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Unexpected Drop in Retail Sales; Arlington National Cemetery Mistakes; At Least 12 Campers Killed; Oil Disaster Toll on Fishing; World Cup Fuels Kids' Dreams
Aired June 11, 2010 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Americans are a little bit better off these days. A new study from the federal reserve shows households net worth grew in the first quarter. Felicia Taylor is at the New York Stock Exchange with details.
Add this up for me here. We talk about home values, bank accounts, our investments. What are we all worth here?
FELICIA TAYLOR, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, actually, Tony, households were worth $54 trillion the first four months of the year. That said, the same time last year compared to $48 trillion. That was the low point on the refrigerator recession. Mostly we made our money in the stock market because it rose. Then, we cut back on debt.
When you look at what Americans owe on mortgages, credit cards, auto loans that dropped to and has been falling for almost two years. For the most part, people really are trying to pay off their bills. A hard lesson, obviously learned during the recession. But we've got a long way to go to get back to where we were.
Home values are still very low. The stock market obviously has taking a beating over the past few weeks, including today, which is down about 20 points on the Dow -- Tony.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: OK. And when you look at the fact that retail sales are down, it makes sense because we're keeping more of our money. We're a little unsure right now, right?
TAYLOR: We're not spending like we used to, which is good news, frankly, because we're using the money to pay off our bills. We're saving a little bit more. That's good news for Americans.
HARRIS: Yes. OK. Felicia, appreciate it. Thank you.
TAYLOR: Yes.
HARRIS: Hello again, everyone. I'm Tony Harris.
Top of the hour in the CNN NEWSROOM, where anything can happen. Here are some of the people behind today's top stories.
It is one of America's most hallowed sites. We're talking about Arlington National Cemetery. Now we are finding out some of the bodies there have been misplaced or buried in the wrong graves.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't know what it's going to take to get them fired over there. What is it going to take for the Army to say, enough is enough?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Yes.
And straight from CSI, we are talking to those who are tracking oil on the beaches back to its source.
Let's get started now with our lead story.
In Arkansas, frantic searching for campers caught in a flash flood. At least 12 people are now confirmed dead. Other campers are still missing.
The water rushed through in the darkness after heavy rain overnight. The area is in a national forest in a rugged section of western Arkansas.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL SADLER, ARKANSAS STATE POLICE: It flows through Pike and Montgomery Counties, Arkansas, a very rugged area, a very remote area. It crested this morning at about 5:30 local time.
At this time, we have confirmed through a search of at least 12 known to be dead. We believe there are still some individuals trapped in that area.
The primary mission of the Arkansas State Police, working with local authorities right now, is to get the living out of that area and locate the dead. This is an ongoing search operation at this hour.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: Let's do this -- let's turn to your money right now.
It seems more of you are keeping your wallets shut these days. Retail sales fell last month for the first time in eight months, an unexpected drop.
Let's bring in CNN's Christine Romans. She's in New York, of course, part of our Money team.
OK, Christine. What explains this?
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's interesting, because this was a bit of a surprise, a 1.2 percent decline in retail sales. This is how we send our money -- at the gas station, at the grocery store, at the mall.
This is when you break down the number of what it shows -- 1.7 percent decline in auto sales. So people buying fewer cars.
Building materials, a big decline there, Tony, down 9.3 percent. That would suggest that once that taxpayer -- homebuyer tax credit expired, you had maybe a little bit of a pullback in the construction industry.
1.8 percent in department stores and 3.3 percent at the gas station. That's because gas prices had been actually falling for more than 25 or 26 days now. So that means you're spending less at the gas station.
That last number I think is good news for your wallet. You're spending less because it costs less, not because you're pulling back.
But then, Tony, we had another number that showed consumer confidence was better than people thought. So more evidence of this uneven recovery, right? One number tells you people are pulling in, another one tells you, look, this number is highest since January 2008.
People feeling better about things for the best since 2008. One explanation could be that people are feeling better, Tony, because they're spending less. Think about that.
HARRIS: Yes.
ROMANS: There is this saying in the economy, in the markets, that when people feel better about things, they go out and they spend money, and that drives the economy. Well, maybe people are feeling better because they're not spending as much, or maybe it's just these uneven numbers and this is what it's like when you're at this point in a recovery.
HARRIS: OK. Yes, fits and starts, fits and starts.
ROMANS: Right.
HARRIS: But you also reported in the past that we are saving more and we are paying down our debt. Correct?
ROMANS: We are. We are.
We are paying down our debt. The thing about this saving more that's going to be very -- we're going to have to really watch closely, we're not saving as much today as we were at the end of last year. And that's pretty clear.
