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Severe Weather Pounds Southeast; President Bush Visits Gulf Coast
Aired March 01, 2007 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello again, everyone. I'm Fredricka, live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And I'm T.J. Holmes here.
Watches and warnings and sirens, oh, my goodness -- a vast and volatile storm front is the news of the day. We have got it covered in the CNN Severe Weather Center and in the field.
You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
WHITFIELD: Severe weather, that is the lead story of the day.
And now we're hearing, while, just moments ago, we had sirens going off in Enterprise, Alabama, now we understand that that touchdown of a twister has been resulted some in some destruction at a high school there.
Our Reynolds Wolf is in the Severe Weather Center.
Reynolds, what do you know?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: We have had reports, again, of this tornado on the ground. I'm not surprised that that they have -- that there's going to be -- will be some damage. We're going to have more of these stories come to us as we make our way through the rest of the afternoon and the evening.
But that storm that we were talking about that caused the damage is right here in parts of -- now actually moving into Henry County, Alabama. We're going to zoom in on this area, if we can.
Guys, if we can zoom in on this area, we're going to -- this is the cell that we have been watching just over the last couple of -- say, the last half-hour to 45 minutes or so.
Thank you very much.
Pardon me, guys. New information just came in. Thank you very much.
We just have some new information that came in from the National Weather Service -- in Coffee County, about an eighth-of-a-mile-wide damage path through Enterprise, through Enterprise, the area we have been talking about where we have the destruction to the high school -- possibly dozens of homes damaged, based on radar. The radar went through Enterprise around 11:10 Central time -- or, rather -- I'm sorry -- 1:10 Central time, again this being from the National Weather Service.
One thing you have got to keep in mind, you have got a major artery that moves right through parts of southeastern Alabama. You have got a highway that doesn't show up here. It's called 231. And it's a major roadway where people take to leave this part of Alabama to go into Florida. They make their commute right through this route. Many of them are on their way home right now on the roads where these big cells are drifting on through -- a supercell moving into Abbeville.
We have the tornado warning now in effect for Henry County. We also have another cell popping up just east of Troy. Clayton, you're going to have having this hell -- this cell, rather, moving just through your neighborhood. I would have give it maybe 10 to 15 minutes. So, you certainly want to be advised.
Now, one good news -- one bit of good news out of this is, when this cell was moving through Enterprise, we did hear some tornado sirens going off. We have got that sound for you. And that's coming right now. Or maybe we don't.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm at the U.S. Army helicopter school in Fort Rucker, Alabama. We're doing a story about helicopter pilot training.
And you can probably hear the siren that has just picked up again in the background.
WOLF: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's a tornado warning, that a tornado has been spot, they say, about 15 miles from here at a nearby Army base. Everybody on the base here is being instructed to take cover. The helicopters are not flying today because of the weather. They have all been secured, chained down on the tarmac.
But, because of the dangerous weather conditions, people here at the Fort Rucker school are taking cover -- again, as you can hear, the siren warning everybody that they're going to have to stay in a secure area until they get the all-clear.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WOLF: Now, that is music to our ears. We like hearing those sirens go off, because that it is giving people warning.
You will remember, just a few weeks ago in Central Florida, near The Villages, we had tornadoes that struck a community in the middle of the night, and people had hardly any warning whatsoever, unless they happened to have a NOAA weather warning radio or they happened to be watching a local television station giving them advance warning.
So, whenever we hear those sirens, that is a good thing. And we certainly to -- you need to take cover immediately.
We are going to expand out of this view for just a moment. We have really been focussing on southeast Alabama. But we don't want to neglect other parts of the country that are really under the gun as well.
A few places -- we take you to West Point, Mississippi, southward into Aliceville, now just east of Philadelphia, Mississippi, a couple of large cells popping there -- no visual confirmations on these storms as well.
But the thing is, we now have warnings, not based on the visual confirmations. But, if the storm is rotating, it is capable of producing a tornado, some of these large, some of these having large tracks, so -- which is certainly something you want to watch out for.
We are going to expand a little bit more. We have had more of these storms pop up not along the Gulf Coast, not just in Alabama or Mississippi. We have had some of these up into portions of the Tennessee Valley, as well as the Ohio Valley, back into Birmingham. Back over here is Louisville. Here's Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Now, just to the west of Tuscaloosa, here is I-20. You have got Waynesboro. We have been tracking one moving, just about to move across the state line. Here is Thomasville, Alabama, not from the Alabama River, Monroeville.
Northward we go up into Tuscaloosa. Let's try to take another shot up here Tuscaloosa, near I-20. You have got Paul W. Bryant Drive, where they have had some scattered showers earlier out by Bryant-Denny Stadium. Some hail was reported. Now we have got that big cluster that is going to be moving through that sector. So, that's certainly something you want to watch out for.
Not a whole lot of activity in Florence yet or over in Cullman. But we're going to see more of that pop up through the afternoon. We have got fairly warm conditions. Certainly, it's not an 80-degree day, but with temperatures into the 60s and a few 70s popping up. And that boundary is still coming through, low-level jet tapping in later on today.
It's going to be, again, a very unstable atmosphere. And there will be the potential for more tornadoes. We have got some severe thunderstorm warnings that are popping up now in Kentucky. Here's Evansville. We have got the Ohio River southward into, let's see, Princeton -- Princeton.
