Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Multiple Tornadoes Hit Iowa; Massive Pumps Sent to Japan; Tokyo Sees Steady Exodus

Aired April 10, 2011 - 14:00   ET

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

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN ANCHOR: Just ahead, multiple tornadoes hit Iowa. Will the Midwest face even more tornadoes later today?

And then, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern, how you feel tonight may affect the rest of your workweek. Find out about the Sunday slump. That's coming up.

And at 5:30 Eastern, visit a city in a war zone. We'll take you on a tour of Misrata, Libya.

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Deborah Feyerick, in for Fredricka Whitfield.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mapleton is in big trouble.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: You heard them say Mapleton is in big trouble, and it was. The town took a direct hit from that monster tornado. Incredibly, no one was seriously injured, but the area has been declared a disaster zone. Meteorologist Karen Maginnis says watch out, we could see a lot more across the upper Midwest in the coming hours.

Now to central Oklahoma, where it's very dry and very windy. Very different temperatures. That's no help to firefighters watching for hotspots after this enormous grass fire near Tulsa.

About 60 people had to leave their homes yesterday. They're now returning. About 1,200 acres and a half-dozen buildings did burn up from those fires.

In southern California, four people survived when a small plane crashed into a storage facility near the city's airport. They got out moments before the plane burst into flames.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRETT HANLEY, WITNESS: They jumped in my arms and I pulled them away from the wreck. And not too long after that, the thing exploded and caught fire, and that's the end of their plane.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: Well, witnesses say that the plane's engine was coughing and running rough just before the crash.

More than 250 people have been arrested in a mass roundup of fugitives in Arizona. The targets of the operation were sex offenders and violent offenders. Authorities say they also recovered 16 weapons, 23 pounds of marijuana, and other dangerous drugs.

Well, a California woman's garage has become a kind of community center where neighbors stop, chat, grab a cup of coffee. Because of that, Marilyn Weber homeowners association has fined the 70-year-old $120 for using that garage as a living space.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARILYN WEBER, HOMEOWNER: I'm not lonesome anymore. I'm 70 years old, and they're all my family.

SUZY DOONER, NEIGHBOR: For them to take this away from a 70- year-old woman who, if she closed her garage with her gate locked, would have no outside interaction, I think it's a crime.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: And Weber is currently refusing to pay the fine. She is also keeping the garage open.

Well, let's get to the tornado threat this afternoon. Karen Maginnis is in our Severe Weather Center.

(WEATHER REPORT)

FEYERICK: Well, you saw those pictures of that huge tornado heading for Mapleton, Iowa. This was the town right after it hit -- rubble everywhere. There was no power. Emergency crews, immediately on the scene.

What's amazing, no one was killed, and there were only a few minor injuries. Today, the town of 1,200 people, though, is being called a disaster zone.

With us on the phone is Tammie Pech of the Red Cross.

Tammie, first of all, give us a sense. How were people able to get out on time? No injuries. That's pretty incredible.

TAMMIE PECH, RED CROSS: The people here had about a 10-minute window after the sirens went off that they were able to respond. So, lucky, the storm missed the major areas. There was a lot of tree damage and a lot of other structural damage, though a lot of it was in the business community. Some homes, luckily, the people were able to be saved.

FEYERICK: You've been to areas like this many times in the past. Looking at the extent of the damage -- and there is a lot, clearly -- we're looking at those pictures right now -- how long does it take a town like this to come back, to sort of get back to normal, if that's possible?

PECH: To get back to normal, it's going to take quite a while. There was a lot of devastation here. There is a lot of livelihoods, a lot of businesses and a lot of homes that were affected. So we've got disaster mental health here right now trying to help the community through this.

FEYERICK: Where are most of the people? Are they sheltering at a local high school? Are -- what's the situation there on the ground?

PECH: We had a shelter open last night and it will maybe open again tonight depending on the number of people that we need to provide shelter to. They were sheltering in the community centers here in Mapleton.

