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CNN Live At Daybreak

Hurricane Juan Downgraded to Tropical Storm

Aired September 29, 2003 - 05:15   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: Let's talk a little bit more about Hurricane Juan now. As we've told you, it's been downgraded to a tropical storm, but not before it unleashed its fury on the Nova Scotia coastline.
Joining me live on the phone right now, Mark Johnson, who is the night manager of a hotel in Halifax, where many people have fled to seek refuge from the storm.

Good morning.

MARK JOHNSON, WESTIN, NOVA SCOTIA: Good morning.

COSTELLO: Tell us how full your hotel is.

JOHNSON: Well, right now it's at 96 percent occupancy.

COSTELLO: What's the weather like there now?

JOHNSON: Well, right now it's calmed down. It's a little bit breezy, but it's calmed down from what it was later -- earlier on this morning.

COSTELLO: Have you had a chance to peek outside and survey the damage?

JOHNSON: Yes, I went outside with security this morning and we saw some of the trees uprooted. Our parking lot booth is kind of crushed by a tree right now. There's some branches down.

COSTELLO: This is unusual, isn't it? Hurricanes usually don't hit the coast there.

JOHNSON: Yes, it is unusual. But we were prepared. We heard it was coming so we were prepared.

COSTELLO: Well, you know, here in the United States when we are expecting a hurricane, we shut cities down days in advance.

Did you guys do the same?

JOHNSON: No, we didn't shut anything down. It's shut down now, though, because most of the things are closed, the airport and the transit and stuff is closed so, but...

COSTELLO: Is it because you're pretty hardy people up there?

JOHNSON: I guess. I don't know. But we don't shut it down unless it's, you know, a snow storm or something. I don't know.

COSTELLO: So what will it be like today?

JOHNSON: So far we've got a lot of sick calls, not sick calls, but people unable to come in due to traffic and are unable to use the roads. But I think it's going to be OK. I think we're going to be OK.

COSTELLO: All right, Mark Johnson, who is the night manager of a hotel in Halifax where many people have sought refuge from Hurricane Juan.

We'll continue to update you about conditions there throughout the morning here on DAYBREAK.

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 29, 2003 - 05:15   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk a little bit more about Hurricane Juan now. As we've told you, it's been downgraded to a tropical storm, but not before it unleashed its fury on the Nova Scotia coastline.
Joining me live on the phone right now, Mark Johnson, who is the night manager of a hotel in Halifax, where many people have fled to seek refuge from the storm.

Good morning.

MARK JOHNSON, WESTIN, NOVA SCOTIA: Good morning.

COSTELLO: Tell us how full your hotel is.

JOHNSON: Well, right now it's at 96 percent occupancy.

COSTELLO: What's the weather like there now?

JOHNSON: Well, right now it's calmed down. It's a little bit breezy, but it's calmed down from what it was later -- earlier on this morning.

COSTELLO: Have you had a chance to peek outside and survey the damage?

JOHNSON: Yes, I went outside with security this morning and we saw some of the trees uprooted. Our parking lot booth is kind of crushed by a tree right now. There's some branches down.

COSTELLO: This is unusual, isn't it? Hurricanes usually don't hit the coast there.

JOHNSON: Yes, it is unusual. But we were prepared. We heard it was coming so we were prepared.

COSTELLO: Well, you know, here in the United States when we are expecting a hurricane, we shut cities down days in advance.

Did you guys do the same?

JOHNSON: No, we didn't shut anything down. It's shut down now, though, because most of the things are closed, the airport and the transit and stuff is closed so, but...

COSTELLO: Is it because you're pretty hardy people up there?

JOHNSON: I guess. I don't know. But we don't shut it down unless it's, you know, a snow storm or something. I don't know.

COSTELLO: So what will it be like today?

JOHNSON: So far we've got a lot of sick calls, not sick calls, but people unable to come in due to traffic and are unable to use the roads. But I think it's going to be OK. I think we're going to be OK.

COSTELLO: All right, Mark Johnson, who is the night manager of a hotel in Halifax where many people have sought refuge from Hurricane Juan.

We'll continue to update you about conditions there throughout the morning here on DAYBREAK.

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