So we're really watch that one to see if we really keep saving four or five percent, or if we start to start feel a little more confident and we're not saving quite as much. But when you pay down your debt and when you save a little more, it makes you feel better. And that is definitely true.
HARRIS: Oh, yes. All right.
Christine, appreciate it. Have a great weekend. Thank you.
ROMANS: Sure. Yes. You, too. Bye, Tony.
HARRIS: Thank you.
President Obama is focused on jobs and the economy. The president turning the spotlight to a small business agenda today.
He spoke in the Rose Garden just last hour, urging Congress to pass multiple small business initiatives, including a $30 billion lending program for community banks. The president delivering his comments after meeting with owners of small businesses.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Small businesses will help lead this economic recovery. And that's why we will continue to stand by them. But, ensuring that small businesses can thrive is about more than just economic success, it's also about who we are as a people. It's about a nation where anybody who's got a good idea and a willingness to work hard can succeed. That's the central promise of America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: At the Vatican, a plea for forgiveness for the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Benedict addressing thousands of priests from around the world. He told them the church must promise to do everything it can to make sure priests never abuse children again.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POPE BENEDICT XVI (through translator): We, too, insistently beg forgiveness from God and from the persons involved, while promising to do everything possible to ensure that such abuse will never occur again, and that in admitting men to priestly ministry and in their information we'll do everything we can to weigh the authenticity of their vocation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: The president of the survivor network of those abused by priests says the pope's promises are too vague and won't change behavior.
Got to tell you, one of the biggest events of the world is happening right now. There go the bees again. It's the horns. I know it's the horns.
The World Cup in South America. Fans are in an absolute frenzy. It is the first time the soccer competition has been staged in Africa.
Game one ended just moments ago, a 1-1 tie between host team, South Africa, and Mexico. And did you see the opening ceremony?
(MUSIC)
HARRIS: Hot diggity. Shakira bringing it.
The Black Eyed Peas, Alicia Keys, Angelique Kidjo -- she's terrific -- also among the many stars kicking off the month-long football tournament. Thirty-two teams vying for the cup.
Estimates on the amount of oil spewing into the Gulf double, and scientists say the number is likely to go up again.
First, though, our "Random Moment" in 90 seconds.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: You know, today's "Random Moment" is proof the newsroom can be a real zoo. And I'm not talking about this newsroom. At least not this time.
Check out this little guy. Can you see a raccoon? Yes, right there.
It made its way into the newsroom. This is WEYI, one of our affiliates in Michigan. He scared the folks in the newsroom, that's for sure.
You guys all right over there? Is there a raccoon really in the newsroom?
Folks are dropping stuff running around. What's going on in here.
But this raccoon did no harm. He made it out of there safely.
And t hat's our "Random Moment," a critter with a nose for the news.
What's going on here?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: I've got to tell you, top supervisors at Arlington National Cemetery have been disciplined.
CNN Pentagon Correspondent Chris Lawrence reporting now on hundreds of soldiers' remains and gravesites that have been mishandled.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Missing burial records, unmarked graves, and burial urns put in a spillage pile. That's the bottom line from the Army's seven-month investigation into mismanagement of Arlington National Cemetery. JOHN MCHUGH, ARMY SECRETARY: I deeply apologize to the families of the honored fallen resting in that hallowed ground who may now question the care afforded to their loved ones.
LAWRENCE: But no one's getting fired.
The Army placed the number two man, Thurman Higginbotham, on administrative leave. Superintendent John Metzler was allowed to stay on in a lesser role. He got reduced benefits and a letter of reprimand: "Given your decision to retire, I have elected not to initiate more severe disciplinary action," and, "this derogatory information will likely overshadow your 19 years of dedicated, faithful, and selfless service as superintendent."
LT. GEN. STEVEN WHITCOMB: Clearly, we found nothing that was intentional, criminal intent or intended sloppiness that caused this. Not that kind of that culpability of willful disregard for the responsibility.
LAWRENCE: The Army says there are about 211 graves in question, mostly older, but at least two recent casualties from the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan. But its own report states investigators did not review some burial sites and that inaccurate maps are a, quote, "systemic problem."
WHITCOMB: I don't know that there could be many more, but there could, in fact, be more.
LAWRENCE: Most troubling, with more than 300,000 graves going back almost 150 years, the Army admits it can't guarantee all of them will be accounted for.
MCHUGH: I don't know if anyone can ever assure everyone that circumstances are perfect.
