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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

Hurricane Ivan Arrives Upon Gulf Coast; CBS Still Under Fire for Bush-Natl. Guard Story

Aired September 15, 2004 - 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: Happening now. High winds, strong surf. You're looking at a live picture of Panama City, Florida. You're witnessing Hurricane Ivan as it approaches land. If you stay with CNN, you'll see hurricane force winds hit the Gulf coast. We're live in four states: Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana.
And we have brand new information just out from the National Hurricane Center. Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Ivan's arriving. Still offshore but knocking on doors along the Gulf coast, from the panhandle to Mobile...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've seen more hurricane preparedness this storm than I have ever seen in my life.

BLITZER: ... to Biloxi...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We just have to sit and wait now and see what happens.

BLITZER: ... and New Orleans.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are still implementing our disaster plans, getting prepared and trying to evacuate as many people as possible out of the city.

BLITZER: The next one's on the way. Meet Jeanne. Puerto Rico has already been introduced.

Black eye? A call for a congressional investigation of CBS News and those purported National Guard documents.

Martha Stewart makes a move.

MARTHA STEWART: And I will miss all of my pets, my two beloved fun-loving dogs, my seven lively cats, my canaries, my horses, and even my chickens.

BLITZER: Why she now wants to go to prison.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Wednesday, September 15, 2004.

BLITZER: From Louisiana all the way to Florida the U.S. Gulf coast is settling in for a brutal, ugly night. Strong winds are blowing off the Gulf of Mexico, and Hurricane Ivan is expected to make landfall before daybreak.

New Orleans is especially vulnerable because it's below sea level and tucked between the Gulf and Lake Pontchartrain. But right now Mobile, Alabama, is closest to the spot where the huge storm is expected to hit land.

We have reports standing by from CNN reporters all along the Gulf coast, including CNN's Kathleen Koch in Biloxi, Jason Bellini in New Orleans, and Rick Sanchez in Panama City. But let's start our coverage with CNN's Anderson Cooper. He's in Mobile -- Anderson.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the winds here in Mobile, Alabama, have really picked up. Just in the last couple of minutes, as I've been standing here, it has been raining steadily for several hours, but these winds coming off the bay, very -- getting very strong, some gusts.

We just took a reading of about 30 miles an hour. But those winds, as you know, are going to be about 135 miles an hour later this evening. Mobile is ready for this storm. They have seen this sort of storm before. Evacuations, mandatory evacuation orders have been under way now for a while.

Many residents have already left. But I was surprised earlier today as I was just driving around Mobile, a lot of people are still here. A lot of people telling me they just plan to ride this storm out. I was at a place that was selling ice. It was just about the only place left that was still selling ice. The line was stretched down the block. People waiting three, four hours just to buy one bag of ice.

You can't get gas, you can't get supplies here. Water is short. But it's going to get a lot worse -- Wolf.

BLITZER: CNN's Anderson Cooper reporting. And stay with CNN. Anderson will be live from this area throughout the night, including on "ANDERSON COOPER 360." That comes up at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. Anderson, thanks very much.

Let's check in on the situation about 60 miles to the west, Biloxi, Mississippi. That's where CNN's Kathleen Koch is standing by -- Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, a dusk-to-dawn curfew begins here in just two hours. So anyone who wanted to evacuate does not have much time. But believe it or not, there are plenty of residents on the Mississippi Gulf coast who prefer to ride out these hurricanes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KOCH: You're staying in your home a block-and-a-half from the beach. Is that wise?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I was there during Camille, and my wife wouldn't leave.

KOCH (voice-over): A.J. Holloway is the mayor of Biloxi, and his words are echoed by many hurricane veterans on the Mississippi Gulf coast.

In 1969 they stayed in their homes when Camille, the most devastating Category 5 hurricane to hit the U.S. in modern history, roared on shore with 200-plus mile-an-hour winds and a 24-foot storm surge. So they are unmoved by Ivan.

MICHAEL ALLARD, TREASURE BAY CASINO: I was here for Hurricane Camille back in '69. I know that was a Category 5 storm, but I was here for Hurricane Camille, and I'm well able to ride the storm out.

KOCH: On the mayor's quiet street, neighbors putter in the garden, take a romantic walk.

ELLEN NICOVICH, BILOXI RESIDENT: Well, mostly everyone is staying here right now except for the hurricane hunter, which lives next door. He's working. So he's gone. But mostly everyone is staying here.

KOCH: It's frustrating to emergency workers who wish the headlines and the traffic lines would motivate these residents, who, unlike most in Ivan's path, literally have seen and survived the worst Mother Nature can dish out.

(on camera): And what did they tell you?

JANE ZEHNER, AMERICAN RED CROSS: That they've seen it, that they've been through everything, that they're prepared to handle everything. A lot of times they don't take into account changing situations: pets, family members, small children, elderly parents that may now be living with them that may have a much harder time riding out a storm.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOCH: and as proof of this, hurricane survivor mindset a local TV station did a survey and found that 63 percent of its viewers plan to ride out this storm either at home or with a friend -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Kathleen Koch, reporting for us. Thank you.

No exaggeration to say millions of people are keeping an eye on Ivan, and nowhere more closely than at the National Hurricane Center in Coral Gables. Max Mayfield joining us once again.

You've just released a new update. Give us the latest information, Mr. Mayfield.

MAX MAYFIELD, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER: Wolf, it's not showing any signs of weakening whatsoever. It's still a very powerful Category 4 hurricane. And we used to associate extreme damage with a Category 4 hurricane. It's still headed northward, and the biggest concern right now is with the storm surge flooding near and to the east of where the center crosses the coast, which will likely be shortly after midnight tonight.

On our track that we have right now, and it could be a little bit left or right, but we're really concerned with that storm surge not just on the immediate coastline but pushing up into Mobile Bay. They could have easily that 10- to 16-foot storm surge all the way up to the head of the bay there.

BLITZER: So what, if anything, can people who live there now do if they haven't evacuated yet?

MAYFIELD: Well, hopefully, they've listened to the advice of local officials and already evacuated by this time. And then we have to worry about the wind as well here. The winds will likely spread well inland. The red area represents the hurricane force winds, and we think those will move inland as far as 100 miles or so.

But the tropical storm force winds will spread over a large area of the Florida panhandle, Alabama, and eastern Mississippi.

BLITZER: For how many hours will the people along the coast who are going to be hit by this hurricane -- what can they expect six hours, 12 hours? What kind of rainfall and wind velocities and waves -- what is the extent of the worst part of it, in other words?

MAYFIELD: Wolf, it's going to be all night long here. You know, if you're right dead center in the core of the hurricane, you know, it's nearly 200 miles across there. So at 10 or 15 miles per hour, it's going to be eight to 10 hours there. It's going to be a long, long night for some people.

And the winds over Mississippi, Alabama, Florida peninsula -- Florida panhandle, are still basically from the east. Once that eye gets near the coast and the winds come out of the south, that's when that storm surge will push inland, and I would expect the tremendous damage from the storm surge and the wave action on the immediate coastline.

BLITZER: I take it that people in New Orleans are going to be spared the worst, although it's by no means over for them.

MAYFIELD: That's right. If it stays on track, they can still have hurricane force winds or gusts of hurricane force, but this is not the worst case scenario. But we don't want to forget about all those people living outside of the levee system there in St. Bernard and Plaquemine's Parish.

You know, they're certainly going to have a storm surge, flooding there, and some strong winds even in New Orleans.

BLITZER: So the best assessment right now, Mr. Mayfield, is that once it hits landfall it will still be a Category 4?

MAYFIELD: That's our best guess now, Wolf. It could be borderline 3 or 4, but this has shown no signs of weakening yet.

BLITZER: Max Mayfield, good luck to you. Thanks very much for all your help.

MAYFIELD: Thank you.

BLITZER: Good luck to all the people down there.

CNN's Kareen Wynter is in Pensacola in the Florida panhandle. She's joining us now live with what's happening there. , it looks pretty wet.

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are already drenched, Wolf. We've been seeing some decline in the conditions here just within the last several hours alone. The wind has picked up but it's really the heavy rain here that we've been experiencing.

Again, coming to you from Pensacola, Florida. The shot behind me, it shows the roadways, which is quite barren at this hour. A lot of people have already packed up and hit the road.

Those who decided to stay here are seeking shelters in schools, hotels, even choosing to ride out the storm inside their own home as Ivan creeps closer.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WYNTER (voice-over): As Ivan closed in on Florida's panhandle, the final rush was on to board up and get out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're almost waiting for the storm so we get a day of rest.

