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New Dangers in Joplin, Missouri; Obamas Meet Royals in London; Erupting Volcano Cancels Flights

Aired May 24, 2011 - 09:00   ET

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

ALI VELSHI, CNN ANCHOR: -- danger of more tornadoes coming in this afternoon. We'll stay on top of the coverage. We'll stay here live in Joplin.

Kiran, Christine, back to you.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Thanks, Ali. Great work there today in Joplin.

And that's going to wrap it up for us today here in New York.

KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: That's right. Rob, thank you for your weather expertise as well.

We'll all be back here bright and early tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the news continues, CNN NEWSROOM with Carol Costello starts right now.

Good morning, Carol. Have a great day.

We continue our coverage in Joplin, Missouri. The suffering and the fear are taking new shape today. The city manager says gas leaks are spewing all over the city, presenting a brand new danger for crews digging through the tornado's rubble. That risk, in addition to the violent weather that has settled on Joplin.

Yesterday, two rescuers were hit by lightning. And in a cruel twist, more tornadoes are possible today across the region. Right now, the death toll stands at 116. That ties the single deadliest tornado record in U.S. history.

So far, rescue crews have pulled 17 survivors from the rubble but time and the weather now the enemies. Precious hours are slipping away as bleak reality set in.

T.J. Holmes is in Joplin.

And, T.J., you went out with one of the rescue teams. What did you see?

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Last night, I couldn't believe what I was seeing, Carol, because I have been covering tornadoes for a long time, grew up with tornadoes really in the South. And I can't figure them out because if you see behind me -- this is the part I can't figure out. That neighborhood in the short distance behind me is doing just fine. Those homes are not touched.

Now, come with me and just a street over and this is what you see -- this neighborhood taken out. Still, the camera shot you are seeing right there, we can't figure out really if there was a house here or not. You can't figure out what's going on in a lot of these places.

They have gone through some of these neighborhoods and done some search and rescue. But this gives you a good vantage point if you kind of -- we are kind of up on a hill. So, you can kind of peek through this area and see nothing but destruction. Just about every house in this neighborhood was touched in some way.

And, Carol, you hit on something, and that's the fact that we have the race going right now against two different clocks, if you will. One, as we know, if you don't get to people in a certain time, amount of time after a disaster, and they are buried, you are running of time to try to possibly save them. That's one clock.

The other clock is that we are actually now expecting another tornado outbreak at around 4:00 o'clock today, local time, 4:00 to midnight is when they could happen.

Take a look at the video from last night, from what we saw. This is the search and rescue. This is how they spent their entire night. We saw cadaver dogs out on the particular neighborhood of Joplin, it's on 20th and Connecticut, if you will, that cuts right through the heart of the city.

But this is how they spent their evening. They're not stopping what they are doing. You have crews here from so many different states. Not a lot of luck with them last night.

I guess that's good and bad, good that they didn't find anybody last night. Means maybe nobody is still trapped. They believe they do have some people that still need some rescuing.

Back here, this is just one neighborhood in the west part of the city. A little few blocks to the east is the hospital so many people know about. But forgive the sun here for a second. If you look down the hill here, the sun might be in your eyes a bit, but this gives you an idea. Those trees are stripped naked essentially. And it gives you a broader sense of the destruction here.

Carol, there are so many stories I'm going to be sharing with you and our viewers throughout this hour, next hour and throughout the day here on CNN, including students who are getting their diplomas on Sunday when the tornado hit. Here, congratulations. Here is your diploma, run literally is what they were told. That's just one of a number of stories that we're going to bring you.

But just scene that I'm running out of words to try to describe, Carol.

COSTELLO: I don't think there are words. T.J. Holmes, we'll get back to you. Thanks so much.

And as you hear T.J. mentioned and we've mentioned, there are more storms in the forecast today.

Meteorologist Alexandra Steele joins us now.

So, who is in the danger zone? Please say it's not Joplin.

ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, Joplin is just off. But Joplin is certainly in the danger zone. But the highest risk, the bull's eye, the sweet spot, is just to the west. But, tomorrow, Joplin is in it again.

So, we are looking at, Carol, really what is a textbook, classic, poised atmosphere for tornadoes, and not small tornadoes -- long, large track, deadly tornadoes. This is a very severe weather today -- today and tomorrow will be as well.

