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CNN Live At Daybreak
When Disaster Strikes; Testing the Superjumbo; Call for Help
Aired April 27, 2005 - 05:00 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, threats to the nation's chemical plants. Are we protected from potential terror attacks?
Plus, it's happened again and again in Florida. An Amber Alert is issued for a 12-year-old girl missing from a Tampa area motel.
Also, into the wild blue yonder. A massive double-decker jet is being tested this hour over southern France.
And here they come. It's a dog show with more than a few twists and turns.
It's Wednesday, April 27. You're watching DAYBREAK.
Good morning to you. From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
"Now in the News," an Algerian convicted of plotting to bomb the Los Angeles airport on the eve of the new millennium will be sentenced this morning. Ahmed Ressam was arrested as he entered the United States from Canada in December of 1999. Explosives were found in the trunk of his car.
In south central Afghanistan, a U.S. soldier is killed in a firefight with insurgents. A military spokesman says the soldier's unit was on patrol when it was ambushed.
At least 60 people have been killed, 30 others injured in a fiery accident involving a train and bus in Sri Lanka today. Authorities say the train split the bus in half and set it on fire.
And in southern France, just about 30 minutes ago, liftoff for the world's largest commercial airplane. A test flight for the new Airbus A-380. Ooh, you heard the cheers there. The passenger has -- the plane, rather, has two passenger decks and can carry up to 840 people.
Almost a century after American explorer Robert Peary reached the North Pole, five adventurers have repeated the journey, doing it five hours faster than the 37-day record claimed by Admiral Peary in 1909. And they were led by an American woman, Mattie McNair.
So congratulations to her and her team.
Chad, good morning.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Hey, are you good at French?
MYERS: Oui.
COSTELLO: OK. So get ready, be prepared, because soon I will ask you to say something in French.
MYERS: Oh, no.
COSTELLO: Parlez-vous Francais? That's all I know.
MYERS: Je m'appelle Claude en Francais. Which means my name is Claude in French. So I was called Dirt Claude (ph).
COSTELLO: OK. We'll get to that story in just a second. Thank you, Chad.
MYERS: OK. You bet.
COSTELLO: The top story this morning, though, of concern surfacing over potential terrorist targets in the United States. Just how safe are the nation's chemical production facilities? How about that large tanker truck driving next to you going into work, or trains' chemical tanks at that railroad crossing?
At 10:00 Eastern this morning, the Senate Homeland Security Committee hears testimony on the vulnerability of chemical and oil plants.
Say, heaven forbid, there is a terrorist strike on such a facility. Just what happens when disaster strikes, like at an oil production facility? Our Ed Henry traveled to Baytown, Texas, for a look at that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): People here call this the sound of money, but it is also the sound of danger. The oil industry pumps billions of dollars into the economy of Baytown.
Thirty miles east of Houston, the landscape is dotted with refineries and chemical plants, run by several corporations, like ExxonMobil. And with oil and gas lines everywhere, the petrol chemical coast is a rich target for terrorists.
ASST. CHIEF BERNARD OLIVE, BAYTOWN, TEXAS, FIRE DEPARTMENT: We know that the wolf is at the door. It may not be making sounds or anything like that, but we know it's there.
HENRY: Meet Assistant Fire Chief Bernard Olive, Baytown's emergency coordinator. He has 70,000 lives on his shoulders. It weighs on him. (on camera): Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night thinking about some of the horrific scenarios?
OLIVE: Sometimes I don't go to sleep at night thinking about some of the scenarios.
HENRY (voice-over): But people here are stoic. They're used to playing and praying in the shadow of refineries.
OLIVE: The federal government, when they get here, they'll be welcomed with open arms, believe me. But until that time arrives, we have a duty to our citizens.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Baytown 911. Your emergency?
HENRY: In an attack, the mobilization starts with a dispatched call to first responders and an SOS to officials.
GARY JACKSON, BAYTOWN, TEXAS, CITY MANAGER: We have a command and control meeting in our emergency operations center.
HENRY: Everyone at this table has a role, from the police chief, to health officials who are ready for mass injuries or worse.
JAMES PITCOCK, EMS DIVISION MANAGER: We would work with -- with our -- with Harris County Medical Examiner's Office. We'd also work with our local funeral homes.
HENRY: They'd scramble a new hazmat truck bought with federal money, and keep in close touch with industry officials.
PATTY FOWLER, ASSIST. EMERGENCY MGMT. COORDINATOR: It's a partnership. We handle what we do best, and we let them handle what they do best.
HENRY: The head of the Parks Department would have his staff direct traffic away from the disaster scene and bus people to shelters.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And we're able to get people out really quick.
HENRY: Olive can't designate shelter locations in advance because he has to make sure they're not in the danger zone. He'd prefer to pick schools instead of churches, because houses of worships have fewer bathrooms.
