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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
"Monstrous" Hurricane Michael Now a Cat Four; Hunt Is On For New U.S. Ambassador to U.N.; Khashoggi's Fiancee Appeals to Trump; Trump Promises Another North Korea Summit. Aired 4-4:30a ET
Aired October 10, 2018 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:00:08] ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.
DAVE BRIGGS, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to EARLY START, everybody. I'm Dave Briggs.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Christine Romans. It is Wednesday, October 10, 4:00 a.m. in the East here.
We welcome all of our viewers around the U.S. and the world.
Our breaking news, Hurricane Michael now just hours away from landing a devastating blow on the Florida panhandle. In just the last couple of hours, Michael has grown to a category-four storm. That makes it the most powerful hurricane to hit the panhandle in more than a century.
At least 22 counties with nearly 2.5 million residents under evacuation orders at this hour, mandatory evacuations ordered in 13 of those counties, voluntary in another nine.
Now, Florida Governor Rick Scott calling Michael a monstrous, dangerous storm that could kill you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. RICK SCOTT (R), FLORIDA: If you're under an evacuation order, listen to it. Leave now. Do not take a chance. You don't know if roads are going to get closed. You know, we're going to do everything we can to help you, but do not wait.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: People across the panhandle preparing the best they can. Store shelves as you can see cleared out as residents stock up. Thirty-four shelters opening, according to the governor's office, several hospitals closing in areas forecast to take the hardest hit.
CNN bringing you coverage from Destin and Apalachicola, on the Florida panhandle, and from the CNN Weather Center where Chad Myers has the latest.
Chad, a category four.
CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Right. It grew overnight. The pressure went down. The wind speeds went up. The eye got smaller, and now we're up to 140 miles per hour.
An airplane just flew through it, had a wind gust of 139 miles per hour. Had a wind sustained at 129. So, this is the real deal. This isn't just some make-up, oh, let's push the numbers up so people panic.
No, this is truly now a category-four hurricane that will make landfall close to Panama City beach. It's close enough that we can see it on the radar. The eye is on the bottom of the screen there approaching that Florida panhandle coast.
Now, on the one sides we have St. Mark's that's going to get a significant surge. On the other side, we have Destin that's going to see a lot less, where Walton Beach a lot less because of the offshore flow. The onshore flow from Panama City, all the way over to Apalachicola, that's the part that really is going to have significant damage here.
We're going to have buildings, structures damage with wind, we're going to have storm surge. We're going to have storm surge knocking buildings down. People need to be out of there. Hopefully, they are already. They've already known if they're in zone one, two, three, A, B, C, whatever it might be in your local area.
If you're not out of there, and you're anywhere near the water, even some of our crews are going to start pulling back because this is the storm we've been concerned about for the Florida panhandle, an area that really didn't see much in the way of big weather. So, all these buildings that are already plus or minus a strong 110 mile-per-hour storm are going to get torn apart in 140. We're still looking at a 13-foot storm surge. That's above high tide.
So, with high tide, that could be a 15-foot surge. Many people there along the coast not above that much. Also the power outages are going to be significant, as well. Power out it may be weeks here, anywhere from the Florida panhandle all the way up to where Florence put down so much rain.
The trees are just sitting there in mud. Those trees are going to fall down. Those trees are going to take out power lines. So, there may be more of an impact for Savannah and Charleston with this storm than we had with Florence even though Charleston looked like you were in Florence for a while.
You are certainly in this, 140 mile-per-hour storm, going to take time to wind down. The winds in savannah and Charleston could easily be over 100 by the time it gets there. We'll keep the advice of this. We're going to get a new update at 5:00.
The plane is flying back and forth. They send back data every 10 minutes. They are looking at the winds every 30 seconds.
So, we'll have that for you as soon as that comes in -- Dave.
BRIGGS: Chad, thank you.
A 13-foot storm surge, folks.
All right. Florida's panhandle bracing for Hurricane Michael's impact, already, we are seeing the storm's effects.
CNN's Derek Van Dam live in Apalachicola, Florida, with more.
Derek, good morning. What you're seeing?
DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, good morning, Dave. Just terrifying to hear what Chad was talking about. The reconnaissance aircraft finding the wind gust of 139 miles per hour.
This is the real deal. We are in Apalachicola. This is located on the big bend of Florida's panhandle.
I want to show you the virtual ghost town that is Apalachicola. You see lights blinking in the background. Plenty of businesses boarded up. This area, the geography, if you were just to look at a map of this part of Florida, the big bend, it's in the shape of a "C."
So, it catches all the water from approaching hurricanes.
[04:05:01] That is why this region is so susceptible to storm surge. And also considering that much of the area is without the helpful nature of some of the sea islands that protect so much of the coastline of Florida. There's St. George's Island just off the coast here. But if you go a little further to the east, then you're without that barrier island. And that means that it is very likely that we'll see the storm surge of 13 feet.
That's what they're calling for here. We know what that means. That's 13 feet above any particular location from where you're standing. That would easily inundate homes up through the first floor.
