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American Morning
Battling Wildfires; California Flooding; Flooding Fears; Medicare Confusion
Aired January 02, 2006 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, I'm Miles O'Brien.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Soledad O'Brien. Happy New Year, everybody.
There are wildfires raging across three southwest states right now. Tens of thousands of acres are burning and hundreds of people have been chased from their homes. We're live from the fire line this morning.
Water is the big problem farther west. Storms are bringing flooding and fear across California. We've got a live report from there as well.
M. O'BRIEN: New rules for Medicaid in the new year. We'll try to sort out this incredibly complex new system for you.
S. O'BRIEN: And a Florida high schooler finally back home. Went to Baghdad without telling his parents. We're going to tell you what took him on that nearly impossible journey.
M. O'BRIEN: And more on Baby Noor, the Iraqi infant is in the U.S. now for some much-needed medical help. We have the inspirational story on this AMERICAN MORNING.
S. O'BRIEN: What a cute little baby and so sick.
Welcome, everybody.
We're going to start this morning with those wildfires. They're scorching the southwest. In Texas, two entire communities burned to the ground. Other people in that line of the latest outbreak is being evacuated now.
Just take a look at this massive fire. It's west of Dallas. It's cutting a 35-mile long swathe across Eastland County. And it's the same story just north of Texas in Oklahoma. Fires there destroyed several homes last night. Firefighters finally were able to get the upper hand on that one. At least a dozen other fires are still burning though.
Let's take you to Oklahoma City this morning where we find CNN's Ed Lavandera. He's watching developments today.
Hey, Ed, good morning.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
Well quite a frightened evening yesterday as we're on the edge of this community on the northeast edge of Oklahoma City where wildfire came dangerously close to several homes in this area that is right behind us, several homes were destroyed here. Many people evacuated. They have been brought back now. The fire mostly under control. You still see some pockets of the fire.
But to give you a sense of what they're dealing with here, it's just typical wild grass here. You can tell how dry and brittle everything is. And this is fuel for all of these fires breaking out across these states. And these fires are quick moving.
We just did a quick pass through some of this neighborhood here. We have seen that many of the residents here are using their sprinkler systems and their garden hoses to try to wet down their yards. But that is no match for these fast-moving wildfires as the conditions here have been ripe in the afternoons for these wildfires.
High winds and low humidity and unseasonably high temperatures here have made this a very difficult stretch. From Oklahoma all the way down south of Austin, Texas, we've heard reports of fires, and into New Mexico as well.
And the governor of Oklahoma says that he will need federal assistance to help firefighters across this state to battle all the blazes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. BRAD HENRY, OKLAHOMA: I make this pledge to you, we will provide every form of assistance available. I'm asking President Bush to expedite approval of a federal emergency declaration.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAVANDERA: Firefighters are still on the scene here and on the northeast edge of Oklahoma City. In fact, firefighters from four different states across the United States have been called in to help backup the firefighters who have been working around the clock here for the last week or so. Some 30,000 acres of land have been scorched by the wildfires here in Oklahoma in the last week Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: My goodness. When you see these pictures, when they pull out that shot, Ed, really just devastating.
Ed Lavandera with an update for us.
Ed, thanks for the update -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: In northern California more terrible flooding this morning. Rivers will stay above flood stage until tomorrow. Two deaths blamed on the bad weather. First estimates on property damage, about $75 million in Napa and Sonoma counties.
Let's head to north of San Francisco now, Marin County. The town of San Anselmo.
AMERICAN MORNING's Bob Franken is there on this very early morning for him.
Good morning Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles.
And once again we see that people who moved to a certain area, come to a certain area to enjoy the beauties of nature oftentimes can see nature turn against them.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN (voice-over): This normally quaint town in Marin County 20 miles north of San Francisco was suddenly transformed into a muddy mess after the rain swollen San Anselmo Creek spilled over its bank.
SHAROL OLIVER, BUSINESS OWNER: The front door was pushed open about this much. That's how much force there was. It just -- it was dead bolted door and it just forced a warp in the door. So the water was really rushing hard here.