(on camera): No detail is too small in Chief Olive's plan. He even has a veterinarian on call to deal with pets. The department would use this truck and seven others just like it to race around town rescuing as many dogs, cats and even horses as possible.
(voice-over): He's also stockpiled necessities.
OLIVE: Toilet paper, hand soap, diapers, everything. HENRY: No plan's perfect, but the chief is driven by a devotion to fire fighting, like his grandfather, and a love of his community that runs through his veins like the oil that runs through the pipeline.
OLIVE: I've been in Baytown 55 years. It's -- my family is here. My friends are here. My church is here. Everything is here.
I'm one of them. And I want them to know me as a citizen, as well as an emergency management coordinator. Because a lot of times they'll tell you things over a plate of barbecue that they wouldn't tell you, say, in my office.
HENRY: So, this, too, is part of the job, judging at a chili cook-off. And the key to sampling 31 pieces of meat...
OLIVE: Little, little bites. And lots of crackers.
HENRY: Chief Bernard Olive brings the same no-nonsense approach to his work. As a boy, he met John Wayne, who was filming "Hellfighters" in these very oilfields. He still marvels at The Duke's swagger, and maybe a little bit of that has stayed with him.
OLIVE: Hopefully, our citizens in Baytown won't have to put up with excuses. They'll see performance. And that's what -- that's why I guess some people might have the added -- you know, thought that I might be a little rough. But I believe in performance. I don't believe in excuses.
HENRY: Ed Henry, CNN, Baytown, Texas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
In other news "Across America" this morning, Florida police are on the lookout for this 12-year-old girl who they say has been abducted. An Amber Alert was issued for Margarita Aguilar-Lopez. She was allegedly abducted by a 26-year-old man who was babysitting her at a Tampa-area motel.
She's an illegal immigrant living there with her brothers. Both of her parents are in Mexico.
Residents of Plainfield, Connecticut, are on alert in the wake of a massive mill fire in the area. People are being told not to touch debris from the fire because it might contain harmful asbestos. The fire in the abandoned building also caused the evacuation of hundreds of people living nearby.
A surrogate mother in Phoenix has given birth to those quintuplets. You may remember that the woman gave -- gave back the $15,000 surrogate fee because she figured the new parents would need the money. One of the newborns has a defective heart, but the other four are said to be doing just fine. Pretty soon possessing this piece of art could get you arrested in North Adams, Massachusetts. Take a look.
A city councilman is proposing an ordinance that would make the public display of such nudity illegal. But another councilman says nude art should not be censored.
The Airbus superjumbo is airborne. The world's largest passenger plane finally began its first test flight within the hour nearly four months after its flashy unveiling. For more on the plane, its impact, and the enormous sendoff, we're joined by CNN's Richard Quest. He's in France this morning.
Good morning, Richard.
RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Carol.
As we speak, the A-380, to give it its proper name, is now flying south towards the Pyrenees, over southern France, after a flawless liftoff here in Toulouse. The plane, weighing some 420 tons, lifted off just about 45 minutes ago. The crowd cheered. And a new era of aviation history was ushered in.
Now, in the U.S., no passenger airlines have fought the A-380. But two freight carriers, both FedEx and UPS, are large purchases of the plane, which will be used primarily on routes like the Trans- Pacific.
So, Carol, a great day in many ways for aviation. But for Boeing, perhaps somewhat of a sad day. The 747 is no longer the largest passenger plane in the air.
COSTELLO: No, it's not. So, tell us, are these planes going to be in use? I know that some companies have bought some.
When can we expect as passengers to use these planes?
QUEST: It will be interesting, Carol, because you're going to see it in certain key parts of the United States. And you're going to see quite a lot of them.
For instance, in the Northeast of the U.S., you'll see them at Kennedy Airport, you'll see them at Newark, as people like Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa and, for example, Singapore Airlines use them. Go out to the West of the country, and you will see them in places like San Francisco and Los Angeles.
LAX is already spending $53 million to widen its taxi ways, strengthen the runways, build news air bridges at the terminals. Because, you see, these planes are designed for those very highly- traveled, high-density routes, Singapore to LA, New York to Frankfurt, New York to London. And that is where certainly I think in the United States you're going to see a lot of A-380s: LA, Chicago, New York, possibly Miami, certainly San Francisco.
COSTELLO: OK. I'm going to ask you about cost. So how much does a ticket cost, do you think? Is it more than the normal plane?
QUEST: Well, the idea is that more passengers equals lest cost. Absolute nonsense. What's going to happen, of course, is they're going to keep the ticket price, certainly with oil over $55 a barrel.
No, I do not think you're going to see a dramatic reduction in cost. What you're going to see is greater usage of the same small amount of airspace and airports.
Oh, by the way, Carol, when you want to know what you want for your birthday, an A-380 will set you back about -- I would think -- now, let me just add this -- I need to -- oh, call it around a quarter of a billion dollars, $250 million.