FEYERICK: OK. This is an area where there are often tornadoes. The people there, what is your impression of how they're dealing with this, their state of mind right now?

PECH: The people are really sticking together. The whole community has come up -- is working together to make this a better place. There's water being rushed in and out right here as I'm standing. The fire crews are here, there are EMS crews here. The Red Cross is here providing lunch, it's providing meals to a lot of those emergency workers and the cleanup crews.

FEYERICK: You've seen a range of families. I assume it goes from very young to seniors. Is there a lot of inter-cooperation between everybody who is there?

PECH: Absolutely. There is a ton of cooperation. The sheriff is here, the National Guard is here. Like I said, the work crew is doing cleanup. They're all just working together to make this community better.

FEYERICK: And when you look at -- boy, we were looking at the pictures of that tornado. That was huge. The people who ran from that and were able to get to safety, have they commented on how this tornado was perhaps different than ones they've experienced in the past?

PECH: This one came in -- what I've heard, I talked to one lady this morning, and she said as the tornado came over, she could just see it, which a lot of times you don't see the tornado actually heading for you. And she was able to see it and seek shelter. Luckily, her basement was safe.

FEYERICK: Wow. Well, Tammie Pech from the Red Cross, thank you so much. We really appreciate you being our eyes on the ground there, and we'll check back on this a little later on. Thanks so much.

Well, from the disaster in the U.S. to the one in Japan, why some say it's probably a good idea to carry around an earthquake kit for the next year. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: Some international headlines.

A revolution pushed Hosni Mubarak from Egypt's presidency two months ago. Since then, not a word from him until today. Mubarak didn't physically appear, but he issued an audio message that ran on an Arab-speaking network. He talked about the corruption charges leveled against him, saying they were false, and sent a warning to anyone who tries to tarnish his name.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

HOSNI MUBARAK, FMR. PRESIDENT, EGYPT (through translator): I will reserve my legal right to sue anybody who attacked me or tries to undermine my reputation.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

FEYERICK: Well, also overseas today, these women will be breaking the law starting tomorrow if they go out in public in France with their faces covered. A controversial law slaps a fine on anyone wearing a burka or other religious clothing that covers the wearer's face.

Police arrested dozens of people today for trying to protest the new law. It's triggered a loud debate over religious freedom in France.

More than 2,000 people spoke with one voice against nuclear power in Tokyo today. Protesters tell CNN they're concerned about the long- term effects of radiation in their country after last month's quake and tsunami damaged several nuclear reactors. The death toll in the disaster has now surpassed 13,000 people.

Well, two giant pumps are heading to the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan. They're so huge, they were loaded onto enormous Russian cargo planes. The rigs are built by the Putzmeister company and are capable of pumping concrete or water in massive amounts.

Bill Dwyer, with Putzmeister America, joins us by phone from the Chicago area.

Mr. Dwyer, thank you so much for being here.

First of all, these pumps, how are they going to work and how do you expect them to sort of help the situation here?

BILL DWYER, PUTZMEISTER AMERICA: Well, the goal for them is to actually pump water at this point. They're originally designed to pump concrete. Putzmeister has a retrofit that goes on the end of the boom that will allow it to pump water at high pressure.

FEYERICK: The water, where does this water come from? How do they get all this water into these gigantic pumps?

DWYER: You know, we're responsible to supply the equipment. And as you can probably imagine, TEPCO is responsible for the actual logistics of the job site.

(CROSSTALK)

FEYERICK: OK. But they must be very excited to be getting these pumps. I mean, clearly, these pumps were destined for someplace else. And, in fact, they were rerouted to help the situation with these nuclear plants.

DWYER: Specifically, a 58-meter concrete pump that was en route to Vietnam was rerouted to Japan, and the customer in Vietnam was kind enough to, obviously, allow them to do that. But that 58 meters has actually been working on sites since March 23rd -- or it arrived in Japan on March 23rd. The two 70 meters in question, they both left yesterday from the U.S., one from Los Angeles and one from Hartsfield. One will arrive tomorrow and the other, two days from now.