So, I want to show you where that severe weather outbreak and expecting it to be -- you heard T.J. say at around 4:00. Later this afternoon, when kind of the meeting of the day maximizes, the front pushes through the area we are watching, kind of that the energy, the ball of energy is still to the west. So, that has yet to come to kind of get together with the front and of course this warm, moist air.

So, here is a look at what we are seeing. Of course, this purple color, where we are going to see and really most likely -- this is a high-risk day. Every day, the SPC has deemed this high risk. We have had tornadoes and have had deaths.

Today is the fourth day of the year. Wichita, Joplin, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, including Enid and Bartlesville, in that sweet spot for tornadoes. Again, large, long track and deadly tornadoes likely today.

Of course, we'll have more on this and the threat tomorrow coming up in just a bit.

Carol, back to you.

COSTELLO: All right. Thank you, Alexandra.

President Obama will travel to Missouri on Sunday. But, today, the president and first lady are in London, and they're pretty busy. They spent the morning with the queen. They met Elizabeth II and Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace just a short time ago.

The Obamas will spend the night at the palace. The president has plans to meet with the prime minister, David Cameron, later on today.

And take a look, the Obamas spent some time with the newlyweds too. That would be Will and Kate.

This is the second day of the Obama's week-long European tour, six days, four countries, France and Poland are on the itinerary, too.

So, let's check in with Zain Verjee. She's in London.

Zain, what kind of welcome did President Obama get from the British press?

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, a very warm one. Let's take a look straight at the headlines here. In Ireland, there was one newspaper, "The Irish Independent," that was actually a little bit critical, though, in spite of all that joy. The headlines says, "The Rhetoric warmed our hearts but the speech ignored our big problems -- a patchy history lecture," it said, "filled with cliche about the fighting, resilient Irish."

And check out "The Belfast Telegraph," it was a love fest basically. "On blustery day, his charisma warmed even the chilliest soul." That was the headline. It went to say, "Waves of emotion poured from the crowd, many of them young people who found themselves facing bleak options at a time when their dreams are shattered with every new convulsion of the economy."

And then, Carol, check out "The Independent" here in the U.K. Its headline, "A sharing relationship will be put to the test." It says, "British officials are playing down any need for policy initiatives. There are more than enough dramatic events going on in the real world, to keep them busy in their bilateral talks."

Today, Carol, though, is really a fun day for the president and his wife, Michelle. They are going to be attending a banquet later today with about 200 people. And they had a great honor guard welcome, too. They'll be staying at Buckingham Palace for a couple of nights.

And I don't know if you've ever been in Buckingham Palace, Carol, but, you know --

COSTELLO: No, I haven't.

VERJEE: -- there are 775 rooms there. And you know what visitors at Buckingham Palace are told as advice? They are told to bring an extra sweater, because it gets really cold in those old rooms.

And you know what? Heating is expensive here, Carol. So, they are not turning up the thermostat.

(LAUGHTER)

COSTELLO: You're not kidding, for 700 rooms. That would be insane.

VERJEE: I know.

COSTELLO: I love those pictures of Will and Kate. I keep looking at them. Because any bright note though I can find, today, I look at it.

Zain Verjee, many thanks. We appreciate it.

VERJEE: Thanks, Carol.

COSTELLO: Back in Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is about to address both houses of Congress. You can bet he will talk about President Obama's idea for a Palestinian peace deal. Netanyahu calls Obama a friend of Israel but he's not too happy with the call to redraw Israel's borders.

Here's what he told a pro-Israel lobbying group.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: I want to reassure you of one thing: it must leave Israel with security. And, therefore, Israel cannot return to the indefensible 1967 lines.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: President Obama has said the old border idea was just a starting point for talks. Netanyahu will spell out his vision of the Middle East peace before both chambers of Congress. That will happen less than two hours from now. CNN special live coverage begins at 10:45 a.m. Eastern.

Oh, ouch, it has been a bad week for Sarah Palin. First came word the big boss at FOX News called her an idiot -- a tidbit that's been labeled untrue. And, today, a Palin insider goes rogue with a scathing Palin tell-all called "Blind Allegiance."

And then there's New York 26, a local race that has Senator Paul Ryan and his Medicare plan all over it.

Let's head to Washington and Jim Acosta.