LAWRENCE (on camera): Now, the Army has appointed a new executive director of the cemetery, as well as an independent advisory board. But even that's not good enough for some members of Congress, who have launched their own investigation into the cemetery's problems.
Chris Lawrence, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: An Army investigation says hundreds of remains at Arlington National Cemetery were misidentified or mislocated. The identities of the veterans affected are not being released, but the mistake is personal for my next guest, Dorothy Nolte.
Her sister's grave was mishandled at Arlington National Cemetery. Master Sergeant Marion Gravey (ph) served at the U.S. military for 26 years. Her burial urn was placed in an Arlington grave that was already occupied.
Dorothy joins me by phone from Rockville Center, New York. Dorothy, thanks for your time.
My understanding is that you live in Tennessee, so you don't live in the Maryland/Virginia/D.C. area.
DOROTHY NOLTE, SISTER'S GRAVE MISHANDLED: No, I don't. I live in Tennessee.
HARRIS: But I am curious, how many times the you believe you and other family members have visited the site that you thought was your sister's and your sister's alone?
NOLTE: Well, we have not been there too often because there's so few of us. And we are all living further and further away from the area. So it's very difficult for us to get there.
HARRIS: How did you figure out, learn that your sister's remains in an urn were placed in a plot that was already occupied?
NOLTE: Well, she was buried in 2008. And in October of 2009, I received a phone call asking whether I was aware that she had indeed been disinterred and reinterred in another site. And I said, "No, I did not." And I had no idea of anything connected to this. So that's how it started.
HARRIS: What happened when you called the military, when you called the Army to find out what was going on here?
NOLTE: Well, I actually called the cemetery itself at some point to try to -- I told them I wanted to come and see them. I was going to be in New York in November, and I would stop by sometime after my business was conducted and see them, and try to find out what this was all about.
We had never been notified that this mishap had occurred. We were never given subsequent new grave site number identification information. Nobody consulted us for permission. And I do understand that the hierarchy there had stated that they had, indeed, done that, when, in fact, they had not.
HARRIS: Let me just get your reaction to -- I'm going to read a piece from Chris Lawrence's story. And I just want your reaction to this. We're talking about missing burial records, unmarked graves -- obviously, this is the larger story here -- and burial urns put in what's described as a spillage pile at Arlington National Cemetery.
This is run by the military. This is not an operation that has been outsourced to a private company, but a cemetery run by the military.
What are your thoughts? Can you even believe this?
NOLTE: Well, I find it very difficult to believe that it could be run so shoddily as to have these spillage piles that seem to be going unsupervised. As I understand it, my own sister's burial card was missing, you know, when Mark Benjamin started investigating this story. So -- and as I also understand it, they used a paper trail kind of way of following where these grave sites are and who is buried where. And with all the high technology out there today, it's unfathomable that they cannot find a way to track this on a computer system.
HARRIS: The military is apologizing. Do you accept the apology?
NOLTE: Yes, absolutely. We found peace, Tony, because I went there. I demanded to see the proof that my sister was, indeed, in the new site that she was laid to rest in. And that was given to me the same day that I went there.
So, you know, I saw for myself that she is laid in a good place now. So I had closure and I had peace. So the right thing was done there. And I just hope and pray that other families will get the same treatment to, you know, allay any fears that they have.
HARRIS: Dorothy, that's a generous spirit on your part. We appreciate your time. And thanks for talking to us.
NOLTE: Well, thank you.
HARRIS: We are gathering new information in the terrible flash flooding in Arkansas overnight. Twelve people dead, more missing. The search continues.
We're back in a moment.
You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: A CNN oil alert right now on day 53 of the disaster. Experts have doubled their estimate on how much oil may be leaking from the ruptured well. The latest estimate, from 20,000 to 40,000 barrels a day.
And on this day, a forum for victims along the Louisiana coast to vent their anger. It is sponsored by the BP, the Coast Guard, the EPA, and state agencies.
I would like to be in that room, that's for sure.
Another bump in the road for the economy. Retail sales last month dropped more than one percent from April. That is the first decline in eight months.
A frantic search in Arkansas for campers who got caught in the flash flood. At least a dozen people are confirmed dead and other campers are missing.
New estimates on how much oil may be gushing into the Gulf raise new questions for BP, and scientists say don't be surprised if the numbers go even higher. The story now from CNN's Ed Lavandera.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Once again, the grim reality of this oil disaster keeps getting worse. The flow rate team of independent scientists has doubled its estimate of how much oil is gushing into the Gulf of Mexico. It could be as much as 40,000 barrels a day. The new numbers have triggered another round of backlash towards BP.
