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Tornado Hit Two Elementary Schools; Obama: "Our Prayers Are With" Oklahoma; Frantic Parents Reunite With Children; "The Warning System Was Good"

Aired May 21, 2013 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: There's a lot of live power wires down. There are open gas mains; 50,000 people without power right now. The water treatment plant for Moore is still not online. They are asking people to conserve water. In some places it's not available. So there are a lot of obstacles that people are trying to survive and also search and rescue to deal with these impassable roads and it is going to slow down the process.

There's also weather moving in here now as we speak. They've been warned of this. They do not believe it will be the kind of situation where tornadoes are the risk at least not for here, but rain on top of this situation, cold on top of this situation makes it much worse especially for all of these families that are desperately searching for things and they've lost so much.

It's going to add to misery here and it will add to the need. Cnn.com/impact, please go to our web site and find ways that you can help. The help is going to be immediate and also long standing. People are going to need us for a long time to come. They know how to rebuild here in Oklahoma.

They are strong people. They're people of faith and it gets them through, but they need our help. Right now, we are waiting on the president of the United States to make a statement at the White House and come out and talk about this. Jessica Yellin is standing by for that. Jessica, do you have us? What do we expect?

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Chris. I do. I can tell you that right now President Obama as we speak is receiving a briefing on the ongoing disaster response. He is here with his top Homeland Security advisers and the deputy administrator of FEMA getting that briefing.

The deputy of FEMA is here because the director of FEMA is on a flight en route to where you are right now. The president directed Craig Fugate to fly -- participate and direct the federal response on the ground in Oklahoma in person.

I can tell you that the president was updated throughout the night as you would expect and he issued a disaster declaration so that federal response, federal money and people, could get to the affected towns right away. Among the things that we already know are there from FEMA teams, one special team that coordinates with state and local officials. Another that's assisting with search and rescue. Another that is supporting the emergency response and yet another that's assessing damage. I can tell you just one example of what they're doing. Chris, they have iPads that they brought with them because so many people have lost their wireless service and their cell service and obviously can't register for federal emergency support.

So FEMA response teams, federal people, are walking around with those helping to register people. We expect the president out as soon as he's done with his briefing here -- Chris.

CUOMO: All right, Jessica, thank you. If nothing else, the president will kind of layer the importance of people caring about what's happening here and getting involved. The situation is over in terms of the tornado but just beginning in terms of the recovery. Lightning is starting to touch down around us as we're waiting for more weather to come through here as if these people haven't dealt with enough.

The governor here is obviously Mary Fallin, she's been dealing with this situation on the ground. Here are some sounds from her about what the situation is in Oklahoma.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. MARY FALLIN (R), OKLAHOMA: As far as I know, they're still looking for possible survivors. It's a tremendous debris field. It is massive. It was surreal just to walk upon that last night. There were hundreds of people that were there. They had jackhammers and saws cutting through metal and sledgehammers trying to get under the debris.

We know that some of the walls fell over and there were children that were found under the walls itself at that school. We had all hands on deck to do everything we can to look through debris itself and certainly throughout the community. My heart just broke last night for the parents that didn't know the current condition of their children and where they were.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: So difficult for the governor, so frustrating not to be able to get help. We hear about police officers who can't respond to homes because they can't find the street signs. And if they're not from this area obviously or even if they are, not understanding the grid, luckily Moore is built on a grid, but there's every layer of difficulty here and now once again as we see this dramatic lightning touching down, there's going to be more for this community to deal with.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's looking ominous right now. We're far from over even though the tornado came through yesterday. We still have a long way to go. You see the devastation here with this hospital, this bowling alley. This is really the scene throughout Moore, Oklahoma, and at that school where I was at earlier, the Plaza Towers School. We heard about seven children who were found dead after the tornado yesterday and rescuers are still there right now. They have been there overnight. They have been searching through the rubble, which is no easy task. The entire school collapsed. Only a couple walls standing. But as we speak, they are searching through that rubble looking for more survivors.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN (voice-over): Illuminated by flood lights, rescue teams searched tirelessly throughout the night sifting through mountains of debris where Plaza Towers Elementary School once stood. In some places, the debris was 10 feet high, underneath every parents' worse nightmare, the bodies of schoolchildren who tried to seek shelter from a ferocious tornado, many more still missing.

The race to rescue dozens of students and teachers began right after the massive two-mile wide tornado ripped through two elementary schools directly in its path. At hardest hit Plaza Towers Elementary, a third grade class huddled in hallway of their school.

