Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

6.1 Earthquake Strikes California; American Held in Syria Set Free; Is ISIS Planning to Attack Inside U.S.; Shooting Victim's Father Appears at Ferguson Rally; Ron Davis on Michael Brown Killing; Earthquake Affects Napa Wine Business

Aired August 24, 2014 - 19:00   ET

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

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Jim Sciutto in New York, following two major stories today.

In just the last few hours, an American held hostage by Islamist rebels in Syria has been freed. Peter Curtis had been held there since 2012.

But first, here at home, the strongest earthquake northern California has seen in 25 years. Its aftermath is causing a huge headache for the residents of Napa and Sonoma County, just north of San Francisco, the epicenter of the magnitude 6 quake, the small city of American Canyon, California. The quake struck seven miles deep and was considered strong by the U.S. Geological Survey; that is, in fact, a very shallow earthquake.

Downtown Napa took the brunt of the impact, buildings reduced to rubble, grocery stores left with plenty on the floor, as you can see there, and entire stretches of roadways split completely in two. At least 120 people were injured, six critically, including a young child. Thankfully, however, no one was killed.

To help with the recovery, Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency; the economic losses caused by the quake likely to be more than $1 billion.

I want to bring in now CNN's Kyung Lah. She is in Napa, California, very close to the epicenter of that quake. We also have CNN meteorologist Chad Myers in Atlanta who's been following the wider effects.

Kyung, I want to start with you. First, you're right in the middle of it there, officials saying that the damage could have been much worse. Why is that? What are you seeing there?

KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Because of the time of day that this happened. The earthquake struck at 3:20 in the morning. You can see here just on this corner where all this debris, had it been the middle of the day there would have tables out, people having coffee, there would have been perhaps more injuries and someone killed. So the timing of this, even though this is a terrible disaster for northern California, the timing of it is lucky in the eyes of many people who live here. Now, one of the people who does have businesses up here, who is well known to the state of California, the lieutenant governor, Gavin Newsom, joins me now. You're here in two capacities, first as lieutenant governor. We were just talking about the governor declaring a state of emergency.

GAVIN NEWSOM, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA: Yes, we're here to support local government, the first responders, the city and the county and to make sure that we're filling the void and make sure that we are communicating to folks here that we are here for the long run, not just when the cameras are here, not just when we are putting out fires literally but figuratively, being here substantively over the next weeks and months to make sure that we provide the resources and aid to people that desperately need it.

There is a mythology about Napa that's it all fancy wineries, but underneath that there are a lot of folks here, very low income that are going to need support.

LAH: Like some of the mobile homes that we saw on fire. You were just there today.

NEWSOM: I was just there. I spent the last two and a half hours at the mobile homes. And you know, there's one thing about the fires and horrific images of those fires but there are dozens and dozens of those mobile homes that are on off cinder blocks that are literally off those quote/unquote foundations. And you've got seniors in there that don't have families that are coming to pick them up right now and help them that can barely get off the couch on a good day and now have their entire -- all their possessions strewn all over the place. We need to be here for the long run.

LAH: So it's about helping the businesses behind you but also an entire community, beyond just the tourist areas?

NEWSOM: Yes. I know, again -- you know, I understand better than anyone Napa and the sort of mythology of Napa in most people's minds -- beautiful, bucolic vineyards. But this is a working town and a lot of middle and low-income folks live around the area. This is a good point, you see this. This is pretty acute and intense but you go around everywhere, you may not see any damage for a mile and all of a sudden, you will see the facades of buildings, particularly those brick buildings that have collapsed. The damage is still being assessed and we'll make sure we attend to it.

LAH: And beyond just being the lieutenant governor of the state, you are deeply embedded here. You have three wineries.

NEWSOM: Yes, three wineries, a hotel, a bunch of restaurants. I have about 420 employees up here and so I've been trying to tend to that as well and just the emotion that comes with our workforce that obviously couldn't go to work today and addressing their own challenges at home. It's a small slice of the reality, what's happening here a lot of small business people. One in particular, I just went to get a sandwich, "Do you take a credit card." And the guy says, "Hey, are you from the area." I said I'm from the Bay Area. He goes "The sandwich is on me."

I know it's rote. I know in these circumstance people always bring it up. It's cliche. But you know, you can see things torn apart but folks coming together is really the story here and it's amazing the resiliency of this community and how people feel part of that community.

LAH: Napa is beloved by the people in the United States as well as around the world. A lot of people drink the wine from this region. Have you been able to assess what's going to happen to -- this year?

