuate. So as many people as possible are boarding up and heading out while they still have time.

There is one community of 375, however, that does not have that as an option. They are animals in Norfolk Virginia Zoo on the banks of the Lafayette river. Zookeepers at the zoo spent the afternoon filling up trash cans, filling up buckets, every available container with extra drinking water for the animals, moving them to safe shelter. They do say that the enclosures at the Virginia Zoo are rated to withstand a Category 5 hurricanes. So they believe the animals there will be safe.

Now, here in Virginia Beach, the streets flood when there is a serious rainstorm. So, besides obviously, the great concern that they have about hurricane force winds, they are worried about the storm surge and the torrential rains that we're expecting. We'll bring it live as the storm rolls in. Back to you Wolf.

BLITZER: Thanks, very much. CNN's Kathleen Koch. It looks like it is beginning to getting windy, but it's going to be a lot windier before this whole thing is over with. CNN's Kathleen Koch in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

This note we're just getting in from Amtrak, As of tomorrow, effective tomorrow, Amtrak canceling all train service south of Washington D.C. Amtrak effective tomorrow, all service south of Washington D.C. is being canceled. Fear of Hurricane Isabel, of course, the cause of this decision by Amtrak. If you are planning train travel or plane travel for that matter, you better check with your carriers.

One of the biggest threats posed by Hurricane Isabel is flooding. This storm has a 100 to 200 mile radius of strong winds and heavy rain that can cause serious flooding over a very large area. According to FEMA, more than 80 percent of hurricane deaths are the result of flooding.

Also in recent years, the largest number of hurricane deaths have occurred inland. Joining us now from Richmond, Virginia Beach with his insight on the danger of flooding, meteorologist John Bernier of our affiliate WRIC. I guess you are in Richmond. Is that right John?

JOHN BERNIER, WRIC CORRESPONDENT: Yes. That is correct, Wolf. And yes, inland flooding is the big problem. The James River, the major river that runs through Richmond, Virginia notorious for flooding as a result of hurricanes. The top three floods, Agnes in 1972, Camille back in 1969 and Tropical Storm Juan back in 1985. That was when the flood was actually a bigger story than the election of L. Douglas Wilder, the first African-American governor elected since reconstruction here in the United States.

It is a situation that we had in 1996 when Hurricane Fran came through here. Hurricane Fran which went a little further to the west, it was a little weaker as it went through Virginia, produced moderate to severe flooding on the James River.

One thing that we've had a change since that 1985 flood, we do have a flood wall that will protect Richmond, but for people who are upstream, it's not going to help them outside the city of Richmond. So that's one of the major worries. And of course, flash flooding could be a tremendous problem. Isabel expected to bring 5 to 7 inches of rainfall to Virginia. Some of the western counties we could have serious flash flooding problems as a result of this storm -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Very worrisome indeed. Meteorologist, John Bernier of our affiliate WRIC. John, thanks very much for that information. And we have new information on a breaking story we've been covering for the past hour, hour and a half or so. A class held hostage in Tennessee. Much more on that is coming up.

And if the presidential primaries turn into a battlefield, the newest Democratic candidate should feel right at home. He's already launching an attack. You'll hear it here next.

First, these stories making headlines around the world.

Bin Laden indicted. Spain's top anti-terrorism judge indicted al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and nine others for their role in planning the 9/11 attacks. The move is believed to be the first indictment of bin Laden for the 2001 terrorist strikes. The judge says al Qaeda used Spain as an operation base. 35 people were indicted, including a journalist for the Arab Al Jazeera network.

Bank rolling terrorism? Treasury Secretary John Snow is in Saudi Arabia for talks on fighting terrorist financing. "The New York Times" reports the militant Palestinian group Hamas gets about half of its operating budget of $10 million a year from people in Saudi Arabia. Saudi officials say no government money goes to Hamas.

Kidnapped westerners. 1500 soldiers and police are searching mountains along Columbia's coast for 8 Western backpackers seized by rebels Friday. The country's main rebel group The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia, denies responsibility saying the military did it to stage a dramatic rescue.

Deadly floods. The death toll in India from heavy monsoon rain and floods have surpassed 800. Forty-One inches of rain have fallen since the start of the monsoon season in June, the second highest in a 100 years.

Ready, aim, paint. Thousands of shooters from around the world took part in the world's paint ball championship in London. Bullets are actually gelatin capsules with color liquid inside. In the championship battle, an American team prevailed over a Russian team.

Fat scandal. Russia's Bolshoi Theater has sparked a huge controversy by firing one of Russia's best known ballerinas, accusing her of being too fat. Male dancers complained she was too tall and heavy to lift. She's considering a lawsuit.

And that's our look around the world.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: We're getting some additional information on that hostage situation that has developed in Tennessee. CNN's Mike Brooks is at the CNN Center in Atlanta. He's joining us now live with that information. Mike, tell our viewers what you know.

MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Just a short time ago the chief of police of the Dyersburg Police Department, Chief Bob Williamson meet with the media. He says so far the man has released four people from inside the of the building. He says he is armed with a 9 millimeter hand gun. No shots have been fired. He said he wants to commit suicide and, apparently, left a suicide note. He said that negotiations are going well, and that he is negotiating with the police negotiators by using the students' cell phones. He'll talk to the student, the students will talk to the police and in reverse order to negotiate with him so far. He also claims he is a member of al Qaeda. They don't know whether or not this is a true claim. And they also don't know if the man has an altered mental status -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Sounding like he might, indeed. Mike Brooks, thanks very much. We'll check back with you as you collect some more information.

We're following another story on the west coast. A fire has erupted in Oakland, California. You're looking at these live pictures. A building under construction going down. As you can see already way down. This fire under way, a three-alarm fire in Oakland, California. These pictures just in to CNN.

Now to the tent Democrat to join the race for president. The former NATO supreme commander, retired U.S. Army General Wesley Clark today launched his political campaign like a military campaign telling volunteers, and I'm quoting, "we're moving on." A critic of the war in Iraq, Clark served notice we'll -- he'll attack the Bush administration on a number of fronts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLARK: For the first time since Herbert Hoover's presidency, a president's economic policies have cost us more jobs than our economy has had the energy to create.

For the first time since the 1960s and early '70s, more than 100,000 American troops are fighting abroad, and once again, at home, Americans are concerned about their civil liberties.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Clark is a political neofight. He spent three decades in the army. And of course, many of our viewers know he was a CNN military analyst.

Today marks exactly 25 years since the signing of the Camp David peace accords. It was an history breakthrough. One that left a powerful legacy for the Middle East. I was a young reporter in 1978 and covered that historic summit.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): After 13 days of intense negotiations, then President Jimmy Carter managed to bring Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin together for peace. I remember that previous November. Sadat had broken ranks with Arab world and made his dramatic visit to Jerusalem to embark on a path toward peace. I covered the Israeli/Egyptian peace talks that follow. Former U.N. Secretary of General Boutros Boutros-Ghali was Egypt's foreign minister.

BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI, FMR. U.N. SECY-GENERAL: He was a lonely president going to Jerusalem. This courage is essential if you want to achieve a peace or want to progress in a peace process.

BLITZER: It was an extremely high risk venture for President Carter. There was no guarantee of success.

JAMES E. CARTER, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There's only been one time in history when both the United States and the Soviet Union put their nuclear forces on alert, and that was over the Middle East.

BLITZER: The stakes could not have been higher. Remember, it was only five years after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war when that nuclear alert occurred. Failure could have plunged the region back into another all-out war. President Carter kept his Egyptian and Israeli guests holed up in the secure and secluded presidential retreat in the Maryland Catoctin Mountains. The strategy, don't let them leave.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe Sadat was an outstanding statesman. And Mr. Begin raised to the occasion. I think that President Carter did an outstanding job. I think that probably was the most important achievement in his presidency. And he worked very hard personally day in and day out to overcome the differences.

BLITZER: In the end, on that September 17, 1978, Egypt, the largest and militarily most powerful of Arab states agreed to make peace with its neighbor, Israel. The peace treaty was signed the following March at the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: This note from a reporter who was there. Despite the ups and downs of the peace process and the intense relationship between Israel and Egypt since then, the treaty remains in effect today. Tragically, Anwar Sadat was assassinated, paying for that peace with his life.

Our hot "Web Question of The Day" is this. Should government restrict building in hurricane-prone areas? You can vote right now cnn.com/wolf. We'll have the result when is we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

Now, here's how you're weighing in on the "Web Question of The Day." We've been asking you this, should government restrict building in hurricane prone areas?

Look at this, 44 percent of you say, yes, 56 percent say, no. As always, we tell you this is not, repeat not, a scientific poll.

A reminder you can catch us everyday, WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, weekdays 5:00 p.m. Eastern. I am also here everyday noon Eastern. Tomorrow special coverage of course of the here in Washington.

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 17, 2003 - 17:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Surf's up in North Carolina. With less than 24 hours until Hurricane Isabel makes landfall we'll take you all along the Carolina coast into Virginia where the wind and waves are getting more intense right now.
And, it's just not the seaside communities that need to take cover. Metropolitan areas like Washington, D.C. where I am they will see a type of storm these cities haven't seen in a long time.

And, we're following a breaking story also right now, two students held hostage at a community college.

Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Isabel's already knocking at the door.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's a coming.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm just not taking the chance this time.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're trying to save our boat from getting destroyed.

BLITZER: And may soon be knocking it down. Fierce winds extend hundreds of miles. Flooding will follow. Authorities are racing to avert disaster from the Carolinas to the nation's capital. Even major cities are at risk.

SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president got a briefing to make sure that we're doing everything we can.

BLITZER: The government's top emergency official will greet you.

A new warning to the United States, is it Saddam?

And, a former brass hat throws his hat into the ring.

GEN. WESLEY CLARK, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I intend to seek the presidency of the United States of America.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: CNN live this hour, WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, live from the nation's capital with correspondents from around the world. WOLF BLITZER REPORTS starts now.

BLITZER: It's Wednesday, September 17, 2003. Hello from Washington, I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting.

Just in from the National Hurricane Center the latest information on Hurricane Isabel. This very big and potentially devastating storm is about 315 miles south southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. It's packing maximum sustained winds of 105 miles an hour and is moving at a speed of 14 miles an hour.