WYNTER: Here in Pensacola, Florida, stubborn thrill-seekers anxiously awaiting Ivan gathered by the bay to check out the waves and capture the action.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know what's coming. I'm hoping that it doesn't hit us directly. But we're here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've been through a couple hurricanes, but this one looks like a monster.

WYNTER: Many of the 2 million residents of coastal Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida ordered to evacuate have heeded warnings as Ivan charges toward the Gulf Coast.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is the size of Frances, but the impact of Charley. So when you think about what could happen to our Panhandle area, combine those and use that as your criteria.

WYNTER: Forecasters predict the eye of the storm will make landfall Thursday, moving across Mobile Bay in Alabama, where residents spent the week getting ready.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've seen more hurricane preparedness this storm than I've ever seen in my life.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WYNTER: And with the wet rain here falling in such a heavy, consistent manner, one big concern already so early in the stage is the potential flooding in many of the low-lying areas around town here, Wolf. We are just about 100 yards away from Pensacola Bay. There are many low-lying areas. There are also homes in the vicinity. And you can bet officials are keeping their eye on that at this hour -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. Kareen Wynter. Be careful over there. Good luck to you.

We're going now to Gulf Shores, Alabama. Our national correspondent Gary Tuchman is standing by there. Gary, set the scene for us. What's going on?

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the conditions are deteriorating rapidly here, and we can tell you that Gulf Shores Beach, about 50 miles north of (AUDIO GAP). I'm standing on a wooden plank right now. Part of the fencing from the beach that has already floated into the street, there's logs rolling down the street. Basically, the streets -- much of the side streets here in this beach town (AUDIO GAP).

The winds start to pick up (AUDIO GAP) very heavily. But you can see here, this is a side street, and the water is already past my ankles, and this is nothing yet. We are just to the east of where this eye's supposed to cross. A Category 4 hurricane, the brunt of it, will hit this resort town, population 5,000. The last time they got hit by a major hurricane, 1979, Hurricane Frederick. Twenty-five years ago this week. A quarter century ago this week. That was a Category 3. There was immense damage. This is a Category 4. People, as you might imagine, Wolf, are very worried. Particularly the people who live in homes on the beachfront. Many homes, scores of them, on stilts sitting on the beachfront as these 135-mile-an-hour winds are getting ready to come in. Wolf, back to you.

BLITZER: Have they basically all left, Gary, or are they still hanging around, those people?

TUCHMAN: Wolf, it is amazing. Completely abandoned. We've gone up and down these flooded streets, we have not seen one civilian since we've been here.

BLITZER: Gary Tuchman, thanks very much. Gary Tuchman reporting from Alabama, the Gulf Coast there.

Gulf Coast hospitals making emergency preparations for the big hurricane. Are they prepared? The Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, he's standing by to join us live.

Plus, the dangerous storm surge. Dramatic images of what residents in low-lying cities may soon be facing. And the flooding could affect several states. Also ahead, controversial reporting. Calls for a congressional investigation. Yes, a congressional investigation into the CBS Bush documents flap.

And later...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEWART: It's odd what becomes of immense importance when one realizes one's freedom is about to be curtailed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Martha Stewart makes a surprising move to reclaim her life.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: You're looking at live pictures. Panama City, Florida, on the Florida Panhandle. The effects of Hurricane Ivan clearly already being felt. It's only going to get worse in the hours to come. Besides ferocious wind and sheets of rain, Ivan's biggest threat is its storm surge with cities like Mobile and Pensacola particularly vulnerable. CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen has more on that from the CNN Weather Center in Atlanta -- Dave.

DAVE HENNEN, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Thanks, Wolf. Yes, storm surge, that big wall of water that comes in advance of a hurricane, and it will be coming up quickly here in the next several hours. You get storm surge out in advance of a system.

Here's the normal sea level. As the hurricane comes in, the winds pick up the water and actually push it forward. You get this bulge of water right at landfall, when the eyewall itself makes landfall, and that's when you have the 130-mile-per-hour winds, that's when you get this tremendous surge of water that will move in, and some of the forecasts for the storm surge as Max Mayfield told you just a few minutes ago, as high as 15 to 16 feet.

We have an animation we have prepared. This shows you Mobile. If we can take a look at that animation, it will show you the rise in the water as the storm system approaches the Mobile area. In a Category 1 not too bad. As you can see, some of the areas here. If we take a closer look, you can see right along the coast we are seeing some of the water rise. Here's Mobile right here.

And as we go into a Category 3, much more serious flooding. You can see some of the barrier islands here begin to pick up some storm surge. And in a Category 4 much of that area underwater on the barrier islands, and look how far in a Category 5 -- hopefully, this storm will not make Category 5 status. You have the winds and the rain and that storm surge up that high. For Mobile itself, some of that city as well underwater in a Category 4 or 5 hurricane.

One more thing to show you here. I want to show you a keyhole animation. This shows you the area down just to the south. And as you can see -- well, we don't have the keyhole right now, but we can talk about the storm surge. Jacqui Jeras will be in in a few minutes, Wolf, to update you on the very latest.

BLITZER: All right. Dave Hennen, thanks for that explanation.

The federal government here in Washington already gearing up to deal with whatever Ivan may bring, not just emergency officials as you'd expect but also the Department of Health and Human Services. For more on that we're joined by the secretary, Tommy Thompson. He's at the operations room here in Washington at the headquarters. What exactly does HHS plan on doing to deal with the emergency situation, Mr. Secretary?

TOMMY THOMPSON, HHS SECRETARY: Well, Wolf, we have approximately 400 individuals already down in the area, doctors and nurses, radiologists, to backfill for the doctors and nurses that are going to have to take the brunt of the storm and make sure they take care of the patients.

We also, of course, on this map behind us have got 40 hospitals that are directly related. They're right in the path of the hurricane, Wolf. And these hospitals have been evacuated. We've got 90 other hospitals around the area that we're also watching very closely. As soon as the hurricane goes through, we have to go back in and we have to make sure that the hospitals are in good condition, be able to take care of patients and so on, move those patients back in. And of course, the doctors and nurses need to be spelled, and our people will be coming in. We also have hundreds of other volunteers ready to go in if in fact they're needed.

BLITZER: I take it that some patients, Mr. Secretary, they're on life support, they're in critical condition, in intensive care. Have these patients been moved to safer locations?

THOMPSON: Yes, they have, Wolf. And most of these hospitals behind me have been cleared out. There are 7,500 beds. And we're monitoring them. We're working very closely with the state health department and the state medical society to make sure that our doctors that can go where they're badly needed as well as our nurses.

BLITZER: What's your biggest fear? I assume deaths and injuries. But those numbers could be significant, significantly higher, God forbid, than what we saw in Hurricane Charley and Frances.

THOMPSON: Well, there's no question about that because this storm is moving so slowly and has so much power, and it's going to have such a surge capacity that you talked about. We're very concerned about drownings. We're very concerned about wind damage and individual people that have come back after the storm. We've also found that in most storms, Wolf, that a lot of individuals get injured and harmed very severely after the storm when they come back in. Our message to those individuals is please do not eat the food because the electricity's been out. Don't drink the water unless it's bottled water. Make sure that you are in good shape. Don't try and overexert because of strokes and heart attacks. And make sure that you don't go and try and cut down trees that you're not familiar with because we have so many accidents.

So we're doing all of these things to help protect the lives and the health of all of the citizens of that area.

BLITZER: And I know you're going to be there throughout the night, is that right, Mr. Secretary?

THOMPSON: That is correct. We'll be here monitoring it, Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. We will be in touch. Tommy Thompson, the secretary of health and human services. Good luck to you.

THOMPSON: Thank you.

BLITZER: And all the men and women under your command. Thanks very much.

We have much more live coverage coming up of Ivan ahead this hour as four states, four states bracing for this very dangerous hurricane. We'll talk live to the mayor of New Orleans.

Also, fresh fallout from those documents allegedly questioning the president's National Guard service. And new calls for a congressional investigation.

Plus, a key ruling on the resignation of New Jersey's governor. Stepping down after admitting an affair with another man.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: You're looking at live pictures of Panama City, Florida where the effects of Hurricane Ivan already being felt. Once again, we're watching what's going on. This hurricane about to get worse in four states along the Gulf coast. We'll get back to that in a moment.

