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Tornados Leave Death, Destruction in Florida
Aired February 02, 2007 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CO-HOST: Hello, everyone, I'm Kyra Phillips live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
DON LEMON, CO-HOST: And I'm Don Lemon.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I didn't hear the noise. But the roof was laying on me and that's what woke me up. We're lucky to be alive.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All of a sudden, it was just gone.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you look at your house, can you believe you're here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I can't, I'm just thankful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: The emotion in central Florida right now. The survivors, the search for people trapped in the rubble and the rising death toll after deadly tornados strike overnight.
You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Deadly and devastating. Block after block, town after town, across Central Florida, sheer destruction. Tornados slice through the state in the middle of the night, flattening entire neighborhood, killing at least 14 people.
Emergency crews are on search and rescue missions for anyone trapped in all that rubble. States of emergency already declared in Seminole, Sumter and Volusia counties.
PHILLIPS: We're all over the story right now with all the resources of CNN. Our Rusty Dornin is in Florida and on the way to Lake County. More than seven of our affiliates are on the scene. Here's what they've been hearing from people there so far.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When the tornado stopped, and it was gone, we heard people hollering. We came across the street to find total devastation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, the people at this house right here, some lady, I was trying to help her out but she didn't make it. I tried my hardest. I feel real bad because that guy -- I was -- they were checking her pulse and everything. I seen two dead bodies today so -- it's not right.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What's it like in there?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, it's just rubble and trees down and cars. Just a lot of traffic, people's belongings everywhere.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was in my house right there with our two children and our -- my wife.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What did it sound like? What happened?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sounded like a freight train.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What were you thinking?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was mostly thinking, just take care of my wife and kids. Wasn't nothing else we could do. It was on us within 20 seconds.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Where was your house? Honey, you're telling me right there, that used to be a mobile home?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, that used to be a mobile home. And that's where we were -- that's what we were in when it caught.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: And I'm being told that we're expecting the governor to step up to the mic any moment now to talk about what's happening there in Florida with regards to the deaths and the search for people still after these storms hit. We're going to take that live as soon as it happens. Governor Crist flying over that region right now. We'll take him live as soon as he steps to the mic.
Reynolds Wolf is in the CNN weather center. He's been tracking the storm all through the night. Reynolds, what can you tell us right now?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I can tell you now, we're very fortunate that there are only 14 people that lost their lives. You know, this sounds very cavalier to say. But what I'm trying to imply is that it could have been far worse. It could have been much, much worse. It's a miracle that we've only had that many.
We have some assorted video for you from high above that just shows the trees just shorn like matchsticks. Here's some of that video that we have earlier for you, just debris everywhere.
And the big killer in these storms is not necessarily the wind itself but rather the stuff that is picked up by these strong winds, spinning around at the center of these tornados as they go through the area.
What's funny is you can just have something, say, as innocent as a pin picked up by those tornado force winds, and that can become a deadly projectile. And that's where so many of the injuries and the fatalities stem from.
Here's more video. Again, just these structures just ripped apart, absolutely ripped apart. Mobile homes didn't stand a chance in this storm as it roared from the west to the east. All kinds of damage. We've seen all kinds of vehicles picked up and thrown by this.
What's interesting is many people are often told in Central Florida, one of the safest places you can be in times of a severe thunderstorm is actually inside of a car. Yet it's one of the most dangerous places you can be in times of a tornado. One the many reasons why is because when you have a car, you have the wheels and wind can get from underneath it over it around it, actually pick it up.
And that's the same situation that happens many times in mobile homes. They're not strong -- strong structures. I mean, sure they're stronger. They've improved their structure over the last couple of years. But compared to what these storms can deal out in terms of winds, it really is no match whatsoever.
But we're going to be seeing more of this footage no question, throughout the day, as people are sifting through this wreckage just trying to put their lives back together.
PHILLIPS: You know, Reynolds, overnight, even yesterday, we were talking about the severe weather, the snow, taking an impact on the region. A lot of us woke up this morning and had no idea this system was taking place. When did it start? When did we get word that this was going to be so devastating?
WOLF: Well, the first warning -- and what I have in my hands is just, again, a pile of the warnings that came out last night. The first warning was roughly around 3:02 in the morning. And the people really didn't have a whole lot of warning from this.
I mean, think about it. Let's put ourselves in their shoes. This happened in pitch darkness. They didn't have the ability to step outside, like you would in an afternoon if you see all the skies go back, and you had the opportunity to see a tornado. They didn't have that.
Plus they didn't have any tornado sirens. It was really something that happened very quickly. And of course, not a lot of time to take cover.