Isabel is moving toward the north northwest and right now is expected to slam into North Carolina's Outer Banks tomorrow morning and then surge onto Virginia and Maryland. It's expected to gain speed as it approaches the coast.

A hurricane warning is now in effect from Cape Fear, North Carolina to the Virginia-Maryland line. Tropical storm warnings extend from South Carolina to New Jersey.

Right now Isabel is a category two hurricane. That means winds between 96 and 110 miles an hour. These storms are capable of damaging coastal -- containing damaging coastal floods and damage to homes can include doors, windows and roofs.

That's what residents along the North Carolina coast are preparing for right now. We have three reporters covering this story, CNN National Correspondent Susan Candiotti, Ed Lavandera and John Zarrella.

Let's begin with Susan. She's in Kill Devil Hills -- Susan.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Wolf.

Well, within the last hour we had some light rain showers here in Kill Devil Hills but now they've stopped, and take my word for it, the sun has tried to break through just a little while ago but this is one of the areas where they're expecting to get quite a pounding from Hurricane Isabel.

Let's give you a live look now at the ocean which is literally across the hallway from where I am standing in the motel where we are staying. They are expecting a storm surge of at least ten feet and possibly 20-foot waves or higher on top of that.

Now, the waves are crashing so quickly now that not even surfers are taking their chances out there. They're also talking about receiving rain of up to about a foot or so.

Now back here in Kill Devil Hills street side it still looks like a ghost town here and emergency management officials telling me just a short time ago they do consider the entire area of the Outer Banks, the evacuation of it, a success. They figure about 75 percent of the permanent residents are gone. Naturally, most of the tourists are long gone, people having boarded up their homes.

And, earlier this afternoon we rode with one of the patrol sergeants here who is going around checking on some of those area residents, including the elderly who decided to stay behind. Now, police and emergency management officials are pretty concerned that they are going to get a pretty good pounding from that storm surge and it could cause a lot of damage.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SGT. MARK GRANT, KILL DEVIL HILLS POLICE: A lot of the older homes that are right on the oceanfront every year would get the hurricanes or the Nor'easters. They take a beating all the time and every year we lose two or three cottages to the ocean. So, you know, with a storm of this magnitude, you know, we're probably going to lose a couple more just from the pounding surf.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Now everyone is hunkered down here and now it's just a matter, of course, of waiting. They are expected to start feeling hurricane force winds by later tonight -- back to you, Wolf.

BLITZER: Susan Candiotti on the scene for us. She's going to be very, very busy.

We're going to get back to our hurricane coverage in just a moment.

But only within the past few minutes our Senior White House Correspondent John King had an exchange with the president. He asked the president about Saddam Hussein and 9/11. I want you to listen to the exchange between John King and the president.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Mr. President, Dr. Rice and Secretary Rumsfeld both said yesterday that they have seen no evidence that Iraq had anything to do with September 11 yet on "Meet the Press" Sunday the vice president said Iraq was a geographic base for the terrorist and he also said I don't know and we don't know when asked if there was any involvement. Your critics say that this is some effort, deliberate effort to blur the line and confuse people. (Unintelligible.)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We've had no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with September the 11th. Now, what the vice president said was that he has been involved with al Qaeda and al-Zarqawi, an al Qaeda operative was in Baghdad. He's the guy that ordered the killing of a U.S. diplomat. He's a man who's still running loose involved with the poisons network, involved with Ansar al-Islam. There's no question that Saddam Hussein had al Qaeda ties.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Al Qaeda ties but no evidence the president says that Saddam Hussein had any involvement in the 9/11 terror attacks, the president responding to a question from our Senior White House Correspondent John King. We'll get more on that as this story develops.

Let's get back to the hurricane, Hurricane Isabel. Our Ed Lavandera is on the front lines awaiting the hurricane as well. Let's bring in Ed. Ed, tell us where you are and what you're seeing and hearing.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Wolf.

Well, we are on the northern edge of Topsail Island further south from where Susan Candiotti was reporting from just a short while ago. As you look here along the coastline you're looking toward the south here, rather peaceful.

The surf is up significantly a little bit from what residents here have been telling us. They are used to getting waves here but definitely the clouds have started to move in. We've seen occasional gusts of stronger winds starting to approach here as well but for the most part it's a very quiet island.

There are not mandatory evacuations in place here but voluntary evacuations and the town manager says that when calling evacuations when you're dealing with people who are veterans of dealing with these types of storms, when you're talking about evacuations you're walking a very fine line.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DON BETZ, TOWN MANAGER: We don't have the hurricane conditions that warrant or justify the immediate forced evacuation of the permanent residents as well as the visitors. You don't want to use that tool unless you really mean it and it's necessary because the next time people might not move.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: Well, people are paying attention. They've been spending the day boarding up windows and protecting their homes and a lot of people, there are about 3,000 people that live on this island year round, many of those people have headed out to go inland but they've taken care of what they needed to take care of here before doing that -- Wolf.

BLITZER: That's pretty prudent advice. Thanks very much Ed Lavandera out there in North Carolina.