But there's other news we're following as well. There may, may be a significant development in the flap over those documents aired by CBS News which allegedly show that President Bush ducked duty in the National Guard. Republican Congressman Christopher Cox of California is calling for a congressional investigation, suggesting that CBS News, and I'm quoting now, "aided and abetted fraud." His colleague, Congressman Roy Blunt, the Republican whip, is collecting signatures on a letter to CBS News, asking the network to retract the story.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ROY BLUNT (R), MAJORITY WHIP: Clearly, their sources aren't what they need to be, or they're not willing to reveal even the nature of who their sources are. Their experts don't really agree that these documents any longer are what they were purported to be.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Veteran CBS correspondent Bob Schieffer says the network needs to provide more information.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB SCHIEFFER, CBS NEWS: I think we have to find some way to show our viewers why they're not forgeries. I don't know how we're going to do that without violating the confidentiality of sources.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: So far CBS News is standing by its story. Let's turn to Howard Kurtz of "The Washington Post" and "CNN's Reliable Sources" for more. What are you hearing, Howie? We've been waiting all day for some sort of statement from CBS News. They still haven't released...

HOWARD KURTZ, HOST, "RELIABLE SOURCES": This elusive statement has not yet materialized, Wolf, although it's promised within the hour. CBS News is interviewing this afternoon the former secretary, the 86-year-old Marianne Knox (ph), to George W. Bush's former, now late squadron commander in the National Guard. This is the woman who told the "Dallas Morning News" and other news organizations that the documents are fake, that in fact the memos, which raise questions about the way Lieutenant Bush was being treated and evaluated in the Guard did reflect actual sentiments and perhaps even actual memos at the time but these particular documents, which "60 Minutes" has staked the story on, she says are fake.

So CBS is going to have to figure out a way to accommodate in its public statements the fact that a now key witness has surfaced contradicting part of the story.

BLITZER: There's a new level now, as we just reported, a possible congressional investigation. These Republican congressmen are already stating it as a fact that these documents are fake, that they're false, that they're forgeries. Can we get to that? Is that assumption evident already, that there's no doubt that these documents are fake?

KURTZ: It's not an undisputed fact at this point, Wolf. I understand Republican members of Congress wanting to jump on this, claiming unfair treatment of the president by CBS. But CBS has not yet climbed down from its position that it believes the documents are authentic.

However, there's been another major crack in the foundation of this "60 Minutes" story. I spoke last night with two women, two document examiners hired by CBS to look at those papers before "60 Minutes" went on the air. One of them, Emily Will (ph), told me that she raised a lot of red flags about the signature of the late commander, about the typography, about the letterhead looking different than other military documents, and she said that those concerns basically ignored, even though she told CBS that you can ignore what I'm saying now on Wednesday but on Thursday, meaning the day after last week's broadcast, hundreds of document examiners will be raising similar questions, and that in fact is what has happened.

BLITZER: The last time there were congressional hearings on a news media story to the best of my recollection was the recount in Florida and how the networks called that election and all of that. This is pretty serious stuff when Congress starts to investigate the news media.

KURTZ: It is, Wolf. I mean, understandably, it's a pretty serious charge for CBS to have leveled against the president of the United States in the middle of his re-election campaign, and we're not quite sure, I mean, we still have to see whether or not those charges hold up, whether those documents are now as suspect as they seemed to be. But for the government to get involved in demanding to know who their confidential sources were, in looking at how a news organization works, that has what we would classically call a chilling effect.

I don't think any news organization would welcome that. I think the rest of the media, my newspaper, "The Dallas Morning News," ABC News, which reached these document examiners first yesterday, has done a pretty good job of exposing problems with the CBS story. I don't know that we need Congress involved as well.

BLITZER: Howard Kurtz, thanks very much for your reporting. Thanks very much for joining us.

KURTZ: Thanks, Wolf.

BLITZER: Howie Kurtz anchors CNN's "RELIABLE SOURCES." That's seen every Sunday here on CNN, 11:30 a.m. Eastern.

The White House press secretary, Scott McClellan, today called the documents story part of a -- quote -- "orchestrated attempt by the Democrats and the Kerry campaign." President Bush was off the campaign trail, for his part, hosting an Hispanic heritage event over at the White House. He focused on political moves by Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, in the wake of recent terror attacks, warning that Russia must uphold the principles of freedom.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm also concerned about the decisions that are being made in Russia that could undermine democracy in Russia, that great countries, great democracies have a balance of power between central government and local governments.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry says he's taking the gloves off. And in a speech this afternoon in Wisconsin, he accused his rival of arrogantly ignoring the advice of a top general on Iraq. Earlier in Detroit, Kerry focused in on the economy and said the current president is the first in 72 years to lose jobs on his watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This president has created more excuses than jobs. His is the excuse presidency. His is the excuse presidency, never wrong, never responsible, never to blame. President Bush's desk isn't where the buck stops. It's where the blame begins.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Hurricane Ivan incoming. More coverage of this killer storm, including the latest forecast and reports from Panama City and New Orleans, that's coming up.

Also, a gruesome discovery in Iraq -- new details of the spiraling violence.

Plus, Martha Stewart's surprise announcement, what she said that caught almost everyone off guard. We'll have details.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

Residents on edge all along the Gulf Coast, as Hurricane Ivan moves closer to land. We'll get the latest track of Ivan and a second storm, Jeanne, that's now hitting Puerto Rico. We'll get to all of that.

First, though, a quick check of some other stories now in the news.

A gruesome discovery this morning in Iraq. Three decapitated bodies were found on a road north of Baghdad. The heads were nearby, the victims, all men. It's not known if they had been hostages. Investigators right now are trying to determine their identities.

In the Sunni Triangle just west of Baghdad, 11 Iraqis were killed as U.S. troops clashed with insurgents at Ramadi. The U.S. military says a Marine was also killed in action in Al Anbar Province.

Southeast of Baghdad in Suwayrah, at least two people died and 10 were wounded in a bombing at an Iraqi National Guard checkpoint.

Russia's prosecutor says a $35 bribe allowed a female suicide bomber to board one of those two Russian jetliners that blew up last month. The prosecutor says a man who illegally sold the Chechen woman a ticket paid the bribe to an airline official. All 90 people on the two planes were killed.

A federal judge is refusing to order a special election to replace New Jersey Governor James McGreevey. At a news conference last month, McGreevey said he had an extramarital affair with a man and would resign. The resignation is effective November 15, allowing a fellow Democrat to serve out his unexpired term.

Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

The waves are getting bigger, and they're pounding the beach harder in Panama City, Florida.

That's where CNN's Rick Sanchez is standing by -- Rick.

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Wolf.

We have been also reporting to you throughout the last couple of hours that there had been some tornadic activity in this area, and we have just had Bay County officials confirm that in fact there was a tornado that has touched down in the area of Thomas Road. That's not far from this particular area where we are right now.

This is what Bay County sheriff's office officials are saying. They're saying that there are injuries, that there may be people that they may have to try to get in and rescue that may be trapped in a building. That's what the official said. They also say that among those injured could possibly be Bay County sheriff's deputies. So, once again, there are injuries in what has been a tornado touchdown not far from the area where we are right now. Best report is that it happened sometime within the past half hour or so.

Police are on the scene now. We're hoping to be able to get a crew over there and get some more information as it becomes available. That's the very latest from the scene. We should also tell you, as you mentioned just moments ago, Wolf, that one of the things that we're going to be following is that storm surge that you may see behind me. And as we get more information on that, we'll be sharing it with you as well. There you see some of it -- Wolf, right back to you.

BLITZER: All right, Rick Sanchez in Panama City -- thanks, Rick. Be careful over there.

We want to keep you updated, our viewers, that is, on the latest information on Hurricane Ivan, already blasting parts of the Gulf Coast with very strong winds.

Our meteorologist, Jacqui Jeras, is tracking the storm from the CNN Weather Center in Atlanta -- Jacqui.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Wolf, well, you just heard Rick mention that possible tornado around Panama City. It was near Inlet Beach, and that was about five past the hour. It was spotted by law enforcement there.

And the threat is still out there. The tornado warning remains in effect for South Walton County. Some other cities that may be affected, Portland, New Home, and Mossy Head by 10 before the hour. So the tornado warning is in place. You can see on our radar picture here, it's just to the north and the east of Panama City. These storms are moving very quickly, about 55 miles per hour up to the north and to the west. We've had numerous warnings throughout this location all afternoon long as this outer band pushes through the area.

All of these individual storm cells have been pushing on shore and a lot of them have been showing signs of rotation. So this tornado threat is going to stay very strong throughout much of the evening and into the overnight. We're also look at some of these cells beginning to move toward Pensacola and over towards Mobile. And take a look down here into southwestern Georgia. We've had some occasional warnings here also.

So tornadoes are going to be a very big threat, we think, over the next couple of hours. Now, we do still have those strong winds moving on shore. We've got plenty of tropical storm force wind gusts. We think the hurricane force winds should be arriving within the next hour to hour and a half. We've been also talking about how satellite imagery has been showing some signs that it could be strengthening. The winds are still staying at 135 miles per hour.