Jim, first of all, tell us about this local New York race.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is definitely, Carol, the big political story of the day.

It is a special congressional race up in the 26th congressional district up in western New York. It is a predominantly Republican district that could fall into Democratic hands. And that is why so many people are watching it.

This is, of course, the race to replace the Craigslist congressman, Chris Lee, who resigned after some provocative pictures of him showed on Craigslist.

Well, the Democratic in that replace him, Kathy Hochul, could actually win that race. She is leading in the polls right now, with Republican Jane Corwin and a Tea Party candidate in the race, Jack Davis. Hochul has slight lead, according to the polls.

And a lot of this has to do with Medicare. She is running on the Medicare issue. This, of course, relates to that budget proposal released by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan that would turn Medicare into a voucher program. Kathy Hochul is running with that. She has an endorsement on the race from Andrew Cuomo, who cut a video talking about Medicare.

So, if she wins that race, and it's not clear that she will because it is so tight, a lot of Democrats will look at this as a referendum on the Ryan plan.

And you also mention somebody going rogue up in Alaska beside Sarah Palin. Yes, there is a new book out on the bookshelves today, called "Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin," and it's written by a former aide of hers, Frank Bailey.

Apparently, this book includes some e-mails from the former Alaska governor. It's not clear whether there are any bombshells in those emails. But it is another example why it is so risky for Sarah Palin to jump into the race for 2012. Not only is she her own cottage industry, she is a cottage industry for a lot of her attackers out there.

There is another book coming out this fall about Sarah Palin, not written or authorized by Sarah Palin.

But the Palin defenders are out today calling this new book out today calling it fiction. And so, we are going to be on the Palin watch today to see whether or not the former Alaskan governor comes out, Carol, and says something about this book.

COSTELLO: Yes, we'll see. And I called Paul Ryan a senator. He's a congressman. I apologize.

ACOSTA: Yes, he is.

COSTELLO: Although maybe he is happy about that mistake. I don't know.

ACOSTA: He took a pass at running for the Senate. So, I'm sure he is.

COSTELLO: All right. Jim Acosta, many thanks.

They survived the tornado but cannot find their baby son. Now, the family is going out of its mind trying to track him down. More on that story next.

Plus, there's one ray of hope for the residents of Joplin. And it comes from Greensburg, Kansas. Four years ago, a tornado virtually wiped out the town but people did not walk away. The town's mayor will tell us how they rebuilt.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Hundreds of volunteers are out again this morning searching for tornado survivors still trapped in Joplin, Missouri. Seventeen people were rescued from flattened building. The death toll, though, stand at 117. That's expected to climb.

More severe weather could hit Joplin tonight or tomorrow. And President Obama now on a European says he will travel to Joplin on Sunday. The president will no doubt hear stories like this one.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was indescribable and looked sadder than that. I have never seen anything like it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am 22 years old. I have a wife and two kids, 14 months old. We lost everything in the tornado. We are just trying to salvage what we can.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

COSTELLO: So many people pacing by their phones waiting for word. Among them, relatives of a 15-month-old baby boy missing since the tornado struck. Skyular Logsdon's relatives have set up a Facebook page. They're calling radio stations. They're doing everything they can think of.

Skyular's great-uncle Frank Reynolds joins us now on the phone.

And, Frank, thank you so much for joining us this morning.

FRANK REYNOLDS, MISSING BABY'S GREAT UNCLE (via telephone): You are welcome.

COSTELLO: When did you guys last see Skyular?

REYNOLDS: The night of the tornado, that evening. And they had him in the hallway and the house. And with -- they had all gotten covered in the hallway and the house. And when the tornado hit, they lost track of him, and we haven't seen him since.

COSTELLO: Was Skyular's mother holding on to him?

REYNOLDS: Yes, she was. And she lost him in the aftermath of all of this. I mean, it's just terrible. And no one has seen him since. The rest of the family is doing OK. We've just got to find him.

COSTELLO: So, are you out and about today looking?

REYNOLDS: We are out here searching again today. And we'll search until we find him.

COSTELLO: I just can't imagine how you are feeling. So, are neighbors joining you in your search?

REYNOLDS: Right now, it's just family out here. And we are checking and the neighbors are looking as they look in their debris also and helping us, yes.