COSTELLO: Yes. I know a lot of my friends would be able to afford that. I hope I get the planes with the minibars inside, though, and the big double beds. That would be grand.
Richard Quest, live from Toulouse, France, this morning. Thank you.
Why can't we be friends? That's the superjumbo question when it comes to American and French people. In the next hour of DAYBREAK, we'll be joined by the author of "The Arrogance of the French," why they can't stand us and why the feeling is mutual.
From the Iraq war to freedom fries to French wine boycotts, we'll take a look, a frank look at Franco-American relations. But we'll also have our tongues firmly planted in our cheeks.
Chad, that brings us to our DAYBREAK e-mail "Question of the Day." France, why can't we be friends? Or, we also have it in French -- go ahead.
MYERS: Or, we could say "ou" for "or." En Francais, pourquoi ne pouvons-nous pas etre des amis? -- Carol.
(CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: Let us know what you think. That was beautiful. Let us know what you think -- DAYBREAK@CNN.com. That's DAYBREAK@CNN.com.
Still to come on DAYBREAK this hour, making a splash. That's what safety officials want your kids to do safely.
Also, a desperate plea for help from the trunk of a car. Now police are asking if they could have done more.
And find out why this actress is getting panned for her performance off the screen. Oh, I'm sure you've heard what she said by now.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Wednesday morning, April 27.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) (JOINED IN PROGRESS)
COSTELLO: ... down 23. The German DAX down more than 24 points.
Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:17 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.
Chemical catastrophes and terrorism will be at the center of a hearing today on Capitol Hill. The Senate Homeland Security Committee will hear testimony on the possible outcome of terrorist attacks on chemical plants in the United States.
Later this morning, House Republicans are expected to discuss Ethics Committee rule changes that could lead to an investigation of Majority Leader Tom DeLay. A battle has been brewing with Democrats who claim rules were changed in January just to protect DeLay.
In money news, some of the new dollar bills have something the others did not. They're now being printed with the signature of the new U.S. treasurer, Anna Cabral. She's just the 16th treasurer to have her signature on your money.
In culture, will Conan O'Brien bring "The Tonight Show" back to New York City? Mayor Michael Bloomberg asked O'Brien to make the move when he takes over -- when he takes over the show from Jay Leno in 2009. "The Tonight Show" was originally done in New York, but Johnny Carson moved it to LA in 1972.
To Burbank, didn't he?
In sports, it was all about A-Rod at Yankee Stadium last night. Yes, Alex Rodriguez hit three homeruns and knocked in 10 runs, 10 RBIs. Needless to say, the Yanks clobbered the Angels 12-4. A-Rod becomes just the 11th player in history to have 10 or more RBIs in a game.
So maybe he's shaken off his slump this season, Chad.
MYERS: Carol, did you say RBIs with an "S" at the end?
COSTELLO: Oh, yes, it's runs batted in. I'm sorry.
MYERS: I know. You know, it's so annoying to hear, "He hit 17 RBI." It's like, huh?
COSTELLO: I know. It doesn't sound normal that way.
MYERS: It doesn't sound right. It's like, where's the plural on that?
COSTELLO: It should be RsBI.
MYERS: Well, I now it should be, but that sounds worse.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.
That's a look at the latest headlines for you this morning.
A suburban Chicago teenager spent the last moments of his life on his cell phone begging police to help save him. Now police are conducting an internal investigation to try to figure out if they had 911 dispatchers respond appropriately to the kidnapped teen's frantic calls for help.
CNN's Brian Todd brings us the dramatic details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From the trunk of a stolen car a 19-year-old desperately calls for help.
DAVID STEEVES, 911 CALLER: My name is David Steeves. Please find me.
911 OPERATOR: What's your name?
STEEVES: I'm in trouble right now. David Steeves. I'm on -- we're going fast man.
OPERATOR: Stay on the phone with me.
STEEVES: I'm in a trunk right now. I don't know where I'm at.
OPERATOR: All right. Stay on the phone man.
STEEVES: Oh my God. You guys, please help me. Please help me. Oh my God. Please help me.
TODD: That call on April 8th from David Steeves to 911 operators in Elgin, Illinois about an hour northwest of Chicago. After a few minutes the call is cut off. Police say the 911 operators tried to call Steeves back and connected at least once. Police say the operators and dispatchers relayed all the information they could immediately to units nearby. Here's one call from a dispatcher to police.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every time the call-taker tries to call the subject back he hangs up. He won't give his name the way we can understand what he's saying. All he says is he's moving fast and traveling South Street in the trunk of a green Toyota Corolla. And then he hangs up. Call-taker thinks it could be a prank, but isn't definite on it.
TODD: Elgin Police officials tell CNN that they diligently searched for Steeves' Toyota Corolla that night and several days afterward. Six days passed. On April 14th Steeve's body was discovered inside that same trunk at an apartment complex in Rockford, Illinois At least 40 miles away. He'd been shot to death. The motive, say police, robbery.