But the central pressure has dropped just a little bit. Forecast track is staying the same. We think it should be making landfall through the overnight hours for tonight. Those hurricane watches remain in effect from Morgan City, or Grand Isle, rather, extending all the way over towards Apalachicola.

And we also have one other storm that we have to worry about, and this is Tropical Storm Jeanne. It's almost a hurricane already, with 70-mile-per-hour winds. It's battering Puerto Rico right now. It did make landfall, bringing about seven inches of rain across the island. They could see another three to five inches before it pulls out there. And we're going to have to keep our eyes, if you live in Florida, across the Carolinas, for potential impact, we think, about five to seven days from now -- Wolf.

BLITZER: And is it too early to predict where Jeanne might be heading along the U.S. coast?

JERAS: Yes, I think it is too early to say exactly where, but you know, Florida into the Carolinas. Right now, it appears it should stay into the Atlantic, rather than moving into the Gulf. It should be arriving in the Bahamas, we think, in about five days.

BLITZER: Let's hope it stays in the Atlantic. That's a good place for it.

JERAS: Yes.

BLITZER: Thanks very much, Jacqui Jeras, for that report.

They're saying Hurricane Ivan is the size of Frances with the impact of Charley. That means New Orleans has plenty to be afraid of. We'll speak with the mayor of that beautiful city, hear what his city is doing to get ready.

Also ahead:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARTHA STEWART, CONVICTED FELON: I suppose the best word you use for this very harsh and difficult decision is finality and my intense desire and need to put this nightmare behind me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Martha Stewart's surprising announcement. Find out what drove her to announce it. And we'll get to all of that. First, though, a quick look at some other news making headlines right now around the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): A court in Afghanistan has found three Americans guilty of torturing Afghans in a private jail. The accused ringleader and his right-hand man were each sentenced to 10 years. The third received eight years.

Back to class. Amid heavy security, students returned to classes today in the southern Russian city where a terrorist siege two weeks ago killed more than 300 hostages, half of them children. The survivors have been granted two months' leave, and many are receiving treatment in sanitariums at a Black Sea resort.

Day of the fox. Thousands of supporters of fox hunting clashed with police outside Britain's Parliament, while inside lawmakers voted to ban the controversial sport.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Suspended. Decision suspended.

BLITZER: At one point, several protesters burst into the House of Commons during a debate on the ban. The bill later passed by an overwhelming vote.

And that's our look around the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Hurricane Ivan, a deadly, deadly storm already in the Caribbean, now getting ready formally to hit the United States. The winds clearly making an impact in Panama City, Florida already. Take a look at these live pictures.

It looks like New Orleans will escape a direct hit from Ivan, but the low-lying city still could face some extremely serious storm- related problems.

CNN's Jason Bellini is there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON BELLINI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Wolf, the winds are now picking up, the storm clouds rolling in. We're on the Mississippi River, where the river has actually changed directions, the water coming in from the ocean as a result of the hurricane winds. All day today, we've seen people out on the streets, people who have not evacuated.

According to the mayor, there are over 100,000 people who've chosen to remain in the city or had no other way of getting out. I talked to a number of tourists who wanted to leave but weren't able to rent cars. They weren't able to get flights. The airport is now closed. The ports are now closed. And so their only option was to stay here, stay in a hotel. The mayor is encouraging people who are remaining to have options for what to do if the worst would occur, the worst being the Mississippi River overflowing its bank and submerging large parts of this city underwater -- Wolf.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Jason Bellini in New Orleans. And we're standing by. We hope to speak with the mayor of New Orleans momentarily. We'll get to that.

We're following other important news as well, including Martha Stewart. She's now ready to leave her legal troubles behind her as fast as she possibly can.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEWART: I must return to my good works and allow those around me who work with me to do the same.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: What she's doing to move the process along, that's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Hurricane Ivan already causing enormous problems along the Gulf Coast. One of the serious problems already under way in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

That's where Dave McNamara of our affiliate WWL has been standing by.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVE MCNAMARA, WWL REPORTER (voice-over): Hurricane Ivan is still well over 150 miles off the coast of Gulf Shores, Alabama. We're beginning to feel those tropical storm force winds. And look at the waves that are starting to roll in from the gulf here.

The surf has been steadily building since early this morning. Now, this island was ordered evacuated. As of noon today, the intercoastal canal bridge on and off of the island was closed. And look at the water that's washing over the public pier. For those of you familiar with Gulf Shores, this is the public beach area that's right at the end of the road. Every now and then, we get a wave that crashes over the flood wall here. It washes across the boardwalk.

And it's beginning to get close to some of the businesses that are across the street. The water that you see in the street which is mixed with sand is not from the rainfall. That's from waves that are already starting to cross -- crash across this beachfront road. And this is only the beginning of what people here expect to be a very ferocious storm. They have cut utilities to the southern part of Gulf Shores. Electricity, gas service has been cut off. That's in case buildings get washed off their foundations, you won't have the loose wires or broken gas lines that might start fires. Officials here want to minimize the danger of those type of incidents as they battle a ferocious hurricane.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: That report from our affiliate reporter Dave McNamara of WWL. Thanks, Dave, very much.

More on the hurricane coming up, but let's check some other news right now.

Martha Stewart announced today she's ready to go to prison. Stewart was sentenced in July to five months for a conviction on charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and lying to federal investigators about a stock sale.

CNN's Allan Chernoff has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Martha Stewart said she could no longer bear the suffering of having a five-month prison term hanging over her head. So her lawyers wrote to the judge, asking that Stewart begin serving her term as soon as possible.

STEWART: I suppose the best word to use for this very harsh and difficult decision is finality and my intense desire and need to put this nightmare behind me, both personally and professionally. I must reclaim my good life. I must return to my good works.

CHERNOFF: People close to Stewart say the deciding factor was a delay in her appeal, which means arguments to overturn her obstruction of justice conviction won't be heard until next year.

MARTIN WEINBERG, ATTORNEY FOR STEWART: They're going to judge this appeal on the merits, and we have an enormous amount of collective confidence in this appeal.

CHERNOFF: The Bureau of Prisons will now determine where Stewart will do time. She has asked for a minimum security camp in Danbury, Connecticut, not far from one of her homes.

(on camera): Martha Stewart has personal and professional reasons for beginning to serve. Her company has seen advertisers flee and the stock has been punished. On the announcement, the shares rebounded, but only by 1 percent at the day's close.

(voice-over): Ms. Stewart said she anticipates a tough five months, singling out the loss of companionship with her pets.

STEWART: I will miss all of my pets, my two beloved, fun-loving dogs, my seven lively cats, my canaries, my horses, and even my chickens. It's odd what becomes of immense importance when one realizes one's freedom is about to be curtailed.

CHERNOFF: Martha Stewart said she hopes to be out by March to plant her spring garden.

Allan Chernoff, CNN Financial News, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: We'll take a quick break. When we come back, more on Hurricane Ivan, specifically, New Orleans. I'll speak live with the mayor of that beautiful city.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

We're watching New Orleans very closely. Joining us now on the phone, the mayor of that beautiful city, Ray Nagin.

Mr. Mayor, thanks very much. What's happening from your vantage point right now?

RAY NAGIN, MAYOR OF NEW ORLEANS: Well, what's happening right now is that we have some pretty strong winds in the city and some rain, and we've implemented a curfew that's been in effect since about 2:00 p.m.

BLITZER: What do you anticipate? How badly will New Orleans be hit by this?

NAGIN: Well, we anticipate at least having tropical force storm winds, and we may run into some hurricane force winds, but we're not expecting the brunt of the storm, like we originally intended.

BLITZER: Flooding is always a problem in New Orleans because so much of the city is below sea level. Do you anticipate a serious flooding problem?

NAGIN: Well, we're starting to see some waters -- the lake has risen to the point where the waves have crested the sea walls, if you will, and they're running -- the water is going up the levee system, but it hasn't breached the levee system as of yet.

BLITZER: You've told people who can't really evacuate to undertake a vertical evacuation, go to higher ground. Is that still necessary, based on the course of this hurricane, as far as you can tell?

NAGIN: Yes. We're still encouraging our citizens to do that. And we have set up one shelter at the Superdome. And we dispatched some buses to pick some residents up, but the advice must be working because we only had a couple of busloads of people to come to the Superdome.

BLITZER: All right, the mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, good luck to you. Good luck to everyone in New Orleans.

NAGIN: Thank you. Thank you.

BLITZER: And, indeed, good luck to everyone along the path of this hurricane.

CNN's continuous coverage of Ivan begins later tonight with a two-hour special edition of "NEWSNIGHT." CNN will be live all night and into the morning with correspondents along the Gulf Coast and danger area, as Ivan makes landfall.