You have got Madisonville, some large cells here as well. Many of these cells, even if they aren't producing tornadoes, certainly have the capability of producing damaging winds, large hail, heavy rainfall. So, we are going to see some flash flooding in low-lying areas. And that is also a dangerous situation.
Then, we take you up to the Twin Cities, southward to Des Moines. You take tornadoes completely out of the picture. We are talking about some snowfall. And by the time this snowstorm event could be over, we're talking about a foot of snowfall altogether.
So, we're looking at snow with this system, temperatures below the freezing point up in Minneapolis, southward into Des Moines, back in the Corn Belt, even into Cedar Rapids. It's going to be an icy mix, because, with the storm, you have the mixing bowl effect, area of low pressure pulling a lot of cold air right behind it.
At the same time, you get the moist air coming in from the Gulf of Mexico. You have that low pressure, that frontal boundary kicking in as one of the big lifting mechanisms. Then you bring in the low- level jet, hey, it's all coming together just to give us a crazy weather situation and something we're going to be watching like a hawk.
We're going to be on this like bug spray on boll weevils throughout the rest of the afternoon and evening.
(LAUGHTER)
WOLF: Let's send it back to you, guys.
WHITFIELD: You're so funny.
And speaking of boll weevils, we talk about, in Alabama...
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: ... the boll weevil monument.
Well, anyway, back to more serious matters involving Alabama in particular. We talk about Enterprise, Alabama, being an area where the sirens have been going off, where a tornado -- at least one -- has certainly touched down. We are continuing to work our sources to find out more about a high school in Enterprise, Alabama, which may have been hit.
And we're also learning that sources -- some sources are saying some emergency crews on the way to attend to some type of injuries in that area. Let's hope that Enterprise, Alabama, their high school and other schools, were evacuated, just like when we learned from the deputy police chief out of Ozark, Alabama; 75 percent of their schools had been evacuated as a result of the sirens going off.
Let's hope for the best out of Enterprise as well. We are continuing to work our sources to find out exactly what may have happened there in Enterprise, Alabama -- more when we get it.
HOLMES: All right.
And our CNN meteorologist Jacqui Jeras is at a busy spot today, the NOAA Storm Prediction Center in Norman, OK. And she is with us again.
And, Jacqui, certainly not a typical day around there.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: No, it's really not. And I have a little more information about what Fredricka was talking there about Enterprise, Alabama. We just got word here from the Storm Prediction Center that there was damage, that there are students possibly trapped inside the gymnasium at the high school there at Enterprise, also with possible injuries. So, that's coming in from the local National Weather Service there, passed along here to the Storm Prediction Center.
And know that all of your local offices work with the guys out of the Storm Prediction Center to get the best forecast and the best information out to you. And that is really the biggest area of concern right now, is southern parts of Alabama, southwestern parts of Georgia, and then on into the Panhandle of Florida.
And there you can see Crenshaw County, Alabama, just put under a tornado warning. So, the instant they hit return button on their warnings, that comes and pops up here, and we get the latest information.
We're also watching an area of some severe thunderstorms across central parts of Illinois. As the temperatures continue to heat up throughout the day here, we expect this activity to continue to pick up. So, we're certainly in the thick of things now, but things definitely could be getting worse before they get better.
Meteorologists here are forecasting new information. It look like Jack Hale (ph) here just got in a new surface map. And I think he is analyzing the conditions here in the atmosphere. I think he is probably looking at -- at how high the dew points are and how far up that moisture -- pardon me?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These are pressure falls.
JERAS: Pressure falls. OK, pressure falls.
So, when the pressure is dropping, that means the low-pressure storm system, the center of the storm, is getting closer, and you can anticipate weather conditions to continue to go down -- so, a developing situation right here.
We did just learn that possible injuries and maybe some students trapped in the gym in Enterprise, Alabama. If we get more information, of course we will bring that right to you.
HOLMES: Yes, thank you so much for that. We're just getting word of that. Jacqui, thank you so much for bringing us that information. And, certainly, we will be checking back in with you.
WHITFIELD: Alabama is not the only trouble spot. Rain, hail, and several tornadoes also raked eastern Kansas last night.
Quite a few buildings were damaged, and power lines were pulled down.
A little earlier, we spoke with Matt Chatelain, a storm chaser who got some pretty dramatic photos. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MATT CHATELAIN, STORM CHASER: And we get, like, huge adrenaline rushes from extreme weather. And, so, we get out there and get video. We love just watching it, what we have -- like, what we have witnessed, as far as weather goes.
WHITFIELD: So, Matt, we're looking at some of the images that you took, and, you know, clearly, very frightening images, in terms of the proximity you were to these storms.
Is there ever a point where you say, OK, we're a little too close right now, based on what we're seeing; let's make a run for it?
CHATELAIN: Yes, if we're in the path of it. At night, it's a little different, because, like, you're -- we're just relying on lightning.
But, usually, we're -- I mean, if you -- during the day, it's a lot more safe, and we can pretty much -- we have never been in trouble during the day. At night, well, it can be a different story. But we were fine...
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: When you take these images, what is it exactly you're trying to capture? What is it that some of these images are able to tell us about what the storm is about to do, what it did, what you can learn from it?