SGT. GLENN THERIAULT, ELGIN, ILLINOIS POLICE: Any murder and any robbery has only an innocent victim to it, and it's just senseless.
TODD: Elgin Police tell CNN they're conducting an internal investigation into the officer's response and the 911 operator's. Although the dispatcher at one point claimed Steeves was not saying his name in a clear manner, police believe he spelled out his name at least once.
Steeves' family has consistently voiced support for the Elgin Police, calling their efforts tireless and diligent. Two suspects, Robert Guyton and Armin Henderson, were picked up within days of Steeves' disappearance in an investigation that police say encompassed five counties.
Guyton and Henderson each face multiple counts of murder. Police officials tell us their internal investigation could take several weeks.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: They may not like it at first, but getting your children in the pool will teach them a valuable lesson. It's tough love, and parents are willing to test the water.
And words that have caused quite an uproar. An actress under fire for comments about 911.
It's all ahead on DAYBREAK.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Oh, it's a beautiful morning here in New York.
Chad, are you ready to laugh?
MYERS: Oh, I need to laugh today, Carol.
COSTELLO: Really?
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: Bad night?
MYERS: About three hours of sleep last night.
COSTELLO: That little baby of yours.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: He's not making it easy.
MYERS: He didn't want to sleep last night at all.
COSTELLO: OK. Well, then it is time to laugh.
MYERS: OK.
COSTELLO: Two world leaders holding hands -- remember that picture...
MYERS: Oh, yes.
COSTELLO: ... this week when President Bush met with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince? And, you know, "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno was all over that one, especially when his guest was first lady Laura Bush.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO": Are you the jealous type?
LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY: Well, yes, sometimes.
LENO: Yes. Because, like, I saw something. Now, well, you're here. This is something that happened in Crawford.
Can we show that footage?
BUSH: And I was out of town.
(LAUGHTER)
LENO: You see that? You know, I just wondered if you had seen that.
BUSH: I saw it on the front page of the newspaper today.
LENO: Yes. So you weren't shocked by that.
BUSH: It was actually very sweet.
LENO: No, I know. I'm just...
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: It was actually very sweet. She has a good sense of humor, doesn't she?
Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye Opener."
It looked like the running of the buffalo near Baltimore. Actually, this herd got loose, causing police to shut down a highway and intersections while they tried to round them up.
MYERS: They got them in a tennis court.
COSTELLO: Who knew. After two hours, police patrolmen and helicopters were finally able to herd the herd into a tennis court.
MYERS: Where's Ted Turner when you need him? He could have got 'em.
COSTELLO: That's right.
MYERS: He knows how to round them up.
COSTELLO: That's right. And he needed them in his (INAUDIBLE).
MYERS: No. These are pets.
COSTELLO: I don't know why the buffalo were in Baltimore. Who knows.
MYERS: And they're off.
COSTELLO: There were some precious pooches -- aren't they cute? This is in San Diego.
MYERS: Oh!
COSTELLO: Watch the end of the race. The dogs were taking part in the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge. Kind of like the doggie Olympics.
MYERS: Yes. Could have watched this -- I could have watched this all day. I like that long jump into the water. That was pretty cool.
COSTELLO: Cool. Man. Let's just keep watching this until it runs out.
Go, boy, go.
MYERS: That guy needs to lose a little around the hips before he can do that a little faster.
COSTELLO: OK. We have to move on.
MYERS: All right.
COSTELLO: You've heard of teddy bear picnics? I haven't. But anyway, maybe you have.
Now we've got the panda bear birthday party. Giant panda Pan Pan celebrated his 25th birthday in China.
MYERS: Oh.
COSTELLO: How long do you think it took to come up with the name Pan Pan for a panda? By the way, 25 in panda years is like 100 years for humans.
MYERS: There you go. Four to one.
COSTELLO: I have to read some e-mail. We're having a little fun this morning with French-American relations, because in the next hour of DAYBREAK we're going to interview the author of a book who's written about relations and not in a good way.
So our question this morning, why can't we be friends? Why can't we just get over the whole freedom fry thing?
You have some e-mails?
MYERS: I do. I've got one from Eric. He was correcting my French.
He said, "Technically, your question says, 'Why we cannot be friends?' It should say, 'Pourquoi ne pouvons-nous pas etre des amis?'" Which is probably even worse.
COSTELLO: You know, that's why we don't like the French, because they correct us all the time.
MYERS: Which is even a worse rendition of how I did it the first time. Four years of French down the drain.
COSTELLO: OK.
MYERS: Paul in Columbia, Missouri, says, "Why can't we be friends? Because we're both so obnoxious and neither one of us realizes it."
COSTELLO: Probably true.
This is from Jerry from Indiana, Pennsylvania. "I lived in France for some time. Always been a Francophile. I think the cause is mutual arrogance, perhaps even jealousy of one another."
Interesting.
