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Coast Guard Helps Rescue Victims; Houston Deals with Epic Flooding; Houston Braces for Additional Rain; Flooding In Texas; Rescue Missions Continue. Aired 1-1:30p ET

Aired August 28, 2017 - 13:00   ET

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

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JIM ACOSTA, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Jim Acosta in for Wolf Blitzer. Wherever you're watching from around the world, thanks for joining us.

We are -- we are watching a legendary storm that has devastated a large swath of Texas and threatens to cause even more damage and devastation in the region.

The rain from Harvey, the once category four hurricane continues to batter southeastern Texas and now threatens Louisiana. We have seen more than two feet of water with another two feet likely before it's all said and done.

Two thousand people in Houston have been rescued in Houston by first responders right now. Tens of thousands of people are huddled in shelters, forced out of their homes by those rising floodwaters.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was over five feet in our house. We barely made it out. I'm just so grateful that they came.

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ACOSTA: But what might be even worse. Houston sheriff admits victims trapped in submerged cars under up to 15 feet of water may still be found when the waters start to recede.

We want to get out to reporters out in the field right now. The catastrophic flooding is devastating communities from Meadville to Blessing and La Grange to Houston where roads have become raging rivers.

Our Brian Todd is in that area now, but also Ed Lavandera is in Dickinson, Texas with members of the National Guard. We want to go to Ed Lavandera first. Ed, you were on the back of a truck. You've been seeing some amazing rescues over the last 24 hours. What can you tell us now?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Jim. Well, we are in this convoy in Dickinson, Texas, along Interstate 45. We're with the National Guard unit out of Dallas, called the Wolf Pack. And they are headed into some of these neighborhoods that have been hardest hit by the floodwaters here on the south side of Houston.

So, this is kind of like north Galveston County and southern Harris County. And we are about to venture into these neighborhoods. Not exactly sure exactly what neighborhoods we're going to be hitting, or it's a combination of reconnaissance and some of the -- and some of the neighborhoods.

Some of the soldiers have told us perhaps making our way into Leak City as well here along the interstate. And it has been really difficult to make our way into some of these neighborhoods. I'm going to sit down as we start to -- the convoy starts moving here.

But we tried to get to a town called Friendswood just along the interstate as well for several hours this morning. And it became a very difficult situation, simply the roads impassable, impossible to get into some of these neighborhoods where a lot of rescue missions are taking place.

We're told about 1,000 people in that particular town of Friendswood had been evacuated just yesterday. And that those efforts are continuing today.

But so, you know, down here on the southern side of Houston, these communities like Dickinson, Leak City, Friendswood, you can just see the devastation from these floodwaters.

The good news is, here in Dickinson where we reported much of the day yesterday, we've significantly seen the water levels and the floodwaters drop significantly over the course of the last 15 hours. So, that is a sliver of good news.

However, Jim, we're told -- I was talking to a state trooper a little while ago that said, in some of these areas, it's really going to take a long time for the water to go away because a lot of this water is being channeled through bayous.

And according to that trooper, he was explaining to me, that because of that, it's going to take a lot longer for that water to run off and get out of these neighborhoods and allow people to get back in and survey the damage.

So, that is the situation. As you can tell, we're moving at a good clip now. You know, if you look here off to the side, this is the area we reported from quite a bit yesterday.

And one of these neighborhoods, Jim, you're about to see, I believe we're about to drive past it, you can see it's still under water. I think in about the next 30 seconds or so, we're going to hit that area.

But here, just on this road, where we're driving on now, we were actually floating along on a boat yesterday. This is the neighborhood we're about to hit. This is the area known as a little subdivision called Bayou Chantilly.

If you get into this neighborhood, we had to use a boat yesterday. The water is still rather high, but you can get a little closer. But you can sense there, a quick look inside that neighborhood where people are launching boats into this neighborhood. This is where we reported from quite a bit extensively yesterday, Jim.

And you can see here. This gives you a better indication of the amount of water from these water systems that just continues to make it impossible to get through. But with these trucks and this convoy, this National Guard convoy, we'll be able to make it a much bigger distance.

So, it's not clear exactly if we're going to a rescue operation, where these soldiers are going to go house to house or if they're going to find people who've already been evacuated and then move those people to higher ground -- Jim.

ACOSTA: Yes. And, Ed, as you're -- we should point out to viewers right now. You're on the back of a truck there with this rescue team live on the air with us right now.

[13:05:06] And you were just saying, you're rolling through a community that was much more under water than it is right now.

I suppose as these teams go in there, there is just no telling what they're going to find. As you were just saying a few moments ago, the water is receding pretty quickly in that area.

LAVANDERA: Yes. That's been, kind of, the good news. So, some of the -- this particular road that we were on yesterday I believe was pretty much impassable here, on the cars.