FEYERICK: Now, what's interesting is these pumps are similar to pumps that were used in Chernobyl many years ago. Japan already has some of your smaller pumps at the crippled plant.

Bringing these larger ones in, why the need? Is this a game- changer?

DWYER: Well, it is from the standpoint that it allows the workers to work from a greater distance without having to be so close and right on top of the reactor issues, whether it be fires or the cooling method. They have 70 meters of reach (ph). That's approximately 230 feet of boom, and they are outfitted with special radio remotes that allow them to be operated from as far away as 1.2 miles. And currently, Putzmeister is working in collaboration with HBC-radiomatic to develop one that will actually work from almost two miles away.

FEYERICK: So people don't have to be so close to get these pumps to work. What's also fascinating is that if worst comes to worst, and the water doesn't work, clearly TEPCO would have the option of perhaps even pumping concrete onto the area and sealing those plants if they need to, worst-case scenario.

DWYER: Right, absolutely. They're concrete pumps first. Putzmeister would much rather be known for doing something constructive like building something, rather than disaster relief. It's just an added plus that we're able to pump the water at high speeds and with great pinpoint accuracy.

FEYERICK: All right.

Well, Bill Dwyer, from Putzmeister America.

We really hope to speak to you again, and hope that perhaps this will help alleviate some of the struggles that the folks there on the ground are having. Thank you so much for joining us today.

DWYER: Thank you.

FEYERICK: Well, tomorrow marks one month since that devastating earthquake and tsunami changed the way of life for many in Japan. In cities like Tokyo, foreign nationals frightened by radiation fears are still lining up to leave, but as our Kyung Lah reports, others have decided to stay put.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KYUNG LAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The new normal of the Bromleys' Tokyo life is not all that abnormal. Bottled water is Maria Bromley's choice for her three kids, worried about possible radiation exposure. She avoids subways and high-rise buildings. Daughter Brittany now carries an earthquake kit.

(on camera): So you always have it with you now?

BRITTANY BROMLEY, CANADIAN EXPATRIATE: Now I do, yes. Yes, it's always in my room.

MARIA BROMLEY, CANADIAN EXPATRIATE: I think life as we knew it for the five years that we were here is going to be changed. I don't think it will be the same carefree, wonderful, happy life that we've always had.

LAH (voice-over): While a little nervous, this Canadian family says it is still proud to call Tokyo an adopted unlike an estimated quarter of a million foreigners who left Japan in the wake of the earthquake and nuclear crisis. Thousands more lined up at immigration bureaus for exit and entry paperwork from Japan.

(on camera): Since that mass departure of foreign residents, they have now started to return to Japan. But not everyone. This is a neighborhood where you would normally see a lot of international faces, and while we see some, just not as many as we used to.

SATOKI OKI, UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO, ERI: I understand those people who are very scared of coming to Japan.

LAH (voice-over): Satoki Oki is with the University of Tokyo's Earthquake Research Institute. She says this will be the new norm in Japan for up to a year. That's how long she expects aftershocks near a magnitude 7 like what Japan saw last Thursday.

But most of Japan, she stresses, is built to withstand a magnitude 7. But Tokyo residents, where most of the international residents live --

OKI: In this coming 30 years, we may have this (INAUDIBLE) Tokyo earthquake. The chance is about 70 percent. So it's quite large.

LAH: That's an acceptable risk for El Salvador native Greg Hidalgo, who says what Japan needs now is for international residents and businesses to invest in Japan's economy, not run from it.

GREG HIDALGO, EL SALVADOR EXPATRIATE: I don't want to be part of the problem, I want to be part of the solution. That's why I stay.

LAH: Even the young ones who stay notice the new Tokyo is a little different.

HAYDEN BROMLEY, CANADIAN EXPATRIATE: Five people have left, and I only know one that is not coming back.

LAH: An adjustment in progress for a country and its international residents.