NEWSOM: Well, I know a winemaker right across the street from us, they were devastated. Dozens and dozens of their barrels collapsed. My winery, just as a for instance, no barrels collapsed. So it's -- again this assessment -- these are folks, the things behind the headlines no one has really assessed are going to be figured out. And you know, some people have earthquake insurance, most folks don't have it. It is expensive, high deductibles. And we're in a state obviously where this wasn't quote/unquote, "the big one".

I was a former mayor of San Francisco, we've got two major earthquake faults, Hayward and, of course, the one that fear is most instilled in us and that's San Andreas. And there's a real likelihood of a major, major earthquake in the next 10, 15, 20 years.

LAH: Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom as well as a business owner here, a lot of people impacted. This is beyond just the infrastructure, just beyond the losses. This is also about a community that now has to pick up the pieces, not just physically, but also emotionally -- Jim.

SCIUTTO: Kyung Lah in Napa with Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom.

Chad Myers in Atlanta, I want to go to you. You heard the lieutenant governor say there the possibility -- the strong possibility of the big one, right the next 15, 20 years. That's the concern. Did today's quake tell us anything about that or is it wrong to make any sort of connection?

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, I don't think we can make any connection on that. This really even wasn't on the quote, "San Andreas fault", unquote. This is on a different fault, still part of the same system. Still the plates are still shifting from California, the North American plate and the Pacific plate.

To put it into perspective for where we are today at a 6.0 or 6.1, USGS keeps flipping back and forth, I don't understand that. But that doesn't matter. Compared to where we were 25 years ago, this was nine times less powerful than what was 1989, Loma Prieta. You go here to 1908 right there, 180 times, somewhere in there less powerful than back out here. The strength of the 1906 right here, about 80 to 90 times more powerful than what we had right now, what we had today. So, there was an awful lot of shaking but you have to understand in 1906, there wasn't much there, there.

What we have to day is a 6.1, right around there, 130 of these earthquakes happen every year on the globe so one of these earthquakes every three days. But not like where people live, not where we saw that type of damage that we saw today.

Here's what happened. Let's pretend that these are two plates. I know they are two blocks of wood. You get the idea. Two blocks of wood -- one plate the Pacific plate, one the North American plate, they slipped. And as they slipped, they sheared apart, and that shear at that rupture zone caused the shaking. According to state geologist, Mr. Parrish, he said this shaking is going to go on for quite some time.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN PARRISH, STATE GEOLOGIST, CALIFORNIA: As you will probably see there -- excuse me -- are a number of aftershocks that are occurring from this fault or from this earthquake. We think that there's probably over 50 or 60 aftershocks now; the largest one being a magnitude 3.6. We do not expect that there will be much larger aftershocks but we do think the aftershocks will continue for several weeks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MYERS: At least several weeks, in my opinion. They can go on and on. Geological time with the earth being billions of years old doesn't go in weeks and months, it goes in years sometimes -- Jim.

SCIUTTO: Thanks very much, Chad. Of course, the concern is there is a lot of damaged buildings, those aftershocks could cause further damage, bring some of them down. That's one of the big concerns right now. Thanks very much to Chad Myers in Atlanta.

We are also continuing to follow a breaking news story overseas. An American held by Islamist rebels in Syria for almost two years has been released. Peter Theo Curtis was captured in 2012. Two U.S. law enforcement officials tell CNN that the U.S. was not involved in talks to secure his release but the U.S. was aware of private efforts to gain his freedom.

Curtis was captured near the Syrian border with Turkey and released to U.N. Peacekeepers today in the Golan Heights near Israel. He is expected to be reunited with his family soon.

In a statement released by his family, Theo Curtis' mother had this to say. Quote, "My heart is full at the extraordinary, dedicated, incredible people -- too many to name individually -- who have become my friend and have tirelessly helped us over these many. Please know that we will be eternally grateful. We are so relieved that Theo is healthy and safe, that he's finally headed home after his ordeal. But we are also deeply saddened by the terrible, unjustified killing last week of his fellow journalist, Jim Foley, at the hands of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria."

This just in to CNN, we're getting word that the United Nations helped in this handover of Peter Curtis. We have CNN senior U.N. correspondent, Richard Roth. He is joining me now on the phone. Richard, do we know what role the U.N. played in negotiations to gain Curtis' freedom?