CNN's John Zarrella has covered many hurricanes for CNN. He's joining us right now as well. John, you're on videophone. Tell us where you are and what's going on.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN MIAMI BUREAU CHIEF: Wolf, we are in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and that's a little bit inland from the coastline and behind me is the Pasquotank River which flows into the Albemarle Sound and, of course, the great concern is that as Hurricane Isabel moves inland the storm surge will be pushed up in the sound and then up into the Pasquotank River and flood this area some of it behind me. In 1999, when Hurricane Floyd swept through here many people remember that inland flooding was responsible for some 50 deaths from the hurricane in eastern North Carolina. It is a very serious concern. Mandatory evacuations ordered here in Pasquotank County and across the bay there in Camden County.

We are actually standing at the Elizabeth City Coast Guard Air Station and throughout the day today last minute preparations have been made to button up, as they call it, this air base.

They were working on the last of some C0130s. There are four of them that are stationed here, working on the last of the helicopters that they have here, preparing to have them move out and move inland and move them inland to Charlotte, North Carolina.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CMDR. DREW PEARSON, U.S. COAST GUARD: That will allow us to be poised to respond after the storm comes through or during the storm. We'll be able to launch out of Charlotte to mariners in distress or anything that comes up as the storm passes through, just being the Coast Guard, being always ready.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZARRELLA: There is a great deal of concern here for the potential for inland flooding. The Coast Guard said it will be ready if called upon and necessary to look for people and the word of advice is if the rivers start to overflow, if the banks of these inlets start to overflow do not try to venture out in your automobiles. That's how nearly every one of the people killed in Hurricane Floyd died is when they were swept away by flood waters -- Wolf.

BLITZER: CNN's John Zarrella who has covered many of these hurricanes for us on CNN. John thanks very much.

Forecasters are keeping their particular eye on the storm's upper right quadrant. That section can contain the most damaging winds and sometimes will spin off tornadoes even well inland. It also can bring some of the heaviest rain and can continue to pose a threat after the storm has made landfall.

Just minutes ago the director of the National Hurricane Center gave the latest forecast for this storm.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAX MAYFIELD, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER: At 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time the center of Hurricane Isabel was located about 315 miles south southeast of the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

It's moving toward the north northwest about 14 miles per hour. That's a little faster forward motion than we've seen in the last 24 hours. It remains a very powerful category two hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale with maximum sustained winds that are 105 miles per hour. Now, on our forecast track the center of the hurricane should be nearing the North Carolina coast around Noon on Thursday but it's a large hurricane and those tropical storm force winds are likely to be getting to the North Carolina coast late tonight near midnight.

The forecast track continues inland. The red area that you see here represents the area of hurricane force winds over eastern North Carolina, southeastern Virginia, but the blue area shows the area of tropical storm force winds and this is a very large area including much of eastern North Carolina, eastern Virginia, all of Maryland, the Delmarva and even up into New Jersey.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Max Mayfield with the latest information.

As we saw just a few moments ago, Kill Devil Hills is one of the North Carolina towns that lie directly in Isabel's path. We're joined now by the Mayor Sherry Rollason. Mayor, thanks very much for joining us. Most of the people I take it have left is that right?

MAYOR SHERRY ROLLASON, KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C.: That is correct, Wolf. We had a mandatory evacuation that started yesterday at 12:00 Noon and it went very smoothly. In fact, when the control group met this morning we gave it an A-plus. It was one of the best evacuations that we had.

Everybody is taking this storm very seriously and the ones, very few people are left and they are -- what I want to stress to them the ones that have stayed is to please stay inside. Do not get out on the road and go sightseeing because we're going to be in for a long night and a long day tomorrow.

BLITZER: What about you, mayor, personally? What do you do? Where do you stay during this hurricane?

ROLLASON: I am staying hunkered down to my residence which is a -- far enough away from the ocean and away from the sound that I feel pretty safe there.

BLITZER: Is everything done now that could have been done to prevent any, God forbid, deaths or serious injury?

ROLLASON: Everything is done. It's just now to sit back and wait and to stay put and everything has been secured and we've done the best that we can.

BLITZER: And flooding, do you anticipate serious flooding in Kill Devil Hills?

ROLLASON: We anticipate some with the ocean, the surge, and it's hard to tell how much and as well as on the sound side. There will be sound side flooding as well as on the ocean.

BLITZER: Mayor Sherry Rollason, good luck to you, good luck to all of your constituents over there. We'll be staying in close touch with you.

ROLLASON: Thank you.

BLITZER: And here's you chance to weigh in on this story. Our web question of the day is this. "Should government restrict building in hurricane-prone areas"? We'll have the results later in this broadcast but you can vote right now, cnn.com/wolf.

We're also in addition to covering this hurricane we're following a breaking news story right now, more on the hostage situation at a Tennessee community college. That's coming up in just a few minutes.

Also coming up evacuations, warnings, and watches, all along the coast but who's really vulnerable to Isabel's fury? If you live inland stay tuned. You won't want to miss this.

Then, Washington, D.C. learns a lesson from the past and prepares for Isabel's fury in the very near future.

Plus, a new tape urges Iraqis to follow orders allegedly, allegedly from Saddam Hussein himself.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Coming up he briefed President Bush on Hurricane Isabel. Now, he's about to brief you. The man in charge of emergency response for the United States, I'll talk with him. That's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Some breaking news we're keeping a close watch on right now, a hostage drama continues at a college in west Tennessee. An armed man took a group of students and a teacher hostage today at Dyersburg State Community College later releasing some of the hostages.