I saw a hurricane storm surge benchmark from Hurricane Dennis back in 2005. And it showed the four-meter storm surge that came through this region. It inundated and wiped out highway 98 that runs along the coastline of the big bend. Well, this is what we're shaping up to see with hurricane Michael as it makes its final approach on the coastline of Florida.
Dave, Christine, back to you.
BRIGGS: All right. Derek, stay safe, my friend.
ROMANS: All right. Joining us on the phone is Mark Wool. He is the warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, via Skype.
Mark, what's the latest on the watches and warnings in the panhandle?
MARK WOOL, WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE: The warnings have not changed. They've been up for a while now. Hurricane warnings extend all the way across the entire length of the panhandle. Storm surge warnings are also in effect. And the hurricane warnings
extend pretty far inland, as far as Albany, Georgia, and so, this system is going to -- it's going to be bringing potentially sustained hurricane-force winds inland.
BRIGGS: What is the most dangerous aspect of this storm?
WOOL: Well, the thing that usually kills the most people is the storm surge. And as we just heard in the last segment, the forecast storm surge is amazingly high. And the scary thing about this storm it still seems to be strengthening.
We're forecasting a category four at landfall that's unprecedented. That has not happened in historic record going back to 1851. That's going to bring a lot of surge to the vulnerable bay.
People in the evacuation zones, I hope they have gotten out of the way. It's going to be a deadly situation. In this case with the category four, the winds are going to be certainly enough to cause substantial structural damage.
We have some high rises across Panama City Beach. The higher you go, the stronger the winds are going to be there up those buildings. So, this time around, we're looking at both surge and wind as potential killers.
ROMANS: Yes, I mean, I know the water is always just the real danger, but these wind speeds are really unbelievable. I'm thinking of the stretch of coastline, you think of those big high rises and just how much development there. Are those built to withstand 130 mile-per- hour winds?
WOOL: Not exactly sure about the building codes on some of those. They're pretty sound structures from the look of them. A lot are concrete with the windows boarded up and what have you.
But, you know, we've seen damage to high-rises to similar structures in other cities. At the very least, windows are going to be blown out. They're not going to be safe places to be.
ROMANS: The flying debris is a real problem. Even tropical storm- force winds, it is deadly.
BRIGGS: OK. So, an update coming at 5:00 a.m.
Mark Wool, thanks so much for joining us. We'll check back with you as it's warranted.
ROMANS: Thanks, Mark.
BRIGGS: More breaking news coverage of Hurricane Michael right after this on EARLY START.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:12:56] BRIGGS: All right. Continuing now our breaking news coverage of Hurricane Michael. It's now an extremely dangerous category 4 storm, packing 139 mile-an-hour winds and life-threatening storm surge.
CNN's George Howell live in Destin, Florida, where they are getting ready for this monster storm.
George, good morning.
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Dave, good day to you.
Let's spill that out, right? One hundred thirty mile-per-hour winds, what does that mean? Well, it means downed power lines. It means trees will come down.
It means that storm surge will be very strong here along the coastline. It means that some buildings will be compromised. Roofs may be torn off. Buildings will sustain damage from this powerful storm that is moving inland.
Here in Destin, Florida, we're already feeling the effects, as you've seen with our other correspondents throughout this region. The rain coming -- this started just about an hour and a half ago. The conditions will continue to deteriorate.
Around midday today, that's when the eye of the storm is tracking toward Panama City, Florida. Panama City, the bull's-eye for the strong category four, Hurricane Michael, at east of Panama City, the dirty side of the hurricanes, the northeastern quadrant. They will see the stronger winds, the possible tornadic activity the next several hours.
It will certainly deteriorate, get much worse. Many people decided to evacuate, Dave. Some people decided to ride this out. It could very well be one hell of a ride. We'll have to see how this works out, but it is a powerful and historic storm, Dave.
BRIGGS: Governor Rick Scott encouraging everyone to get out of its path. George Howell, live for us in Destin, thanks.
ROMANS: All right. Another news, the search for Nikki Haley's replacement begins.
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations stunned Washington with an announcement -- she plans to step down by the end of the year. Speculation rampant over the reason for her departure which a source says caught Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Adviser John Bolton by surprise. Haley herself said he believes in term limits, that it's time to step aside.
The one source says she wants to make more money to put two children through college.
[04:15:02]O ne thing Haley was clear about, she will not run against President Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) NIKKI HALEY, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: No, I'm not running for 2020. I can promise you what I'll be doing is campaigning for this one. So, I look forward to supporting the president in the next election.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: The president heaped praise on Haley, calling her, quote, a fantastic person who's done an incredible job. Among the names floated to replace Haley is deputy national security adviser -- former rather, Dina Powell, is currently at Goldman Sachs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Well, Dina's certainly a person I would consider. And she is under consideration. We have actually many names. And, you know, Nikki has been great. Nikki is going to be working along with us and helping us with the choice. Plus, she's going to help with 2020.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Rick Grenell, ambassador to Germany, also mentioned as replacement. The president says he plans to name Haley's successor in two to three weeks.