RICHARD ROTH, CNN U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Well, we know according to one source that the U.N. played, quote, a critical role. That the handing over of this hostage may not have been possible without the U.N. at least being there and being seen, perhaps as the honest broker. You had the UNDOF, the U.N. peacekeeping deployment for decades now in the Golan Heights. That's who Peter Theo Curtis was turned over to and then handed over eventually to the U.S. officials.

Secretary of State John Kerry, as you know, Jim, in his statement, said that over two dozen countries were approached, contacted by the U.S. over the last nearly two years, all sorts of diplomatic tools, leverage, influence was searched for to gain any influence to get this handover done. So that is what it took.

So while the U.S. will not negotiate directly with anybody who took someone hostage, Washington will do what it can in whatever forum to try to get some influence over the situation. The Qataris, according to my U.N. source, handled the negotiations. The Qataris have had major influence in backing rebel groups Syria where Curtis was held.

SCIUTTO: Well, remarkably different outcome for him, of course, than Jim Foley earlier in the week. Thanks very much to Richard Roth at the U.N.

I want to bring in now CNN national security analyst Bob Baer, formerly of the CIA and Chris Dickey, he's foreign editor of "The Daily Beast".

Chris, I wonder if I could bring you in first. Help explain to our viewers the vastly different outcomes, just in a matter of a few days you have Jim Foley killed. Everybody -- shared with the world in grisly fashion and Curtis gets out free.

CHRIS DICKEY, "THE DAILY BEAST": Well, I think the first thing to note is that Curtis was kidnapped in 2012 before ISIS even existed, before this group that killed Jim Foley even existed. In fact Jim Foley originally was probably kidnapped by another group. There are all kinds of gangs, jihadists -- just criminal gangs who think they can make a profit or benefit from kidnapping Americans or other foreigners in Syria. It's one of the things that makes it so dangerous.

In Foley's case, he wound up in the hands of ISIS, whether they bought him or given them, or the group was folded into the ISIS ranks -- we don't know. In Curtis' case, it doesn't appear that he wound up in the hands of ISIS. He was in the hands of somebody, probably a smaller group who was willing to negotiate and if the Qataris were involved, it's a good guess that some money was paid out to win his freedom.

SCIUTTO: Bob, I wonder if I could ask, you are well aware of the U.S. position on this on negotiating for ransom for terrorists. The U.S. government believes if you pay money for this that encourages more hostages to be taken. If ransom money was paid here, how big of a problem is that?

BOB BAER, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Jim, I lived through Iran- Contra. In fact, I was on the periphery of it and I watched that just fall apart completely because once the Iranians start taking hostages and see if they can get political mileage out of it, they went out of their way too take more.

So in the back of their minds, this administration and everyone before is we don't want another Iran-Contra. There's a very good reason for this. The Europeans are paying a lot of money in Mali and Syria. They're actually, in effect, funding these groups. You know, it's a hard moral decision whether you buy these people back or not. I mean, obviously, the best advice is to stay out of these war zones where you have jihadists cutting people's heads off. It's hard to keep people out though.

SCIUTTO: Yes. And we're aware that maybe a couple of dozen foreign journalists are still being held there including a number of Americans.

Chris I wonder if we can talk about the larger threat of ISIS. This is clearly one threat to Americans, you have more than one being held there now, but there's the concern about the U.S. homeland. Earlier today, I spoke to Michael Hayden, former NSA and CIA director. He said, his words, "It's a matter of time before ISIS strikes the U.S. homeland." Do you agree with that assessment?

DICKEY: Sure and there are a lot of different reasons. First of all, and it's related to the hostage taking, ISIS is the richest terrorist group we have ever been up against.

SCIUTTO: They're making $1 million a day -- oil money.

DICKEY: Between oil money, smuggling, kidnapping, one thing or another, they have got one source of income after another and they can use that money for all kinds of things. One of the things they use it for is to set up terrorist operations wherever they feel they want to. And they use it for propaganda as well.

They don't have to have sleeper cells here now. All they have to do is to convince a few young Americans that it's a noble undertaking to go and slaughter other Americans -- whether with shotguns, rifle, pistols, bombs, what have you. And they will have begun to win their own war of terror.

SCIUTTO: And it's alarming, because they can either convince them here or some of the hundred some-odd Americans that are currently fighting in the ranks in Syria.