We want more of your comments this morning. DAYBREAK@CNN.com. That's DAYBREAK@CNN.com.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired April 27, 2005 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, threats to the nation's chemical plants. Are we protected from potential terror attacks?
Plus, it's happened again and again in Florida. An Amber Alert is issued for a 12-year-old girl missing from a Tampa area motel.
Also, into the wild blue yonder. A massive double-decker jet is being tested this hour over southern France.
And here they come. It's a dog show with more than a few twists and turns.
It's Wednesday, April 27. You're watching DAYBREAK.
Good morning to you. From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
"Now in the News," an Algerian convicted of plotting to bomb the Los Angeles airport on the eve of the new millennium will be sentenced this morning. Ahmed Ressam was arrested as he entered the United States from Canada in December of 1999. Explosives were found in the trunk of his car.
In south central Afghanistan, a U.S. soldier is killed in a firefight with insurgents. A military spokesman says the soldier's unit was on patrol when it was ambushed.
At least 60 people have been killed, 30 others injured in a fiery accident involving a train and bus in Sri Lanka today. Authorities say the train split the bus in half and set it on fire.
And in southern France, just about 30 minutes ago, liftoff for the world's largest commercial airplane. A test flight for the new Airbus A-380. Ooh, you heard the cheers there. The passenger has -- the plane, rather, has two passenger decks and can carry up to 840 people.
Almost a century after American explorer Robert Peary reached the North Pole, five adventurers have repeated the journey, doing it five hours faster than the 37-day record claimed by Admiral Peary in 1909. And they were led by an American woman, Mattie McNair.
So congratulations to her and her team.
Chad, good morning.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Hey, are you good at French?
MYERS: Oui.
COSTELLO: OK. So get ready, be prepared, because soon I will ask you to say something in French.
MYERS: Oh, no.
COSTELLO: Parlez-vous Francais? That's all I know.
MYERS: Je m'appelle Claude en Francais. Which means my name is Claude in French. So I was called Dirt Claude (ph).
COSTELLO: OK. We'll get to that story in just a second. Thank you, Chad.
MYERS: OK. You bet.
COSTELLO: The top story this morning, though, of concern surfacing over potential terrorist targets in the United States. Just how safe are the nation's chemical production facilities? How about that large tanker truck driving next to you going into work, or trains' chemical tanks at that railroad crossing?
At 10:00 Eastern this morning, the Senate Homeland Security Committee hears testimony on the vulnerability of chemical and oil plants.
Say, heaven forbid, there is a terrorist strike on such a facility. Just what happens when disaster strikes, like at an oil production facility? Our Ed Henry traveled to Baytown, Texas, for a look at that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): People here call this the sound of money, but it is also the sound of danger. The oil industry pumps billions of dollars into the economy of Baytown.
Thirty miles east of Houston, the landscape is dotted with refineries and chemical plants, run by several corporations, like ExxonMobil. And with oil and gas lines everywhere, the petrol chemical coast is a rich target for terrorists.
ASST. CHIEF BERNARD OLIVE, BAYTOWN, TEXAS, FIRE DEPARTMENT: We know that the wolf is at the door. It may not be making sounds or anything like that, but we know it's there.
HENRY: Meet Assistant Fire Chief Bernard Olive, Baytown's emergency coordinator. He has 70,000 lives on his shoulders. It weighs on him. (on camera): Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night thinking about some of the horrific scenarios?
OLIVE: Sometimes I don't go to sleep at night thinking about some of the scenarios.
HENRY (voice-over): But people here are stoic. They're used to playing and praying in the shadow of refineries.
OLIVE: The federal government, when they get here, they'll be welcomed with open arms, believe me. But until that time arrives, we have a duty to our citizens.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Baytown 911. Your emergency?
HENRY: In an attack, the mobilization starts with a dispatched call to first responders and an SOS to officials.
GARY JACKSON, BAYTOWN, TEXAS, CITY MANAGER: We have a command and control meeting in our emergency operations center.
HENRY: Everyone at this table has a role, from the police chief, to health officials who are ready for mass injuries or worse.
JAMES PITCOCK, EMS DIVISION MANAGER: We would work with -- with our -- with Harris County Medical Examiner's Office. We'd also work with our local funeral homes.
HENRY: They'd scramble a new hazmat truck bought with federal money, and keep in close touch with industry officials.
PATTY FOWLER, ASSIST. EMERGENCY MGMT. COORDINATOR: It's a partnership. We handle what we do best, and we let them handle what they do best.
HENRY: The head of the Parks Department would have his staff direct traffic away from the disaster scene and bus people to shelters.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And we're able to get people out really quick.
HENRY: Olive can't designate shelter locations in advance because he has to make sure they're not in the danger zone. He'd prefer to pick schools instead of churches, because houses of worships have fewer bathrooms.
(on camera): No detail is too small in Chief Olive's plan. He even has a veterinarian on call to deal with pets. The department would use this truck and seven others just like it to race around town rescuing as many dogs, cats and even horses as possible.