PHILLIPS: All right. Reynolds Wolf, it's going to be a very busy day, thanks.
WOLF: No question.
LEMON: Very busy day for Reynolds Wolf and the folks in Florida. We're going to get more on the emergency response to this morning's storms. Jon Peck joins us on the phone. He's in Tallahassee. He's with the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
Mr. Peck, thank you for joining us. Tell us about the states of emergency there. What are you guys doing now?
JON PECK, FLORIDA DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: Well, Governor Crist has declared a state of emergency in four counties in Florida, Lake County, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties. Essentially, the storm cut across the middle of the state, and it did, obviously, a lot of damage.
Right now, we've got -- the governor has put us in an all hands on deck mode where every agency of state government is ready to pitch in to do anything possible.
The important thing right now -- the focus is on trying to find every survivor we can. Because today is crucial for them. If they are not found today, obviously it will be a very difficult night for them and then tomorrow. So we're trying to focus on getting those people, getting them -- finding them and getting them out safely.
LEMON: Yes, and Mr. Peck, this is new video. We're looking at new video, just in case you're joining us. New video of Florida tornados that went through there. This is live aerials coming through.
I imagine that your response to this, Mr. Peck, is very similar as to when hurricanes rolled through your state, as they do often.
PECK: Well, the biggest difference is that when a hurricane comes, you know it's coming. You have at least a day, maybe two days of notice. In this case, obviously, there had been some hurricane -- tornado watches, even earlier in the evening, around midnight they came out. But a tornado hits out of the blue and goes away just as quickly. And so you wake up in the morning and really have to try to see what you have.
And -- but the thing is, our folks knew once the storms hit. We started deploying resources immediately before we really knew exactly what the problem were, where it was the worst damage. Just to make sure that as soon as we can get people in there, we were able to.
LEMON: Tell us about manpower here. How much -- do you have enough? And what are you doing to try to get these folks out to look for these people and are you getting help from surrounding communities?
PECK: Yes, the folks in communities all over the area have been terrific already. The response has been very positive. The main thing is, you know, local crews are in there, trying to find survivors. And the thing was really asked for from people in other communities.
There's two things. One is, even though you want to find out about friends and loved ones, please stay out of the affected areas. Because the more people who go in there, the harder it is for emergency personnel to get in.
The other thing is that, for people who have not been devastated by the storms, the people who lost their homes and survived, they've lost everything. And they need everything. They need blankets. They need clothing. They need bedding. They need everything.
And so we're asking people to -- you know, if the storm didn't affect you, please contribute to local -- you know, emergency operations and recovery units. Try to help out those folks in need.
LEMON: And Mr. Peck, you bring up a good point. Because we're look at these pictures going. It's amazing video. But these really are lives that are affected by all of this.
Do you have a number or where people should call if they're in the Lake County area and they may be wondering -- or if they're wondering about someone in the Lake County area? Have you set up an emergency area?
PECK: Well, yes, there is a Florida emergency information line for people to get information. That number is 1-800-342-3557. And that's kind of a central hotline for where people can provide information to us and receive information from us. Trying to keep it current as best we can.
LEMON: OK. That Florida information line again, 1-800-342-3557, 1-800-342-3557.
Jon Peck, thank you very much, from the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Thank you for joining us today.
This is live. You're looking at live pictures now from WFTV, our affiliate in Lake County, Florida. Just devastation there. You can see all the folks out in front of this home, which has literally, Kyra, been flattened.
We also want to remind our viewers that we want you to send our i-reports to us. We want you to stay safe. But i-reports to us, CNN.com/ireports -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: OK, I'm being told now these live pictures coming to us from WFTV out of Lake County, Florida. This is the governor of Florida touring the damage. We just got a shot of his helicopter that landed not far from this structure right here in the Lake County area.
But Governor Charlie Crist. with his team and with the members of the emergency management team. touring the damage of the homes affected. As we see here the results of this rapid and ruthless and very much random storm.
As you heard from our Reynolds Wolf, 3 a.m. in the morning is when this -- this whole storm system started to tear through the state of Florida. And this is the devastation that you see. You see it all over the county.
Here's video from just -- is this the governor actually coming in or is this tape return? OK, I'm being told that this is the governor -- this is tape return -- OK this is tape return.
So what you're seeing on one side of your screen, where the devastation is, is a live picture of the governor with his emergency management team touring the neighborhoods and getting a firsthand look at the devastation from the storm.
On the other side, you'll see this is the helicopter actually coming into that area to land. He's been surveying the damage all across the state and touching down in certain neighborhoods to get out, talk to the residents and see the effects firsthand.