DICKEY: Sure, there's obviously concern that Americans or Europeans with passports that could let them come into America without any kind of real inspection. That they will be trained to do that kind of thing in Syria or in Iraq and that, of course, would make them more dangerous. But anything that is done with the brand, ISIS, or Islamic State now even if it only kills a few people is going to cause a huge sensation and that is irresistible for people like this. SCIUTTO: That's how they operate. Christopher Dickey, Bob Baer,

please stay with us. We're going to bring you back after this break. And the jump-off point for that conversation, authorities here are trying to eliminate that threat before it becomes a reality but one former high-ranking intel official says, as I mentioned to Christopher Dickey, it's only a matter of time until ISIS finds a way to hit the U.S. here at home. We're going to break down that possibility.

And later, when you hear the word Napa, you probably think wine. How today's earthquake may affect you the next time you look for your favorite bottle? That's ahead just after this break, this hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCIUTTO: U.S. officials now consider ISIS the most dangerous jihadist group in the world. Are ISIS fighters planning to launch an attack inside the U.S. Imminently? I put that crucial request to Michael Hayden; he's the former head of the CIA and the NSA.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL HAYDEN, FORMER HEAD OF CIA AND NSA: This is a question of timing, not of inevitability, not of intent. And right now, I think it is fair to say that ISIS is a very powerful local terrorist organization and probably a reasonably powerful regional terrorist organization, but it's one that has global ambitions. And it has the tools, as you suggested, American passport holders, European passport holders -- it's expressed the intent. And so, if it's not Tuesday, it's at a time and place of their choosing and it will come probably sooner rather than later.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: Sooner rather than later. I want to bring back our panel, former CIA operative Bob Baer and Chris Dickey, foreign editor of "The Daily Beast". Bob, I wonder if I could begin with you. There has been some talk that ISIS is focused right now on establishing the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. That that's their focus, that's their fight now; that attacking the U.S. might be something that they do down the road.

But knowing the scope and the ambitions of this group, can it do both at the same time, fight that local that regional battle, and potentially strike out against the U.S. homeland?

BAER: Well, Jim, I think that they could do both in the sense that they would like to portray us, the West and in particular the United States, as modern-day crusaders in order to legitimize their power and their so-called state. They need to characterize us as the enemy.

So they're actually happy when we bomb them and if we could continue to intervene and they could actually put -- get us to put soldiers in the field and kill them. That is their motivation. So I could very well see them making an attack inside the continental United States so that we have to go back into that war in Iraq and they will, as I said, gain legitimacy from that. SCIUTTO: That is an alarming thought. Chris, I have spoken to U.S.

intelligence officials, they make the point that U.S. intelligence on the ground in Syria is pretty spare at this point, in part, because the U.S. did not get involved in that conflict. They didn't have contacts with the rebel groups to the degree, plus when U.S. troops were pulled out of Iraq, you lost a big intelligence vision there as well. How much of a handicap is that now as you have to build up that intel again to fight ISIS even to pick out targets for potential air strikes?

DICKEY: Well, it's always a handicap when you don't have enough intelligence. And the intelligence agencies always say they never have enough intelligence. But in this case, sure, when you pull the resources out of Iraq that were pulled out, you lose some intelligence. But would we have had people in ISIS or do we not have people in ISIS now? I don't know. I don't think they would be telling us, would they?

I think that the intelligence issues are big ones but ISIS is pretty public about what it wants to do and how it wants to operate. The threat that ISIS poses is clear. And the kind of intelligence that's needed is not just intelligence on the ground, on the fringes of Kurdistan. The kind of intelligence that's needed to protect the United States is here in the United States as well.

And there have been a lot of challenges to that kind of intelligence recently, the kind that's based on having informers in Muslim and other communities, having surveillance of different kinds of individuals, many of them Muslims, all those were issues that are raised for civil liberties reasons and for good reasons. But these guys will take advantage of any weakness.

SCIUTTO: Well get right back to the debate about mass surveillance under the NSA. What are the benefits? What are the costs? Christopher Dickey, Daily Beast; Bob Baer, former CIA, also CNN analyst -- always great to have both of you on, we appreciate this.

Back -- Ron Davis knows the pain of suddenly losing a child. His son, Jordan, was shot to death in a case that turned into the "loud music" trial. Ahead, we will hear from Ron Davis on why he chose to travel to Ferguson to appear at today's rally for Michael Brown.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCIUTTO: Welcome back. I'm Jim Sciutto in New York.