REP. EDWARD MARKEY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: I think it's quite clear that BP has known that this is much more catastrophic right from the beginning. They have been hiding it from the American people and from the federal government. And now we know the full dimension of what is unfolding in the gulf.
LAVANDERA: BP said in a statement that it fully supported this effort, providing scientific data and high resolution video. But one of the scientists says this latest estimate was reached before it had full access to the enhanced video and the latest estimate also doesn't take into account the increased flow after BP cut the riser from the blowout preventer a week ago or the amount of oil BP is capturing with the containment cap. Still expect the numbers to go up more.
DR. IRA LEIFER, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA ((via telephone): There probably will be some slight revisions to this estimate, which is for the past in the next few days as it's finalized.
LAVANDERA: Congressional Ed Markey says the only way to get an accurate flow rate is to let the scientists inject a fluorescent dye into the well. He's asked BP to give scientists the access. BP hasn't responded.
MARKEY: My intent is to ensure that independent scientists can measure the accurate flow of oil into the gulf. BP can do it voluntarily or they can do it involuntarily.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Ed Lavandera joining us live from New Orleans now.
Ed, let's expand on this fluorescent dye testing. And maybe you can tell us why that is so important.
LAVANDERA: Well, what will happen here in the coming weeks, according to Representative Markey, is that the containment cap that is currently over the blowout preventer will be switched out for another one. So he says there will be a window there that he thinks will be a valuable moment to let the scientists come in, pump this fluorescent dye into the blowout preventer, so it can come shooting out of it.
Based on those video images, the scientists say they can go in there and, based on what they see, that will help them get a better and clearer picture of just how much oil is flowing out of the well. As you heard, they've asked BP for this opportunity. BP says that they will respond at some point, but they haven't yet.
HARRIS: OK.
Ed Lavandera for us in New Orleans.
Ed, appreciate it. Thank you.
Remembering the victims of the Gulf rig explosion. Relatives of the 11 men who died met with President Obama at the White House.
Last hour, I spoke with Keith Jones, whose son Gordon was killed in the explosion. I asked him about the meeting and what he thought about the moratorium on deepwater drilling.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEITH JONES, SON KILLED IN OIL RIG EXPLOSION: I'm in favor of it. I think most of the people in the room yesterday that may have been against it coming in were in favor of it when they left for the reasons that the president gave. It's just not worth the risk right now until we can know what the problem was.
HARRIS: Keith, what do you want to hear, if anything, from BP at this point?
JONES: I have heard nothing from BP, not a word. Nobody in our family has.
I don't care to hear from BP unless it's in the form of an acknowledgement of all the things that went wrong with this rig, all the bad decisions that were made that led to the death of 11 men. If they want to come forth and explain to us what they did and, if possible, why they did it, I'd listen to that.
HARRIS: Last question for you. How did you come to terms -- I'm, for a moment, trying to put myself, as a father of a son, in your shoes. How do you come to terms with losing a son in this way? He was killed while on the job, doing his job.
JONES: I don't come to terms with it. I don't think anybody comes to terms with losing their son whether on the job or any other way.
I have been able to redirect my grief, I think, by working as hard as I've been working, along with my son Chris, to change the law so it will treat these people fairly. Not generously, fairly. And that may be -- if there are terms to which I may come, maybe that's it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Boy, what a family.
The oil disaster in the Gulf and the toll it is taking on the fishing industry. Minority fishermen are among those suffering. We will talk with our guest about that in your "What Matters?" segment.
Byron (ph), good to see you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: It is the CSI lab of the Gulf Coast oil disaster. Scientists analyzing samples of oil and tar balls to confirm their source.
Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr takes us inside the investigation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hundreds of miles away from the deepwater Gulf oil spill, in Connecticut, a detective story is unfolding at the Coast Guard's only forensic laboratory.
We start behind this heavily locked door.
DR. WAYNE GRONLUND, COAST GUARD MARINE SAFETY LAB: It is evidence, and so it's secure. That's why you were signed in before you came into the space.
STARR: Years of oil spill samples are here, preserved at a chilly 38 degrees. Even remnants of the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster.
(on camera): I am immediately overwhelmed with the smell of the oil.
GRONLUND: There are 20,000 oil samples in there.
STARR (voice-over): But all attention is on this -- oil from the Gulf of Mexico.
GRONLUND: This black container is actually some samples that we just got from the BP folks that they took on site at the spill source.
STARR: The lab is chemically analyzing this oil and matching it against other oil turning up on Gulf Coast beaches.