FRANKEN: Now, as the muck retreats, business owners like Sharol Oliver have their work cut out for them.
In picturesque wine country, in Napa and Sonoma counties, rivers overflowed five feet above flood stage. Officials estimate up to a thousand homes were damaged and countless businesses were destroyed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It takes a little while to recover from this and then there's always -- you know it smells here, too, after a while for like, I don't know, a month. It smells like the river. And the river smells nasty.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FRANKEN: And what we have here is a situation where these are areas where there are always a lot of people, a lot of traffic that's coming in, people who come to enjoy the region's beauty. But, Miles, right now, as you can imagine, with the weather the way it is that the traffic is outgoing.
M. O'BRIEN: I suppose so.
Bob Franken for us.
Thank you very much -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Let's take you now from northern California to southern California, same story there, rain, flooding, fears of mudslides. The rain is coming down right now in greater Los Angeles.
CNN's Jen Rogers in Santa Monica for us.
Hey, Jen, how's it looking there? JEN ROGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well right now it is windy and certainly very wet. We had some rain over the weekend as well. And of course we've been watching what's happening up in northern California because that is exactly what is headed here. Right now we do have flash flood watches in effect. We also have high surf and high wind advisories. This coming on top of the rain that we already had this weekend.
Major concern of course, possible landslides and mudslides in fresh burn areas from earlier this year. That will be closely monitored.
Most Californians right now are asleep sound in their beds. But for those that aren't, the major danger happens to be on the roads. Just talked to the California Highway Patrol. They say in just the last two hours of this storm they have already had more than double the number of accidents that they had the same time last week -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Jen, what a mess there. Let's talk a little bit about the Rose Parade in nearby Pasadena. Obviously they never get rain. I mean they always say we never get rain. It could rain for the first time in 51 years, right?
ROGERS: Exactly. There still are some people out there apparently on the parade route that are hoping that they're going to be able to dodge this bullet. But the way it looks right now, they are probably going to get their first rain in 51 years. And they already had to deal with that with all the setup as well. So very wet out there as well.
S. O'BRIEN: A total mess. All right.
Jen Rogers reporting for us this morning from L.A.
Thanks -- Jen.
M. O'BRIEN: With all that bad weather in that part of the world, mudslides are a very real threat. Heavy rain made for very dangerous driving in the Sierra Nevada. Take a look at these pictures, massive mudslides shut down entire highways there stranding motorists trying to get home after the holiday.
In Reno, Nevada, this is the worst flood they have had in nine years.
Sumi Das has the latest from Truckee, California, near the Nevada border.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUMI DAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): The Sierra Nevada ushered in 2006 with duel storms this weekend. The first brought heavy rains and caused a massive slide which trapped six tractor trailer rigs and temporarily shut down Interstate 80, a major thoroughfare for not only big rigs traveling from coast to coast but also for holiday travelers.
The California Department of Transportation scrambled to clear the mud and rocks away from the stretch of highway, which is just about five miles east of our location here in Truckee, California. Lanes in both directions of the Interstate reopened before the brunt of this current storm hit.
This storm is rather ill-timed, this week between Christmas and New Years is one of the busiest for the North Lake Tahoe region, and many started their trek back home yesterday. The exodus from the mountains is expected to continue today. It is expected to clog the interstate again as many offices and schools are still closed in observance of New Year's Day.
Sumi Das, CNN, Truckee, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
M. O'BRIEN: Which brings us to the weather and there's a lot more going on in the weather world this morning. Serious business.
Bonnie Schneider at the Weather Center with that.
Good morning -- Bonnie.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Miles.
(WEATHER REPORT)
S. O'BRIEN: What a mess there.
All right, Bonnie, thanks for the update across the nation this morning.
Really lots of bad news she's got to report.
Ahead this morning, we've got an update on that little baby, Baby Noor. The little Iraqi girl is now in the United States. She's waiting for surgery that could save her life. We're going to talk to doctors about her condition this morning.