Now, in these big convoys and these trucks, you know, it's easy. You have much more clearing so it's easier to make our way through.

But this is some of the area where people have been launching from and they continue to make their way through some of these neighborhoods.

And we are definitely -- we're heading north now, Jim, toward that area of Leak City. I'm not sure exactly how long it's going to take us to get there, but, you know, these are all, kind of, shopping centers just along the service road of Interstate 45. You can see what the parking lot conditions are.

And this gets much worse, once you get beyond this row of buildings and into those trees that you see there in the distance. That is the areas where these bayous and these creeks run through in the southern Houston County area.

And that is what -- all of that water's rushing through there, coming out of its banks and making it -- you know, causing a lot of devastation. We're going to move the camera here to, kind of, get you a better shot.

But you can see there, as you look on the interstate there on the left side of your screen, this is Interstate 45, the number of boats.

And then, as I've mentioned and described to people, it's amazing to see that the interstate here has -- an interstate that's usually jammed with car traffic has essentially been turned into a boat launch for volunteers launching air boats, like the one you see in front of me. Flat-bottom boats as people make their -- we're caught there in the draft of that airboat here. Just one second, hold on. Got the mist.

ACOSTA: And, Ed, obviously, cars shouldn't be driving through this, sort of -- this, sort of, floodwaters. But you can with the team that you're with right now. Tell us about that. How are you able to do that as these folks are going out and checking on people?

LAVANDERA: No. It's very difficult. You know, we've seen a -- we've lost count of how many cars we've seen stranded. Even high trucks, big SUVs stranded in these waters.

But these big military-style trucks can definitely handle and move around in higher water. So, that is easier and it gives them much more capability to get closer into these neighborhoods to relieve some of the -- you know, a lot of these volunteers of these boats are getting into these neighborhoods, pulling people out.

These trucks can get closer and can bring them back to the interstate where they are then put on buses or other private cars. And then, folks have been taken to shelters, as all of this is happening.

So, we'll see exactly -- I'm not exactly sure what it is we're going to stumble upon. The soldiers are inside. Obviously, inside the cabin of the truck here.

They're getting calls and have been on the radio throughout the moments that we've been on this truck, trying to figure out exactly where they're going to be deployed to and where they need to help out.

So, we are tagging along for the ride on this one, and we haven't really been told exactly where it is that these two trucks are going to end up.

So, they are making their way through the service road. Leak City, which is the area I believe we're going to end up in is back over here to the right side of the interstate where we're going. So, we will monitor that situation and try to update you guys exactly with what we come across.

But even the soldiers were telling us, you know, they don't really know exactly what it is -- what it is they're going to find or where exactly they were going to -- they were going to end up. So, they're making their way through this area now.

ACOSTA: All right, Ed Lavandera, you stay safe. Thank you very much. There are some folks that are doing some brave work there in your parts. And we'll check back with you. Keep us posted as things develop as you're checking on these neighborhoods. Ed, we appreciate it very much.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott says he has sent in hundreds more boats and high-water vehicles to help out in Houston. And rescuers have pulled 2,000 people, 2,000 people, out of the water so far. More are still waiting.

Houston's police chief is telling track residents to not give up. Right now, there are 12,000 National Guard members helping these efforts.

Joining me now on the phone is the Harris County chief executive, Ed Emmitt. He's also director of the Harris County office of emergency management.

Have you -- Ed, you're on the phone with us now. Have you seen any of this new equipment being brought in by the governor? Is that making any difference at this point, from what you're seeing?

ED EMMITT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS: Yes, it certainly is. The problem -- the state put assets as rapidly as expected, but they couldn't get all the way in. They couldn't get to the normal staging area on the first day because so many of the highways were closed.

[13:10:15] That is -- that situation's unraveling, and in a good way today. Those assets are being deployed.

And, for example, now, we're desperately in need of the National Guard to help take supplies to the shelters, so that when we put people in the shelters, they have food and blankets and all of the things that are necessary.

ACOSTA: And I remember from Katrina, Ed, there was a problem -- there was a problem, in terms of the federal response. Local officials, state officials felt like they weren't really in good contact with federal emergency management officials.

How have those contacts been like for you? Are -- do you feel as though you are -- you are hearing enough from the federal government, at this point, in terms of assets being brought into the area? Help and assistance being brought into the area?

EMMITT: Yes. Those contacts have been fine. We've done this -- I was not here for Rita when it came through our area, but I was here for Hurricane Ike. And we've been through many, many floods. And FEMA has been here, so we know each other.

We have a very well-defined plan where the state and the federal and local governments, not just Harris County but all of us, work together. And then with our private partners in our emergency operation center.