There's just one problem. There is oil; not from the BP catastrophe.
GRONLUND: We've done over 75 tar balls from Florida and Texas. So far, none of which match.
STARR: The lab workload has tripled to cope with the crisis.
(on camera): Why are you, as you say, fingerprinting the oil to determine if it's from the deepwater spill?
GRONLUND: Ultimately, there has to be a liability established for the cleanup and any penalties assessed. And so we are identifying the oil as it makes impact with the shoreline to see if, in fact, it does match the Deepwater Horizon or not.
STARR (voice-over): New tar balls and other samples arrive almost daily.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The newest samples we have, these are actually some bird feathers, pelican feathers that were collected in the Corpus Christi, Texas, area.
STARR (on camera): You say that you have analyzed a number of tar balls from Florida beaches.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
STARR: That you chemically analyze it and it does not match Deepwater?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Correct.
STARR: What's going on?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's another source. There is some other spill occurring in the Florida area, possibly a passing ship. Our analysis indicates that it's heavy fuel oil. It is not crude oil. And it does not match the Deepwater Horizon.
STARR: Is it the case that freighters, cargo ships take advantage of an environmental situation and possibly -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It would seem so. We -- I'm not sure we can prove that, but it would seem so.
STARR: What strikes me is you're the CSI of oil spills.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, we are. That's what we do.
STARR: Coast Guard forensic experts who work here say they will be analyzing oil samples from the Gulf for months to come.
Barbara Starr.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: Let me add in a couple of thoughts, Tony.
What the Coast Guard thinks might be going on is some ships are taking advantage of the crisis in the Gulf, going out there in the middle of the night and pumping out their bilge tanks. Why are they doing this? Well, the Coast Guard's seen it before. Ship owners go out there to do it to save time and money. They don't then have to come into port and go through this very lengthy process of cleaning out their tanks according to environmental laws. They go out there.
Coast Guard investigators are watching this very carefully. They are testing all the oil samples they get. And they say they are going to try as hard as they can to hunt down whatever ship owners might be responsible for this. HARRIS: Let's get some fines going on here. All right, Barbara Starr at the Pentagon for us.
Barbara, good to see you. Have a great weekend. Thank you.
A frantic search in Arkansas right now for campers who got caught in a flash flood. At least a dozen people are confirmed dead. We have been following this closely over the last two hours here in the CNN NEWSROOM. Other campers are missing. Earlier I spoke with Bill Sadler with the Arkansas State Police about the search.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Have you been able to locate survivors at this point?
BILL SADLER, ARKANSAS STATE POLICE (via telephone): There have been survivors located in this area. There are multiple camps along this stretch of the river. It's a very, as I said, rugged area, so it's going to be a prolonged operation. Water is beginning to recede in the area, but it's going to be later today before we're confident that we've gotten the living out of that area.
HARRIS: My goodness. And do you have -- maybe you can just describe the kind of resources, the kinds of material that will be necessary for you to make these rescues. What are you going to need?
SADLER: At this moment we have two helicopters in the area that are working to locate and assist in extrication of the living and pinpoint where bodies may be located. There's a temporary morgue that has been set up. And local authorities are providing volunteers to -- that are familiar with the area to move in and assist in the search.
HARRIS: So you're talking about helicopter rescues. That's how rugged this area is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Oh, boy.
All right, let's get to Josh Levs now. He's got more on this horrible story still developing right now.
Josh.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's awful, Tony, yes.
One thing I can do right here on the screen, I'll show you, is you can get a sense of how rugged the area really is. I'm going to start off pretty far back. And as you zoom in to where that little red dot, where it's right over there, you can see how mountainous it gets. And what we're learning about this area is that it actually is really popular for campers.
Let's do this. We have a Google Earth video. We're going to go to that. And I'll talk to you about this. This is an area really popular for canoers, for people who do a lot of hiking. And this time of year, especially before the worst heat of the summer kicks in, you do find that it's especially popular, which means there could be large numbers of people right there.
And I was looking into a little bit of this. It's designed with these four loops. This is the Albert Pike Campground. A recreation area for those of you who may have never been in that area. There's a trail there that is the longest loop trail in all of Arkansas at 26.8 miles. It combines several different trails. And we're talking about adjacent to the little Missouri River. If you've ever been in that area.
And there are some photos online I can show you that just give you a sense of why it's so popular. You know, it's beautiful. It's in the Washington National Forest area. I think we have some natural waterfall shots we can get to over - can you get way over here? I mean this is the kind of thing that you see when you look through what some of these pictures are like throughout this area.