Waiting to hear about the state of emergency details, about money, and the guard and other assets coming in to help these people. We are expecting a live news conference with the governor. We will take that live as soon as he steps up to the podium.
Here's a live picture right here. So you see the president (sic) right now live, touring the devastated areas. This is where he's going to hold his news conference. Thanks to our affiliates, bringing us those various live shots.
LEMON: Governor Charlie Crist is going to do that. Again, we asked for live report, for i-reports earlier, CNN.com/ireports. And I believe we have a few of them for you if we can get those up.
This one is from Rhett Boswell, and this is Lady Lake, Florida. This is the devastation that Rhett saw and captured this morning, via his camera. So this is a still picture. Unbelievable when you look at these things.
PHILLIPS: And a lot of these people, these photos that we're getting, like this one, also from Rhett...
LEMON: And this is Rhett again.
PHILLIPS: ... what I'm being told is that he wasn't necessarily affected. His home is OK. But once he started seeing the coverage on CNN, he started roaming through the neighborhood and...
LEMON: Yes.
PHILLIPS: ... neighborhoods next -- close to him, just taking pictures of the various devastation and sending them in to us.
LEMON: Yes. And of course, again, we want you to stay safe, but we do want -- we do want those i-reports from you.
Again, Governor Charlie Crist, the governor of Florida, expected to hold a press conference very shortly. This is live pictures you're looking at now. As soon as the governor comes out, we'll bring that to you live.
Rapid, ruthless and random. Deadly storms tear through Central Florida. The mother of CNN meteorologists, Chad Myers, saw the damage firsthand.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you know what's amazing about it, the one side of the road, the houses were just all devastated, and the other side of the road, the houses were not touched.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Up next in the CNN NEWSROOM, Chad's mom talks about what it's like to live through such a dangerous storm. We'll be right back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Very devastating. I've never seen a thing like it in my life.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How thankful were you to find her OK?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank God. We had a total miracle. Total miracle.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ma'am, how'd you get through it?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't know, really.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Very frightening, very frightening.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And your name, ma'am, is?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Helen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Helen? Your last name?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Newman (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Newman (ph). And you are?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Laura Christy (ph), her daughter.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, there was no warning. I mean, my sister heard something flash in her bedroom and she thought Mom was gone. She had to go through the trailer. And she couldn't find her.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Live pictures right now of the governor and his assessment team here via our affiliate WFTV out of Lake County, Florida. Deadly storms swept through Florida's Lake County in the early morning hours.
Right now, you're looking at live picture from Lady Lake, where the governor just touched down within the last hour, via helicopter. He's talking to those that lost so much of their homes and belongings right now, trying to assess the damage, trying to figure out how exactly he is going to request funds and efforts to help all of these people that have been affected.
At least 14 people are dead since -- this country experienced one of the worst ever natural disasters, we're being told by the emergency management teams, coming out of the Lake County, Florida, area.
As the governor tours this area, we are expected that he will hold a news conference anytime, hopefully, within this hour. We've got a live picture of where he's going to head to the mic. We're not quite sure how often he's going to be flying around and where exactly he's going to go from this point.
But we do know the news conference will happen right here via our affiliate, Central News 9. We'll taking that live. But right now, the governor and his team, WFTV bringing us live pictures as he tours this neighborhood.
Meanwhile, he's in the Lady Lake area. The town manager, Bill Vance, on the phone with us now.
Bill, were you able to have correspondence with the governor's team to tell him exactly where he needed to go and who he needed to talk with with regard to what has happened during the night?
BILL VANCE, TOWN MANAGER, LADY LAKE, FLORIDA: We've been coordinating with our state representative, Hugh Gibson, to provide information to the governor's office as to the needs of Lady Lake.
The tornado went through the southern part of town, and it's not hard to find, you know, what areas were affected. And the majority of the human resources that have been made available on a regional basis are also located in that area, so it's going to be easy for him to find whoever he feels he needs to talk to.
PHILLIPS: So what exactly -- what is your assessment right now? I'm sure you have been taking calls and been having to respond since 3 a.m. in the morning. What are the needs? What does your area need? Who has been affected the most?
VANCE: In that area of town, the senior population pretty much lives in the northern part of Lady Lake. And in the southern part of Lady Lake, we also have some seniors, but we have some single families, a lot of manufactured homes, obviously, been devastated. So there's a lot of housing needs. You know, we're attempting to get as many shelters as we can open.