Thanks very much for joining us. To our Jewish viewers, happy new year.

"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.

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 15, 2004 - 17:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Happening now. High winds, strong surf. You're looking at a live picture of Panama City, Florida. You're witnessing Hurricane Ivan as it approaches land. If you stay with CNN, you'll see hurricane force winds hit the Gulf coast. We're live in four states: Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana.
And we have brand new information just out from the National Hurricane Center. Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): Ivan's arriving. Still offshore but knocking on doors along the Gulf coast, from the panhandle to Mobile...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've seen more hurricane preparedness this storm than I have ever seen in my life.

BLITZER: ... to Biloxi...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We just have to sit and wait now and see what happens.

BLITZER: ... and New Orleans.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are still implementing our disaster plans, getting prepared and trying to evacuate as many people as possible out of the city.

BLITZER: The next one's on the way. Meet Jeanne. Puerto Rico has already been introduced.

Black eye? A call for a congressional investigation of CBS News and those purported National Guard documents.

Martha Stewart makes a move.

MARTHA STEWART: And I will miss all of my pets, my two beloved fun-loving dogs, my seven lively cats, my canaries, my horses, and even my chickens.

BLITZER: Why she now wants to go to prison.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Wednesday, September 15, 2004.

BLITZER: From Louisiana all the way to Florida the U.S. Gulf coast is settling in for a brutal, ugly night. Strong winds are blowing off the Gulf of Mexico, and Hurricane Ivan is expected to make landfall before daybreak.

New Orleans is especially vulnerable because it's below sea level and tucked between the Gulf and Lake Pontchartrain. But right now Mobile, Alabama, is closest to the spot where the huge storm is expected to hit land.

We have reports standing by from CNN reporters all along the Gulf coast, including CNN's Kathleen Koch in Biloxi, Jason Bellini in New Orleans, and Rick Sanchez in Panama City. But let's start our coverage with CNN's Anderson Cooper. He's in Mobile -- Anderson.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the winds here in Mobile, Alabama, have really picked up. Just in the last couple of minutes, as I've been standing here, it has been raining steadily for several hours, but these winds coming off the bay, very -- getting very strong, some gusts.

We just took a reading of about 30 miles an hour. But those winds, as you know, are going to be about 135 miles an hour later this evening. Mobile is ready for this storm. They have seen this sort of storm before. Evacuations, mandatory evacuation orders have been under way now for a while.

Many residents have already left. But I was surprised earlier today as I was just driving around Mobile, a lot of people are still here. A lot of people telling me they just plan to ride this storm out. I was at a place that was selling ice. It was just about the only place left that was still selling ice. The line was stretched down the block. People waiting three, four hours just to buy one bag of ice.

You can't get gas, you can't get supplies here. Water is short. But it's going to get a lot worse -- Wolf.

BLITZER: CNN's Anderson Cooper reporting. And stay with CNN. Anderson will be live from this area throughout the night, including on "ANDERSON COOPER 360." That comes up at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. Anderson, thanks very much.

Let's check in on the situation about 60 miles to the west, Biloxi, Mississippi. That's where CNN's Kathleen Koch is standing by -- Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, a dusk-to-dawn curfew begins here in just two hours. So anyone who wanted to evacuate does not have much time. But believe it or not, there are plenty of residents on the Mississippi Gulf coast who prefer to ride out these hurricanes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KOCH: You're staying in your home a block-and-a-half from the beach. Is that wise?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I was there during Camille, and my wife wouldn't leave.

KOCH (voice-over): A.J. Holloway is the mayor of Biloxi, and his words are echoed by many hurricane veterans on the Mississippi Gulf coast.

In 1969 they stayed in their homes when Camille, the most devastating Category 5 hurricane to hit the U.S. in modern history, roared on shore with 200-plus mile-an-hour winds and a 24-foot storm surge. So they are unmoved by Ivan.

MICHAEL ALLARD, TREASURE BAY CASINO: I was here for Hurricane Camille back in '69. I know that was a Category 5 storm, but I was here for Hurricane Camille, and I'm well able to ride the storm out.

KOCH: On the mayor's quiet street, neighbors putter in the garden, take a romantic walk.

ELLEN NICOVICH, BILOXI RESIDENT: Well, mostly everyone is staying here right now except for the hurricane hunter, which lives next door. He's working. So he's gone. But mostly everyone is staying here.

KOCH: It's frustrating to emergency workers who wish the headlines and the traffic lines would motivate these residents, who, unlike most in Ivan's path, literally have seen and survived the worst Mother Nature can dish out.

(on camera): And what did they tell you?

JANE ZEHNER, AMERICAN RED CROSS: That they've seen it, that they've been through everything, that they're prepared to handle everything. A lot of times they don't take into account changing situations: pets, family members, small children, elderly parents that may now be living with them that may have a much harder time riding out a storm.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOCH: and as proof of this, hurricane survivor mindset a local TV station did a survey and found that 63 percent of its viewers plan to ride out this storm either at home or with a friend -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Kathleen Koch, reporting for us. Thank you.

No exaggeration to say millions of people are keeping an eye on Ivan, and nowhere more closely than at the National Hurricane Center in Coral Gables. Max Mayfield joining us once again.

You've just released a new update. Give us the latest information, Mr. Mayfield.

MAX MAYFIELD, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER: Wolf, it's not showing any signs of weakening whatsoever. It's still a very powerful Category 4 hurricane. And we used to associate extreme damage with a Category 4 hurricane. It's still headed northward, and the biggest concern right now is with the storm surge flooding near and to the east of where the center crosses the coast, which will likely be shortly after midnight tonight.

On our track that we have right now, and it could be a little bit left or right, but we're really concerned with that storm surge not just on the immediate coastline but pushing up into Mobile Bay. They could have easily that 10- to 16-foot storm surge all the way up to the head of the bay there.

BLITZER: So what, if anything, can people who live there now do if they haven't evacuated yet?

MAYFIELD: Well, hopefully, they've listened to the advice of local officials and already evacuated by this time. And then we have to worry about the wind as well here. The winds will likely spread well inland. The red area represents the hurricane force winds, and we think those will move inland as far as 100 miles or so.

But the tropical storm force winds will spread over a large area of the Florida panhandle, Alabama, and eastern Mississippi.

BLITZER: For how many hours will the people along the coast who are going to be hit by this hurricane -- what can they expect six hours, 12 hours? What kind of rainfall and wind velocities and waves -- what is the extent of the worst part of it, in other words?

MAYFIELD: Wolf, it's going to be all night long here. You know, if you're right dead center in the core of the hurricane, you know, it's nearly 200 miles across there. So at 10 or 15 miles per hour, it's going to be eight to 10 hours there. It's going to be a long, long night for some people.

And the winds over Mississippi, Alabama, Florida peninsula -- Florida panhandle, are still basically from the east. Once that eye gets near the coast and the winds come out of the south, that's when that storm surge will push inland, and I would expect the tremendous damage from the storm surge and the wave action on the immediate coastline.

BLITZER: I take it that people in New Orleans are going to be spared the worst, although it's by no means over for them.

MAYFIELD: That's right. If it stays on track, they can still have hurricane force winds or gusts of hurricane force, but this is not the worst case scenario. But we don't want to forget about all those people living outside of the levee system there in St. Bernard and Plaquemine's Parish.

You know, they're certainly going to have a storm surge, flooding there, and some strong winds even in New Orleans.

BLITZER: So the best assessment right now, Mr. Mayfield, is that once it hits landfall it will still be a Category 4?

MAYFIELD: That's our best guess now, Wolf. It could be borderline 3 or 4, but this has shown no signs of weakening yet.

BLITZER: Max Mayfield, good luck to you. Thanks very much for all your help.

MAYFIELD: Thank you.

BLITZER: Good luck to all the people down there.

CNN's Kareen Wynter is in Pensacola in the Florida panhandle. She's joining us now live with what's happening there. , it looks pretty wet.

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are already drenched, Wolf. We've been seeing some decline in the conditions here just within the last several hours alone. The wind has picked up but it's really the heavy rain here that we've been experiencing.

Again, coming to you from Pensacola, Florida. The shot behind me, it shows the roadways, which is quite barren at this hour. A lot of people have already packed up and hit the road.

Those who decided to stay here are seeking shelters in schools, hotels, even choosing to ride out the storm inside their own home as Ivan creeps closer.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WYNTER (voice-over): As Ivan closed in on Florida's panhandle, the final rush was on to board up and get out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're almost waiting for the storm so we get a day of rest.

WYNTER: Here in Pensacola, Florida, stubborn thrill-seekers anxiously awaiting Ivan gathered by the bay to check out the waves and capture the action.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know what's coming. I'm hoping that it doesn't hit us directly. But we're here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've been through a couple hurricanes, but this one looks like a monster.