COSTELLO: What about the home itself? Is the family home gone too?

REYNOLDS: The foundation is even gone. It took everything, yes. It's gone. Everything is gone.

COSTELLO: Have you heard anything from police?

REYNOLDS: No, we have not. Not today or yesterday. We haven't heard anything from the police yet.

We got Missouri Southern College out there doing the hospital searches for us now and checking to see if they can find him out there, see if someone has brought him in. Being that young, they don't know who he is. Hopefully, someone will bring him in.

COSTELLO: I just wondered how that works when you need help so desperately. Who do you call in this situation?

REYNOLDS: We went out to Missouri Southern College, the Red Cross. And they are doing the hospital searches. If they don't find him there, I would expect they'll be back out here helping us again, look some more for Skyular.

COSTELLO: We'll pray for you. Thank you, Frank Reynolds.

REYNOLDS: Thank you very much.

COSTELLO: Oh, so sad.

Joplin actually can find a modern lesson in rebuilding from a smaller neighborhood 185 miles to the west. Four years ago this month, the town of Greensburg, Kansas, was virtually wiped out when a tornado with 200-mile-per-hour wind struck.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DANIEL WALLACH, GREENSBURG GREENTOWN: It was a 1.7 mile-wide tornado. And the town is 1.5 miles wide. So, there was just very little on the peripheries that survived.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: But thanks to green technology, Greensburg has come back.

And Major Bob Dixson joins us via Skype to tell us how.

Good morning.

MAYOR BOB DIXSON, GREENSBURG, KANSAS: Good morning.

COSTELLO: Mayor, your city is thriving now after so much tragedy. What would you say to the people of Joplin?

DIXSON: Well, first of all, our hearts and our prayers and our thoughts just go out to Joplin and all the area down there. It's just -- it's just devastating to see those pictures and remember what we went through four years ago. So, just know that it's about faith, family and friends, rely on each other, and the volunteers that are going to come and help. And just wrap your arms around each other and be there for each other.

COSTELLO: An E-5, EF-5 tornado wiped out your town. The days after that disaster struck, the town had very little hope to hang on to. How did you deal with that? What was your first step?

DIXSON: Well, the first step, number one, was just what you are interviewing people in Joplin today is, an account for every citizen and make sure that they are safe. We lost lives as they lost lives, and we sorely missed those -- and that grieving process of going through your debris, of just making sure that every human is accounted for and safe and then it's just process of almost like a funeral of going through your debris and is there anything you can salvage in that grieving process.

And those are very difficult days, those first couple weeks.

COSTELLO: Greensburg, though, today, it's a spectacular town. Would you say it is better than it was before?

DIXSON: Well, I really think it's stronger and better in the aspect that we have pulled ourselves together as a community. We were a community before, but now more close-knit because it mattered not to our social economic status four years ago. Everyone lost everything. And that put us on the same playing field that we had each other.

And through our planning processes and our rebuilding processes, it has been about community and each other. And that's what's made us stronger, is the human factor and our faith.

COSTELLO: And your faith. Thank you so much for sharing the hope this morning because we needed that after that last story.

Mayor Dixson, many thanks.

DIXSON: Well, I thank you and I just want the people in Joplin to know, in the midst of this disaster right now, there is hope. Just be there for each other and we'll be down there to help you out.

COSTELLO: Thank you so much. And I'm sure the people of Joplin appreciate it. Major Dixson, thank you.

If you would like to help the tornado victims in Joplin, go to our Web site, CNN.com/Impact. You'll find links to several charities where you can call, text or go online to donate. "Impact Your World" at CNN.com/Impact.

We'll have more tornado coverage just ahead. But, first, another big ash cloud is cramping the airspace over Britain. It's coming from a volcano in Iceland. Not the same volcano as last year but close. We'll tell you what this is doing to flights over Europe.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Another busy volcano in Iceland is making for some travel troubles in Europe. The giant drifting ash cloud means canceled flights in parts of the U.K. In fact, President Obama had to leave Ireland a few hours earlier yesterday because of it.

So, let's check back with Zain Verjee, who is in London.

Sort of like an Icelandic thing deja vu thing going on here.