Kyung Lah, CNN, Tokyo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FEYERICK: Well, it's being called one of the worst days for battling wildfires. More than 61,000 acres burning in Texas, and people are being told to get out of their homes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

FEYERICK: Well, this story got us wondering about how far a teacher could actually go to stay within the law. A chatty Florida teenager would not stop talking in class, so the teacher Duct-taped her mouth shut.

Well, I discussed this case with our legal guys, Avery Friedman and Richard Herman.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: It seems to me that teachers have certain professional standards, and it strikes me that when teachers start having to use physical constraints, then they fail to do what they're supposed to be doing. It doesn't rise to the level of a lawsuit by any means, but you know what? This is actually bad professional work by the teacher. At very least, she owes the student an apology.

FEYERICK: And Richard, what do you think about this? I mean, there are rules. There are rules. Was this an actual violation?

RICHARD HERMAN, LAW PROFESSOR: Well, Deb, I think, number one, this teacher should be terminated immediately.

Number two, I disagree with Avery. I would absolutely file a lawsuit.

I'd get the child into therapy right now. I mean, she got Duct- taped in front of her entire class. Who knows if she's having nightmares about this? Who knows the lasting impact it has? It's really ridiculous. If the teacher can't control the class, they have to be terminated. Simple as that. There's a lot of teachers who want to work these days.

FEYERICK: All right.

Avery, no? You don't think -- you think that's going too far?

FRIEDMAN: Yes. A little extreme. I'm with that Richard's answer is based on a lot of assumptions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: Well, you can catch our legal guys here every Saturday, always juggling some great topics, at noon Eastern.

Forget the old color codes. We're going to talk about plans for a new terror alert system right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: Well, the Department of Homeland Security is working out the details of the new terror alert system. We're going to take a look at that after a check of our top stories.

Mapleton, Iowa, has been declared a disaster after taking a direct hit from a huge tornado. Homes and offices are flattened. There is no power. But no one was killed. Tammie Pech with the Red Cross says that's because everyone had about 10 minutes of a warning before the tornado touched down.

That area is under the gun again today. Karen Maginnis says there is a threat of severe storms with hail and possible tornadoes across the upper Midwest, well into the evening hours. We're going to be keeping you posted on that.

Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak broke his two-month silence today denying charges that he's corrupt and warning his critics to back off.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MUBARAK (through translator): I will reserve my legal rights to sue anybody who attacks me or tries to undermine my reputation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: Well, other developments in Egypt today. Mubarak's former prime minister was detained. Officials in Cairo say Ahmed Nazyf was questioned about possible financial corruption. He will be held for 15 days.

And this week on "FAREED ZAKARIA GPS," former secretary of state James Baker weighed in on unrest in the Middle East and how the Obama administration is handling it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES BAKER, FMR. SECRETARY OF STATE: Each country should stand on its own two feet. And again, I like the formula that I just suggested to you, that we have a policy of pragmatic idealism. We don't walk away from our principles and values, but we also are very aware of what our national interests are in each of these places.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: And in southern California, four people survived after a small plane crashed into a storage facility near the city's airport. They got out moments before the plane burst into flames. Witnesses says the plane's engine was coughing and running rough just before the crash.

Well, late spring snow made roads slick and dangerous in -- get this -- northern Arizona this weekend. That's Arizona. That's right.

At least two people were killed in a highway accident east of Flagstaff. About a foot of snow fell on the area yesterday. Forecasters say residents could see a change in temperature today which would help clear out the wet and soggy mess.

Boston's mayor is taking on the city's rising obesity rates by banning sugary soda sales from all city property. The ban includes sports drinks and sweetened teas. Drinks will not be sold at Boston's schools, workplaces, on any city-owned property or at any city-run events. Boston's ban will be phased in over the next six months.

Well, the Department of Homeland Security is nearing a decision on its plan to replace their color-coded terror warning alert system. The new system is expected to use alerts that will incorporate social media, Twitter, Facebook, things like that.