CNN's Don Lemon has been in Ferguson, Missouri since violence broke out there two weeks ago after a policeman fatally shot 18-year-old Michael Brown. Today, he sat down with Brown's mother, who had two other mothers with her for support; mothers who also lost their sons to violence -- Trayvon Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton and Sean Bell's mother, Valarie Bell. As you will see, their ordeal has taken a heavy toll.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What was it like meeting these ladies? They have been saying everything, how they feel about you. What's it like meeting them? What do you want to say to them?

VALARIE BELL, MOTHER OF SEAN BELL: I'm sorry you had to go through that.

SYBRINA FULTON, MOTHER OF TRAYVON MARTIN: I'm sorry about your son.

She's pretty numb right now.

BELL: Yes, it's hard.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: Be sure to watch entire interview tomorrow on CNN's "NEW DAY". It is very powerful.

Michael Brown's father just got emotional when he spoke at a rally in St. Louis. Tomorrow, he will bury his 18-year-old son, killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL BROWN, SR., FATHER OF MICHAEL BROWN: I appreciate all the love and support from his mother and myself, Mr. Michael Brown. Tomorrow, all I want is peace while my son is being laid to rest. Can you please, please take a day of silence so I can -- so we can lay our son to rest? Please. That's all I ask. And thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: All he asks is for some peace tomorrow. Brown's funeral tomorrow will be at a Baptist church. Up to 5,000 mourners are expected to attend.

Our Nick Valencia joins us now from St. Louis. He is with another father who knows the pain of grieving over a teenaged son killed by gunfire. Jordan Davis was just 17 years old when Michael Dunn shot and killed him in Florida. Dunn was convicted in what came to be known as the "loud music" trial. Nick, you've got Jordan's father, Ron, with you now. We'd love to hear what he has to say.

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. You could -- getting back to Michael Brown, Sr., you could certainly see the emotions in his eyes as he made that plea to the crowd for a day of silence as he buries his son.

Joining me now is another man who has lost his son and knows exactly what the Browns are going through. This is Ron Davis, father of Jordan Davis, whose high-profile shooting in 2012 has really captured headlines. Thank you so much for joining us, Ron.

RON DAVIS, FATHER OF JORDAN DAVIS: You're welcome.

VALENCIA: What was it like to hear that plea from a father? DAVIS: Well, first, I met Michael Brown, Sr. yesterday and we had a

meeting for about 30 minutes and we wanted to welcome him into the circle of fathers that was created by the Trayvon Martin Foundation by Tracy Martin to let them know that we are not here to get on television and just, you know, quell the crowd or whatever.

The first thing we are here for is to soothe the family, just to be with the family, to let them know we actually know how they feel, we have been through it ourselves and until you have been through that you may empathize with the family but people that have actually gone through it, we more than empathize with the family. We understand exactly what you're going through.

And the first thing that we have to tell him, you haven't buried your son yet, no matter what happens, the peace walks, the peace marches the first thing on a father or mother's mind is to bury their child.

VALENCIA: What was that like when you heard about Michael Brown's shooting, the death of Michael Brown, 18 years old? What went through your mind when you heard the news?

DAVIS: As a matter of fact, when I heard the news, I was in Geneva, Switzerland, I had been asked to come to speak at the United Nations conference there. And we were speaking on with the committee of the elimination of racial discrimination. And so here we are again with racial discrimination. Here we are again having to talk about the Michael Browns, we have to talk about the Oscar Grants in Oakland, we have to talk about the Eric Gardners out in New York.

You know -- the Jordan Davises that we have to talk about and the Kendrick Johnsons down in Valdosta. On and on and on now, I have spoken with these father and we can't let it keep happening. We have to have a connect with the community, a connect with law enforcement, let them know that these are our children, these are our families, you know? There's a disconnect with law enforcement, number one, there's a disconnect with some of society and you have to understand and that we love our children, too. We, people of color, we love our children, we hurt when you kill our children.

There have to be better ways to, if you decide somebody did something or you think they are suspected of doing something, there should be other ways, whether it's a taser or whatever, to stop an individual. Shouldn't be the first thing is take their life away.

VALENCIA: You went to the scene there on Canfield, where Michael Brown was shot and killed.

DAVIS: Yes, I did.

VALENCIA: What was that like for you?

DAVIS: My - my breath - I couldn't breathe. I could not breathe. I looked down and there was a spot on the concrete where he may have been bleeding. And I couldn't breathe. And people were talking to me and I wasn't responding to them, all I could think about when Jordan was killed in the gas station, he was laying on the ground at one point and I was so grateful that the rescue put him in the rescue vehicle and tried to revive him and I thought it was so terrible that no one put this child in a rescue vehicle and tried to revive him because he never was pronounced dead at the scene.