CHATELAIN: Well, I mean, we got a -- we're out there to warn people as well. And that's one part, and just, like, we have got to -- in order to understand what is happening with the weather, we have got to get out there and see what is going on. That's part of the reason we're out there as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Storm chaser Matt Chatelain taking a lot of chances there, so that everyone can learn about the science of tornadic activity.
Meantime, we are continuing to work our sources. And we're hoping to actually hear someone -- hear from someone, and bring them on the air here in the NEWSROOM to talk more about this high school out of Enterprise, Alabama, that has been hit today by a tornado -- more when we come right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, a lot of our focus here the past hour or so has been on Enterprise, Alabama, where we got reports of a tornado on the ground.
We're now getting reports of possible damage there to a high school. We don't want to -- we do want to talk now to a -- to someone who is a witness to this, an eyewitness to this.
Frank Wendt is on the line with us. He's the manager of the Creekside Market there in town.
And, sir, thank you for giving us a moment of your time.
I guess -- and glad to hear you're all right. But tell me what you see all around you. Do you see damage to your town there?
FRANK WENDT, RESIDENT OF ALABAMA: Where I'm located, you can't see any damage. Get a lot of reports from family members and employees, friends, and whatnot, of the high school apparently got some damage. There were a couple people stranded in there. I think they have been extracted now.
So, there is a meat market just down the road from us, I think, got leveled.
(CROSSTALK)
HOLMES: Well, sir, tell me what kind of a -- you all, as well, did you all get good warning, and were you able to take shelter?
WENDT: We didn't get much warning.
We had the radio going here. And my wife's store, who is next door, saw reports on the news out of Montgomery that there was conditions favorable for a tornado. They were covering -- we were just kind of watching out in the parking lot. You could see the winds coming in from both directions and the funnel cloud form. That's probably 500 or 600 yards down the road from us, you could see it forming.
HOLMES: All right.
And, sir, I want to go back to this high school for a minute. I understand -- I know you're not -- you're not there, but a small town, a small community, sometimes, a lot of information gets around just like that, word of mouth. So, just tell me what you're able to be -- and, sir, I am going to have to ask you to hold just a second...
WENDT: Sure.
HOLMES: ... because I'm going to need to go back to my meteorologist, who is getting another report of a tornado on the ground.
Where is this, Reynolds?
WOLF: This is -- this may be the same one. We were talking about the possibility of this being a long-track tornado, having a long -- a great deal of longevity on the ground.
We are going to zoom on this spot. This is near Abbeville, Alabama. Let's zoom in on this area. You follow a little bit farther to the north, this line you see here is the Chattahoochee River. And just northeast of Abbeville is the possible tornado.
Here is the latest we have for you. Emergency management in Henry County, Alabama, reported a tornado on the ground near County Road 133 -- again, County Road 133. That is just to the north of Abbeville. And this is Abbeville. That is a bit to the north. That is what we're looking at.
We're going to keep a very close eye on that. And what I want you to watch is not just that point, but also this fan that pulls away from the center of that system. So, if you happen to look across over into Georgia, the community of Cuthbert, I would certainly take cover immediately.
No warnings for you get in Dawson or Americus, but I would certainly go ahead and take cover as well. This storm has been -- this has been the same one we followed through Ozark, as well as Enterprise. Now, it's still spinning. It's still -- again, the reports that we're getting, it's been observed by emergency management in Henry County, Alabama.
And this storm is expected to cross over into Georgia. So, again, I would certainly take -- say, take cover in Cuthbert, as well as perhaps Eufaula. Over in Clayton, you have got some spinning storms as well -- up in Union Springs, scattered activity at this point.
Another warning, it just popped up. Let's take you a little bit farther to the north and back up to the northwest, still in the state of Alabama, however. We have got a warning for Pickens County in west central Alabama. This includes the city of Aliceville.
If we can pull away just a little bit more, take you back over towards Montgomery, and up to the north, here is Birmingham. Let's pull a little bit farther up. Here's Millbrook. Here we go, Jasper, and back over to Russellville. Here is the warning, right here. This is it, in Aliceville.
This is an area that is still under that warning from the storm we also have been watching going across the state line. We have got one to the -- in southeast Alabama, going from Alabama to Georgia. This one is going from Mississippi into Alabama. It's going to be that kind of day, folks.
The tornado watch for this area in effect until 7:00 p.m., but this warning is going to remain in effect for at least the next 30 minutes or so. The counties that are going to be affected with the watch area, you see them right here on the screen, but the tornado warning in effect for Pickens County in west central Alabama, including the city of Aliceville.
If you happen to be in Aliceville, you need to take cover immediately. The storm expected to be to near Carrollton by about 2:20 local time, near the communities of Reform and the communities of Gordon at 2:25.
Now, there's no visual confirmation on this particular storm. This is just Doppler-indicated. We have got rotation with the supercell. But the one, again, as I mentioned, in southeast Alabama has been reported by numerous sources. So, there is one that is definitely confirmed, one -- this one may be obscured by rain. You still need to take all these warnings seriously.
And we're going to be seeing these throughout Alabama, throughout much of the Southeast, upwards to the Ohio Valley. And, of course, the top half of the system, we're talking about heavy snowfall.
We have got a lot to share with you today. Make sure you sit tight. But, for now, let's send it back to the news desk.
HOLMES: All right, Reynolds, I do appreciate it.