Authorities say the man is refusing to negotiate and has made no demands. We'll have more information on this story as soon as it becomes available. Stay with us for that.

In one form or another Isabel is expected to reach the nation's capital which already is acting like a city under siege. Lawmakers are leaving. Schools will be closing down and the federal government may soon announce it's doing the same.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): A city accustomed to political disasters gets ready for a natural one. The Washington, D.C. area certainly has experience with big storms. It got plowed over with snow this past winter and several hurricanes and parts of them have made their way inland to the nation's capital. Now, Isabel has her sights set on the seat of power.

TOMMY THOMPSON, HHS SECRETARY: The Washington, D.C. area, the Virginia area, Alexandria, Arlington could be hit very hard with rain and wind.

BLITZER: The best estimates three to six inches of rain in the D.C. area possibly more, winds at tropical storm strength 40 to 60 miles an hour, possibly stronger. Experts predict possible tornado watches for the region.

A weaker storm about two weeks ago nearly delivered a knockout blow. Hundreds of thousands of D.C. area residents lost power, this time preemptive measures. The city's bus and rail system indicating it may shut everything down temporarily and even if some of the federal government closes the most vital agencies for these situations will do the opposite.

THOMPSON: Of course us, the Department of Health and Human Services, are going to be probably even staffing up because we're going to have to make sure that we take care of any kind of contingencies, any kind of emergencies that take place.

BLITZER: The White House will coordinate disaster response with federal, state, and local emergency groups but the White House is also a house, taking some of the precautions you and I might.

MCCLELLAN: We are working to secure items that may be blown away in the event of the high winds here and so they will be secured by tomorrow afternoon. This could include flags. It could include the awnings around the complex.

BLITZER: On Capitol Hill, several members of the House and Senate putting Thursday's business aside and leaving town. Some school systems in the area have already said they'll close. Power crews from other regions on their way to help in the aftermath, a capital bracing for a siege.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And, joining us now for what the U.S. government is doing to get ready for this huge and potentially devastating hurricane, Michael Brown, Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, better known as FEMA. He's at the FEMA center here in the nation's capital.

Director Brown thanks very much for joining us. What exactly is your estimate of how devastating this could be for this area, North Carolina, Virginia, all the way up to Washington, D.C., maybe beyond into Pennsylvania and New Jersey?

MICHAEL BROWN, FEMA DIRECTOR: Well, Wolf, I heard in one of your earlier reports that there's a very good chance of inland flooding and I want to emphasize that.

Something that most people may not realize is that more than 50 percent of the deaths in a hurricane occur because of flooding and right now the entire eastern seaboard all the way from North Carolina up through New Jersey and New York the ground is just saturated.

So, if Isabel comes onboard, hits land with a lot of rain which we expect her to do there's a very good chance of flooding and that's going to cause a lot of problems.

BLITZER: Well, what can people do at this late hour is to prevent that kind of flooding to prevent the damage from it.

BROWN: Well, there's not so much they can do right now at this late hour to prevent the flooding but there are a lot of things that they can do to take care of themselves and their family members.

You know it only takes six inches of water moving across a highway to actually lift and move a car and so oftentimes people look at a little bit of water going across a road and think, oh I can make it across there.

The next thing you know they're being swept away. People just need to be smart about these things and recognize that these flood waters are very dangerous. Don't put yourself in harm's way.

BLITZER: I know, Director Brown, you recently briefed the president on what's going on and I see a lot of activity over at the FEMA command center. What did you tell the president?

BROWN: Well, that we have everything in place. I'm very proud of the people that work in FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security. We have literally thousands of people out in the field right now. We have pre-positioned over 77 semi-trailers of equipment and supplies. We have the urban search and rescue teams on alert ready to deploy, swift water rescue, building rescue.

We have the national disaster medical teams. They're in place ready to respond. President Bush is, you know, just being the kind of compassionate, concerned guy he is about individuals, has told me make sure we respond, we respond quickly and efficiently. My response is yes, sir, we will do that and we have the people and the manpower and equipment in place to do it.

BLITZER: Director Michael Brown of FEMA thanks very much. Good luck to you. We'll be counting on you. A lot of our viewers, of course, will as well.

BROWN: Thank you.

BLITZER: Thank you very much.

And, as we count down the hours to Isabel's expected landfall tomorrow, a reminder you can stay with CNN for complete hurricane coverage starting at 5:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.

We'll track the storm's path, keep you up to date on travel advisories with live reports from up and down the East Coast. I'll be live here in Washington, D.C. for complete coverage of that as well.

And, while the U.S. braces for Isabel a new tape hits the airwaves in the Arab world with new orders supposedly for the Iraqi people.

And, more on the threat of Isabel, living inland won't necessarily protect you. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: A threatening new audio tape, apparently from Saddam Hussein, has drawn the keen attention of CIA analysts who are trying to determine if it's the real thing but Iraqis, it seems, couldn't care less.

Our Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson has the story from Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With interest verging on apathy Iraqis tuned in to hear the latest apparent Saddam tape, the message a mixture of the old, a call to arms for Iraqis to fight U.S. troops, and the new, a call for the U.S. troops to get out of Iraq.