(voice-over): He's also stockpiled necessities.
OLIVE: Toilet paper, hand soap, diapers, everything. HENRY: No plan's perfect, but the chief is driven by a devotion to fire fighting, like his grandfather, and a love of his community that runs through his veins like the oil that runs through the pipeline.
OLIVE: I've been in Baytown 55 years. It's -- my family is here. My friends are here. My church is here. Everything is here.
I'm one of them. And I want them to know me as a citizen, as well as an emergency management coordinator. Because a lot of times they'll tell you things over a plate of barbecue that they wouldn't tell you, say, in my office.
HENRY: So, this, too, is part of the job, judging at a chili cook-off. And the key to sampling 31 pieces of meat...
OLIVE: Little, little bites. And lots of crackers.
HENRY: Chief Bernard Olive brings the same no-nonsense approach to his work. As a boy, he met John Wayne, who was filming "Hellfighters" in these very oilfields. He still marvels at The Duke's swagger, and maybe a little bit of that has stayed with him.
OLIVE: Hopefully, our citizens in Baytown won't have to put up with excuses. They'll see performance. And that's what -- that's why I guess some people might have the added -- you know, thought that I might be a little rough. But I believe in performance. I don't believe in excuses.
HENRY: Ed Henry, CNN, Baytown, Texas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
In other news "Across America" this morning, Florida police are on the lookout for this 12-year-old girl who they say has been abducted. An Amber Alert was issued for Margarita Aguilar-Lopez. She was allegedly abducted by a 26-year-old man who was babysitting her at a Tampa-area motel.
She's an illegal immigrant living there with her brothers. Both of her parents are in Mexico.
Residents of Plainfield, Connecticut, are on alert in the wake of a massive mill fire in the area. People are being told not to touch debris from the fire because it might contain harmful asbestos. The fire in the abandoned building also caused the evacuation of hundreds of people living nearby.
A surrogate mother in Phoenix has given birth to those quintuplets. You may remember that the woman gave -- gave back the $15,000 surrogate fee because she figured the new parents would need the money. One of the newborns has a defective heart, but the other four are said to be doing just fine. Pretty soon possessing this piece of art could get you arrested in North Adams, Massachusetts. Take a look.
A city councilman is proposing an ordinance that would make the public display of such nudity illegal. But another councilman says nude art should not be censored.
The Airbus superjumbo is airborne. The world's largest passenger plane finally began its first test flight within the hour nearly four months after its flashy unveiling. For more on the plane, its impact, and the enormous sendoff, we're joined by CNN's Richard Quest. He's in France this morning.
Good morning, Richard.
RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Carol.
As we speak, the A-380, to give it its proper name, is now flying south towards the Pyrenees, over southern France, after a flawless liftoff here in Toulouse. The plane, weighing some 420 tons, lifted off just about 45 minutes ago. The crowd cheered. And a new era of aviation history was ushered in.
Now, in the U.S., no passenger airlines have fought the A-380. But two freight carriers, both FedEx and UPS, are large purchases of the plane, which will be used primarily on routes like the Trans- Pacific.
So, Carol, a great day in many ways for aviation. But for Boeing, perhaps somewhat of a sad day. The 747 is no longer the largest passenger plane in the air.
COSTELLO: No, it's not. So, tell us, are these planes going to be in use? I know that some companies have bought some.
When can we expect as passengers to use these planes?
QUEST: It will be interesting, Carol, because you're going to see it in certain key parts of the United States. And you're going to see quite a lot of them.
For instance, in the Northeast of the U.S., you'll see them at Kennedy Airport, you'll see them at Newark, as people like Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa and, for example, Singapore Airlines use them. Go out to the West of the country, and you will see them in places like San Francisco and Los Angeles.
LAX is already spending $53 million to widen its taxi ways, strengthen the runways, build news air bridges at the terminals. Because, you see, these planes are designed for those very highly- traveled, high-density routes, Singapore to LA, New York to Frankfurt, New York to London. And that is where certainly I think in the United States you're going to see a lot of A-380s: LA, Chicago, New York, possibly Miami, certainly San Francisco.
COSTELLO: OK. I'm going to ask you about cost. So how much does a ticket cost, do you think? Is it more than the normal plane?
QUEST: Well, the idea is that more passengers equals lest cost. Absolute nonsense. What's going to happen, of course, is they're going to keep the ticket price, certainly with oil over $55 a barrel.
No, I do not think you're going to see a dramatic reduction in cost. What you're going to see is greater usage of the same small amount of airspace and airports.
Oh, by the way, Carol, when you want to know what you want for your birthday, an A-380 will set you back about -- I would think -- now, let me just add this -- I need to -- oh, call it around a quarter of a billion dollars, $250 million.
COSTELLO: Yes. I know a lot of my friends would be able to afford that. I hope I get the planes with the minibars inside, though, and the big double beds. That would be grand.