(CROSSTALK)
HOLMES: And, of course, you are being able to give us a view of things there on the map and a wider scale of what is happening.
We're also getting a view of what is happening on the ground from a few eyewitnesses.
And Frank Wendt is who we were talking to, the manager there at Creekside Market in Enterprise.
And, sir, I know you said no damage, I don't think, to your place at all, and can't see, really, where you are. But just to -- to -- to take our viewers into it, we have been looking at maps and whatnot all day.
But what was it like? What -- what were you able to see and hear as this thing was passing through your town?
WENDT: We were -- we were standing right here at our window.
And you could see the wind coming in from the west and from the east, kind of meeting. And you could see the funnel cloud form, like I said, just down the road from us. We're on Highway 27, just up from Boll Weevil Circle. And you could see it forming down at the bottom of the hill.
And it -- apparently, from what we were hearing from friends and family, that it went towards Rucker Boulevard, over towards Fort Rucker, a military installation.
HOLMES: Yes, sir.
(CROSSTALK)
WENDT: ... pretty fair amount of damage.
HOLMES: All right. We -- we have our reporter there at Fort Rucker who was monitoring things as well.
And, yes, sir. Well, Frank Rendt -- Wendt, thank you for giving us some time and giving us and our viewers some insight into what was happening there on the ground. Glad to hear you and your place and you and your family, you and your wife are OK. Thank you so much.
WENDT: Thank you.
HOLMES: And, of course, stay here with CNN. A lot of news is happening. A lot of that is weather news.
We will continue to bring you those watches and warnings as they come in. But there they are -- our severe weather team going at, been going at it all afternoon, going at it hard, working hard there. So, they will continue to bring you the latest on this severe weather and let you know if you need to take cover.
Stay here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Take a look at the radar. See the stuff in red? That means tornado warnings, and, in the case of Enterprise, Alabama, it means at least one tornado has touched down.
We're getting reports that a high school was hit by a tornado. And initial reports indicate there are injuries. We're working our sources to get as much information as possible to update you on the severe weather hitting the southeast part of this country.
Meantime, President Bush is on the Gulf Coast again today, declaring -- quote -- "Times are changing for the better" eighteen months after Katrina. He ate lunch with local leaders. And, this afternoon, he is visiting a charter school in New Orleans, a city where most public schools have yet to reopen.
Our Sean Callebs is there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: These are the kind of images that the president will not see today. And school district officials say that is disappointing.
This is an elementary school that has simply been ravaged by the storm and by vandals, who broke in and stole all the copper wiring out of this cool. It is going to cost about a million-and-a-half dollars to do all the repairs.
And look in here at this classroom. It is a snapshot that is frozen in time. They had more than a foot of water in this building for some time. You can see where the children were told to leave their books underneath their desks, and get ready to come back after the hurricane, more than 18 months ago.
Well, despite all of this damage, there are students, there are educators who remain positive and who are helping foster real success stories.
(voice-over): Every day, Cornell Carney (ph) walks through the metal detector before going to class. This is part of student life at O. Perry Walter High School in New Orleans.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's the best school that I have ever been in.
CALLEBS: O. Perry Walker is one of the rare post-Katrina success stories.
MARY LAURIE, O. PERRY WALKER HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL: As citizens in this country, they have always been entitled to quality, free public education, not just free education, quality education.
CALLEBS: But O. Perry Walker still has its problems.
LAURIE: Well, to see this place harmed like this, you know, it's really disheartening.
CALLEBS: The auditorium is still flooded and in obvious need of repair. The school is one of 56 city schools that have reopened since the storm. This, too, is the face of New Orleans schools, Mary Bethune Elementary, one of 65 schools still closed. It's hoped it will reopen in the fall.
New Orleans has told FEMA it will take $418 million to repair and renovate damaged schools, but officials say FEMA has only provided $13 million for the work so far.
PHYLLIS LANDRIEU, SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT: We're really beginning to panic, quite frankly, about how we will continue to operate and continue to open schools and repair schools at the rate that we're going with getting reimbursed.
CALLEBS: And, for a school system still in tatters, panic is not what anyone needs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Schools are making a turn for the better. Everybody is trying to not go back to the pre-Katrina way. Everybody's trying to advance from the pre-Katrina.
CALLEBS (on camera): School officials say they are not being alarmist by using the word panic. Their big concern: If federal money doesn't start rolling in soon, renovations and repairs, like those needed in this elementary school, will simply come to a halt. And, eventually, they are going to reach the place where they can no longer place students...
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: All right, a little glitch there at the end, but we got the idea of his report there.
We want to now turn back to the -- the weather situation, the breaking weather we have been seeing all over the southeastern part of the country, specifically Enterprise, Alabama, where we got reports of a tornado on the ground, and also that a high school had been hit.
We do have a report now from WSFA, a local affiliate who talked to a man who was on the scene and who was a witness to some of that damage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I tell you, it's -- it's pretty bad here.
There -- it's a multi-building facility, and most of the roofs are gone. There are a lot of cars upside down. None of the cars have windows in them. It is -- and the neighbors -- or the streets right around the school, same situation, a lot of roofs missing. Everybody's car windows are blown out. It's pretty bad.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, now, what about the children? That's what everybody wants to know about, John. Have you heard anything about any injuries?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have not. I know that they have set up a safe haven somewhere within this facility -- vicinity.