HARRIS: Oh, goodness, looks nice.
LEVS: You can get a sense of why so many people want to be in this area. This is a little picture of a campground we found at one of these Web sites, fed.us, that talks about these sites.
So, look, we know that there's a lot of people who are out there. But I also want to emphasize that any time you have a campground, a recreation area in which you know people are camping, city, state, feds have authorities who oversee these things and do have emergency operations in place. So what we're all watching right now is these operations going into effect in this relatively remote area, even though it's popular for campers. It's not like it's at some big city. So we want to see, obviously, them get to as many people as possible and find as many people as possible in the shortest time.
HARRIS: OK. We'll keep everyone posted on this story.
Josh, thank you.
LEVS: You got it.
HARRIS: The oil disaster is taking a toll on the fishing industry to be sure. Minority fishermen are among those suffering and that's the focus of today's "What Matter's" segment. Byron Encalade is president of the Louisiana Oystermen Association. He joins us from Metairie, Louisiana.
Byron, good to see you.
First of all, look, this is a terrible tragedy for everyone who makes a living down there in that Gulf coast region. Tell me what it is you think should be happening now in terms of the government response to help the members of your association.
BYRON ENCALADE, PRESIDENT, LOUISIANA OYSTERMEN ASSOCIATION: Well, Tony, right now we have some social issues. And our main problem now is this claim process.
HARRIS: Yes.
ENCALADE: BP is just not getting the funds to these families in a timely order to take care of themselves. You know, and, of course, we have made some progress. A lot of it came late. Of course you know our parish president has been arguing for the berms to be put out there. Finally we got it. A little late, but better late than never. And these things we've been asking for from day one.
HARRIS: Yes.
ENCALADE: So -
HARRIS: Yes. So May 1st is usually the start, am I correct here, of the busy season? Is that correct?
ENCALADE: That's right. That's right, Tony. We had a lot of fishermen -- and this is one of our biggest problems - we've invested a lot of money in getting our boats ready. And in the oyster situation, we had a little problem prior to that where we had so close part of our fishing rounds, especially on that east bank of the river. So we went through 30 days prior to the oil spill not working. And then when we finally get ready to go to work, then the spill stopped us again. So, you know, we had all of this money tied in think that we were going to recapture these funds to get these bills paid and it just didn't happen.
And then now BP is tangling with this, you know, claims process that's not working. We've submitted our ideas to BP over and over. I've testified before the congressional judiciary committee. And BP seems to be not acceptive to anything but the same old process. And that's why I've made these comments. We just can't afford another road home. We can't take that anymore.
HARRIS: Yes. Is there something the government can do that it isn't doing now that you think would be helpful here?
ENCALADE: Well, I mean, due to the laws -- I'm not an attorney, but due to the laws the way they were explained to me, it's hard for the government to step over the law and just completely take control. Now, I think maybe Congress, they're looking at all of this and maybe we have to get the laws changed on the books to make sure that we -- the federal government can step in and do the things that they need to do.
HARRIS: OK. So you've got a slow claims process. What do you do to survive financially? I mean do you go work for BP to clean up this mess?
ENCALADE: Well, Tony, some of the boats -- we are trying to get them on, on the east bank of the river. In our small fishing community, we managed to get three boats on. And we're trying to get some more. Hopefully something will happen with that. And that's the only course of action is to hopefully get some boats on working where we could get some funds coming into our community. And, of course, we live in a village-type mentality that we all support each other, you know? And, you know, if I get a boat on that, that means two other families are going to survive, you know. So, you know, we don't hire people outside our community because that's the way we've been working all our lives.
HARRIS: All right. We're going to check in with you from time to time to see how things are going, if the situation is improving, particularly on the claims side.
Byron, good to see you. Thanks for your time.
ENCALADE: Thank you, Tony.
HARRIS: Yes, my pleasure.
To read more stories that matter to all of us, just pick up the latest issue of "Essence" magazine on newsstands right now.
O.J. Simpson -- yes, O.J. Simpson, returns to court today trying to get his sports memorabilia armed robbery conviction overturned.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: It is a story we've been following for you here in the CNN NEWSROOM. A frantic search in Arkansas for campers who got caught in a flash flood. At least a dozen people are confirmed dead and other campers are missing. On the line with us right now is the governor of Arkansas, Mike Beebe.
Mr. Governor, if you would, can you give us an update on where things stand in the search and rescue operation.