M. O'BRIEN: What a sweetie there.
Also, the confusion over Medicare's new prescription drug plan which kicks in today. We'll look at the problems you or your parents or I suppose if you're old enough your kids could run into in signing up.
S. O'BRIEN: Also this morning, why buying a hybrid car in 2006 could save you more than just gas money. We'll explain just ahead as we continue right here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody.
Boy, I love a new year. Happy new year. (INAUDIBLE).
M. O'BRIEN: Yes, yes, it's a clean slate and all that stuff.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes, absolutely, which I appreciate.
M. O'BRIEN: But we're messing it up already, you know.
S. O'BRIEN: Actually only 13 minutes in it's a wreck.
M. O'BRIEN: Fifty minutes.
S. O'BRIEN: And welcome back, everybody.
Let's get right to Kelly Wallace. She's got an update on some of the top stories this morning.
Hello.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I sure do.
Hello to you and happy new year, everyone.
We're beginning in Iraq where a bus carrying some Iraqi police recruits was hit by a suicide car bomber earlier today. At least four people were killed and more than a dozen others injured in the attack north of Baquba. Some of the victims, we understand, are civilians. And Baquba is just about 35 miles north of Baghdad.
Also, word coming in to us this morning that four U.S. civilian contractors died Sunday in an accident in Iraq's Anbar Province. More information as we get it here.
So you remember this story, right, the Florida teenager who headed off to Iraq without his parent's knowledge? Well, he is back home today. Sixteen-year-old Farris Hassan returned to Miami Sunday after his three-week journey. You can see him there all smiles. Hassan had recently taken a course in immersion journalism and said he wanted to better understand the situation in Iraq. We'll have much more on this story throughout the morning here on AMERICAN MORNING.
To Syria now, United Nations investigation possibly reaching into the seat of power in Syria. Investigators looking into last February's assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. They want to interview Syria's president and also the country's foreign minister.
The decision coming days after Syria's former vice president told an Arab network that Syria's President, Bashar al-Asad, seen here, made direct, personal threats against Hariri. So far no response from the Syrian government to the interview request.
President Bush once again defending his domestic spying program. The president says the program only targets the international communications of Americans believed to have terrorist connections. Mr. Bush is back in Washington after spending the holiday break at his Texas ranch. And we'll hear much more about the president and this story from our Elaine Quijano at the half-hour.
In northern California, at least two deaths are blamed on storms that swept across the region. Streets looked like rivers over the weekend. You're seeing some pictures there. So far, damage estimates in the area are at about $10 million. The heavy rain and floods leaving behind lots of mud and debris. And as you see there, some people already trying to begin clearing up.
So what's the weather going to look like for our friends out west this morning?
Bonnie Schneider at the CNN Center with an update.
Bonnie, good morning to you.
I think we're having some problems getting to Bonnie, but we'll be back to her moments from now.
We have one other story we want to tell you about. This one coming to us from Boston, Massachusetts. And you may call this group of people adventurous. Some might call them crazy, I don't know. Hundreds taking a quick dip in Boston Harbor to celebrate the new year. It is an annual thing. And as you can see, look at that woman running out, it was a very quick dip. Temperatures in Boston in the low 20s on Sunday. Her face says it all.
So I think we're now back to it was cold. All right. I think Bonnie is now up.
SCHNEIDER: Yes.
WALLACE: Bonnie, what's it looking like for our friends out west?
(WEATHER REPORT)
M. O'BRIEN: All right thank you much, very much, Bonnie.
It's the biggest change to Medicare in the program's 40-year history. Seniors can now get prescription drug coverage under a new plan that took effect Sunday.
But as CNN's Chris Huntington tells us, many of those eligible for the drug benefits aren't covered, just confused.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS HUNTINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Lee and Mike Temares thought signing up for Medicare prescription drug benefits would be a cinch.
MIKE TEMARES, MEDICARE RECIPIENT: I thought from reading all the literature when this plan first came into effect, I thought I had it locked (ph).
HUNTINGTON: The president had joked about it. GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You've got to fill out a form.
HUNTINGTON: And TV ads featuring Fred and Ethel made it look easy.