I'm not sure -- I think -- I'm not sure where it is. So, I know they are taking some people there. Most of the medical activity is going on, on the other side of the campus from where I am. I can see them bringing in ambulances. But I'm not able to really tell what is going on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, are there ambulances at the high school right now?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, yes. I'm looking at a couple right now.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: John, are you seeing parents there? Do we have parents trying to figure out where their children are right now?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right. They sure are.
And, in fact, just a minute ago -- that's why I'm a little out of breath, from walking. But, just a few minutes ago, there was a couple of parents walking in front of me to the school. And they could not get to their daughter, but they did see her and were able to wave to her.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, we have heard, early on, that there might have been some kids trapped in the school. Did the roof blow off? Did it fall in? What can -- can you tell from where you are?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think you're going to find some of both of that.
And they're -- they're -- again, it's a multi-building facility. And, where I am, some of the roofs are intact, but I can see that some of the roofs some are -- are gone. And I can't tell if they have fallen into the building or were blown away.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: John...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But....
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm sorry, John. Go ahead.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was just going to say, I know that, on the other side of the campus, the whole time I have been here, there's just been a steady stream of sirens moving in and out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And, so, while you heard from that report that ambulances are responding at the high school that has been hit by the tornado, we also understand that, at a nearby hospital, people are simply walking in with their injuries.
On the line with us now, an administrator with Enterprise Medical Center, Toni Kaminski.
Thanks for your time, Toni.
So, give me an idea of how many people injured are you seeing as a result of this tornado hitting the area.
TONI KAMINSKI, ADMINISTRATOR, MEDICAL CENTER ENTERPRISE: I'm really not aware of how many people we're seeing at this time.
Our emergency room is a very, very busy place right now. We are operating under disaster protocols. So, we have had extra staff and extra physicians come in and -- and respond to this. We're seeing a variety of injuries being brought in by personally owned vehicles, as well as ambulances.
WHITFIELD: All right, describe some of those injuries.
KAMINSKI: We have seen lacerations. We have seen folks with tightness in their chests from the anxiety. Just a myriad of injuries at this point.
WHITFIELD: Are you able to give us any idea just how many among those injured were from that high school?
KAMINSKI: I'm sorry, I'm not at this point. You know, it is my understanding that there have been injuries at the high school. I've not been in the emergency department probably the last 30 minutes or so. We are seeing a variety of age and we began accepting patients shortly after the tornado passed over. We actually sustained some peripheral damage here, as well, but we, all of our employees and patients, visitors, everybody is OK.
WHITFIELD: Now that peripheral damage you talk about to your building, to that structure at that medical center?
KAMINSKI: Yes.
WHITFIELD: All right, in what area of your medical center? And I'm glad to hear you said it's not really hampering your emergency response efforts but...
KAMINSKI: No. We're operating on emergency power right now. I'm sure Alabama power is working as hard as they can to get us up on full power.
WHITFIELD: So it's a power issue.
KAMINSKI: We had glass breakage, we have some ceiling tiles, we have some office areas that have been damaged, windows blown out. There are trees down on roads all around us, so we are very closely monitoring the situation. It appears to be getting darker outside again as we speak.
WHITFIELD: All right, so there is some anticipation that the worst may not be over just yet. Toni Kaminski, administrator with Enterprise Medical Center, thanks for your time and we do understand you got a lot on your hands right now and you need to get back to work. Thanks so much.
KAMINSKI: Sure. Thank you very much.
HOLMES: All right we are covering a lot of weather today. We've been talking a lot about tornadoes here this afternoon, but that is not the only severe weather happening. How do you go from talking tornadoes to talking severe, severe snow conditions? Blizzard conditions even. You're looking at a live picture of Omaha, Nebraska where snow is the issue. We'll be talking about as well here in the CNN NEWSROOM. Stick around; we are taking a quick, quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Hello again, I'm Fredricka Whitfield live in the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
HOLMES: And I'm T.J. Holmes. Meteorological mayhem as a powerful front marches across the U.S. the storm is blamed for at least one death so far. It'll be hours before this rampage is over. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
And CNN meteorologist Reynolds Wolf and his crew really, several of you guys, have been working at it for a long time, there in the Severe Weather Center, he joins us again with the latest which the latest, boy just keeps us updating.
WOLF: Yeah, it really does, we're watching the big cell in southeast Alabama that's now crossing over into parts of Georgia. And this is the same system that may be a long track tornado.
Thank you, Brian, very much. New information came in from the National Weather Service. We're going to get to this one. This actually in Pickens County. Trained spotters have now reported a tornado. I know our focus was in Southeast Alabama. What we're going to do is we're going to leave Southeast Alabama and go up to the Alabama and Mississippi border. We're going to leave this area and go up towards Pickens County.
Pickens County, we've got a new report, trained weather spotters reporting a new tornado, this tornado located near Carrollton, about seven miles north of Aliceville. It's moving to the northeast and doing so at 15 miles an hour.
That's the nature of these storms, they going to be really quick movers. Now you'll notice the super cell does not appear to be all that big, but it is quick-moving storm, one tiny, little spot in one huge storm system. This storm moving to the northeast moving through Aliceville. I would say if you're in Aliceville, you need to take cover immediately. If you're there and Tuscaloosa, University of Alabama, hopefully classes are not in session. We'll find out if it is, if it isn't, you need to take the day off. You need to cover immediately.