PURPORTED VOICE OF SADDAM HUSSEIN (through translator): We call on you to withdraw your troops as quickly as possible and without any conditions because there is no reason for more losses that will be catastrophic for America.

ROBERTSON: The voice which sounds like Saddam Hussein advised President Bush to admit defeat and negotiate with former Iraqi officials in U.S. custody. It also urges Arabs to come and fight U.S. troops.

HUSSEIN (through translator): You can contact whoever is representing the people of Iraq and the brave resistance all over great Iraq.

ROBERTSON: Outside the Baghdad Nights (ph) Cafe where only months ago crowds would gather to hear the latest tape purporting to be Saddam, patrons played dominoes, interest in the former dictator negligible.

"He's an idiot" says this waiter. "He's delirious like an old person."

"In his 30 years he was not able to accomplish anything for the Iraqi" says this writer, "so I doubt he'll be able to accomplish anything now."

A handful, however, clamor after the old days including another waiter.

"If Saddam wants to oust America he can. We have mujahadeen. We have Fedayeen and we even have weapons."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON: Whether or not it is Saddam Hussein it's worth noting the voice sounds old, tired, pauses, even repeats a paragraph in the statement, possibly as tired delivering the message as the Iraqi people appear to be hearing it -- Wolf.

BLITZER: CNN's Nic Robertson reporting live from Baghdad, Nic thanks very much.

Tracking Isabel with high tech tools, we'll follow the path of the storm.

Could you be getting a day off work before Isabel even strikes? We'll tell you. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN. We're tracking the storm. You may know where Hurricane Isabel is right now, but do you know where it will be when you wake up in the morning? Are you in for a surprise? We'll tell you.

First, the latest headlines.

(NEWSBREAK)

BLITZER: Now, updating our top story.

CNN meteorologist Brad Huffines and Rob Marciano are both tracking Hurricane Isabel as it moves closer and closer to shore. They're joining us from the CNN Center in Atlanta.

Rob, let's begin with you.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, Wolf, let's go right to the specifics. The latest numbers out of the National Hurricane Center from reconnaissance aircraft do center the storm on its track that its been with the past couple of days. So that continues.

Right now, as far as the numbers are concerned, we're 315 miles to the south, southeast of Cape Hatteras. Winds still sustained at 105, although the recon aircraft said, you know, it did find some pretty strong winds up there. It is possible that it goes to Category 3. But right now we're holding onto Category 2 status. And it is picking up steam with movement to the north, northwest now at 14 miles an hour.

There is the center of this thing. And the track remains the same. Everybody across the Carolina coastline, the east North Carolina coastline, especially through Moorehead City will be in the path of this thing. But that's not quite as important as the sheer size of this. We have winds, tropical storm forces winds, that go out about 300 miles from this system. So do not concentrate so much on the exact path of this thing because we're looking at winds that are going to affect a lot of people.

Already rain bands starting to come into Cape Hatteras, winds out of the north at 20 miles an hour. We expect tropical storm force winds later on tonight and then landfall sometime during the afternoon, right around there, and then up to the northwest it will go as we go on through tomorrow afternoon. To the east of this storm is where you'll find the most damage. They'll be some flooding rains in Cape Hatteras, of course, and up through Washington D.C. also will see some rainfall. That will be substantial. And then the hurricane force winds, which right now extend out to about 115 miles an hour, could very well hold together right up in through Virginia, Wolf.

You can hide from the wind, certainly. But as far as the water, the storm surge, the tide and rains, that's another story, and Brad has that. Back to you.

BLITZER: All right, Brad -- let's bring in Brad. Brad Huffines is also this story for us.

Brad, tell us what else we need to know about this hurricane.

BRAD HUFFINES, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, Wolf, we talk about the winds and the rain frequently. And you hear the term storm surge. I'm going to use our keyhole to show you exactly what the storm surge means and what it will mean with this hurricane.

Let me show you a very close in view of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. You're used to seeing a map projection like that. But not quite like this. We're zooming in to Cape Hatteras and Cape Point. And those places have been hit with so many hurricanes that a lot of the houses a are already been built for such things.

However, once you get into a place like the Nuff River, heading up the River towards James City, this is really when you begin to see some serious problems with the potential for storm surge, because the storm surge means that the winds are blowing inland. And as the winds are blowing inland, a lot of this water in the Nuff River could very well push ashore and cause flooding around Bay Point, around Northwest Creek, possible around James City. Some very heavy flooding around Newburn is possible as well.

I'm going to take you to another location across the North Carolina Outer Banks and across the inland river. Some very serious storm surge flooding could also occur along the Tar River.

I want to show you something now. As you begin to look at this area right here, this is an area along the river that may hold some sewage treatment. And because of that, as the storm surge waters begin to move up the river, we can see a lot of this type of flooding damage cause some of this storm -- some of the sewer water to actually leak into ground water and begin to move up the actual river.

So that's why we're looking very seriously at this storm surge because, Wolf, where the storm surge hits, that's where you begin to see the really micro-damage, where it really affects individuals where they live -- Wolf.

BLITZER: That could be incredibly ugly. Thanks very much, Brad Huffines and Rob Marciano, for that important information.