ACOSTA: And do you have any idea how much longer it's going to take to rescue some of these people with the rising floodwaters? Our Ed Lavandera was just on the back of a truck with a volunteer team.

And they are seeing, in some areas -- we're looking actually at his camera right now. They're making their way through Dickinson, Texas, Ed, and you can see many of the roads are still covered with water. Although our Ed Lavandera said the floodwaters are receding. Do you know how long it's going to take to get into these communities? Why are some communities seeing that water receding faster than others? What can you tell us?

EMMETT: Well, of course, we're on the Gulf Coast of Texas, so a low- lying area generally. And it depends on which watershed has been affected. The waters are receding and it really is going to depend on what happens to the remnants of Hurricane Harvey.

The good news is it appears to be moving farther to our east. That's good for us, not necessarily good for the people over in Louisiana.

But if we don't get significant amounts of rain, and I think you'll see the water go down fairly rapidly, except in those areas where we have watersheds, rivers, for example, that drain from the area that was originally hit by the hurricane, because that water is still going to be coming downstream.

ACOSTA: And -- I guess -- what -- how are you going to cope with the weather forecast? They're talking about a lot more rain coming in to the area. Is it just a situation you just have to really bear this out and hunker down and try to get through it?

EMMETT: Well, hunker down's the term. I mean, that's something we've used down here, certainly back during hurricane Ike.

But that's what I said. The good news is it appears that now the forecast is shifting Harvey a little bit to the east, so that we're not getting those training bands coming off the Gulf. I hope it stays that way, because, if so, that will make our life a lot easier.

I will also say that a big difference that people haven't really talked about. Now that we're in the cell phone era, we're better able to hear from folks that are trapped and that's important. We can't get to all of them as quickly as we'd like.

But we have been able to initiate rescues where people call and said, you know, we have a group of people, a lady's in labor, those kind of things. And it has allowed us to deploy our resources perhaps in a more efficient manner.

ACOSTA: OK. Ed Emmitt, Director of the Harris County Office of Emergency Management. We appreciate your time. We do hope that that weather forecast gives you some relief as well. Ed, thank you very much.

EMMETT: Thank you.

ACOSTA: By air and by boat, more than 2,000 people have been rescued in the Houston area, the Coast Guard has been plucking people off of rooftops. We'll take you inside that mission just ahead. And more than two feet of rain from Harvey and counting. We're tracking the storm's path. That's coming up.

[13:14:30]

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[13:18:32] JIM ACOSTA, CNN ANCHOR: While the hurricane force winds have diminished, Harvey is still a dangerous and historic storm. Let's just look at the numbers. The Federal Emergency Management Agency expects more than 30,000 people in the Texas flood zone will be taken to shelters. It's estimated 450,000 victims will seek some sort of disaster assistance. Dallas is opening a mega shelter -- what they're calling a mega shelter, capable of accommodating 5,000 evacuees. And 12,000 national and state guard members are on duty helping communities affected by Hurricane Harvey.

The Coast Guard has nine boat teams and 18 helicopters, we should point out right now, conducting search and rescue operations in the hardest hit areas of Houston.

For more on that we're joined on the phone by Vice Admiral Karl Schultz. He is the commander of the Coast Guard for the Atlantic area.

Admiral, thanks for joining us on the phone. We appreciate it.

Can you tell us, how are the operations going right now? We've been watching some of these dramatic rescues going on. How's everybody holding up and how are these operations going?

VICE ADMIRAL KARL SCHULTZ, COMMANDER, COAST GUARD FOR THE ATLANTIC AREA: Good afternoon, Jim.

The operations are going, you know, very steady, very strong. The weather remains challenging. It is -- I just left from Houston here a moment -- you know, a little while ago. We set down a (INAUDIBLE) down here to go to the EOC in this location. But our men and women are flying. We got about 12 aircraft in the air when I departed here briefly ago. The bands from the weather system are continually proposing challenges. We're flying in and around them.

We've got boats on the water, as you indicated. Upwards of 18 what we call flood punt (ph) teams on the water yesterday. Between yesterday and today, they're responsible for over 1,000 rescues.

[13:20:05] Our aviators are -- I don't have the specific numbers where we are today, Jim, but probably from yesterday to today, a 24-hour period, probably close to 300 people rescued from the air.

ACOSTA: And what are you telling people to do if the water levels start rising rapidly in the area that they're in? How can they make themselves more noticeable by air, if one of your teams are in the area, or if they're on a boat? I suppose that, you know, there are some dos and don'ts in this area. What can they do to speed up a rescue operation, if it's at all possible, I suppose?