Utah, right along the Warrior River, things are looking OK for you. Got a few cells out farther to the West. You're going to see more activity as we make our way through the evening.
Let's pull away a little bit and head back to Southeast Alabama where we've been watching that long-track tornado. Again, it rolled through places like, well, Enterprise, moved through places like Ozark back through Abbeville. And here's the path that we've been watching crossing now south of Ufala, at this time, and now moving in just to the west of Cuffberd (ph) at this time. We're also watching another cell formerly over near Clayton, Alabama. Ufala, if you're in Ufala, beautiful community right along the Chattahoochee River, take cover immediately. You've already had reports of large hail, damaging winds there and here's the reason why. You got one cell immediately to the South, you've got another one further out to the West. You're sandwiched in, right now, between two very strong super cells at this point and you're not out of the woods yet.
Let's take you back to a little bit farther back towards Troy State University, not far at all from I-65. You get Granville, you've got Troy here and Pike County. Here is another super cell we have with strong rotation. You're going to be getting some damaging winds and hail with this as well as heavy rainfall. If you happen to be in Troy, take cover. Union Springs, same story for you. You've got, let's see, 65 which follows into the state capitol in Montgomery that's where you have the Coosa River and the Warrior River, they come together a little bit farther to the South but a great chunk of the Alabama River that goes in very close to the capitol in Montgomery.
Prattville, things are going to be pretty -- scattered showers now, but look what's coming your direction again, that line is going to be drifting right through Prattville as well as Wetumpka out by the big water tower.
Farther to the West out in Selma, things are good for you, but still, remember, we've got more activity forming farther out towards the West, so that's going to come rumbling through, as well.
We have all of the elements in place. We've got the low-level jet, we got that frontal boundary that's coming through, plenty of moisture that right in place, so an incredibly unstable atmosphere which goes far into the North in Ohio Valley, back into Nashville we're seeing some big clusters that are popping up right along 24.
Take you back over to Scott City, even into Louisville up near the Ohio River and Indianapolis we're seeing again many, many storms that are popping through. The rumble of thunder is something you're going to be hearing through much of the afternoon and evening. But then when you get into parts of the Twin Cities we're not talking about rain anymore, we're talking about snowfall. Possibly a foot of snowfall in places like Minneapolis, by the time this system is finally fizzles out. Look at the temperatures: got around 30 degrees there, 33 Des Moines that's really where it's going to stack up. And if you'll also notice, the winds, as well as the lines of these snow showers all drifting off to the Northwest. Everything kind of spinning farther to the Southeast, you have everything going in the opposite direction going from southwest to northeast, a big rotating system. An area of low pressure here.
Here is that slow-moving frontal boundary and the big thing you really can't see is that low-level jet that's really going to be a big kicker as we get to the evening hours.
Let's drift a little bit farther to the Southeast and let's take a look, first, at this live image that we have in Atlanta. It shows the cloudy skies we've seeing. Some scattered showers definitely, here. Earlier this morning we had some strong thunderstorms rolling through Atlanta. Act two will take place around later this afternoon into the evening hours. Act three will take place possibly around the midnight hour as the rest of this storm moves to East Georgia and into the Carolinas.
So, it's going to be a busy within, busy evening and again, if you want it with this storm, you've got it -- from heavy rain, large hail, tornadoes, to heavy snowfall it's all in today's story. Let's send it back to you.
HOLMES: All right, busy afternoon, busy evening and a busy man, Reynolds. Thank you so much. Reynolds has been keeping an eye on that radar as today's huge storms have been trekking across the country. Here is a look at those live radars. Spawning rain, wind, tornadoes, like Reynolds said, anything you want you got it today and it's also spawning some snow in the North.
Part of a roof collapsed at a grocery store in suburban Milwaukee. Look at that. That caused folks to drop their items and skip the checkout line, head for the exits. Nobody, however, was hurt in this thing. Also, whiteout conditions are reported in Nebraska where 75-mile stretch Interstate 80 is closed. Omaha awoke, this morning, to a phenomenon known as thunder snow. That is heavy snowfall accompanied by claps of thunder and flashes if lightning.
WHITFIELD: Our Veronica De La Cruz has seen it all today, she's checking out your iReports from around the storm and she's been checking out a lot of the affiliate coverage, as well. What do you have for us right now -- Veronica.
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, Fredricka. I want to get you to our affiliate WTVY. You know, we've been talking about Enterprise, Alabama and all of the damage that's been happening there. Well, I wanted to show you the crawl which has just gone by. But, basically what the crawl is saying is that there has been a lot of damage to the football stadium, also people lying on the ground. There are overturned cars and injured children. So that is our affiliate Web site WTVY in Enterprise, Alabama. Enterprise is about 110 miles away from Montgomery.
And let's get to you CNN.com. We haven't spent a lot of time on our own Web site today, but we are using you out there as our eyes and ears on the ground and have been getting a lot of pictures in for our iReporters and I'm going to show you a couple of those in just a moment.