We're attempting to get clothes. We're attempting to get food. We're attempting to get medicine. We're attempting to get tents. Because we're going to have some tent cities, we predict. So just across -- the needs are across the board.
PHILLIPS: What about the churches?
VANCE: We have one church that's -- that is serving as a shelter. I haven't heard of any additional at this point in time. You know, initially, you do all the search and rescue. I mean, that's your priority after. You know, you have a good feeling that, you know, you've done as much as you can in that regard, and I don't know that it's exactly a good feeling...
PHILLIPS: So you don't think everybody's been accounted for to this point, the search and rescue?
VANCE: I'm not confident they have been, no.
PHILLIPS: OK.
VANCE: But concurrent to those efforts, you also have to initiate the efforts necessary to get the resources that these people are going to need in the immediate future, and the immediate future is this afternoon.
PHILLIPS: And so as we're looking, actually, at live pictures right now, Bill, as the governor is going from home to home and meeting with residents and he's got his emergency management team with him.
After -- how long could this take? How long is he going to spend in your area? Do you know? And, then, will he go from there to the next point? Or will he meet directly with you and other leaders there in Lady Lake to try and decide how to immediately help those that require funds and shelter right now?
VANCE: Well, I knew he was planning on coming this way. It was news to me that he was already in town. So I don't know what his schedule is. I don't know exactly, you know, what town representatives he's going to be meeting with. I assume that the mayor's going to obviously come into play. You know, I'm going to seek him out.
And, also, you know, let him know, just like I let you know, you know, the needs that we do have as far as the shelter and the housing that's going to be temporary -- and just across the board. I mean, it's just devastation across the board.
PHILLIPS: Bill, let me ask you, are you near a television set? Do you by chance have CNN on or would you be able to flip to CNN?
VANCE: It's not close to me, no.
PHILLIPS: OK, because I was hoping you could kind of give me an idea of this area. And the governor's making his way through a neighborhood, but it also looks like there's some type of center across the street.
VANCE: The path west to east...
PHILLIPS: OK.
VANCE: ... went across highway 27, 441, you know, the path was like a quarter-mile wide. And everything in its way essentially destroyed.
PHILLIPS: Have you ever experienced anything like this in your area?
VANCE: No. I got to Florida in 2004, and I cleaned up a couple hurricanes, but -- and one in North Carolina, but nothing like this.
PHILLIPS: All right. We're going to keep in touch with you, Bill, especially since the governor is there coming through your area. May we continue to check in and just find out how we can help advertise numbers and assets to where people can call or possibly -- you know folks will want to start to donate and contribute to those in your area that have been affected. We'll keep in touch with you, OK?
VANCE: Right, I am in town hall now. And I do come in. I've been checking in pretty much on the hour. But I'm, you know, obviously in need in the field, too, but you can try me on the hour.
PHILLIPS: All right. We're going to do that. Bill Vance, town manager there of Lady Lake. Bill, thank you so much.
And Bill gave us that number: 1-800-342-3557. That's the Florida emergency line. You can find out about the areas that have been devastated, try and find out conditions if you're worried about friends and loved ones.
Meanwhile, we're going to continue our live coverage. We have seven affiliates covering how the storm has affected these areas. We'll bring you more live coverage right after a quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: You're in the CNN NEWSROOM. And you're watching live pictures from Florida, courtesy of our affiliate, WFTV. This is Lake County. That helicopter you see there is the governor of Florida, Charlie Crist, getting on the helicopter to go to some other area. He's been touring the damage by helicopter.
And he's expected to hold a press conference soon. As soon as that happens, we will bring it to you live. That's where the press conference will happen, right there. As soon as it happens, we'll bring it to you live.
Meantime, we're going to get some business news in here. We're going to go to Stephanie Elam at the New York Stock Exchange.
Hi, Stephanie.
(STOCK REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: We are following developing news out of central Florida today. Thousands of people living a nightmare after being jolted awake by screaming winds and pounding rain. Homes are ripped apart. Debris scattered for miles across that area. Let's bring in CNN's Rusty Dornin. She's standing amid the rubble in Lady Lake.
Rusty, what have you seen?
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Don, you can see the ferocity of this storm by just how it snapped in half some of these oak trees along U.S. 27 here in Lady Lake, Florida.
We'll give you a little tour. We're actually in the median where they have put the press to keep them out, away from the debris. The big fear right now are the power lines. There are so many power lines down. We'll show you this pole right here. We just watched moments ago, put this new power line up. They're trying to get power to some 15,000 people.