SCHULTZ: Well, Jim, as you can imagine, the volume of calls coming into the 911 centers to the Coast Guard are quite staggering, in the tens of thousands. But my advice -- I would triage that to say, folks should first trying to call 911, call their state emergency operation centers, call the United States Coast Guard. We have some, you know, since monitoring social media, but we don't have the bandwidth to monitor that all the time. So (INAUDIBLE) 911, reach out to local authorities, emergency operation centers, call the Coast Guard. That would be your best way to get help.

Stay calm in your -- if you're in your home and your home remains safe, get to the higher levels. Residents, do not go into your attic. If you're in your attic, we don't have visibility on you being there. It's hard for us to come find you. If you can get to your roof, wave a towel, leave some kind of marking on the roof so our helicopter crews can see you. That would be about my advice, Jim, on -- to that question.

ACOSTA: And you just mentioned the staggering number of calls that you're getting at this point. Do you have enough equipment and manpower, enough personnel there to deal with all of this? I suppose you could use more assets. How are things going on that end?

SCHULTZ: Yes, Jim, we're down here supporting the state of Texas, supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency. You know, speaking specifically to the Coast Guard, I think you had mentioned a number 18. We've got 18 helicopters in Houston right now. You know, obviously different cycles and maintenance to keep them in the air.

We're flying about, like I said, about 12 of those. We have additional helicopters still coming into the area. I think those will be (INAUDIBLE) tomorrow. We've got the lion's share of Coast Guard operational helicopters from across the country down here flying in support of this mission.

Our DHS (ph) counterparts and CBP, Customs and Border Patrol, the air Marine operations division, they have helicopters here. The guard and the Department of Defense have some helicopters in the state. There's a --t here's sort of a critical mass here that you can put in the air given the visibility and the weather conditions as well.

So I think we've got a pretty robust footprint in terms of air capabilities right now. We're surging in additional boats from various regions. You know, we were here before the storm, pre-positioned outside and flowing in, and we continue to bring in additional capacity.

So, Jim, I would say, we're working hard to throw everything we have at it. Texans rescuing Texans. Those folks with watercraft and some personal knowledge and some experience on the water are helping residents in their neighborhood. And that's a very -- a very pretty positive thing and I encourage more of that. People have just got to be, you know, savvy about their capabilities and not get in over their head out there, though.

ACOSTA: That's very good advice. OK, Vice Admiral Karl Schultz, we appreciate your time very much. Good luck to all of you and your teams out there rescuing and doing some very important work down there on the Gulf Coast. Thank you, sir.

SCHULTZ: OK. Thanks to you, Jim.

ACOSTA: All right, floodwaters rising. Thousands of people stranded. And some of them are separated from their families and loved ones as well. Ahead, we'll show you how one father and son reunited after their home was wiped out by the storm.

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[13:27:51] ACOSTA: Happening soon, Texas Governor Greg Abbott will hold a press conference updating the latest information on Tropical Storm Harvey and its impact, and highlighting what parts of southeast Texas still face an immediate threat.

CNN's Rosa Flores is in Houston and CNN's Polo Sandoval is in Richmond, Texas.

Polo, what can you tell us about where you are right now?

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jim, I can tell you that the real flooding threat is just getting started here outside of Houston. We're in Richmond, Texas. And behind me is the raging Vrazes (ph) River that reached record levels Memorial Day of last year, reaching about 54 feet. Today, that record will shatter, according to the predictions from the National Weather Service, expected to reach close to 59 feet.

The result, mandatory evacuations up and down this river. I visited one riverside community a little while ago, Jim. A mobile home park. That place is a virtual ghost town. There's one person there that was packing up everything they could. The rest that they had to leave behind had to be placed up on top of furniture because that is a reality now, Jim, as this -- as the water levels continue to rise and this -- this river here expected to reach such record highs later today. There will be hundreds perhaps thousands of people that could be displaced. As the judge -- the county judge just told me a little while ago, Jim, this is an 800-year flood that they're expecting not far outside of Houston.

ACOSTA: It certainly looks that way, too.

Polo, thank you very much.

And, Rosa Flores, I'm sure you're hearing from people as well who are being displaced by all of this. Sounds like there's an alarm going off behind you. What can you tell us from where you are?

FLORES: You know, that alarm, Jim, has been going off since the water started rising. It's from one of the buildings that you see behind me. Because that water rose so quickly, I mean, we were here doing live shots yesterday. We had to keep on moving our position because the water was moving so quickly and was rising so quickly.

Here is the mind-boggling thing, Jim. Yesterday, as about this hour, I couldn't walk down this pathway. I wouldn't be able to stand right here where I'm standing because I would be completely under water.

[13:25:00] Let me show you some of the debris so you can see. There's barricades, people's belongings, a rug. I mean all sorts of things. A lot of debris that's been flowing through here. This walkway turned into a peer --