But, I want to show you some of the interactivities that we've posted. Actually, let's go ahead and show you this one. Bobby Riley from Moberly, Missouri, this is a photo that he sent to us. He says this is a 28-foot pontoon boat which overturned onto another boat due to 80-mile-an-hour straight winds. So, not a tornado, but straight line winds that threw this boat on top of another boat. And those are pictures from Moberly, Missouri.
Also photos from Hannah Newkirk in Adrian, Missouri. This is in her yard, this is a barn in her yard. And as you can see, this is tornado damage, pieces of this roof just torn off. Other photos show that roof as it's been thrown across her yard and then pieces of the actual barn, as well, as it's landed in various parts around the area. You know, some of that barn landing in places like the trees, so some pretty remarkable images from our iReporters. And I wanted to show you what else was happening at CNN.com. We are out of time, It's been a busy day, Frederica. Back to you.
WHITFIELD: It is. And that has been the understatement of the day. Well we'll get to those iReports when we can. Thanks so much Veronica.
And of course, we're continuing to keep our eyes on those red spots on the radar that we've been showing you from the weather center, namely that tornado that hit Enterprise, Alabama, and reportedly struck a high school where we understand there are injuries. We'll have more on that when we come right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: We are hearing about some new and different charges against the Missouri pizzeria manager accused of kidnappinging two boys, one of whom he allegedly held for more than four years. CNN's Jonathan Freed in joins us from Chicago with details of this.
Jonathan, hello.
JONATHAN FREED, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: T.J., what we heard today, are the last set of charges that we've been waiting for the last couple of months, now. These are the federal charges that have been long anticipated. Up until now, Michael Devlin has been charged kidnapping, armed criminal action and sexual abuse, all of this at the county level.
The geometry of this is somewhat complicated because Michael Devlin was living in St. Louis County, that is where the boys were found at his apartment. One of the boys, Ben Ownby, who was 13-years- old who was abducted for the four-day period in January, he was abducted in Franklin County and Shawn Hornbeck who was 11-years-old four years ago, now 15, he was abducted in Washington County. Today, though, he had the U.S. attorney, Katherine Hannoway (ph), come out and hey talked about four counts of child pornography. This is new, this is what is new, as well as two more counts of transporting a minor across state lines. Let's listen to her and get more details about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
We are here today to announce that the indictment of Michael Devlin on four counts of production of child pornography and two counts of transporting a minor across state lines for the purposes of engaging in illegal sex activity with that minor.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FREED: So, what is significant about this is that it adds, T.J. another layer, another sphere of charges here. This is the federal sphere and the U.S. attorney in St. Louis is saying that if they can prove these out, if convicted of these six new federal charges and if the maximum sentence is handed down, she says it would mean Michael Devlin would be in federal prison for 170 years. -- T.J.
HOLMES: All right, Jonathan Freed for us with the update from Chicago. Jonathan, thank you so much.
WHITFIELD: More now on the other top story we're following out of Enterprise, Alabama, where at least one tornado has touched down there, striking the high school in that area and there are reports of injuries. Tara McGrath is a resident of Enterprise and she's also an eyewitness to this storm that came through the area.
Tara, what did you see?
TARA MCGARTH, ENTERPRISE RESIDENT: This is the worst I've seen Enterprise since I've lived here and there are buildings that are totally collapsed. House are collapsed, the high school, I can't even get to the high school, there. There's rescue squads everywhere, fire rescue, big power lines are in the middle of the road. It's just crazy.
WHITFIELD: Where were you? Tara, where were you at the time of this storm coming through?
MCGARTH: I was at work. We had -- I work at Beef O'Gradys and we were -- had to rush into the refrigerator and I walked outside and saw two tornadoes headed down (INAUDIBLE) Boulevard which is one of our main streets.
WHITFIELD: You saw those two twisters?
MCGARTH: I did. I took a picture with my camera phone.
WHITFIELD: What'd it look like to you? How frightening was that?
MCGARTH: It was very frightening. There were clouds swirling. I've never seen a tornado before in my life (INAUDIBLE) I'm shaky from it. This is crazy.
WHITFIELD: I can hear it in your voice. So now, when you were in this freezer or cooler area in your work place you and a number of other coworkers kind of hunkered down in there as the storm was passing by?
MCGARTH: Yes ma'am we did. That's where we where.
WHITFIELD: And what did you hear while you were in there? Or was it nearly soundproof?
MCGARTH: We couldn't hear anything in there. We couldn't hear anything until we came out when one of our managers walked outside and said it was OK for us to come out. When we walked out, we just saw it headed the other way and we just watched it. And I'm looking at the high school right now, I'm walking up to it. And there's -- hh, the ceiling is collapsed. Oh wow, I can't really see anything there's fire trucks everywhere and rescue squads.
WHITFIELD: Well, Tara McGarth, we are so glad that you are well, that you survived this storm, some very frightening moments there, and we appreciate your time as this tornado passed through.
MCGARTH: Well, thank you. And I appreciate you all acknowledging Enterprise and being concerned about our safety. Thank you.
WHITFIELD: All right, we are, indeed. We're going to continue to follow this story because, as we've heard here are a number of reported injuries, extensive damage, as you heard Tara describe and others have described, as well. More on that as we get it -- T.J.
HOLMES: All right, and we're keeping an eye on Washington, D.C. and the U.S. court there where we're keeping an eye on the Scooter Lewis -- or Libby trial where the jury has been called to the judge's chambers, we understand, this afternoon. Do not know why, but this is the case against the former chief of staff for Vice President Dick Cheney who is being accused here of misleading prosecutors, of course, in the case of who leaked a CIA operative's name.