ETHEL: Fred, you still need to choose a Medicare drug plan.
HUNTINGTON: Mike is 69 and no stranger to contracts as an adviser on reverse mortgages. Lee, 66, is a rare book dealer and completely at home on the Internet. But they were baffled by having to choose from 47 different drug plans offering a dizzying array of premiums, deductibles and coverage options.
LEE TEMARES, MEDICARE RECIPIENT: The Medicare site only lets you compare three plans at one time. So I started figuring out the math and how many times I would have to do that, and I said forget about it, I'm going to bed.
M. TEMARES: I don't know how to handle it.
HUNTINGTON: Mike tried calling the Medicare help line but says he was put on hold for three hours. Lee couldn't get on the Medicare Web site.
L. TEMARES: We're currently experiencing high traffic. Please try again later. Sorry for any inconvenience.
HUNTINGTON: Their frustration is not unique. Robert Hayes who runs the Medicare Rights Center says millions of seniors are having the same trouble.
ROBERT HAYES, MEDICARE RIGHTS CENTER: People in their 80s and 90s, people with severe disabilities, with cognitive impairments are being asked to figure out which of 40, in some cases 50 or 60 different plans, are best for them. They can't do it.
HUNTINGTON: Most of those eligible for the new drug plans have until mid May to sign up. The concern right now is for seven million Medicare recipients who are also very poor and therefore on Medicaid, which used to cover their prescriptions, they have been automatically enrolled into one of the new plans and should have been notified by now. The fear is that new plan may be worse than what they already had.
DENISE SOFFELL, COMMUNITY SERVICE SOCIETY: They're going to go to their pharmacy on January 2 and who knows what's going to happen. They may or may not know what plan they are in. They may or may not know whether the drugs that they are currently taking are covered by the plan that they were randomly assigned into.
HUNTINGTON: Medicare administrators insist they are looking out for those who might get lost in the shuffle.
LESLIE NORWALK, CTR. FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SVCES.: We work very closely with all the plans to make sure that they have appropriate transition policies.
HUNTINGTON: As for Mike and Lee Temares, they did finally pick a drug plan and it's better than no coverage at all. They're just not convinced it was worth all the trouble.
M. TEMARES: I don't think it's any place near where it should be.
L. TEMARES: Or what it could be.
HUNTINGTON: Chris Huntington, CNN, Manhasset, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
M. O'BRIEN: Coming up later on the program, important advise for you and your parents who are sure to be affected by the new program Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Well you're hoping to save a little money in 2006, you might want to check out a hybrid car. The government is doling out bigger tax credits for gas/electric vehicles this year, and the better the fuel efficiency, the more you get back. At least 13 vehicles are expected to qualify. How much is it worth? Credits range from $3,100 for the Toyota Prius to $250 bucks for the Chevy Silverado pickup. Some alternative fuel cars are also going to qualify as well.
Some business forecasters are predicting that 2006 is going to be a bearish year on Wall Street. The stock market closed today. On the last day of 2005, the Dow closed down 1.5 percent for the week. The Nasdaq also down nearly 2 percent. The S&P 500 fell more than 1.6 percent.
Investors also disappointed, there wasn't that so-called Santa Claus rally, and that usually means that stocks are going to fall in the coming year. Some glimmers of hope, though, a job report that is expected to be positive and a possible surge from workers who are investing their year end bonuses. Could be a little silver lining there.
Kelly Wallace has a look at "Morning Coffee" ahead this morning.
Hey, girl.
WALLACE: Exactly. And this is the issue of which word should be banned for 2006. Well we have one group's idea. And at least one of those words, bad news for those of us at CNN. What are we talking about? Stay with us, we'll tell you here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
S. O'BRIEN: All right, Bonnie, thanks for the update.
M. O'BRIEN: Thank you, Bonnie. Time for "Morning Coffee." First "Morning Coffee" of 2006.
WALLACE: Exactly. And a new year, right, new resolutions, which we'll get to at some point this morning, but also new laws. A lot of new laws on the books today. And some are serious, some not very serious. Here are a couple of highlights.