And please check out our Web site, cnn.com to keep track of Hurricane Isabel as it moves closer and closer to shore. You can also find tips on what to do if you're threatened by a hurricane as well as a history lesson of past hurricanes.

You've seen the anticipation on the ground. Now we look to the sky for answers about Isabel.

Then...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLARK: Why has America lost the respect of so many people around the world?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: A retired U.S. army general with some tough talk for the president. He now wants his job.

And 25 years later, the risks one president took on the path toward peace.

First, our "News Quiz" answer.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: In the eye of the monster. What you are seeing is an Air Force C-130 plane flying through the eye of Hurricane Isabel.

After taking off from Homestead Air Force Base in Florida, the plane penetrated Isabel's four -- four times. Each time the crew dropped global positioning devices through the storm. The devices transmitted key data on the storm before dropping into the water. Please be sure to join Anderson Cooper tonight. "ANDERSON COOPER 360" 7:00 p.m. Eastern. You can then see the complete trip through the eye of Hurricane Isabel. You won't want to miss it. Tonight, "ANDERSON COOPER 360" 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

Hurricane warnings are up all along the Virginia coast as Isabel approaches. CNN Kathleen Koch is keeping an eye on the situation. She's joining us live from Virginia Beach, Virginia.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening, Wolf. This Virginia resort town of 435,000 is rapidly becoming a ghost town. Mandatory evacuations kicked into place in Virginia for all residents in low lying areas in the path of the storm.

In Norfolk nearby, the Navy has told all nonessential personnel to evacuate. So as many people as possible are boarding up and heading out while they still have time.

There is one community of 375, however, that does not have that as an option. They are animals in Norfolk Virginia Zoo on the banks of the Lafayette river. Zookeepers at the zoo spent the afternoon filling up trash cans, filling up buckets, every available container with extra drinking water for the animals, moving them to safe shelter. They do say that the enclosures at the Virginia Zoo are rated to withstand a Category 5 hurricanes. So they believe the animals there will be safe.

Now, here in Virginia Beach, the streets flood when there is a serious rainstorm. So, besides obviously, the great concern that they have about hurricane force winds, they are worried about the storm surge and the torrential rains that we're expecting. We'll bring it live as the storm rolls in. Back to you Wolf.

BLITZER: Thanks, very much. CNN's Kathleen Koch. It looks like it is beginning to getting windy, but it's going to be a lot windier before this whole thing is over with. CNN's Kathleen Koch in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

This note we're just getting in from Amtrak, As of tomorrow, effective tomorrow, Amtrak canceling all train service south of Washington D.C. Amtrak effective tomorrow, all service south of Washington D.C. is being canceled. Fear of Hurricane Isabel, of course, the cause of this decision by Amtrak. If you are planning train travel or plane travel for that matter, you better check with your carriers.

One of the biggest threats posed by Hurricane Isabel is flooding. This storm has a 100 to 200 mile radius of strong winds and heavy rain that can cause serious flooding over a very large area. According to FEMA, more than 80 percent of hurricane deaths are the result of flooding.

Also in recent years, the largest number of hurricane deaths have occurred inland. Joining us now from Richmond, Virginia Beach with his insight on the danger of flooding, meteorologist John Bernier of our affiliate WRIC. I guess you are in Richmond. Is that right John?

JOHN BERNIER, WRIC CORRESPONDENT: Yes. That is correct, Wolf. And yes, inland flooding is the big problem. The James River, the major river that runs through Richmond, Virginia notorious for flooding as a result of hurricanes. The top three floods, Agnes in 1972, Camille back in 1969 and Tropical Storm Juan back in 1985. That was when the flood was actually a bigger story than the election of L. Douglas Wilder, the first African-American governor elected since reconstruction here in the United States.

It is a situation that we had in 1996 when Hurricane Fran came through here. Hurricane Fran which went a little further to the west, it was a little weaker as it went through Virginia, produced moderate to severe flooding on the James River.

One thing that we've had a change since that 1985 flood, we do have a flood wall that will protect Richmond, but for people who are upstream, it's not going to help them outside the city of Richmond. So that's one of the major worries. And of course, flash flooding could be a tremendous problem. Isabel expected to bring 5 to 7 inches of rainfall to Virginia. Some of the western counties we could have serious flash flooding problems as a result of this storm -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Very worrisome indeed. Meteorologist, John Bernier of our affiliate WRIC. John, thanks very much for that information. And we have new information on a breaking story we've been covering for the past hour, hour and a half or so. A class held hostage in Tennessee. Much more on that is coming up.

And if the presidential primaries turn into a battlefield, the newest Democratic candidate should feel right at home. He's already launching an attack. You'll hear it here next.

First, these stories making headlines around the world.

Bin Laden indicted. Spain's top anti-terrorism judge indicted al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and nine others for their role in planning the 9/11 attacks. The move is believed to be the first indictment of bin Laden for the 2001 terrorist strikes. The judge says al Qaeda used Spain as an operation base. 35 people were indicted, including a journalist for the Arab Al Jazeera network.

Bank rolling terrorism? Treasury Secretary John Snow is in Saudi Arabia for talks on fighting terrorist financing. "The New York Times" reports the militant Palestinian group Hamas gets about half of its operating budget of $10 million a year from people in Saudi Arabia. Saudi officials say no government money goes to Hamas.