Just showing you, again, the oak tree snapped in half. If you look across here, you can see the church they've been talking about, the Lady Lake Church of God that was completely demolished. At 3:00 this morning, the storm roared through here. No sirens to alert people. Apparently, there was only about 8 minutes, people had of a warning and you had to have a NOAA radio or be watching television in order to have even known the storm was coming.
What we're hearing is that sirens in this area really wouldn't have done a lot of good because things are scattered so far, there are so many rural areas, that sort of thing.
You can see the crews going through. Many of these areas, these counties, Lake County, Volusia County, Sumter County, where some 14 people died, they still have search and rescue crews out to make sure no one is trapped in any of these areas.
So, very critical work going on right now. People trying to get in, trying to make sure their loved ones are all right. From what we understand, there was one family where both parents and two children were killed in the storm. One of the schools is closed down. People are just searching to make sure their loved ones are OK -- Don.
LEMON: Rusty, you said the Lady Lake Church of God, where you are, it's about 50 miles northwest of Orlando, dozens of mobile homes were destroyed there, that church was destroyed.
Larry Flynn, who is the reverend there, said the church was built to withstand 150 mile an hour winds. So obviously, the winds there are pretty strong.
DORNIN: What we understand is the National Weather Service -- they're dispatching a team, also from Oklahoma, that they are going to determine the level of the storm. Of course, they're still saying, thinking it's probably definitely a tornado, but on -- on the Fujita scale, what kind of scale is it? We've been hearing just on he radio, driving up here, we could hear residents that were talking about seeing and hearing lightning, and thunder that was proceeding the storm, and that sort of thing. And that it happened so quickly that none of them had a chance, really, to take cover.
LEMON: Rusty, we're going to -- I imagine it's pretty busy there. We're going to let you go and get some new information for us and bring it back. As soon as you get something new or new video, make sure you bring it to us. Thank you for that.
I want to remind folks. There is a number -- you're looking at a picture there, left of Rusty, now it's full of the governor flying away, flying around, touring the devastation in central Florida. Give you a phone number, real quick, 1-800-342-3557. And then floridadisaster.org. If you need any information on folks there in Florida -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: I'll tell you what, let's go back to that live picture. Let's hold onto this for a minute. You're watching the governor of Florida, Charlie Crist. He's got members of his emergency management team with him, including the Florida state attorney general who is traveling with him. They are assessing all the damage going from area to area. They just left the Lake County area of Lady Lake.
We were able to talk to the town manager, trying to have communications with the governor, tell them exactly where to go, who he needs to talk to with regard to the damage. Our affiliate that is bringing us this live coverage, WFTV, actually the reporter got a chance to get a little Q&A with the governor just before he got into this helicopter and took off. Let's take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. CHARLIE CRIST, FLORIDA: We're doing everything we need to do and we'll make sure we continue to do that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Your reason for being on the ground, personally, to see this?
CRIST: It's to see it, and understand exactly what our people are having to deal with today. You hear about it on the news. But there's nothing like being there and seeing it. I learned that during the hurricanes. I think it's important to continue to do that, so we have a real sense of what people are doing with to get them the help they need as quickly as possible.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: We'll stay in touch with the governor as he continues to tour the devastated area live. Right now, he is in this helicopter with members of his emergency team, assessing the damage, trying to figure out exactly what he's going to have to do financially for the people here who have been devastated by this storm. Live pictures via WFTV.
Now, the Florida State Attorney General Bill McCollum was also with the governor as they were touring on the ground. He joins us by phone now.
Mr. McCollum, first of all, tell me your first impressions once you were able to start going through these neighborhoods?
BILL MCCOLLUM, FLA. ATTORNEY GENERAL: I actually have been seeing things other than what the governor has been seeing, because I've been in Volusia County, while he's been in Lake County. So it is not quite accurate to say I was with him, although I'm joining him in just a few moments at a mutual site.
But it's very devastating. Volusia, which is the land north of Orlando and a little bit to the east of the site where he's been, I'm told by authorities here are 700 homes that have been either sustaining major damage or destroyed.
It's just devastating to look at. You see the trees, the houses, the various things that have been obliterated. The main thing I want to bring up to people is that on my job, in part in of all of this, is to have fraud prevention. There's a lot of people out there in a storm like this after the aftermath, trying to gouge people, selling them products or services to clear up their place, at the moment when they're most vulnerable.
We need people to know in the devastated areas that they've got a place to call and somebody to go to that will really get on the job. It is a major crime in Florida to do that sort of thing. I hope you'll broadcast the fact that we have a toll free number -- 1-866-966-7226, or 1-866-9-NO-SCAM, that people can call if they suspect anybody trying to rip them off.