So I wish they would have picked the young man up and put him in the rescue and tried to revive him rather than leave him right there in the street for so long a time. And that's heartbreaking to his family, I know it is.

VALENCIA: Ron, you talk about knowing the heartbreak, knowing what it feels like to lose a son. You hear Tracy and Sybrina Fulton up there right now, talking to the crowd. Is that why you decided to come out here today? Why did you decide to attach yourself to this?

DAVIS: When I spoke to Michael Brown Senior yesterday, he asked me and Oscar Grant's uncle to come out and be out here for him today.

VALENCIA: An invitation?

DAVIS: It was an invitation. Michael Brown, Senior, asked, told us what time he was coming out and asked us to come out here and you know, when the cameras leave, when the crowd subsides, we are going be here next month, next year, five years, 10 years from now, we will be here for their family and so that's what he understands, that that's why we call ourselves the circle of fathers because we don't leave when everybody else leaves, we stay here for you, we give you our direct phone number so when you need to talk to somebody in the middle of the night, pick up the line and we talk to you, 2:00 in the morning, 3:00 in the morning and that's what we're here for.

VALENCIA: That's a great point, the cameras are here. Ferguson is the focus of the nation and some would say the world, thank you so much, Mr. Davis, for taking the time. Very sorry for the loss of your son. Wearing his shirt, a picture of him right there on your shirt.

DAVIS: All the time his spirit is with me. He's never dead. He is never dead. He is always within me. Believe me.

VALENCIA: Thank you, Ron, very much for taking the time with CNN. Very emotional, as you can understand, conversation with a father who knows what exactly what it is like to lose a son. You heard from the Browns a while ago, as well Jim, pleaing to the crowd for a peace, pleaing to them to honor the legacy of Michael Brown, Jr., as he is laid to rest tomorrow.

All eyes on that funeral on Monday, expected to happen at 10 a.m. local. More than 5,000 people will be in attendance. Jim?

SCIUTTO: Nick, I got to tell, as a father myself, hearing Ron Davis, other parents involved in shootings like this, just heartbreaking to hear. A great conversation you had. Thanks very much.

Now back to the other major story we are following here at home in the U.S., the earthquake in Northern California. When you hear the word "Napa," you probably think wine. It might not be a more important region in the country for the wine industry. Ahead, how today's quake may affect you the next time you look for your favorite bottle.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCIUTTO: We want to take you right now to Napa, California, where a news conference is getting under way at the Queen of the Valley Hospital, an update on the conditions of those taken there after this morning's earthquake. Have a listen.

WALT MICKENS, PRES., QUEEN OF THE VALLEY HOSPITAL: About an hour ago, we had two triage tents set up behind the emergency room, you see them right there, over my right shoulder. Taken one of those down.

We expect to be taking the other one down in the next few hours. We are moving back much more closer to normal operations. The medical center tomorrow will be running its elective surgical schedule, so our - our community members who have had a surgical procedure scheduled will be coming in for them as scheduled. So we will be moving back toward closer toward normal operations tomorrow.

I want to reiterate my commendation for the first responders in our community. We have partnered beautifully with the fire and the EMS and the folks in the field who assess folks and bring those who are in need to the medical center for treatment. The response from our medical community has been outstanding, so all around, I have to say while it is a very unusual day for us, it has gone as well as you could hope these kinds of things go.

We do practice and drill for these procedures. We are in California. We know we are going to have earthquakes. The team did a beautiful job and not just from the queen, the entire community response has been very admirable. So -

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One person still in critical condition. (INAUDIBLE) about that person?

MICKENS: I can't. I don't have specific details. I just got the numbers for you and I want to get out here and (INAUDIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) one person unrelated?

MICKENS: No, it's one of the other (INAUDIBLE).

Well, I will tell that you our emergency department on a normal day gets between 85 and 100 patients. We have seen 172 since 3:30 this morning, 3:20 this morning, so it's been a very busy day. It's not been our normal operations. We've - we've had to assess our physical plan and we have had to identify, we had some water leaks that needed to be stopped and addressed and things like that, so it's been a very busy day it has not been a normal day. We are very pleased that we are working back toward more normal operations at this point.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The person, one person in serious condition, that had the orthopedic conditions or the other -

MICKENS: I believe it's the - I don't know the answer to that. I'm sorry. I believe it's a medical patient, but I don't know that to be a fact.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, a man or woman, (INAUDIBLE).