Kidnapped westerners. 1500 soldiers and police are searching mountains along Columbia's coast for 8 Western backpackers seized by rebels Friday. The country's main rebel group The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia, denies responsibility saying the military did it to stage a dramatic rescue.

Deadly floods. The death toll in India from heavy monsoon rain and floods have surpassed 800. Forty-One inches of rain have fallen since the start of the monsoon season in June, the second highest in a 100 years.

Ready, aim, paint. Thousands of shooters from around the world took part in the world's paint ball championship in London. Bullets are actually gelatin capsules with color liquid inside. In the championship battle, an American team prevailed over a Russian team.

Fat scandal. Russia's Bolshoi Theater has sparked a huge controversy by firing one of Russia's best known ballerinas, accusing her of being too fat. Male dancers complained she was too tall and heavy to lift. She's considering a lawsuit.

And that's our look around the world.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: We're getting some additional information on that hostage situation that has developed in Tennessee. CNN's Mike Brooks is at the CNN Center in Atlanta. He's joining us now live with that information. Mike, tell our viewers what you know.

MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Just a short time ago the chief of police of the Dyersburg Police Department, Chief Bob Williamson meet with the media. He says so far the man has released four people from inside the of the building. He says he is armed with a 9 millimeter hand gun. No shots have been fired. He said he wants to commit suicide and, apparently, left a suicide note. He said that negotiations are going well, and that he is negotiating with the police negotiators by using the students' cell phones. He'll talk to the student, the students will talk to the police and in reverse order to negotiate with him so far. He also claims he is a member of al Qaeda. They don't know whether or not this is a true claim. And they also don't know if the man has an altered mental status -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Sounding like he might, indeed. Mike Brooks, thanks very much. We'll check back with you as you collect some more information.

We're following another story on the west coast. A fire has erupted in Oakland, California. You're looking at these live pictures. A building under construction going down. As you can see already way down. This fire under way, a three-alarm fire in Oakland, California. These pictures just in to CNN.

Now to the tent Democrat to join the race for president. The former NATO supreme commander, retired U.S. Army General Wesley Clark today launched his political campaign like a military campaign telling volunteers, and I'm quoting, "we're moving on." A critic of the war in Iraq, Clark served notice we'll -- he'll attack the Bush administration on a number of fronts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLARK: For the first time since Herbert Hoover's presidency, a president's economic policies have cost us more jobs than our economy has had the energy to create.

For the first time since the 1960s and early '70s, more than 100,000 American troops are fighting abroad, and once again, at home, Americans are concerned about their civil liberties.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Clark is a political neofight. He spent three decades in the army. And of course, many of our viewers know he was a CNN military analyst.

Today marks exactly 25 years since the signing of the Camp David peace accords. It was an history breakthrough. One that left a powerful legacy for the Middle East. I was a young reporter in 1978 and covered that historic summit.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): After 13 days of intense negotiations, then President Jimmy Carter managed to bring Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin together for peace. I remember that previous November. Sadat had broken ranks with Arab world and made his dramatic visit to Jerusalem to embark on a path toward peace. I covered the Israeli/Egyptian peace talks that follow. Former U.N. Secretary of General Boutros Boutros-Ghali was Egypt's foreign minister.

BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI, FMR. U.N. SECY-GENERAL: He was a lonely president going to Jerusalem. This courage is essential if you want to achieve a peace or want to progress in a peace process.

BLITZER: It was an extremely high risk venture for President Carter. There was no guarantee of success.

JAMES E. CARTER, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There's only been one time in history when both the United States and the Soviet Union put their nuclear forces on alert, and that was over the Middle East.

BLITZER: The stakes could not have been higher. Remember, it was only five years after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war when that nuclear alert occurred. Failure could have plunged the region back into another all-out war. President Carter kept his Egyptian and Israeli guests holed up in the secure and secluded presidential retreat in the Maryland Catoctin Mountains. The strategy, don't let them leave.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe Sadat was an outstanding statesman. And Mr. Begin raised to the occasion. I think that President Carter did an outstanding job. I think that probably was the most important achievement in his presidency. And he worked very hard personally day in and day out to overcome the differences.

BLITZER: In the end, on that September 17, 1978, Egypt, the largest and militarily most powerful of Arab states agreed to make peace with its neighbor, Israel. The peace treaty was signed the following March at the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: This note from a reporter who was there. Despite the ups and downs of the peace process and the intense relationship between Israel and Egypt since then, the treaty remains in effect today. Tragically, Anwar Sadat was assassinated, paying for that peace with his life.

Our hot "Web Question of The Day" is this. Should government restrict building in hurricane-prone areas? You can vote right now cnn.com/wolf. We'll have the result when is we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

Now, here's how you're weighing in on the "Web Question of The Day." We've been asking you this, should government restrict building in hurricane prone areas?

Look at this, 44 percent of you say, yes, 56 percent say, no. As always, we tell you this is not, repeat not, a scientific poll.

A reminder you can catch us everyday, WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, weekdays 5:00 p.m. Eastern. I am also here everyday noon Eastern. Tomorrow special coverage of course of the here in Washington.

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