Richard Quest, live from Toulouse, France, this morning. Thank you.
Why can't we be friends? That's the superjumbo question when it comes to American and French people. In the next hour of DAYBREAK, we'll be joined by the author of "The Arrogance of the French," why they can't stand us and why the feeling is mutual.
From the Iraq war to freedom fries to French wine boycotts, we'll take a look, a frank look at Franco-American relations. But we'll also have our tongues firmly planted in our cheeks.
Chad, that brings us to our DAYBREAK e-mail "Question of the Day." France, why can't we be friends? Or, we also have it in French -- go ahead.
MYERS: Or, we could say "ou" for "or." En Francais, pourquoi ne pouvons-nous pas etre des amis? -- Carol.
(CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: Let us know what you think. That was beautiful. Let us know what you think -- DAYBREAK@CNN.com. That's DAYBREAK@CNN.com.
Still to come on DAYBREAK this hour, making a splash. That's what safety officials want your kids to do safely.
Also, a desperate plea for help from the trunk of a car. Now police are asking if they could have done more.
And find out why this actress is getting panned for her performance off the screen. Oh, I'm sure you've heard what she said by now.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Wednesday morning, April 27.
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COSTELLO: ... down 23. The German DAX down more than 24 points.
Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:17 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.
Chemical catastrophes and terrorism will be at the center of a hearing today on Capitol Hill. The Senate Homeland Security Committee will hear testimony on the possible outcome of terrorist attacks on chemical plants in the United States.
Later this morning, House Republicans are expected to discuss Ethics Committee rule changes that could lead to an investigation of Majority Leader Tom DeLay. A battle has been brewing with Democrats who claim rules were changed in January just to protect DeLay.
In money news, some of the new dollar bills have something the others did not. They're now being printed with the signature of the new U.S. treasurer, Anna Cabral. She's just the 16th treasurer to have her signature on your money.
In culture, will Conan O'Brien bring "The Tonight Show" back to New York City? Mayor Michael Bloomberg asked O'Brien to make the move when he takes over -- when he takes over the show from Jay Leno in 2009. "The Tonight Show" was originally done in New York, but Johnny Carson moved it to LA in 1972.
To Burbank, didn't he?
In sports, it was all about A-Rod at Yankee Stadium last night. Yes, Alex Rodriguez hit three homeruns and knocked in 10 runs, 10 RBIs. Needless to say, the Yanks clobbered the Angels 12-4. A-Rod becomes just the 11th player in history to have 10 or more RBIs in a game.
So maybe he's shaken off his slump this season, Chad.
MYERS: Carol, did you say RBIs with an "S" at the end?
COSTELLO: Oh, yes, it's runs batted in. I'm sorry.
MYERS: I know. You know, it's so annoying to hear, "He hit 17 RBI." It's like, huh?
COSTELLO: I know. It doesn't sound normal that way.
MYERS: It doesn't sound right. It's like, where's the plural on that?
COSTELLO: It should be RsBI.
MYERS: Well, I now it should be, but that sounds worse.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.
That's a look at the latest headlines for you this morning.
A suburban Chicago teenager spent the last moments of his life on his cell phone begging police to help save him. Now police are conducting an internal investigation to try to figure out if they had 911 dispatchers respond appropriately to the kidnapped teen's frantic calls for help.
CNN's Brian Todd brings us the dramatic details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From the trunk of a stolen car a 19-year-old desperately calls for help.
DAVID STEEVES, 911 CALLER: My name is David Steeves. Please find me.
911 OPERATOR: What's your name?
STEEVES: I'm in trouble right now. David Steeves. I'm on -- we're going fast man.
OPERATOR: Stay on the phone with me.
STEEVES: I'm in a trunk right now. I don't know where I'm at.
OPERATOR: All right. Stay on the phone man.
STEEVES: Oh my God. You guys, please help me. Please help me. Oh my God. Please help me.
TODD: That call on April 8th from David Steeves to 911 operators in Elgin, Illinois about an hour northwest of Chicago. After a few minutes the call is cut off. Police say the 911 operators tried to call Steeves back and connected at least once. Police say the operators and dispatchers relayed all the information they could immediately to units nearby. Here's one call from a dispatcher to police.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every time the call-taker tries to call the subject back he hangs up. He won't give his name the way we can understand what he's saying. All he says is he's moving fast and traveling South Street in the trunk of a green Toyota Corolla. And then he hangs up. Call-taker thinks it could be a prank, but isn't definite on it.
TODD: Elgin Police officials tell CNN that they diligently searched for Steeves' Toyota Corolla that night and several days afterward. Six days passed. On April 14th Steeve's body was discovered inside that same trunk at an apartment complex in Rockford, Illinois At least 40 miles away. He'd been shot to death. The motive, say police, robbery.
SGT. GLENN THERIAULT, ELGIN, ILLINOIS POLICE: Any murder and any robbery has only an innocent victim to it, and it's just senseless.