GOV. MIKE BEEBE, ARKANSAS (via telephone): Well, we have a number of state and local officials that are engaged in the search and rescue operation. Preliminary reports are that at about 5:30 last evening, the Little Missouri River, which is along this campground, was at about three and a half feet. And within 12 hours, by 5:00 or 5:30 this morning, it was at 20 feet. So it was a very rapid flash flood that inundated that area.
This is a U.S. forest service campground. It's an unmanned campground in terms of being a campground with all the amenities. It's relatively rural. And it's along the bank of the Little Missouri River. And as a result of that, at this point we don't have a registration for the number of people that were out there, although there's reports (ph) from the Red Cross that there may have been as many as 300 people there.
Obviously they're in the process of trying to determine if there's other people missing and they're in heavy search and rescue mode now with National Guard, state police, park and tourism people, as well as law enforcement, emergency management personnel.
HARRIS: Is there an information -- boy, that's a lot of people. As many as 300 people visiting that - BEEBE: That's a preliminary - that's a preliminary but unconfirmed report from the Red Cross. So I'll --
HARRIS: Sure.
BEEBE: Put a caveat out there that so far that's preliminary and unconfirmed. But, you know, it highlights the urgency, I think, of the search and rescue if there were potentially that many people in this campground area.
HARRIS: OK. Governor Beebe, is there an information center at this time set up where families can get some updated information on the search and rescue effort?
BEEBE: Well, the - yes. The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management coordinates search and rescue activities. And certainly they can be contacted for any information. But the area is pretty remote in terms of - and that's why a lot of people go there. And in terms of being able to have any cell phone service actually on-site, that's really spotty because of the extreme rural nature of the area.
HARRIS: Well, how will this be efforted? I mean how will this search and rescue operation take place? Are we talking about principally from the air with helicopters?
BEEBE: No, no, it's everything. There are helicopters, but there are mounted sheriff's deputies in some of the terrain with horses. Obviously there are -- there's heavy equipment. There's police cars. There's all sorts of trucks and four-wheel drive vehicles that are manned by the various state and local agencies that are out there. There are people on foot. So in terms of how it's being coordinated, it's virtually every aspect of human endeavor, from the area or from the ground, that can be manned at this juncture.
HARRIS: Governor Beebe, how about the National Guard?
BEEBE: Yes, the National Guard's on site. We actually have -- that's what part of the helicopter assistance is from the National Guard. On the ground right now it's primarily parks and tourism personnel and it's primarily law enforcement personnel. We have National Guard people on stand-by to the extent that they are need.
HARRIS: You mentioned this is an unmanned campground area. Has this always been an unmanned area or recently unmanned because of budget issues or whatever?
BEEBE: No, to my knowledge this is a federal area. This is a U.S. forest service area. This is not a state area. So my understanding is that it's been this type of campground, I guess, since its inception.
HARRIS: OK. And, once again, just for maybe family members who might be watching us right now, if they want information, just the latest information, where would you direct them? And if you don't have the number, if you tell us where people can get information, we'll find that information on a phone number and pass that along. BEEBE: Well, let me see if I can get you that phone number. It's Arkansas Department of Emergency Management. And I don't have that phone number immediately with me.
HARRIS: Office of Emergency Management.
BEEBE: The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management.
HARRIS: We can get that. Governor Beebe, we appreciate your time.
BEEBE: Absolutely.
HARRIS: OK, thank you.
Let's take a break. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Host country South Africa ties Mexico in the World Cup open again today. And soccer fans around the globe have World Cup fever. Our Zain Verjee, she's in London for us.
Zain, good to see you. Describe what it's been like for your today all caught up in the football fever.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Football. I'm glad you said that, Tony. Not soccer for the next four weeks. It has actually been amazing. This is bigger than the Super Bowl. This is actually bigger than the Olympics because you've got one billion people around the world that are going to be following every single player, every single match, and the twists and turns of football World Cup 2010 in South Africa.
You know, Tony, one of the best things about this World Cup is that it's for the very first time in Africa. You see on TV pictures of poverty, of conflict, of disease, of HIV/AIDS. Well, this World Cup in Africa, you're going to see culture, diversity, richness, and the flamboyance and fun of the African culture.
I spoke to one woman who crisscrossed the whole country and talked to kids. Listen to what she says.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VERJEE (voice-over): Alethea Gold has crisscrossed South Africa ahead of the football World Cup. The children stylist and author says the kids are all football mad.
ALETHEA GOLD, CHILDREN'S FASHION STYLIST: There is not a child that I didn't come across that wasn't excited, wasn't overwhelmed for the World Cup. It means so much to them. They all know every player. They know the captain. Their dream is to be able to watch every game.