We're also distinguishing between elevated and imminent threats. Jessica Herrera-Flanigan is the former general counsel for the House Committee on Homeland Security, and she joins me now from Washington. Thanks so much.

First of all, Jessica, why do you think this will work?

JESSICA R. HERRERA-FLANIGAN, PARTNER, MONUMENT POLICY GROUP: I think they need a change from the old color-coded system. They needed a system that would inform the public, what is a threat, what do you need to do to protect your community, and what is the Department of Homeland Security and other law enforcement agencies doing to help to protect you? And that's what this system is going to do.

FEYERICK: Yes, but if - for example, to play devil's advocate, if I get a tweet that says, for example, attacked in a New York City subway or bubonic plague in a certain part of the country, aren't I going to go into panic mode? I mean, couldn't this have the opposite effect?

FLANIGAN: I don't think so. I think they will give enough -- the way I understand it, they're going to give you enough information to tell you here's what the type of threat that's out there. Here's what we're doing to protect you and here's what you need to do.

Right now without that kind of system in place, with the old color-coded system, a lot of misinformation gets spread, people will tweet and Facebook on their own without really knowing what the danger is. This is a way for the government to take advantage of social media and other media to communicate.

FEYERICK: So is it fair to say that really what they are doing, what DHS is doing is they're trying to take control of the information so that it gets out, and at least gets out in as correct form as possible. Giving people information on what they need to know or what's happening, whether it's evacuation routes or whether do you seek shelter?

FLANIGAN: Exactly. In the old color-coded, there wasn't that information. There was a lot of criticism that threats - threat alerts would go higher in color, would go from yellow to orange to red, and people didn't know why.

They just knew it was a harder threat out there, but we didn't know what it was. We didn't know what to do about it. This is a way to address that.

FEYERICK: And Jessica, the interesting thing, 9/11, I was in New York at the time, and one of the thing that was scary was all cell phones went down. It was very difficult to get in touch with people.

Same thing that happened in Hurricane Katrina where cell phones simply didn't work. How do you take that into consideration when you're trying to get information if the system fails to work because of the catastrophe?

FLANIGAN: They're still trying to address a lot of those types of concerns, but it's not just going to be social media. It's not just going to be cell phones.

They'll still use the official methods they used in the past, television, radio, other ways of communicating with people so people know there are problems out there. They will use law enforcement capabilities. They'll use whatever they can to communicate.

FEYERICK: And do you also see this as being a way -- for example, being useful to help people get prepared? For example, if a particular city developed an evacuation route, say, check it, new evacuation route, or new information to help people really get ready so the first time they're not getting these tweets is when the catastrophe is happening. Also deal with the age thing because we're using Twitter, but maybe somebody in their 80s isn't.

FLANIGAN: Exactly. It's a way to communicate with people. Another way to engage the public, have the public be part of the Homeland Security efforts. I think you have this new program that's going to go into effect April 26.

You also have the see something, say something program that they're doing to make sure people are reporting back things that they see. It's a way for the government and for the Department of Homeland Security to really engage the public and make it a partner in what they're doing.

FEYERICK: All right. Well, Jennifer Herrera-Flanigan, thank you so much. It will be really interesting to see how this plays out, and I think right now there are some 3,000 followers, though DHS has yet to send out a single tweet. But we will be looking forward to that on April 26. Thank you so much for joining us.

FLANIGAN: You're welcome. Thank you.

FEYERICK: Watch those spam e-mails security breaches may have your personal information in the wrong hands.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: A massive e-mail breach at a marketing firm has many of you asking, well, just how safe are internet transactions? Syndicated technology writer Marc Saltzman is here, and we're going to be talking about the breach at Epsilon, which manages databases for 2,500 that's hundreds of thousands of people out there.

Let's go through some of your five tips to keep online transactions safe. First of all, phishing attacks. I'm terrified to open up any links, by the way, these days and what do you mean by phishing attacks?