Worried parents sent to a staging area at a nearby church in search of answers. At first several children were pulled from the levelled school alive, but with each passing hour the operation tragically went from a rescue to a recovery mission, the heart wrenching reality of the storm's fury hard to comprehend.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: All right now, communications here are very tough. Let's try to get a microphone back on Pam there, a little operator error. It's one of the things you deal with out in the field. One of the things you were able to capture there with this school was not knowing -- again, this happened at about 3:00 p.m. local time. Kids were just getting out of school. For these parents, they didn't have cell. They couldn't communicate with the school and didn't know what they would find.

BROWN: And you have to think, you know, yesterday morning they dropped their child off at school and this happened right as they were going to pick up their child from school. In fact, there was one interview that was very compelling.

CUOMO: Pam, we're going to go. Here comes the president of the United States with words about Oklahoma.

(BEGIN LIVE FEED)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: -- a series of storms swept across the plains yesterday in one of the most destructive tornadoes in history sliced through the towns of Newcastle and Moore, Oklahoma. In an instant, neighborhoods were destroyed. Dozens of people lost their lives. Many more were injured and among the victims were young children trying to take shelter in the safest place they knew, their school. Our prayers are with the people of Oklahoma today. Our gratitude is with teachers who gave their all to shield their children with the neighbors, first responders and emergency personnel who raced to help as soon as the tornado passed and with all of those who as darkness fell searched for survivors through the night.

As a nation, our full focus right now is on the urgent work of rescue and hard work of recovery and rebuilding that lies ahead. Yesterday, I spoke with Governor Fallin to make it clear to Oklahomans that they would have all of the resources that they need at their disposal.

Last night, I issued a disaster declaration to expedite those resources, to support the governor's team in the immediate response and to offer direct assistance to folks who have suffered loss. I also just spoke with Mayor Lewis of Moore, Oklahoma, to ensure that he's getting everything that he needs. I've met with Secretary Napolitano this morning and my Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Adviser Lisa Monaco to underscore that point that Oklahoma needs to get everything that it needs right away.

The FEMA Administrator, Craig Fugate, is on his way to Oklahoma as we speak. FEMA staff was first deployed to Oklahoma's Emergency Operations Center on Sunday as the state already was facing down the first wave of deadly tornadoes. Yesterday, FEMA activated urban search and rescue teams from Texas, Nebraska, and Tennessee to assist in the ongoing search and rescue efforts and a mobile response unit to boost communications and logistical support.

So the people of Moore should know that their country will remain on the ground, there for them, beside them, as long as it takes. There are homes and schools to rebuild, businesses and hospitals to reopen, parents to console, first responders to comfort and of course, frightened children who will need our continued love and attention.

There are empty spaces where there used to be living rooms and bedrooms and classrooms and in time, we're going to need to refill those spaces with love and laughter and community. We don't yet know the full extent of the damage from this week's storm. We don't know both the human and economic losses that may have occurred.

We know that severe rumbling of weather, bad weather, through much of the country still continues and we're also preparing for a hurricane season that begins next week. But if there is hope to hold onto not just in Oklahoma, but around the country it's the knowledge that the good people there and in Oklahoma are better prepared for this type of storm than most.

And what they can be certain of is that Americans from every corner of this country will be right there with them opening our homes, our hearts, to those in need because we're a nation at that stands with our fellow citizens as long as it takes. We have seen that spirit in Joplin, in Tuscaloosa, we saw that spirit in Boston and Breezy Point and that's what the people of Oklahoma are going to need from us right now.

For those of you who want to help, you can go online right now to the American Red Cross, which is already on the ground in Moore. Already we've seen the University of Oklahoma announce it will provide housing for displaced families. We've seen local churches and companies open their doors and their wallets and last night the people of Joplin dispatched a team to help the people of Moore.

For all those who have been affected, we recognize that you face a long road ahead. In some cases there will be enormous grief that has to be absorbed, but you will not travel that path alone. Your country will travel it with you fuelled by our faith in the almighty and our faith in one another. So our prayers are with the people of Oklahoma today and we will back up those prayers with deeds for as long as it takes. Thank you very much.