VERJEE: Yes. Oh, no, Carol, here we go again, right? I mean -- you know, you don't want this to happen if you are traveling. And your trip may get completely disrupted. We are keeping our fingers, our toes and our eyes crossed that this time it doesn't happen. What's happened is that euro control has said that 252 flights have already been canceled. Now, it's only Scotland that has been affected here, OK?

But it could get worse. Many people are just watching the wind patterns to see exactly how the situation develops.

But just look at these incredible pictures, Carol. You can see the plume of ash coming high up into the sky there in Iceland. It's just difficult to predict the winds.

The question for many scientists right now, Carol, is this: has this volcano totally blown its top off already? And we've already seen the worst of it and it has spent energy. Or do we have a situation that this is the beginning of a sustained eruption?

That's what we are going to have to wait and see. Because if it's a sustained eruption, what it means is that the magma inside the chamber is going to continue to build inside the volcano. The pressure is going to rise. It's going to come pouring out. And if f the lava basically connects with water, it becomes explosive and it throws up ash like what we are seeing.

COSTELLO: Oh, spectacular pictures, I must say, though. But what's the travel situation like today? Are flights affected today?

VERJEE: Yes. There are a couple of hundred-plus flights that have been canceled. And if anyone is traveling, you just need to go to Web sites and check with the airline and see what's up with your flight.

Ryanair is one airline. They've said, look, you know, you can fly through it. And they went on a little test flight. And they said, we will manage to do it. It's OK.

But the question is really going to be about the ash now because you have to figure out and see how thick is the actual ash going to be? Is it low, is it medium, is it high? In Scotland, for example, it's really high and you can't fly through that stuff.

Imagine flying through sandpapers or shards of glass or something. You are going to get something stuck in the engine if you do that, if it's really thick. And that means the plane will stall and could come crashing down.

So, that's the big worry with the ash that also has debris in it after it has erupted. It carries --

COSTELLO: That would certainly ruin your vacation.

VERJEE: Yes.

COSTELLO: Yes. Zain Verjee, thank you. We'll keep an eye on that volcano in Iceland.

We'll go back to London actually in a few minutes.

President Obama's busy day includes a meeting with Britain's prime minister. We'll take you to 10 Downing Street for a preview.

Also ahead, the latest from Joplin, Missouri. Our T.J. Holmes will walk through a destroyed home with the woman who lived there for 17 years.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: In Joplin, Missouri, hundreds of rescue workers and volunteers have fanned out in search of survivors, and time is not their only enemy. Gas leaks are reported across the city and some fierce storms dumped huge amounts of rain and hail yesterday. Today and tomorrow, the threat of tornados loom across the region. So far, 17 survivors, though, have been pulled from the rubble, 117 people confirmed dead, though and countless people have harrowing stories of their brush with death.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RACHAEL NEFF, JOPLIN TORNADO SURVIVOR: We could hear the home shaking. Everything busting out. We got down. He was between me -- Zach was hunched over us. We were just praying, screaming and it was very loud. It all happened so fast. It seemed like forever but it happened very fast.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: T.J. Holmes is in Joplin. And T.J., you've heard more than one story like that.

T.J. HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we have. And I've got one doozy to share with you right now, Carol. I am actually at the home of Dr. Eden Esguerra who is here with me right now, all in one piece, but would you believe, just barely if you will.

Dr. Esguerra, you were describing to me what you were doing. You had several family members in the house but you were the one who came to this particular area. Tell me what you did.

DR. EDEN ESGUERRA, HOME HIT BY TORNADO: Yes. We were watching weather channel and when it flickered, we already had the crawl space door open because this is where we would come when there's a tornado. But when I heard the TV flicker, the lights went off, I just ran here, I actually fell into it and I could hear the wind swirling and our garage door was like paper being flopped in the air and I was scared I was going to be sucked out. So I was trying to move deeper and deeper and --

HOLMES: Now, you were the only one, too. You were the only family member that made it down here. The rest found other hiding areas.

ESGUERRA: Correct. My daughter and my brother did not even make it here. They hid under -- in a closet under the stairs. ESGUERRA: And Dr. Esguerra, I have to let you -- and Carol, I'm going to let you see this, because you talk about it was dark and scary and loud and she took a tumble, and if I can, kind of a deep tumble. She missed the step, as you see there, and fell down. And here is the evidence of it.