Can you clarify the 172, does that include the child that was taken to another facility?

MICKENS: Yes, that is 172 patients that were registered and treated at our emergency room, whether they were admitted, released or still there. It includes -

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) hospital staff?

MICKENS: Yes. During the event last night, we had I think three staff members that had, like, sprained ankles and the like, we'd couple of them during the event.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, all 172 earthquake related?

MICKENS: I don't know that I can say that. We do have folks that probably just had medical conditions that would have come to the emergency room anyway. So, I don't believe I can say that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So it's 172 -

SCIUTTO: We're going to break?

You have been listening to the president of the Queen of the Valley Hospital in Napa Valley discussing the injured treated from the earthquake today in Napa Valley. Headlines from there, 172 total, 13 of them admitted to the hospital, one of them still critical. We are going to stay on top of this story throughout the evening and into tomorrow morning. Please stay with us.

Also going to have more details about the business effects of this earthquake right after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SCIUTTO: John Walsh is back at it on CNN's new original series, "The Hunt." This week Walsh is hoping you can help him find a religious leader suspected of taking advantage of young girls who trusted him.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: After victor had sex with me when I was 13, I didn't talk about it to anyone.

I thought somehow, even if I didn't understand it that, you know, if it's what god wanted, then I had just had to - I don't know, maybe I deserved this.

Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These young women, they only knew what he told them. His education was the Bible according to Victor Bernard and he preached to these young women non-stop. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Victor told me that if I told anyone, I would receive damnation from god. And bad things happened to people who didn't obey god, sometimes god killed them or swallowed them with fire.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's manipulator hiding behind god. And people were very entranced and enthralled by this guy, but along the way, there were plenty of warning signs. There were lots of opportunities to intercede and say, in my gut, I don't think this is right.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO: Tune into "The Hunt" tonight at 9:00 Eastern Time, right here on CNN. Maybe you can help find this man.

Now, it's the industry much of California is known for, wine and today's magnitude 6 earthquake is rattling more than just bottles on the shelves. Unfortunately, the quake couldn't have come at a worse time. In Napa Valley, it is prime harvest season, now owners are forced to survey the damage rather than bottling their wine. Total damage assessment won't be known for some time but it's likely to be big.

I want to bring in CNN Money correspondent, Alison Kosik, so you have been talking to winery owners. How worried are they about this?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN MONEY CORRESPONDENT: They're worried, and it has been a really tough day as you can imagine, because the epicenter of this earthquake hit at the epicenter of the wine business in Napa, and not just the vineyards, but the storage facilities where cases of wine and barrels of wine are held, the infrastructure and the equipment all in this area as well.

You know, this earthquake could certainly wind up being very expensive if you are in the business of making wine and there's a lot of stake. Did you know that 90 percent of America's wine exports come from California?

I want to show you more numbers, because the industry really generates a lot of money. The wine produce in Napa is a $13 billion industry. The industry also contributes $25 billion to the state of California and more broadly, to the U.S. economy, contributes $50 billion.

I spoke with one vineyard owner, Jennifer Thomson, she owns a 100-acre vineyard right there in Napa. She doesn't think she has earthquake insurance, she is really concerned, because she recently purchased a $70,000 piece of equipment, she is not sure how that piece of equipment is doing but she also just learned that a facility that s housing some historic cases of wine has been destroyed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENNIFER THOMSON, THOMSON VINEYARDS OWNER: Here at Thompson Vineyards, we lost approximately 100 cases of library wines and those are wines that are produced directly from our grapes with the winery partners that we work for and unfortunately, after this morning's earthquake, those 100 cases have been a total loss.

We had other winemakers since the incident this morning reach out to us and let us know if that historical data has been lost, that they would like to try to help us to replace it. And we are very thankful for their offer. It would just be too early, I think, to make an economic guess at how much has been lost. For us, it's certainly over $10,000.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSIK: Now, those wines are priceless. You know, they are vintages that really represent years of farming that really can't be replaced.

SCIUTTO: Big economic cost for this quake, only counted over the coming weeks and months, I imagine. Thanks very much, Alison Kosik, as always, we will be right back after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) SCIUTTO: After this morning's earthquake in Napa, California, concerns tonight about another earthquake, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck just a short time ago in Peru, causing some to wonder if those two quakes are connected.