(END LIVE FEED)

CUOMO: All right, that's the President of the United States giving his words of consolation, his promise of resources, and his belief in the hope of the future especially in a community that holds together like it does here at Moore. You also heard that the situation in Moore, Oklahoma, is being reflected by urgency by those around it, Joplin, Missouri. Remember a couple years ago terrible tornado that tore through that community.

They sent teams to help. The National Guard has been mobilized on the ground here, is doing well. Search and rescue is ongoing right now. The senator from Oklahoma said uncertainty. We still don't know. We can't measure. That's very much something to keep in mind.

Jessica Yellin, as we were listening to the president speak, his words are powerful, his presence even more so. Communities like Moore, Oklahoma, need him on the ground to bring the focus and attention to this place. What's your guess as to when we might expect to see the president in Moore, Oklahoma?

YELLIN: I would guess, Chris, that he doesn't come at least for three days or so. A few days at least because he knows the role here is as president of the United States to be healer in chief. You heard it in his words there, an outpouring of compassion and concern from all Americans spoken here from the White House.

But for the president to go and visit requires enormous resources on the ground and to protect the president and clear a way for him and it's choice of presidents, whether Republican, Democrat, no matter who is in office, to put that trip off for a few days in the aftermath of such a tragedy to make sure that all of those urgent law enforcement and response personnel are dealing with the people on the ground and not with bringing a president or any leader in for a visit.

I would expect a few days wait before he's on the ground, but we'll see him there soon. If I can point out one other thing that happened while the president was speaking, the Speaker of the House, John Boehner, made an important point right now. One of the things folks where you are need is funding to respond to this crisis over time and there was a huge fight in Washington after Sandy about money getting to people. The money was held up for almost two months before it got there and Speaker Boehner just came out and said he will work with the president to make sure money gets out the door and to the people quickly and that there is no fight in Washington over funding for response. They'll work out the politics of how that happens, but Speaker Boehner said he's ready to partner with the president to make sure that people of Oklahoma get what they need from the federal government -- Chris.

CUOMO: Well, Jessica, if they can't agree on this, they won't agree on anything. The need couldn't be more comprehensive no matter what your political stripe. Thank you for the reporting. Let us know if there is any update in the president's plans to come down here. Surely we'll be a welcome face. Thank you for the reporting. Appreciate it, Jessica.

As the weather continues to close in here now, there is so much need. It's going to continue. You have to remember there is nothing that destroys like a tornado. All natural events whether it's a fire or a hurricane. They're all horrible. There is something unique in the destructive violence of a tornado, the way it twists through and completely destroys communities, takes out the wiring, takes out everything you need to survive.

The people here are depending on each other. That is getting them through. We believe search and rescue is not even 50 percent of the way through. That gives us hope. That's why I'm laying off on the numbers of casualties and loss. We have been telling you that the government is putting out the number of 51 so far confirmed dead, 20 of them children, 150 injured, but 100 also rescued and that's just official count.

We know communities are pulling each other out of this danger. We know they are. We see the walking wounded. We know what's going on. We'll hold out hope before we have to report what is inevitable in situations like this. Yesterday, the focus of the fear were these kids, horrible to lose your home. Any life is precious. It was 3:00. School was just getting out.

So many kids had to be pulled back in to these elementary schools and parents didn't have cell phones and they didn't know where their kids were. When they found them, the scenes were beautiful. We have moments for you on tape of parents coming to the school and finding their kids and it's worth watching. Take a look and a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All fifth graders right here!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Step over the wires.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Step over the wires. Fifth grade! Fifth graders.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was so brave. He was so brave. He was so brave. He was so brave. (END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: It seems chaotic. They're standing outside. The school is destroyed. They're muddy and hurt. Can you imagine being that mom and you couldn't get them by phone. You have a first grader. You don't need to have kids to appreciate that kind of fear of loss. And these moments as tragic as they are and chaotic as it is around them, these are the beautiful moments.

These are moments people pray for when they find themselves in situations like this here in Moore, Oklahoma. All around us there are people standing in front of what used to be their home, the home is gone. People have lost loved ones. People are searching for what matters most. It's going to continue for days and days here.

We hope today as all these people are outside and unsheltered that rains hold off and they are able to find some type of cover. We'll come back on the other side and give you the latest from authorities and the latest from the ground and what's happening here in the aftermath of a massive tornado that rocked Moore, Oklahoma. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We've lost everything. We don't have anything left and my parents I can't get a hold of them. We have no cell. If they are out there and they're watching, please let them know that I and my family is OK and we'll make it. We'll be OK. Everything is gone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: The key word for this woman like so many others, we. She still has her family. She still has her hope for the future and has what matters most and that's the face of many here in Moore, Oklahoma. A massive tornado ripped through this community yesterday, 50,000 people here, just about every one of them affected in one way or another.