MARC SALTZMAN, SYNDICATED TECHNOLOGY WRITER: Sure, and that's phishing with a p-h. This is a malicious attempt to steal your personal information over e-mail. We're voluntarily giving this information because a phishing attempt looks like a legitimate e-mail from your financial institution like your bank.

When you click on that link inside the e-mail, it takes you to a phony web site. You are lured to the web site, hence the phishing reference and you're asked to give personal information. You're told you're doing this to protect yourself, but in fact, someone is out to steal your personal information for financial gain.

So with all these e-mail addresses floating around now since this security breach, you may be getting not just spam, which is annoying, junk mail, but a phishing attempt. Just hit delete, do not click on that link in the e-mail, and most definitely, do not give out any personal information. Your bank is not trying to contact you.

FEYERICK: OK, and just very quickly on that point. Is it possible for somebody that you know to send you an e-mail with a bogus link? Will that then affect your computer? So even if you're getting an e-mail, you may want to be careful about that or no?

SALTZMAN: Sure, well, that's a different thing. That could be a virus or a worm. Even if it's from someone you know, their address book could be infected. So if it's suspicious, then start a new e- mail and write to your friend and ask them or call them, did you e- mail this to me? But in most cases, a phishing attempt is separate from a virus. They're more interested in getting information from you they can use to get money rather than trying to infect your computer.

FEYERICK: OK, now, next, you say pick a strong password. What exactly makes a strong password and should you be changing it frequently?

SALTZMAN: Sure, it's a good idea to change it once every couple months depending on your comfort level, but a strong password is at least 7 characters long, whether it's for your Facebook or company web site, 7 characters that consists of letters, numbers and symbols and definitely don't use password or 12345. Those two are the most common passwords out there, password and 12345.

FEYERICK: OK, so - yes, not secure. Tip number three, shop smart. Most of us probably think we are. Are there any red flags when it comes to shopping online, for example?

SALTZMAN: Sure. So definitely look for a secure connection. It will say https, as in secure in the URL or address bar. You might also see a little padlock, but just stick to the trusted sources. Stick to the big names that you're familiar with, look for any other certification that shows that they're a reputable site.

And if you're new to online shopping, start small, buy a book or DVD or a video game and definitely use a secure payment method. If you're shopping on eBay or Craig's list, make sure it's a credit card or Paypal. Never send money or a check.

FEYERICK: Now most of us have secured software for viruses, but you say we need to invest in something called anti-malware software. How that is different and how important is that?

SALTZMAN: So malware is an umbrella term for anything suspicious as the name suggest. That could be viruses. It could be phishing attempts. It could be spyware, which are programs that are downloaded to the computer unknown to the user that spies on your internet surfing behavior.

Hijacks your home page, it gives you a different homepage that you didn't want and maybe adds a tool bar under the address window. So I would invest definitely in good anti-malware software that includes all those things.

Personally, I use Semantic, Norton Internet Security 2011, but there are some free alternatives at download.com. If you take a look at their charts, their top 20 list on their homepage. You'll see free anti-malware software. Definitely use something. You know, whether it's free or not, it's better than nothing and will help you stay away from the bad guys.

FEYERICK: OK, and as we wrap, lastly, you have to be aware of wireless and make sure your wireless network is secure. A friend of mine used a wireless network very close to a place and her whole identity got stolen, basically. Talk about that. SALTZMAN: Sure, Deb. So definitely, whether you're in a hot spot like your favorite cafe using a free public Wi-Fi network, you definitely want to have anti-virus software, but you don't want to do anything like banking or any online banking.

You want to just read the news. Go to your favorite news web site and that's about it. And when you're setting up a wireless network at home, make sure you put in a password. Most of us don't. Only one third of us create a password for your home network.

Otherwise, your neighbors are not only stealing your internet connections, but they could be accessing your files if they're tech savvy enough, and if you have a monthly limit on how much you can download, you're pretty much hitting that data cap and slowing down the performance of your internet as well.