I want to bring in CNN meteorologist Chad Myers on the phone. Chad, what do you say? Any tie between a quake in northern California and one south of there in Peru, in South America?

MYERS (via phone): You know, Jim, if the northern California quake was much bigger then I would say yes, there's a potential that there could be some connection but likely not here, with a 6.0 and Peru down as a 7.0. What I can see, I have this theory and I worked through it and every time we get a big earthquake, this is the new moon full moon cycle. Tonight is the full moon, the tides are larger, the pull on the earth is greater, and this could be a potential triggering mechanism for some of these earthquakes.

We'll see. That theory will work itself out in the coming years or even decades. We don't have enough data to work on all that. But this, unlike the Napa earthquake that had so many people involved, only 5,000 people even felt that very strong shaking, whereas in Napa, over 150,000 people felt that thing shaking.

So the good news is there is a lot less likelihood of big economic damage, but due to the infrastructure and the way the homes are built and the mudslides and the landslides that are possible, this could certainly still have more of a loss of life than the Napa earthquake did, only because of the topography and where it's located in the world.

SCIUTTO: All right. Thanks very much, Chad Myers, putting the earthquakes today into context. Much appreciated.

Also back here home, a fierce comeback came up short for Chicago in the Little League World Series championship. Chicago's Jackie Robinson west squad taking on South Korea for the world title today. South Korea jumped ahead and never came back. They were up 8-1 going into the final inning. Chicago wasn't going down quietly. They reeled off three runs before grounding out to end the game. There it is. South Korea takes the crown as Little League World champions. Kudos to them. Too bad for the team from Chicago.

Well, despite today's loss, the Jackie Robinson West squad which is composed entirely of African-Americans has a strong connection to another little league team you may have never heard of before.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my god!

SCIUTTO (voice-over): There's just something about baseball this time of year, the crack of the bat, the playful laughter, and those smells. Anyone who loves the game knows the freshly cut grass, the dirt flying up in the air, the warm sun drenching the field.

This is little league baseball at its finest. But in the summer of 1955, the Cannon YMCA team, the only African-American little league team out of Charleston, South Carolina, found themselves center stage in the National Little League tournament in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Advancing to the big game after all 60 white teams boycotted the local and state tournaments.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We went on and checked into our dormitory, which was at Cummings College where all of the players stayed from around the country, and we had fun that night, of course. That night was like away from home for the first time.

SCIUTTO: But on game day, they were denied the right to play, only practice. Little league baseball telling the Cannon all-stars they were ineligible because they advanced only after the other teams had forfeited. As the team left the field, the chant "let them play" came over the ground. The group of boys sat in their seats and watched their dream fade right in front of their very eyes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The fans just went into a big chant, and we all now say that it's haunting. We remember that to today, that the chant of "let them play" just stays with you even now.

SCIUTTO: John Rivers, one of the original players, says the decision was littered with bigotry and prejudice.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's bigoted baseball. It's really the beginning of the civil rights movement. We were in the midst of that. Of course, we were kids, but the adults were using this opportunity to move the racial agenda forward.

PROF. CHRIS LAMB, INDIANA UNIVERSITY: It's important to understand that this is happening at the time of Brown versus Board of Education, that the entire south is crumbling and in absolute panic over this, and the day that the Cannon all-stars got back from Charleston, they went up to Williamsport and got to watch the World Series.

The day they got back was the day that Emmitt Till was murdered in Mississippi and a couple months later is when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's over! Chicago wins the United States championship!

SCIUTTO: Nearly 60 years later, the world is getting to see an achievement in stark contrast to the events of 1955. The Jackie Robinson West team, an all African-American club, made it to the Little League World Series in 1983. Now, 31 years later, they are doing it again and going for the championship.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We hear so much about the negativity that goes on. It's just refreshing to be out here to support something that's great.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's been hard. We have been getting stopped a lot.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have been asked for autographs, right?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kind of odd, isn't it? Pretty cool, though?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

LAMB: The message is let kids play. You know, let's not take away their dreams. Let's allow them, you know, let kids live their dreams and see what happens. And amazing things happen to the kids and to all of us when we're all given, you know, an equal opportunity.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO: Well, they made a great run and look at this, a few members of that 1955 team were on hand today to cheer on the Chicago squad. Great to see them there.

I'm Jim Sciutto. Stay on top of the California earthquake news with cnn.com tonight and now a marathon of John Walsh's "THE HUNT" begins, including the premiere of "Preaching Lies" one hour from now. Thanks for joining.