PHILLIPS: Give me that NO SCAM number again. You said it's 1?
MCCOLLUM: 1-866.
PHILLIPS: 1- 866.
MCCOLLUM: 9-NO-SCAM. Or if you want the full digital number, it's 1-866-966-7226.
PHILLIPS: We'll get a graphic made up of that, absolutely. Because we have two numbers now we've been giving viewers. A hotline number to find out more about the areas affected; and also the victims. We'll also put together the number, along with that, with your no scam number.
While we're working that, I want to continue to ask your questions about the fraud. Because every time something like this happens, we immediately cover the devastation and the community leaders. And, of course, the governor that always responds, goes to assess and tries to figure out what to do to take care of everybody.
But as you well know, Mr. McCollum, the fraud starts immediately, as soon as they see -- the individuals that want to take advantage of others -- as soon as they see this type of video, they start working the area. What is it right now, that those that are not thinking clearly and are completely devastated by what they've lost, what do they need to be careful of? How do these people get -- how are they approached by the fraud?
MCCOLLUM: Well, the fraud people often in a situation like this are going to go up and say, hey, we can clean up your place for you. We'll take care of all this. Don't worry about it all. We need $500 or $1,000 up front, something like that. And that could well be fraud. They may not do anything and some people may be so distraught they are inclined to just fork over the money, and pay them the cash. And that's very unfortunate.
Or, the other side of it, the pricing may be up. That's over a several day period. Sometimes in these areas, local vendors or people from out of the area come in, and charge for supply, wood, water, that maybe people need that we provided, the state, for free, and they're charging all kinds of prices to try to make a profit, or make a buck. Just be really careful about that. Be careful about who you're talking to; if it's a friend, a neighbor, you know who they are, fine. If it's a stranger, I'd take a second look.
PHILLIPS: So, basically, don't deal with the strangers that come approaching?
MCCOLLUM: I wouldn't deal with a stranger for one minute, if I were in a situation like this. I realize that some people are desperate to do things, to clear -- to get back to their home, see if there's a loved one there. There are official government forces out there at work, to handle that for you. So please, don't go deal with somebody you don't know who they are in this kind of a situation.
PHILLIPS: Now what about --
MCCOLLUM: If you do see somebody doing something, or you suspect them at all, call this number.
PHILLIPS: Right, 1-866-9-NO-SCAM.
Let me ask you another thing about local stores in the area. Are you having to deal with fraud on that count, too?
MCCOLLUM: Yes, yes, a local store and -- hopefully they won't be, but we've had experience in our hurricanes and our tornadoes in the past, some local stores will jack the price of gas up. They'll jack the price of something else up that people really need. In this case, probably not so much the gasoline because it's a more incisive type of invasion than the hurricanes are. But it will -- supplies, local things you need, you're desperate at the moment for whatever it may be, tape or something to prop your house up, or cleaning something up with, tools, equipment.
You ought to be wary of that. If the price is being raised or the price is unusual, call the hotline, too. Because that is a fraud and that's a scam and we have special authority in Florida to take care of that. It's $1,000 an incident fine, at minimum -- minimum.
PHILLIPS: So, the minimum fine is $1,000.
MCCOLLUM: That's right. For somebody in this situation that goes out and tries to take advantage of somebody.
PHILLIPS: Let me ask you this, do you have something set up to where people can call, or even show up on the doorstep of an area, there in Florida, where they can find out who are the reputable contractors? Who are the people that they can call right there in a moment's notice to start planning on the rebuilding process, or at least just creating some sort of shelter for immediate needs?
MCCOLLUM: We have consumer protection offices, like ours, which is what I'm giving you, but there are also people that provide that kind of information. I honestly don't have the number on me like I do this one. But the availability of that will be there in the coming days if they need to rebuild.
The emergency teams out on the ground from different offices, of our state, we have an emergency preparedness system should have that available for these folks. Plus, don't forget, a tornado, not a hurricane, so a lot of good, reputable stores are open in the area. The community like where I am, you can go just a half a mile, and you're going to find no devastation. The ordinary everyday stores are open. You can go to your local Wal-Mart, or whatever it may be. There's no problem.
PHILLIPS: Be able to get what you need.
MCCOLLUM: Get what you need. Just don't take a fly by night artist. In a hurricane that is another story, where everything is closed down.
PHILLIPS: OK, so, Bill McCollum Florida state attorney general, unfortunately, you have to deal with the sad part -- the other part of this tragedy, and that is those who take advantage of the victims of something like this. I appreciate your time. I know, you have to head over now, to meet with the governor. You were there in Volusia County.