FEYERICK: So much to know about something that's supposed to make our lives a lot simpler. Well, we'll keep an eye on that Marc Saltzman. Thanks so much. Always great speaking with you.

SALTZMAN: Likewise.

FEYERICK: Once again, Fargo, North Dakota is facing off against the Red River, but will the dikes hold back the rising water?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: We're getting word from Fargo, North Dakota that so far the dikes are working and holding back the Red River's rising water.

We're bringing in meteorologist Karen Maginnis. Karen, we're getting a lot of flooding. What's amazing about flooding is you really never know how deep the water is and it can be powerful. Six or eight inches can sweep cars away.

KAREN MAGINNIS, METEOROLOGIST: Very powerful. We saw that no more importantly than we did in Japan when the tsunami came. This is nothing like that, although its impact is still felt across a broad area. And what is one of the worst things that you can see during a flood?

I know this personally myself, is when you see some rain and then you kind of hold your breath and wonder if it's going to get worse. This rainfall is not going to be the big impact. The wind is going to be the big impact. We could see the winds gusting up to around 35 miles an hour. We've got pictures out of Cass County in North Dakota. This is north of Fargo.

You see some of the barriers there, some of the dikes, and just how high this river is, and in Fargo it did not reach record levels. This is about the fourth highest it has been, but you can see the amount of devastation that takes place here, and it looks like this isn't going to go down at least for the next five days.

All right, here's what I was talking about as far as that rainfall goes. We are seeing it across the Dakotas, and the Red River of the North actually flows to the north into Winnipeg Lake. So the river has already crested in Fargo and as I mentioned, it's about the fourth highest crest that they've seen. The other two highest, 1997 and 2009.

The rainfall amounts that they're expecting across this region are about a quarter of an inch, maybe. That would be a maximum amount that we would see across this region. But remember, whatever Fargo has seen, Grand Forks is going to see down the line. So they haven't seen theirs crest just yet, but they are under a flood warning.

The river is going to continue to rise. They will see showers but could see 30-mile-per-hour wind gusts, and I know people walk along the dike. I know that's how some people get their exercise. This is not the time to do it because the water is going to be splashed up along those dikes and that's going to be the critical situation.

All right, Fargo has crested the Red River there at 38.5, and it looks like the Red River of the North is going to crest at Grand Forks on Wednesday morning at 50.5 feet. That's still well below their record.

FEYERICK: And the weather is changing so quickly there. We'll be checking back with you in about an hour because things could be totally different at that point, getting worse in some areas. Karen Maginnis, thanks so much as always.

Well, it's a closely guarded secret. Which designer is creating Kate Middleton's wedding gown?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: We are having a little fun with our countdown to the royal wedding with Prince William and Kate Middleton. Why not? We're looking at some wedding world records that the couple they want to be like this one.

The world's largest wedding bouquet, the record holder measures over 197 feet long. It is made of 1,500 roses and carnations. I don't know how somebody even carries that down the aisle. Sure, a big bouquet would be cool, but who are we kidding? When will Will and Kate make their entrance, the only thing everyone will be looking at, well, it is the wedding dress.

CNN's Monita Rajpal has been nosing around to find out about the dress, but it is a state secret.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MONITA RAJPAL, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The dress Diana wore when she married Prince Charles was seen as the most guarded secret in fashion history. But now rumors surrounding Kate Middleton's dress are hitting fever pitch, especially since it was reported that Sara Burton of Alexander McQueen will be designing the dress. Burton became creative director of the brand when Alexander McQueen died last year. She had worked alongside the designer for 14 years, mostly behind the scenes. While her appointment shone a spotlight on her career, this commission, if true, is one that would catapult her name into the fashion stratosphere.

HILARY ALEXANDER, DAILY TELEGRAPH: This is a big, major, royal wedding. It's quite ceremonial. It's quite religious. There is a lot of protocol, and the dress needs to suit the occasion.

So it's got to be designed by somebody who has a total understanding of the whole bridal scene, who understands the abbey and what it's going to look like and I have a feeling Kate will surprise us all.