WYNTER: Many of the 2 million residents of coastal Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida ordered to evacuate have heeded warnings as Ivan charges toward the Gulf Coast.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is the size of Frances, but the impact of Charley. So when you think about what could happen to our Panhandle area, combine those and use that as your criteria.

WYNTER: Forecasters predict the eye of the storm will make landfall Thursday, moving across Mobile Bay in Alabama, where residents spent the week getting ready.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've seen more hurricane preparedness this storm than I've ever seen in my life.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WYNTER: And with the wet rain here falling in such a heavy, consistent manner, one big concern already so early in the stage is the potential flooding in many of the low-lying areas around town here, Wolf. We are just about 100 yards away from Pensacola Bay. There are many low-lying areas. There are also homes in the vicinity. And you can bet officials are keeping their eye on that at this hour -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. Kareen Wynter. Be careful over there. Good luck to you.

We're going now to Gulf Shores, Alabama. Our national correspondent Gary Tuchman is standing by there. Gary, set the scene for us. What's going on?

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the conditions are deteriorating rapidly here, and we can tell you that Gulf Shores Beach, about 50 miles north of (AUDIO GAP). I'm standing on a wooden plank right now. Part of the fencing from the beach that has already floated into the street, there's logs rolling down the street. Basically, the streets -- much of the side streets here in this beach town (AUDIO GAP).

The winds start to pick up (AUDIO GAP) very heavily. But you can see here, this is a side street, and the water is already past my ankles, and this is nothing yet. We are just to the east of where this eye's supposed to cross. A Category 4 hurricane, the brunt of it, will hit this resort town, population 5,000. The last time they got hit by a major hurricane, 1979, Hurricane Frederick. Twenty-five years ago this week. A quarter century ago this week. That was a Category 3. There was immense damage. This is a Category 4. People, as you might imagine, Wolf, are very worried. Particularly the people who live in homes on the beachfront. Many homes, scores of them, on stilts sitting on the beachfront as these 135-mile-an-hour winds are getting ready to come in. Wolf, back to you.

BLITZER: Have they basically all left, Gary, or are they still hanging around, those people?

TUCHMAN: Wolf, it is amazing. Completely abandoned. We've gone up and down these flooded streets, we have not seen one civilian since we've been here.

BLITZER: Gary Tuchman, thanks very much. Gary Tuchman reporting from Alabama, the Gulf Coast there.

Gulf Coast hospitals making emergency preparations for the big hurricane. Are they prepared? The Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, he's standing by to join us live.

Plus, the dangerous storm surge. Dramatic images of what residents in low-lying cities may soon be facing. And the flooding could affect several states. Also ahead, controversial reporting. Calls for a congressional investigation. Yes, a congressional investigation into the CBS Bush documents flap.

And later...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEWART: It's odd what becomes of immense importance when one realizes one's freedom is about to be curtailed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Martha Stewart makes a surprising move to reclaim her life.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: You're looking at live pictures. Panama City, Florida, on the Florida Panhandle. The effects of Hurricane Ivan clearly already being felt. It's only going to get worse in the hours to come. Besides ferocious wind and sheets of rain, Ivan's biggest threat is its storm surge with cities like Mobile and Pensacola particularly vulnerable. CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen has more on that from the CNN Weather Center in Atlanta -- Dave.

DAVE HENNEN, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Thanks, Wolf. Yes, storm surge, that big wall of water that comes in advance of a hurricane, and it will be coming up quickly here in the next several hours. You get storm surge out in advance of a system.

Here's the normal sea level. As the hurricane comes in, the winds pick up the water and actually push it forward. You get this bulge of water right at landfall, when the eyewall itself makes landfall, and that's when you have the 130-mile-per-hour winds, that's when you get this tremendous surge of water that will move in, and some of the forecasts for the storm surge as Max Mayfield told you just a few minutes ago, as high as 15 to 16 feet.

We have an animation we have prepared. This shows you Mobile. If we can take a look at that animation, it will show you the rise in the water as the storm system approaches the Mobile area. In a Category 1 not too bad. As you can see, some of the areas here. If we take a closer look, you can see right along the coast we are seeing some of the water rise. Here's Mobile right here.

And as we go into a Category 3, much more serious flooding. You can see some of the barrier islands here begin to pick up some storm surge. And in a Category 4 much of that area underwater on the barrier islands, and look how far in a Category 5 -- hopefully, this storm will not make Category 5 status. You have the winds and the rain and that storm surge up that high. For Mobile itself, some of that city as well underwater in a Category 4 or 5 hurricane.

One more thing to show you here. I want to show you a keyhole animation. This shows you the area down just to the south. And as you can see -- well, we don't have the keyhole right now, but we can talk about the storm surge. Jacqui Jeras will be in in a few minutes, Wolf, to update you on the very latest.

BLITZER: All right. Dave Hennen, thanks for that explanation.

The federal government here in Washington already gearing up to deal with whatever Ivan may bring, not just emergency officials as you'd expect but also the Department of Health and Human Services. For more on that we're joined by the secretary, Tommy Thompson. He's at the operations room here in Washington at the headquarters. What exactly does HHS plan on doing to deal with the emergency situation, Mr. Secretary?

TOMMY THOMPSON, HHS SECRETARY: Well, Wolf, we have approximately 400 individuals already down in the area, doctors and nurses, radiologists, to backfill for the doctors and nurses that are going to have to take the brunt of the storm and make sure they take care of the patients.

We also, of course, on this map behind us have got 40 hospitals that are directly related. They're right in the path of the hurricane, Wolf. And these hospitals have been evacuated. We've got 90 other hospitals around the area that we're also watching very closely. As soon as the hurricane goes through, we have to go back in and we have to make sure that the hospitals are in good condition, be able to take care of patients and so on, move those patients back in. And of course, the doctors and nurses need to be spelled, and our people will be coming in. We also have hundreds of other volunteers ready to go in if in fact they're needed.

BLITZER: I take it that some patients, Mr. Secretary, they're on life support, they're in critical condition, in intensive care. Have these patients been moved to safer locations?

THOMPSON: Yes, they have, Wolf. And most of these hospitals behind me have been cleared out. There are 7,500 beds. And we're monitoring them. We're working very closely with the state health department and the state medical society to make sure that our doctors that can go where they're badly needed as well as our nurses.

BLITZER: What's your biggest fear? I assume deaths and injuries. But those numbers could be significant, significantly higher, God forbid, than what we saw in Hurricane Charley and Frances.

THOMPSON: Well, there's no question about that because this storm is moving so slowly and has so much power, and it's going to have such a surge capacity that you talked about. We're very concerned about drownings. We're very concerned about wind damage and individual people that have come back after the storm. We've also found that in most storms, Wolf, that a lot of individuals get injured and harmed very severely after the storm when they come back in. Our message to those individuals is please do not eat the food because the electricity's been out. Don't drink the water unless it's bottled water. Make sure that you are in good shape. Don't try and overexert because of strokes and heart attacks. And make sure that you don't go and try and cut down trees that you're not familiar with because we have so many accidents.

So we're doing all of these things to help protect the lives and the health of all of the citizens of that area.

BLITZER: And I know you're going to be there throughout the night, is that right, Mr. Secretary?

THOMPSON: That is correct. We'll be here monitoring it, Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. We will be in touch. Tommy Thompson, the secretary of health and human services. Good luck to you.

THOMPSON: Thank you.

BLITZER: And all the men and women under your command. Thanks very much.

We have much more live coverage coming up of Ivan ahead this hour as four states, four states bracing for this very dangerous hurricane. We'll talk live to the mayor of New Orleans.

Also, fresh fallout from those documents allegedly questioning the president's National Guard service. And new calls for a congressional investigation.

Plus, a key ruling on the resignation of New Jersey's governor. Stepping down after admitting an affair with another man.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: You're looking at live pictures of Panama City, Florida where the effects of Hurricane Ivan already being felt. Once again, we're watching what's going on. This hurricane about to get worse in four states along the Gulf coast. We'll get back to that in a moment.

But there's other news we're following as well. There may, may be a significant development in the flap over those documents aired by CBS News which allegedly show that President Bush ducked duty in the National Guard. Republican Congressman Christopher Cox of California is calling for a congressional investigation, suggesting that CBS News, and I'm quoting now, "aided and abetted fraud." His colleague, Congressman Roy Blunt, the Republican whip, is collecting signatures on a letter to CBS News, asking the network to retract the story.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ROY BLUNT (R), MAJORITY WHIP: Clearly, their sources aren't what they need to be, or they're not willing to reveal even the nature of who their sources are. Their experts don't really agree that these documents any longer are what they were purported to be.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Veteran CBS correspondent Bob Schieffer says the network needs to provide more information.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB SCHIEFFER, CBS NEWS: I think we have to find some way to show our viewers why they're not forgeries. I don't know how we're going to do that without violating the confidentiality of sources.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: So far CBS News is standing by its story. Let's turn to Howard Kurtz of "The Washington Post" and "CNN's Reliable Sources" for more. What are you hearing, Howie? We've been waiting all day for some sort of statement from CBS News. They still haven't released...