Bill McCollum, thank you so much.
MCCOLLUM: You're welcome.
PHILLIPS: Appreciate it. He's going to hook up with the governor. We'll catch up with Bill McCollum again.
Also, why the governor, you see there right now live on your screen, flying across the region, assessing all the damage there. He just came from Lady Lake.
We just talked to Bill McCollum, Florida state attorney general. He was in Volusia County. They're assessing all the damage. And, of course, trying to prevent fraud, cleanup fraud, pricing fraud, also even the local stores.
If you are a victim, don't just take the first person who shows up at your door, asks you for cash, and says they can help you out. This is a very tender time for all of you and you shouldn't trust anyone that shows up.
The number, 1-866-9-NOSCAM. If you think that you might be experiencing someone that's working your neighborhood in an improper way, pay attention to that number and also that you can call that number for help as well. LEMON: Kyra, also, a good place that you can go on the web is Florida -- www.floridadisaster.org. It will have all the tips that you heard, just from the person we had on the phone there. Again that phone number is 1-866-9-NO-SCAM. Or 1-866-966-7226.
Live pictures on the left. You're looking at the helicopter of the governor, on his way to a press conference. As soon as he has that press conference, we're going to bring it to you live.
Just a major unbelievable disaster happening in central Florida. At least 14 people have died in this, being confirmed. Just devastating. We have lots resources here at CNN. We're working the story from every angle. Our meteorologist have all sorts of state of the art sources, and equipment, and weather information.
Today, our Meteorologist Chad Myers has one additional source, his mother. Dottie Myers lives in Lady Lake, Florida. That is in Lake County. She told our Soledad O'Brien on "American Morning", this morning, what happened as those storms approached.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DOTTIE MYERS, CHAD MYERS' MOTHER, RESIDENT, LADY LAKE, FLORIDA: The first thing I did was run in to my husband, and say, we have to get out of bed, have to go hide somewhere. And I did. We did. We got our pillows, we got the weather radio, and went straight for the corner that is right near the center of the home.
This is where we both stood, and then we -- to see what was going to happen. And what more. And then the lights went out. We had no electricity. So then this is when I ran for the radio and -- we just panicked. We said, we have to stay here and we have to wait to see what happens. If we hear this train sound, and we didn't. So then after the TV came back on, and then we watched the radar on the television and knew that it had already passed The Villages.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: That was Chad Myers' mom. As you can imagine she was pretty upset, just to encounter this. Dottie Myers says some of the worst damage is just a few miles from her home. The devastation, in her words, really unbelievable. As you can imagine. She probably put that exactly as it is.
Again, this live picture you're looking at is the helicopter of the governor of Florida Charlie Crist. He has been touring the devastated area by helicopter. He's heading off to hold a press conference to update the citizens of Florida and not only Florida, the citizens of our country, who may be watching, concerned about the people in Florida. He'll update us on this situation. The number you can call, 1-866-9-NO-SCAM or floridadisaster.org.
Continuing coverage of this devastating situation in central Florida, straight ahead, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: Central Florida, right now, in the middle of an intense, intense recovery effort. We want to talk about homeowners now, and what they're dealing with. Our reporter, Tariq Minor, has the latest from WKMG in Volusia, Florida.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a sound you can't describe, but you just know it's devastating.
TARIQ MINOR, REPORTER, WKMG (voice over): Joe Petroeus' (ph) home survived four hurricanes, without losing not even a shingle. He says it only took 15 seconds last night to nearly demolish the same house.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I went through this -- just devastating, it scares you. I don't care how tough you think you are. You're not that tough. I promise you, you're not that tough. When you hear that, that -- when you hear your roof come off your house, you'll find out just how strong you really are.
MINOR: His neighborhood is unrecognizable, roofs blown off, walls blown down. Everything left as it was around 3:45 last night.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everything has water damage. All the floor came in. I mean, all the roof came in. The roof in the garage, got the bike, the dirt bikes. Everything's tore up. All the computer equipment.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I said, let's go to the bathroom. We ran to the bathroom, closed the door, laid on the floor. About that time it hit. Bam, sounded like a freight train hit the house.
MINOR: The images are amazing. Everyone has their own story. For Stan Stone, it's one of survival. He and his wife are OK, but his roof blew off completely, landing several feet in his neighbor's yard.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We heard the freight train sound. And we dashed for the bathtub. And it lasted -- I don't -- seconds, just a matter of seconds.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It sounded like hail. Then you heard a train. And then the windows imploded, then the wall came down and --
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Tariq Minor from WKMG, reporting there, talking to homeowners in Volusia, Florida.