Come back up here for a second while our photographer (INAUDIBLE). Go ahead and show us -- that is the tumble she took and she hit her head and she has that scar to prove it right now. She's doing OK now.

Dr. Esguerra, I'm going to leave you.

And Carol, I want to you come and I want to show you something. I've been telling you for years, I've been covering tornadoes for years and I can't figure out these things for the life of me and let me explain why.

Come in through the front door of the home now. You can certainly see, you look to your left, to your right, that everything here is just a mess, as you can imagine. They're trying to clean up. They say it looks 500 times better than it did. But come into their bedroom and this is what I want you to see.

That is a two-by-four that came in through the wall and they say they don't have any idea where that thing came from. This is their bedroom -- was their bedroom. You can see all the trash around and what not, but a two by four came through exactly where one of their heads would been if they were in the bed.

But, the other thing, Carol. Look here. The same bedroom that's a mess, family photos haven't even been touched. They are still standing here.

So, Carol, like I said to you earlier, been covering tornadoes a long time. I still can't figure these things out.

COSTELLO: All I know is they jump around and they have terrible winds associated with them and I'm telling you, the doctor has that small gash on her head, she's one lucky woman just to have that when you look at that two-by-four through the bedroom wall.

T.J. Holmes, many thanks.

People in Joplin are using social media to find people.

Will Norton's friends set up a Facebook page. It says, help us find Will Norton who has been missing since the tornado. They say they've checked every hospital and possible lead with no success.

A Facebook panel has been set up to find other missing people in Joplin. Friends of Randy England says he's been missing for over 24 hours. He was inside the Home Depot when the tornado destroyed it.

And a relative is searching for 94-year-old Dorothy Clark. She says, my great grandma suffers from dimension. She lives with my great aunt Dolores. Please help. Stay with CNN for continuing in-depth coverage of the tornado in Joplin. Tonight at 9:00 Eastern, Piers Morgan will have heart- wrenching first-hand accounts from survivors. And then on "AC360" at 10:00 Eastern, Anderson Cooper reports live from Joplin, with more from the recovery effort.

President Obama will be in Missouri on Sunday after he gets back from his European tour. He's in London now. Earlier this morning, he and the first lady met with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace. Later the president will meet with the British Prime Minister David Cameron at his official residence.

Brianna Keilar is at 10 Downing Street.

So, Brianna, the president got a warm welcome at the palace and a chance to meet the newlyweds, too?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: He did get a chance to meet the newlyweds. He was welcomed by, of course, the Queen and Prince Philip. And, Carol, as you can imagine not very many cameras get a look inside as what was going on at an event like this. But there were some still cameras. We have a Reuters photo of the president and the first lady meeting with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Will and Kate.

I'm not sure exactly what they talked about. Of course, I wonder if they talked whether the first or second kiss was better. But I suppose we'll never find out. What I did find interesting was learning that the Queen showed the president and first lady around their six-room suite where they will be staying. They'll be staying in Buckingham Palace tonight. And as it turns out, it is the same suite that Will and Kate shared on their wedding night, and Carol, a palace aide says it may or may not be the same bed but it's definitely the same suite.

COSTELLO: That would be cool. I would enjoy that myself.

So that's the frivolity part of this trip but the president actually has some serious business, as well. Tell us about it.

KEILAR: Serious diplomacy. He'll be with Prime Minister David Cameron here at 10 Downing Street a little later in the morning. They'll be talking a lot about the Middle East. Britain, of course, is a huge ally when it comes to the Middle East. They'll be discussing Libya, both the U.S. and Britain looking for more support from European allies when it comes to the effort there.

They will be talking about Afghanistan. British troops are number two in terms of the number of troops in Afghanistan compared second only to the U.S., and a lot of the troops fighting in Helmand Province on the front lines. And they'll be talking, as well, about the Arab spring and what they want to do to see democracy built in the region.

There have been a couple areas maybe of tension. I mean, the allegiance here cannot really be overstated. But there have been some areas tension. The BP oil spill, for instance. The release of the Lockerbie bomber. So this is really an opportunity, as well, to kind of reset and smooth some of those things over -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Brianna Keilar, live in London. Thank you.