HOWARD KURTZ, HOST, "RELIABLE SOURCES": This elusive statement has not yet materialized, Wolf, although it's promised within the hour. CBS News is interviewing this afternoon the former secretary, the 86-year-old Marianne Knox (ph), to George W. Bush's former, now late squadron commander in the National Guard. This is the woman who told the "Dallas Morning News" and other news organizations that the documents are fake, that in fact the memos, which raise questions about the way Lieutenant Bush was being treated and evaluated in the Guard did reflect actual sentiments and perhaps even actual memos at the time but these particular documents, which "60 Minutes" has staked the story on, she says are fake.

So CBS is going to have to figure out a way to accommodate in its public statements the fact that a now key witness has surfaced contradicting part of the story.

BLITZER: There's a new level now, as we just reported, a possible congressional investigation. These Republican congressmen are already stating it as a fact that these documents are fake, that they're false, that they're forgeries. Can we get to that? Is that assumption evident already, that there's no doubt that these documents are fake?

KURTZ: It's not an undisputed fact at this point, Wolf. I understand Republican members of Congress wanting to jump on this, claiming unfair treatment of the president by CBS. But CBS has not yet climbed down from its position that it believes the documents are authentic.

However, there's been another major crack in the foundation of this "60 Minutes" story. I spoke last night with two women, two document examiners hired by CBS to look at those papers before "60 Minutes" went on the air. One of them, Emily Will (ph), told me that she raised a lot of red flags about the signature of the late commander, about the typography, about the letterhead looking different than other military documents, and she said that those concerns basically ignored, even though she told CBS that you can ignore what I'm saying now on Wednesday but on Thursday, meaning the day after last week's broadcast, hundreds of document examiners will be raising similar questions, and that in fact is what has happened.

BLITZER: The last time there were congressional hearings on a news media story to the best of my recollection was the recount in Florida and how the networks called that election and all of that. This is pretty serious stuff when Congress starts to investigate the news media.

KURTZ: It is, Wolf. I mean, understandably, it's a pretty serious charge for CBS to have leveled against the president of the United States in the middle of his re-election campaign, and we're not quite sure, I mean, we still have to see whether or not those charges hold up, whether those documents are now as suspect as they seemed to be. But for the government to get involved in demanding to know who their confidential sources were, in looking at how a news organization works, that has what we would classically call a chilling effect.

I don't think any news organization would welcome that. I think the rest of the media, my newspaper, "The Dallas Morning News," ABC News, which reached these document examiners first yesterday, has done a pretty good job of exposing problems with the CBS story. I don't know that we need Congress involved as well.

BLITZER: Howard Kurtz, thanks very much for your reporting. Thanks very much for joining us.

KURTZ: Thanks, Wolf.

BLITZER: Howie Kurtz anchors CNN's "RELIABLE SOURCES." That's seen every Sunday here on CNN, 11:30 a.m. Eastern.

The White House press secretary, Scott McClellan, today called the documents story part of a -- quote -- "orchestrated attempt by the Democrats and the Kerry campaign." President Bush was off the campaign trail, for his part, hosting an Hispanic heritage event over at the White House. He focused on political moves by Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, in the wake of recent terror attacks, warning that Russia must uphold the principles of freedom.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm also concerned about the decisions that are being made in Russia that could undermine democracy in Russia, that great countries, great democracies have a balance of power between central government and local governments.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry says he's taking the gloves off. And in a speech this afternoon in Wisconsin, he accused his rival of arrogantly ignoring the advice of a top general on Iraq. Earlier in Detroit, Kerry focused in on the economy and said the current president is the first in 72 years to lose jobs on his watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This president has created more excuses than jobs. His is the excuse presidency. His is the excuse presidency, never wrong, never responsible, never to blame. President Bush's desk isn't where the buck stops. It's where the blame begins.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Hurricane Ivan incoming. More coverage of this killer storm, including the latest forecast and reports from Panama City and New Orleans, that's coming up.

Also, a gruesome discovery in Iraq -- new details of the spiraling violence.

Plus, Martha Stewart's surprise announcement, what she said that caught almost everyone off guard. We'll have details.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

Residents on edge all along the Gulf Coast, as Hurricane Ivan moves closer to land. We'll get the latest track of Ivan and a second storm, Jeanne, that's now hitting Puerto Rico. We'll get to all of that.

First, though, a quick check of some other stories now in the news.

A gruesome discovery this morning in Iraq. Three decapitated bodies were found on a road north of Baghdad. The heads were nearby, the victims, all men. It's not known if they had been hostages. Investigators right now are trying to determine their identities.

In the Sunni Triangle just west of Baghdad, 11 Iraqis were killed as U.S. troops clashed with insurgents at Ramadi. The U.S. military says a Marine was also killed in action in Al Anbar Province.

Southeast of Baghdad in Suwayrah, at least two people died and 10 were wounded in a bombing at an Iraqi National Guard checkpoint.

Russia's prosecutor says a $35 bribe allowed a female suicide bomber to board one of those two Russian jetliners that blew up last month. The prosecutor says a man who illegally sold the Chechen woman a ticket paid the bribe to an airline official. All 90 people on the two planes were killed.

A federal judge is refusing to order a special election to replace New Jersey Governor James McGreevey. At a news conference last month, McGreevey said he had an extramarital affair with a man and would resign. The resignation is effective November 15, allowing a fellow Democrat to serve out his unexpired term.

Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

The waves are getting bigger, and they're pounding the beach harder in Panama City, Florida.

That's where CNN's Rick Sanchez is standing by -- Rick.

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Wolf.

We have been also reporting to you throughout the last couple of hours that there had been some tornadic activity in this area, and we have just had Bay County officials confirm that in fact there was a tornado that has touched down in the area of Thomas Road. That's not far from this particular area where we are right now.

This is what Bay County sheriff's office officials are saying. They're saying that there are injuries, that there may be people that they may have to try to get in and rescue that may be trapped in a building. That's what the official said. They also say that among those injured could possibly be Bay County sheriff's deputies. So, once again, there are injuries in what has been a tornado touchdown not far from the area where we are right now. Best report is that it happened sometime within the past half hour or so.

Police are on the scene now. We're hoping to be able to get a crew over there and get some more information as it becomes available. That's the very latest from the scene. We should also tell you, as you mentioned just moments ago, Wolf, that one of the things that we're going to be following is that storm surge that you may see behind me. And as we get more information on that, we'll be sharing it with you as well. There you see some of it -- Wolf, right back to you.

BLITZER: All right, Rick Sanchez in Panama City -- thanks, Rick. Be careful over there.

We want to keep you updated, our viewers, that is, on the latest information on Hurricane Ivan, already blasting parts of the Gulf Coast with very strong winds.

Our meteorologist, Jacqui Jeras, is tracking the storm from the CNN Weather Center in Atlanta -- Jacqui.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Wolf, well, you just heard Rick mention that possible tornado around Panama City. It was near Inlet Beach, and that was about five past the hour. It was spotted by law enforcement there.

And the threat is still out there. The tornado warning remains in effect for South Walton County. Some other cities that may be affected, Portland, New Home, and Mossy Head by 10 before the hour. So the tornado warning is in place. You can see on our radar picture here, it's just to the north and the east of Panama City. These storms are moving very quickly, about 55 miles per hour up to the north and to the west. We've had numerous warnings throughout this location all afternoon long as this outer band pushes through the area.

All of these individual storm cells have been pushing on shore and a lot of them have been showing signs of rotation. So this tornado threat is going to stay very strong throughout much of the evening and into the overnight. We're also look at some of these cells beginning to move toward Pensacola and over towards Mobile. And take a look down here into southwestern Georgia. We've had some occasional warnings here also.

So tornadoes are going to be a very big threat, we think, over the next couple of hours. Now, we do still have those strong winds moving on shore. We've got plenty of tropical storm force wind gusts. We think the hurricane force winds should be arriving within the next hour to hour and a half. We've been also talking about how satellite imagery has been showing some signs that it could be strengthening. The winds are still staying at 135 miles per hour.

But the central pressure has dropped just a little bit. Forecast track is staying the same. We think it should be making landfall through the overnight hours for tonight. Those hurricane watches remain in effect from Morgan City, or Grand Isle, rather, extending all the way over towards Apalachicola.