We believe the storm at its widest point two miles, 20 miles long. We were told by the lieutenant governor it was like a lawn mower blade going through homes. Nothing destroys like a tornado. Just completely devastates these wooden houses and buildings around. You are looking at a picture of it there. Imagine that coming toward you, 30, 50 miles an hour, two miles wide.

It takes out everything in its path and then what you're left with is what you see now around us. We just heard from the president of the United States, his pledge of help, his belief in the promise for the future. Certainly Oklahoma knows that. Oklahoma knows how to recover. It's done it time and time again better than anywhere else in the country.

We're seeing it now with this community coming together and it needs it so much as weather continues to come back in and rain will come here now on top of everything else. Flags at half-staff at the White House, across the country, people picking up on that signal, we all know what it means. We know what it's going to mean here.

Early numbers are in, 51 dead, 20 of them kids. Some of those kids died in a school. This happened at 3:00 in the afternoon. To you who are just tuning in on the west coast and around the world and here to CNN, 3:00 in the afternoon this tornado hit. Kids were just getting out of school.

Teachers became heroes once again to save lives, covered kids with their own bodies. What you are hearing now is the sound of the rain. Lightning is coming down around us. It's the last thing people need here right now. On the ground, search and rescue is active.

They are through less than 50 percent. This morning we spoke to the lieutenant governor. We exchanged text numbers so we can get updates throughout the day. Take a look and listen at the interview when he was setting the scene for the situation for us. Here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LT. GOVERNOR TODD LAMB, OKLAHOMA: The warning was -- well, I want to be very sensitive here. My understanding is that the warning system was good. It was adequate. Of course, if you lost your life, if you lost your child, if you lost your home, you may not think so, but the tornado sirens were activated. They went off very loudly, very audibly.

There were shelters available. Maybe the shelters weren't as strong as they needed to be in some parts, but also our meteorologists are second to none. They are first grade. They are top notch and we were talking about the storms yesterday. That the tinge for those storms yesterday as much as three to four days ago. So we knew yesterday we have potential tornadic activity that's because the fair warning we have with our meteorologists.

CUOMO: Help me understand just how it works here in terms of where houses are built, what they are built on because, you know, as an east coast settler, you must have a shelter in your house. You must have a basement. A lot of these homes don't have basements because what they are built on. Is that true?

LAMB: Well, I heard some reports yesterday that said you couldn't build a basement in Oklahoma or you couldn't get a shelter in Oklahoma unless there's dynamite. That's not accurate. No. Our neighbors right next to us had a shelter put in their home in the last month. They dug it out in their garage. They hired a company to do that. Many homes have basements, but not every home does. It's a matter of what the homeowner wanted to do and what the builder wanted to do.

CUOMO: Do schools have shelters in them?

LAMB: Some schools do have shelters. The old fallout shelters are basements. My understanding this school that we're so concerned about Plaza Towers, they had a basement. Quite frankly that's why some of the children drown because they were in the basement area. Water came in. It was what it was with the tragedy yesterday afternoon. There are basements. There are shelters, but unfortunately not everybody has one.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CUOMO: The lieutenant governor is now out on the ground like so many others trying to survey and help, cnn.com/impact, please go there. It's our web site. It's the page that will show you how to help. The need is immediate as in now. It will continue for days, weeks and months. This is a time we come together.

As we go to break, this was the rescue that was going on next to us, dogs working, and people there necessary to pick through the debris. It's painstaking and difficult and even more so in the rain. They're doing it here in Moore, Oklahoma. They're doing everything they can to recover after the tornado. Stay with us.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The amazing thing is our whole family is safe and all of our animals that were in the house are alive and we're most grateful for that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So I just rushed here as quick as I could parked about three miles down and ran in. See my mom driving out and she never left. I got lucky. Only room left in her entire house is her bedroom where she was at. Just by the grace of God. It's amazing. My brother was over helping at the school which is pretty bad.

CUOMO: What's the scene like over there?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's like a battle zone. There's nothing standing. No trees. No houses. No landmarks. You don't even know where you are and where you're standing. I got lucky being a couple blocks over and my house is completely untouched. Really makes you think about things.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)