Joining us now on the phone, is Jack Hurst, he is an I-Reporter for CNN. He sent us some photos of the tremendous damage, just a couple of hundred yards from his home. His home is fine, but he has spent the day helping his devastated neighbors.
And Mr. Hurst, I understand one of you neighbor's home is being held up by a 2X4? JACK HURST, RESIDENT, THE VILLAGES, FLORIDA: Well, there are several homes here that the roof was compromised severely enough so the sidewalls are sagging, and they're being supported by 2X4s to keep them from completely hitting the ground.
LEMON: Oh, my gosh. Have you seen this before, in this area where you live? Anything like it, especially from a tornado?
HURST: Don, I've worked emergency management for a dozen years, and I've seen this type of devastation scattered throughout the country as a result of hurricanes, tornados, straight-line winds, and things of this nature. It's not unusual for me to see it because I have seen it. For someone who it's their first experience, this absolutely will be heart-stopping.
LEMON: What are you neighbors doing? I know it sounds like a grim question, but are you helping in anyway, since you're retired, to try to look for devastation and for people who may be injured, or far worse than this?
HURST: Don, fortunately in our area, there have been no injuries reported. We've had to loss of life. Now this is in our portion of The Villages. In other portions of The Villages, particularly over in Lake County, and Lady Lake area, I understand there have been some fatalities, or at least it is alleged so.
But typically in my experience, I try not to go where other people need to go. If we can keep the on-lookers out of sight, then emergency response people can do their jobs and do it adequately.
LEMON: And you, obviously, the electricity -- when all this was happening, am I correct, the electricity went out?
HURST: In some areas it did. We didn't lose electricity in our home until just about an hour ago, where I understand they're making selective brownouts, or blackouts so they can get some of the system back up, operational.
LEMON: Real quick, explain to us, when it was happening, you said your weather radio went off and then -- tell us what you heard and saw.
HURST: Well, basically, I have one of those weather radios that allows you to select -- tune in when the emergency alerts are sent. And when mine toned, I went over and picked it up, and it came on, said there's a tornado warning. And told the wife, OK, let's go get in our proper places. And it wasn't but just a few -- I would say 30 seconds or less after that, the typical freight-train sound came tearing through, and away it went.
Fortunately, for us, we had very minimal damage at our home. There are other people (AUDIO GAP) houses right now, where I can see it slammed through it, and the roof is gone, or half gone, or walls are half down. These are concrete block homes, with concrete and steel reinforcement, not timber houses.
LEMON: All right. Must have been pretty strong. Jack Hurst, thank you so much. Stay safe.
HURST: You're welcome, ya'll have a good day.
PHILLIPS: You're seeing it, block after block, town after town, just across central Florida, sheer destruction, tornados slicing through the state in the middle of the night, flattening entire neighborhoods, killing at least 14 people.
Stay tuned to CNN. Live pictures now of the governor of Florida Charlie Crist making his way to a live news conference. We'll take it live as soon as it happens. You're watching CNN, you're severe weather headquarters.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Utility crews and emergency crews, right now, trying to fix the power. Also on search and rescue missions for anyone trapped in all the rubble that you're seeing across central Florida. States of emergency, already declared in three different counties.
Reynolds Wolf, absolute, no warning for these people.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yeah, really, I mean, the crazy thing about this -- let's put this altogether. This happened in the middle of the night or early this morning around 3 o'clock in the morning. They didn't have sirens. Unless they had weather radios, that were configured for their specific county, their specific area, they didn't have any warning in that regard.
Now, Rusty Dornin, earlier had mentioned that many people reported hearing thunder, that they could actually see lightning through the windows. You have to remember, that's not unusual in central Florida. This is the severe thunderstorm capital of the United States. The only other place in the world that has more severe thunderstorms in a place like this would be Rwanda, and that's central Africa.
So again, they're used to seeing lightning and hearing thunder, so that wasn't much of a warning at all. By the time they could hear the freight-train sound, for many people it was far too late. So they really had to take action very quickly. And some of them, it wasn't soon enough. Back to you.
LEMON: All right, OK, thank you very much for that, Reynolds.
We're awaiting a press conference here from the governor of Florida. There's a live picture now of the helicopter that we've been showing you. It will be interesting to find out what he's going to say about the devastation he's seen. We know there's states of emergency in at least three counties.
We'll have the latest for you as soon as he has that press conference. We'll bring it to you live right here in the CNN NEWSROOM. The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM starts in two minutes.
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