But, we understand that the attorneys, some of the main players and jurors, as well, being called to the judge's chambers, of course, Wolf Blitzer will have full coverage of this in THE SITUATION ROOM at the top of the hour. But that is the update, jurors have been called to the judges chambers. They've been deliberating for some six or seven days, now, and don't know what's going to come of this. We're keeping any eye in this. Stay here, we got a quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: We want to hear from another eyewitness in Enterprise, Alabama where a tornado has hit. Apparently a high school has been hit there. We want to talk to Chase Baldwin who's a student there at the high school.
Chase, I understand you're OK, glad to hear that. But a lot of some of your classmates maybe didn't fare so well. Tell me what happened at the school and about injuries you may have seen.
CHASE BALDWIN, ENTERPRISE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT: Yes there -- well, we were just sitting there in the hall and then all of a sudden I look out of the window and the wind starts to pick up, you know, and debris starts flying everywhere, then the roof starts to come off and the whole building just collapsed on everybody. Then...
HOLMES: Were you all given warning? And was some kind of an evacuation or some kind of a drill going on to get you all in a safe place or you all just walking through the hallways like a regular school day?
BALDWIN: No, we were sitting in the halls, like, it was a tornado warning and we were supposed to get out of school at 1:00, but this happened like just before 1:00.
HOLMES: Just before -- and you say -- was this the main building of the high school there? You're talking about you were in that the place, the roof collapsed?
BALDWIN: Yes. Well, I was in the science wing, just off -- the main part of the school did collapse, yes, sir.
HOLMES: Now, what did you see as far as some of your other classmates and possible injuries there?
BALDWIN: Well, a bunch of people were like trapped under cinder blocks and stuff and people had their heads cut open and stuff like that.
HOLMES: Now, that sounds pretty serious and pretty severe there, some of the injuries you describe. Would you say we're talking about a lot of students, a handful of students, just a couple of students?
BALDWIN: Yes, it is a pretty good bit of people that were injured.
HOLMES: Oh, my goodness gracious. Well, how did most of you all -- where you all, I guess, escorted out of there in an orderly fashion or kind of everybody was fending for themselves, trying to help out or just trying to get out of there?
BALDWIN: Oh well, pretty much everybody was escorted out in an orderly fashion.
HOLMES: OK, now there were ambulances, emergency officials, was help starting to arrive?
BALDWIN: Yes, sir, yes, sir.
HOLMES: All right. And did you actually get your eye -- lay your eyes on the tornado? You said things were happening and the roof starts to collapse and all that damage. Did you all actually see it coming from a window or tell me what it kind of looked like outside and if you actually saw this tornado?
BALDWIN: It just got real dark. And I didn't really exactly see the tornado, but like every time you try to open your eyes, just debris was flying everywhere and getting in your eyes and stuff.
HOLMES: Oh, my goodness. Chase Baldwin that sounds like a heck of a scary scene there for you guys, glad to hear at least you're OK...
BALDWIN: Yes, sir.
HOLMES: And hope some your classmates are doing all right. Sounds like some injuries there, but appreciate you taking some time out with us here, Chase, and you guys take care there, all right?
BALDWIN: Yes, sir.
WHITFIELD: Close call on that. Well, we're going to continue to follow that story and the development of the severe storms hitting the Southeast. Meantime, the "Closing Bell" and a wrap of the action on Wall Street, that too is straight ahead.
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HOMES: A look at what has been a crazy, colorful radar on the screen there for you. We've been covering the severe breaking weather news all afternoon. A lot more to come on it as we take a live look on the right side there of Atlanta, a city that could be in the path and could see some of this severe weather heading this way. Stay here with CNN, we'll continue to follow all this breaking weather news for you, right here.
WHITFIELD: Also, out of New York, we want to remind you the "Closing Bell" is about to ring on Wall Street and it has certainly been a wild ride for the market today, as it has been all week, for that matter. Susan Lisovicz is standing by with a final look at the trading day.
Susan, the Dow started down 200 points today...
SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: And you know what, you guys? You guys were busy covering all of that extreme weather and rightfully so, but the Dow actually recovered enough that there was a rally, a gain of 15 points about an hour ago. That rally, obviously, couldn't hold, but one of the veteran traders on the floor, Fred said that it's a moral victory that the Bulls are at least back in the game, that investors are putting their toes back in the water. But as you mentioned, yeah, it's been a wild ride. Another trader said that today was kind of like the after-shock that we saw after Tuesday's earthquake because we did have a sudden scary drop at the open, more than 200 points within the first five minutes. Every Dow 30 stock was down, trading curves instituted in the first 15 minutes. You just didn't know where we were going. But a manufacturing report came in better than expected and the treasury secretary, Hank Paulson, who used to be the CEO of Goldman Sachs, the bit investment bank, said the U.S. economy is healthy.
And guess what? Investors paired (ph) most of the losses today, so a down day, but not so bad. So we'll see you tomorrow, Fredricka and T.J. we'll end up with losses on Wall Street but nothing like we saw at the open. And some traders say that is a moral victory. Now to "THE SITUATION ROOM" and Wolf Blitzer.
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