ROMANS: President Trump did make a case for one possible replacement for Nikki Haley, his daughter Ivanka. Now, he insists there is no one more qualified.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: The people that know know that Ivanka would be dynamite. I think Ivanka would be incredible. But it doesn't mean -- you know, I'd pick her because you'd be accused of nepotism, even though I'm not sure there's anybody more confident in the world. But that's OK.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: No one more confident in the world.
Offer or not, Ivanka is not interested. The first daughter tweeting: It is an honor to serve in the White House alongside so many great colleagues. And I know that the president will nominate a formidable replacement for Ambassador Haley. That replacement will not be me.
BRIGGS: President Trump heads to another campaign rally tonight in Erie, Pennsylvania, with less than four weeks until the midterm elections. Last night in Iowa, the president raged against the Democrats, insisting they had only one goal in the confirmation fight over Brett Kavanaugh.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: From the very first minute Brett Kavanaugh was nominated, radical Democrats were on a mission to resist, obstruct, delay, demolish, and destroy. They wanted to destroy that man. Of course, they want to destroy me, too, but that's OK.
(BOOS)
Me, we understand. Him, how can you do that? They want to destroy everything. That's all they're good at -- resisting. Their whole campaign is resist. Ours is to create.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: According to a new CNN poll, Democratic voters are fired up for the midterms, 54 percent of likely voters saying they support the Democrat in their district, with 41 percent backing a Republican. That's the widest margin of support for Democrats in the midterm cycle since 2006, the last time Dems won control of the House.
ROMANS: The fiancee of missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi is pleading with President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to shed light on his disappearance. In an op-ed in "The Washington Post", Hatice Cengiz writes that Khashoggi was concerned, he might be in danger when he went to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to pick up paperwork for their marriage.
She's calling on the Saudi King Salman to release close circuit video from the consulate to prove her fiance left the building as the Saudis claim. President Trump has said he is concerned about Khashoggi's disappearance.
BRIGGS: We have some new details about a possible second summit between President Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. The president says the second summit is happening and, quote, not too far away. He said it probably would not happen in Singapore like the first one. The president praised what he called his administration's speedy progress easing tensions with Pyongyang.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I have agreed to meet. And I have agreed to spend time. But how long has it been since we left Singapore? Three months or so. I think the speed is amazing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Later, the president said the next summit with North Korea would have to happen after the midterm elections because he's too busy now campaigning for Republican candidates.
ROMANS: All right. Hurricane Michael already disrupting U.S. oil production. We've got that next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:23:39] ROMANS: All right. Hurricane Michael has yet to make landfall, but it's already disrupting U.S. oil. The Gulf of Mexico is a huge source of oil production in the U.S. Big producers like BP and Chevron, they began bracing for the hurricane Monday, evacuating offshore production platforms in the storm's path. Seventy-five have been cleared so far, about 11 percent of the manned platforms in the area.
Unlike oil rigs, production platforms don't move. Companies also shut down three rigs in the area. They moved eight others. That's cut off nearly 40 percent of oil output in the Gulf of Mexico. That's a big hit. It's stemmed natural gas by 28 percent.
The production cut sent U.S. crude prices 1 percent higher yesterday, rising to just below $75 a barrel. Oil prices already rising because of tight global supply and looming U.S. sanctions on Iran oil. Higher crude prices mean higher gas prices. Right now, the average cost per gallon is 40 cents higher than this time last year, 40 cents.
BRIGGS: OK. Taylor Swift using her acceptance speech for Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards to send a political message to her millions of adoring fans.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TAYLOR SWIFT, MUSICIAN: This award and every single award given out tonight were voted on by the people. You know what else is voted on by the people --
(CHEERS)
Is the midterm elections on November 6th. Get out and vote. I love you, guys.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[04:25:01] BRIGGS: Not shying away. On Sunday, Swift announced on Instagram, she'd be voting for Democratic candidates in her home state of Tennessee. On Tuesday, President Trump said he liked her music, quote, about 25 percent less now.
ROMANS: That's her first political endorsement ever.
BRIGGS: Yes.
ROMANS: She's always been quiet.
BRIGGS: Made a lot of news. And registration spiked after the statement.
All right. The Boston Red Sox moving on to the American League Championship Series. The New York Yankees staying home. The Bronx Bombers at home rallying for two runs off Boston closer Craig Kimbrel in the ninth inning, but falling short in game four of the ALDS, 4-3. That was Torres, just out at first after the replay.
That set off the Boston celebration. Red Sox will face the defending champion Houston Astros starting Saturday. Winner heads to the World Series. Friday, it's Dodgers and Brewers in the National League.
ROMANS: All right. Our top story, Florida bracing for what would be the most powerful hurricane to hit the panhandle in more than a century. A category four. More breaking news coverage of Hurricane Michael after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