And we also have one other storm that we have to worry about, and this is Tropical Storm Jeanne. It's almost a hurricane already, with 70-mile-per-hour winds. It's battering Puerto Rico right now. It did make landfall, bringing about seven inches of rain across the island. They could see another three to five inches before it pulls out there. And we're going to have to keep our eyes, if you live in Florida, across the Carolinas, for potential impact, we think, about five to seven days from now -- Wolf.

BLITZER: And is it too early to predict where Jeanne might be heading along the U.S. coast?

JERAS: Yes, I think it is too early to say exactly where, but you know, Florida into the Carolinas. Right now, it appears it should stay into the Atlantic, rather than moving into the Gulf. It should be arriving in the Bahamas, we think, in about five days.

BLITZER: Let's hope it stays in the Atlantic. That's a good place for it.

JERAS: Yes.

BLITZER: Thanks very much, Jacqui Jeras, for that report.

They're saying Hurricane Ivan is the size of Frances with the impact of Charley. That means New Orleans has plenty to be afraid of. We'll speak with the mayor of that beautiful city, hear what his city is doing to get ready.

Also ahead:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARTHA STEWART, CONVICTED FELON: I suppose the best word you use for this very harsh and difficult decision is finality and my intense desire and need to put this nightmare behind me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Martha Stewart's surprising announcement. Find out what drove her to announce it. And we'll get to all of that. First, though, a quick look at some other news making headlines right now around the world.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER (voice-over): A court in Afghanistan has found three Americans guilty of torturing Afghans in a private jail. The accused ringleader and his right-hand man were each sentenced to 10 years. The third received eight years.

Back to class. Amid heavy security, students returned to classes today in the southern Russian city where a terrorist siege two weeks ago killed more than 300 hostages, half of them children. The survivors have been granted two months' leave, and many are receiving treatment in sanitariums at a Black Sea resort.

Day of the fox. Thousands of supporters of fox hunting clashed with police outside Britain's Parliament, while inside lawmakers voted to ban the controversial sport.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Suspended. Decision suspended.

BLITZER: At one point, several protesters burst into the House of Commons during a debate on the ban. The bill later passed by an overwhelming vote.

And that's our look around the world.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Hurricane Ivan, a deadly, deadly storm already in the Caribbean, now getting ready formally to hit the United States. The winds clearly making an impact in Panama City, Florida already. Take a look at these live pictures.

It looks like New Orleans will escape a direct hit from Ivan, but the low-lying city still could face some extremely serious storm- related problems.

CNN's Jason Bellini is there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON BELLINI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Wolf, the winds are now picking up, the storm clouds rolling in. We're on the Mississippi River, where the river has actually changed directions, the water coming in from the ocean as a result of the hurricane winds. All day today, we've seen people out on the streets, people who have not evacuated.

According to the mayor, there are over 100,000 people who've chosen to remain in the city or had no other way of getting out. I talked to a number of tourists who wanted to leave but weren't able to rent cars. They weren't able to get flights. The airport is now closed. The ports are now closed. And so their only option was to stay here, stay in a hotel. The mayor is encouraging people who are remaining to have options for what to do if the worst would occur, the worst being the Mississippi River overflowing its bank and submerging large parts of this city underwater -- Wolf.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Jason Bellini in New Orleans. And we're standing by. We hope to speak with the mayor of New Orleans momentarily. We'll get to that.

We're following other important news as well, including Martha Stewart. She's now ready to leave her legal troubles behind her as fast as she possibly can.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEWART: I must return to my good works and allow those around me who work with me to do the same.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: What she's doing to move the process along, that's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Hurricane Ivan already causing enormous problems along the Gulf Coast. One of the serious problems already under way in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

That's where Dave McNamara of our affiliate WWL has been standing by.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVE MCNAMARA, WWL REPORTER (voice-over): Hurricane Ivan is still well over 150 miles off the coast of Gulf Shores, Alabama. We're beginning to feel those tropical storm force winds. And look at the waves that are starting to roll in from the gulf here.

The surf has been steadily building since early this morning. Now, this island was ordered evacuated. As of noon today, the intercoastal canal bridge on and off of the island was closed. And look at the water that's washing over the public pier. For those of you familiar with Gulf Shores, this is the public beach area that's right at the end of the road. Every now and then, we get a wave that crashes over the flood wall here. It washes across the boardwalk.

And it's beginning to get close to some of the businesses that are across the street. The water that you see in the street which is mixed with sand is not from the rainfall. That's from waves that are already starting to cross -- crash across this beachfront road. And this is only the beginning of what people here expect to be a very ferocious storm. They have cut utilities to the southern part of Gulf Shores. Electricity, gas service has been cut off. That's in case buildings get washed off their foundations, you won't have the loose wires or broken gas lines that might start fires. Officials here want to minimize the danger of those type of incidents as they battle a ferocious hurricane.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: That report from our affiliate reporter Dave McNamara of WWL. Thanks, Dave, very much.

More on the hurricane coming up, but let's check some other news right now.

Martha Stewart announced today she's ready to go to prison. Stewart was sentenced in July to five months for a conviction on charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and lying to federal investigators about a stock sale.

CNN's Allan Chernoff has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Martha Stewart said she could no longer bear the suffering of having a five-month prison term hanging over her head. So her lawyers wrote to the judge, asking that Stewart begin serving her term as soon as possible.

STEWART: I suppose the best word to use for this very harsh and difficult decision is finality and my intense desire and need to put this nightmare behind me, both personally and professionally. I must reclaim my good life. I must return to my good works.

CHERNOFF: People close to Stewart say the deciding factor was a delay in her appeal, which means arguments to overturn her obstruction of justice conviction won't be heard until next year.

MARTIN WEINBERG, ATTORNEY FOR STEWART: They're going to judge this appeal on the merits, and we have an enormous amount of collective confidence in this appeal.

CHERNOFF: The Bureau of Prisons will now determine where Stewart will do time. She has asked for a minimum security camp in Danbury, Connecticut, not far from one of her homes.

(on camera): Martha Stewart has personal and professional reasons for beginning to serve. Her company has seen advertisers flee and the stock has been punished. On the announcement, the shares rebounded, but only by 1 percent at the day's close.

(voice-over): Ms. Stewart said she anticipates a tough five months, singling out the loss of companionship with her pets.

STEWART: I will miss all of my pets, my two beloved, fun-loving dogs, my seven lively cats, my canaries, my horses, and even my chickens. It's odd what becomes of immense importance when one realizes one's freedom is about to be curtailed.

CHERNOFF: Martha Stewart said she hopes to be out by March to plant her spring garden.

Allan Chernoff, CNN Financial News, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: We'll take a quick break. When we come back, more on Hurricane Ivan, specifically, New Orleans. I'll speak live with the mayor of that beautiful city.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

We're watching New Orleans very closely. Joining us now on the phone, the mayor of that beautiful city, Ray Nagin.

Mr. Mayor, thanks very much. What's happening from your vantage point right now?

RAY NAGIN, MAYOR OF NEW ORLEANS: Well, what's happening right now is that we have some pretty strong winds in the city and some rain, and we've implemented a curfew that's been in effect since about 2:00 p.m.

BLITZER: What do you anticipate? How badly will New Orleans be hit by this?

NAGIN: Well, we anticipate at least having tropical force storm winds, and we may run into some hurricane force winds, but we're not expecting the brunt of the storm, like we originally intended.

BLITZER: Flooding is always a problem in New Orleans because so much of the city is below sea level. Do you anticipate a serious flooding problem?

NAGIN: Well, we're starting to see some waters -- the lake has risen to the point where the waves have crested the sea walls, if you will, and they're running -- the water is going up the levee system, but it hasn't breached the levee system as of yet.

BLITZER: You've told people who can't really evacuate to undertake a vertical evacuation, go to higher ground. Is that still necessary, based on the course of this hurricane, as far as you can tell?

NAGIN: Yes. We're still encouraging our citizens to do that. And we have set up one shelter at the Superdome. And we dispatched some buses to pick some residents up, but the advice must be working because we only had a couple of busloads of people to come to the Superdome.

BLITZER: All right, the mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, good luck to you. Good luck to everyone in New Orleans.

NAGIN: Thank you. Thank you.

BLITZER: And, indeed, good luck to everyone along the path of this hurricane.

CNN's continuous coverage of Ivan begins later tonight with a two-hour special edition of "NEWSNIGHT." CNN will be live all night and into the morning with correspondents along the Gulf Coast and danger area, as Ivan makes landfall.

Thanks very much for joining us. To our Jewish viewers, happy new year.

"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.

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