California, this is a serious one, getting tough on the so-called gorilla paparazzi. Photographers will now be held liable for damages in cases where they are chasing celebrities to take their picture. This law came about after a photographer rammed into Lindsay Lohan's car while trying to get a key shot.
S. O'BRIEN: I remember that accident.
WALLACE: You do.
M. O'BRIEN: And they're not liable now?
WALLACE: Apparently they weren't until this...
M. O'BRIEN: You can bash into somebody's car.
WALLACE: Well obviously there could be certain cases that would be filed.
M. O'BRIEN: I see.
WALLACE: But now they for damages. And also I understand the publishers could also be held liable for damages.
S. O'BRIEN: All right, I agree with that law.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
WALLACE: All right, let's see what you think about this one. In Tennessee now convicted drunk drivers will have to pick up trash at the side of the road for one full day and they'll have to do it while wearing orange vests that say I am a drunk driver.
S. O'BRIEN: I don't know that that's harsh enough, because you know you kill somebody is that really one of the risk of no, it should be much more than that. For one day?
WALLACE: OK.
(CROSSTALK)
WALLACE: OK, final one here. Illinois now where you'll have to make way for the eastern tigers salamander because starting now it is the state amphibian.
S. O'BRIEN: Who knew?
WALLACE: Who knew? Well...
M. O'BRIEN: What happened to the snail darter (ph)?
WALLACE: It won.
M . O'BRIEN: Remember him? He's bummed right now.
(CROSSTALK)
WALLACE: The salamander winning a hard fought fight over the great tree frog for this coveted title.
M. O'BRIEN: And him.
WALLACE: All right, we want to get to this one because this is about the banned words and phrases for 2006. Words that were misused, overused, shouldn't be used anymore according to Lake Superior State University which puts out an annual list of words it thinks should be banned.
At the top of the list, hunker down. No more hunkering on down according to Lake Superior State University.
M. O'BRIEN: OK.
WALLACE: Also making the list, a couple of others. First time caller. You know you have...
S. O'BRIEN: Are you a first time caller? Welcome to the show.
WALLACE: I didn't know that...
(CROSSTALK)
M. O'BRIEN: I guess. But last year is that...
WALLACE: Yes.
M. O'BRIEN: Did it really peak last year?
WALLACE: And talking points.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes. Yes.
WALLACE: You know another network uses that word a little bit.
Miles, you might like this one, holiday tree.
M. O'BRIEN: Holiday tree, yes.
WALLACE: Holiday tree is out.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes, I think it had a brief moment in the sun, so to speak.
WALLACE: A couple of others which are interesting, person of interest which you know law enforcement talks about all the time.
M. O'BRIEN: Right.
WALLACE: FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management...
M. O'BRIEN: Right.
S. O'BRIEN: Well what else what are you going to say if you don't say FEMA? I mean we talk about FEMA all the time. That large...
M. O'BRIEN: That large...
S. O'BRIEN: ... federal organization.
M. O'BRIEN: ... agency. I don't know.
And what about...
WALLACE: And breaking news. Breaking news.
M. O'BRIEN: Breaking news.
S. O'BRIEN: What are we going to talk about in 2006? We're in trouble.
WALLACE: News that has just come in that we are now discussing.
S. O'BRIEN: It's so much easier to say, isn't it?
WALLACE: Yes, it is.
S. O'BRIEN: Kelly, thank you very much for that update.
WALLACE: Sure.
S. O'BRIEN: Those are pretty funny.
M. O'BRIEN: You know when news breaks we fix it.
S. O'BRIEN: Thanks for laughing, Phil (ph), we appreciate that.
Ahead this morning...
M. O'BRIEN: It's good to have Phil here, isn't it? I pay him well.
WALLACE: Sorry, Miles.
S. O'BRIEN: Kelly, thanks.
The latest on two big stories that we're keeping a close eye on for you this morning, those devastating fires in Oklahoma and Texas and also the flooding in northern California. Just how much is the situation -- how much worse is that situation going to get? We're going to take a look at that just ahead as we continue here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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