TODD: Elgin Police tell CNN they're conducting an internal investigation into the officer's response and the 911 operator's. Although the dispatcher at one point claimed Steeves was not saying his name in a clear manner, police believe he spelled out his name at least once.
Steeves' family has consistently voiced support for the Elgin Police, calling their efforts tireless and diligent. Two suspects, Robert Guyton and Armin Henderson, were picked up within days of Steeves' disappearance in an investigation that police say encompassed five counties.
Guyton and Henderson each face multiple counts of murder. Police officials tell us their internal investigation could take several weeks.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: They may not like it at first, but getting your children in the pool will teach them a valuable lesson. It's tough love, and parents are willing to test the water.
And words that have caused quite an uproar. An actress under fire for comments about 911.
It's all ahead on DAYBREAK.
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COSTELLO: Oh, it's a beautiful morning here in New York.
Chad, are you ready to laugh?
MYERS: Oh, I need to laugh today, Carol.
COSTELLO: Really?
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: Bad night?
MYERS: About three hours of sleep last night.
COSTELLO: That little baby of yours.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: He's not making it easy.
MYERS: He didn't want to sleep last night at all.
COSTELLO: OK. Well, then it is time to laugh.
MYERS: OK.
COSTELLO: Two world leaders holding hands -- remember that picture...
MYERS: Oh, yes.
COSTELLO: ... this week when President Bush met with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince? And, you know, "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno was all over that one, especially when his guest was first lady Laura Bush.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO": Are you the jealous type?
LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY: Well, yes, sometimes.
LENO: Yes. Because, like, I saw something. Now, well, you're here. This is something that happened in Crawford.
Can we show that footage?
BUSH: And I was out of town.
(LAUGHTER)
LENO: You see that? You know, I just wondered if you had seen that.
BUSH: I saw it on the front page of the newspaper today.
LENO: Yes. So you weren't shocked by that.
BUSH: It was actually very sweet.
LENO: No, I know. I'm just...
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: It was actually very sweet. She has a good sense of humor, doesn't she?
Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye Opener."
It looked like the running of the buffalo near Baltimore. Actually, this herd got loose, causing police to shut down a highway and intersections while they tried to round them up.
MYERS: They got them in a tennis court.
COSTELLO: Who knew. After two hours, police patrolmen and helicopters were finally able to herd the herd into a tennis court.
MYERS: Where's Ted Turner when you need him? He could have got 'em.
COSTELLO: That's right.
MYERS: He knows how to round them up.
COSTELLO: That's right. And he needed them in his (INAUDIBLE).
MYERS: No. These are pets.
COSTELLO: I don't know why the buffalo were in Baltimore. Who knows.
MYERS: And they're off.
COSTELLO: There were some precious pooches -- aren't they cute? This is in San Diego.
MYERS: Oh!
COSTELLO: Watch the end of the race. The dogs were taking part in the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge. Kind of like the doggie Olympics.
MYERS: Yes. Could have watched this -- I could have watched this all day. I like that long jump into the water. That was pretty cool.
COSTELLO: Cool. Man. Let's just keep watching this until it runs out.
Go, boy, go.
MYERS: That guy needs to lose a little around the hips before he can do that a little faster.
COSTELLO: OK. We have to move on.
MYERS: All right.
COSTELLO: You've heard of teddy bear picnics? I haven't. But anyway, maybe you have.
Now we've got the panda bear birthday party. Giant panda Pan Pan celebrated his 25th birthday in China.
MYERS: Oh.
COSTELLO: How long do you think it took to come up with the name Pan Pan for a panda? By the way, 25 in panda years is like 100 years for humans.
MYERS: There you go. Four to one.
COSTELLO: I have to read some e-mail. We're having a little fun this morning with French-American relations, because in the next hour of DAYBREAK we're going to interview the author of a book who's written about relations and not in a good way.
So our question this morning, why can't we be friends? Why can't we just get over the whole freedom fry thing?
You have some e-mails?
MYERS: I do. I've got one from Eric. He was correcting my French.
He said, "Technically, your question says, 'Why we cannot be friends?' It should say, 'Pourquoi ne pouvons-nous pas etre des amis?'" Which is probably even worse.
COSTELLO: You know, that's why we don't like the French, because they correct us all the time.
MYERS: Which is even a worse rendition of how I did it the first time. Four years of French down the drain.
COSTELLO: OK.
MYERS: Paul in Columbia, Missouri, says, "Why can't we be friends? Because we're both so obnoxious and neither one of us realizes it."
COSTELLO: Probably true.
This is from Jerry from Indiana, Pennsylvania. "I lived in France for some time. Always been a Francophile. I think the cause is mutual arrogance, perhaps even jealousy of one another."
Interesting.
We want more of your comments this morning. DAYBREAK@CNN.com. That's DAYBREAK@CNN.com.
We'll be right back.
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