RAJPAL: McQueen reps have denied the appointment and the royal family's clearance house has refused to comment, saying, quote, "it is Katherine's wish to keep the designer a secret until the wedding day."

While Middleton has been frequently compared to William's mother, Diana, many believe the wedding dress will be different. Bridal designer Ian Stuart says, while the opulence of Diana's dress was a contrast to the tough economic times Britain was facing in 1981, he believes the future queen of England will go a different route.

IAN STUART, BRIDAL DESIGNER: I have a feeling that it won't be a big dress. I have this feeling it will be kind of like fishtail or mermaid style, quite figure hugging and maybe flaring out from her hips. I think that she's fully aware of what she's marrying into and she knows she has to come out there with a certain strength in her wedding dress.

I do think believe she will have some kind of sleeve or covering of lace around her shoulders and her arm, absolutely. I think she will wear a veil. However, I think it will be not a big, poufy veil that will cover the face, I think it will be quite simple, elegant, not so long flowing from behind her hair.

RAJPAL: To ensure outmost secrecy, the dress is being made behind the secure walls of Buckingham Palace. All will be revealed when Kate steps out of her car at the steps of Westminster Abbey on April 29. Monita Rajpal, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FEYERICK: Whatever Kate's dress ends up looking like, it certainly won't break this record. Get ready for the world's longest wedding dress.

Check this out, it looks like rows and rows of white spreading out forever. It's the world's longest wedding dress train, 531.5 feet long. It was made for a Chinese bride by the groom's family.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: Who is hiring? What happened to all the shoppers? And, well, who is making a profit? Our money team is watching your financial bottom line. First we're going to Alison Kosik in an update on the country's economic outlook. Alison --

ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Deb. The outlook for the economy weakened a bit last week as CNN Money survey showed that most outlets downgraded their outlook for economic growth.

They estimate that the economy grew at a 2.7 percent phase last quarter, which is weak by historical standards. Economists blame oil prices, housing and potential cuts in government spending.

McDonald's is going on a hiring spree. The fast food giant will hire 50,000 workers all in one day on April 19th. Both part-time and full-time restaurant positions are available as well as management. Stephanie --

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Alison. If your local mall looks empty these days, you're not alone. Mall vacancy rates are at their highest level in more than a decade, topping 9 percent. The problem?

When housing markets were booming, malls were built to support that growth, but the recession kept people from shopping, so the growth never came. The credit crunch is far from over. The fed says nearly a quarter of people who apply for a mortgage get denied, and many of them have good credit. Analysts blame tight lending standards. Felicia Taylor has a look at what's coming up next week on Wall Street. Felicia --

FELICIA TAYLOR, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Stephanie. Wall Street has been waiting for first quarter earnings season to get under way, and on Monday, aluminum giant, Alcoa kicks it off.

We'll also here from corporate heavyweights like Google, J.P. Morgan Chase and Bank of America. Analysts are split on exactly what they're expecting. On the one hand, the economy is recovering.

On the other, there are some negative pressures, namely those soaring oil prices. Also several manufacturers were forced to halt production because of the disaster in Japan. Deb, back to you.

FEYERICK: First a quick look at the top stories. A monster tornado has ripped apart a small town in western Iowa. No one was killed, only a few people injured, but you can see there is destruction almost everywhere.

The upper Midwest could see more storms today. Karen Maginnis warns hail and tornadoes are possible well into the evening. We're going to be tracking that for you.

Egypt's former president speaks out for the first time since his ouster two months ago. It was a short audio message carried by an Arabic language network. Hosni Mubarak denied corruption charges against him and said he would sue anyone who smears his reputation.

In southern California, four people survived when a small plane crashed into a storage facility near the city's airport. They got out moments before the plane burst into flames yesterday. Witnesses say the plane's engine was coughing and sputtering right before the crash.

I'll be back in an hour. "YOUR MONEY" starts right now.