VERJEE: Together with photographer Luca Zoran (ph), she wants to show the world South Africa through its children. These kids are off the streets, lured by a dream bag. GOLD: In this dream bag is a pair of soccer boots and football and an outfit. And these kids then play football all day.
VERJEE: They share their dreams at school.
GOLD: Some of the kids' biggest wish is to meet Obama. Some of the kids just wish that someone would buy a fence for the school so the goats don't pop in. And one of the kids said that he likes his teacher because she never turns up late for school.
They played huge trombones and drums. And the girls were dancing. And it was in a field. And the sand was coming up. And these kids were oblivious to the dust and everything around them.
VERJEE: Alethea tells me she's raising money for a Nelson Mandela backed charity, MaAfrika Tikkun, to help get kids to play sport. And who knows, you could be looking at Africa's next Didier Drogba.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VERJEE: So, Tony, this is a really big deal for Africa. But it's also a big deal for the United States because, you know, they really have something to prove. Much of the world sees them really as rookies in football. But they are respected. They are playing England, who actually invented football, tomorrow. And the question is, how well are they going to do? Because it's a tough team. There are two weaknesses that they can exploit. Basically the English team kind of take a bit of time to warm up during World Cup tournaments. Also, they tend to get a little temperamental, Tony. They get petulant. And the U.S. team can really try and capitalize on that.
Tony.
HARRIS: Oh, just have the sav ready for the Brits after the butt kicking they take tomorrow.
Zain, good to see you.
VERJEE: I hope so.
HARRIS: You know so.
VERJEE: You too, Tony.
HARRIS: We're back in a moment. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: In Arkansas, frantic searching for campers caught in a flash flood. At least 12 people are now confirmed dead. Other campers are still missing. And the water rushed in, in darkness after heavy rain overnight. The area is in a national forest. It is in a rugged section of western Arkansas.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BILL SADLER, ARKANSAS STATE POLICE (via telephone): It flows through Pike and Montgomery Counties, Arkansas. A very rugged area. A very remote area. It crested this morning at about 5:30 local time. At this time, we have confirmed through a search of at least 12 known to be dead. We believe there are still some individuals trapped in that area. The primary mission will be Arkansas State Police working with local authorities right now is to get the living out of that area and locate the dead. This is an ongoing search operation at this hour.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: All right. And our severe weather expert, Chad Myers, with me now.
And, Chad, if you would, just put us on the ground out there.
CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: All right, we'll start out big and then we'll get smaller and smaller and smaller. We're talking about Arkansas. We're talking about right there. We're talking about the Ouachita National Forest, which is Mena (ph), Telamena (ph). Mena got hit by a tornado last year.
HARRIS: Yes.
MYERS: Just got whacked. So this area here in Arkansas.
Now I'll start to drill down, get you a little bit smaller. And this is going to be a very colorful map, but I'm going to tell you what it means because we're talking about Little Rock right there. That's the town of Little Rock. That's where the radar site is.
But back out her in this purple, every -- this light purple, that's all seven inches of rainfall or more that happened in the past 48 hours. This purple area here where the flooding really literally was, that's nine inches of rainfall in 48 hours. You can't -- no area can handle that.
So here's Little Rock, Hot Springs. We're talking right through here. Here's Mena and then Hot Springs itself. So let me get rid of all this stuff and I'm going to take you to Google Earth because I need to show you the topography.
HARRIS: Yes.
MYERS: If this rain happened in Oklahoma, should we get a flash flood that it doesn't funnel like it did here. We're talking to Governor Beebe about half an hour ago. He said this river went from three feet deep to 17 feet deep in less than 24 hours. And, in some spots, 20 feet deep because of the way -
HARRIS: And it's got to go somewhere.
MYERS: Because of the way the water comes in. It's literally the way the water rushes in. It rushes down the mountains here, down this pike here and then down through here. And then everybody that camps wants to camp near the water. Why would you not? It's three feet deep. It's tranquil. It's lovely. You can hear the water rushing. Well, that was the problem. As it was coming through here, the water filled in this valley and those people were not prepared. At 1:00, 2:00 in the morning, there's no -- and it's unmanned. There wasn't a ranger there to run through there and say, get out, get out, get out. You didn't have a weather radio - and how many people take one with them?
HARRIS: That's right.
MYERS: You are in trouble. And I guess the story of that is, take a weather radio if you go camping.
HARRIS: Yes.
MYERS: Because the warning was out there.
HARRIS: It was. Yes.
MYERS: Yes.
HARRIS: More on this in just minutes. CNN NEWSROOM continues right now with Ali Velshi from New York City.