A House seat that's been Republican for 40 years, up for grabs. The Democrat in that race says a GOP plan to change Medicare could be the key to victory.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Devastation and desperation today in southwest, Missouri. You're looking at live pictures of Joplin, where the death toll from Sunday's tornado rose to 117 this morning. Even as rescuers picked through all the rubble, they're keeping their eyes on the skies. The forecast calling for more bad storms.

In the world of politics, a special election today for a congressional seat from New York is giving us a peek into the battle plans for both parties in 2012.

CNN's Kate Bolduan on Capitol Hill.

Why is this race -- New York 26 -- so important and so close?

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. It actually as usual, Carol, it depends on who you're talking to.

But I was just on the ground in New York late last week and I'll tell you that the Democratic candidate Kathy Hoakle and national party Democratic leaders, they are trying to make it about one message and they are hammering that message hard, criticizing the house Republican plan to cut spending by dramatically changing Medicare.

And their message -- their strategy is trying to tie the Republican candidate, Jane Corwin, a state assembly member, to that proposal. Jane Corwin says she supports the changes to Medicare but she defends it saying that she is supporting the ability to preserve the plan, to preserve Medicare for future generations, not kick the can down the road as she charges that Kathy Hoakle is trying to do. So that is one major factor.

I'll tell you, I was on the ground there and that is top of mind. The issue of Medicare that's been debated up here very hotly, that is top of the mind to voters.

Another big factor, Carol, is the third-party candidate, Jack Davis. Running on the Tea Party line, he is pulling support from both sides. His numbers are low but he is pulling support from both sides and Republicans say that he is siphoning votes from the Republican candidate Jane Corwin, and that is what House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said yesterday is why this is such a tight race. Republicans are pushing back saying this is not about Medicare and we shouldn't be reading too much into it. But, I'll tell you. That's why everyone is watching so closely.

As you mentioned at the very top, Carol, people are seeing this at least as a preview of the battle lines ahead for the 2012 congressional races. And at the very least, this is an early test of the Democratic strategy of trying to make the House Republican plan and Republican support of it, a liability for Republican candidates going forward.

COSTELLO: Yes, because this New York district, usually it's a cinch for the Republicans to win, but not so this time. And the only real difference is the Medicare thing has been called into question. So we'll see what happens later today.

By the way, what are the latest polls indicating as to how voters feel about changing Medicare?

BOLDUAN: The latest poll just came out Saturday by CNN college and the latest shows that the Democrat Kathy Hoakle has a slight edge, a four-point lead over Jane Corwin -- 42 percent support, versus 38 percent support of likely voters. Jack Davis, carrying a low 12 percent support.

But you see how it's lining up there.

But, we should say that this within the four point margin between Kathy Hoakle, the Democrat, and Jane Corwin, the Republican, the four point margin of error. So it really is neck and neck.

And you mentioned, and I should just remind viewers that the fact that a Democrat's even competitive in this race is a surprise. The last time a Democrat was elected to this seat in New York 26 was more than four decades ago. That again is why we're watching it so closely, Carol.

COSTELLO: I'm sure going to be keeping your eye on it later today.

Kate Bolduan, live from Capitol Hill, many thanks.

COSTELLO: Checking other news from across the country.

The supreme court has ordered California to trim its state prison population by more than 30,000 and they've got just two years to do it. The problem, huge overcrowding that the court found cruel and unusual. State officials hope to avoid mass releases. They're looking to transfer lower-level prisoners to county jails.

It may seem like he's 0 for 2 on the rapture, but the Christian broadcaster behind all the doomsday drama says he just misunderstood what the bible was trying to tell him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HAROLD CAMPING, CHRISTIAN BROADCASTER: The great earthquake and rapture and the universe melting in fervent heat will all happen on the last day October, 21, 2011. In other words, we've been teaching that it would happen on May 21, but it's all going to be compressed on the last day.

(END VIDEO CLIP) COSTELLO: So mark your calendar. Camping spent millions on May 21st billboards. But a $250 response may get more bang for the buck. It popped up in North Carolina on Sunday. Just a three word summary -- "That was Awkward."

And a California man is thrilled to have his high school class ring back 72 years after he accidentally flushed it. A city worker found it stuck in a backed-up sewer line. Wow.

A tornado can turn a normal parking lot into a salvage yard. Check out the Walmart parking lot in Joplin. Just one image of the mammoth recovery effort the city faces. More from Joplin after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: The post tornado cleanup at Joplin, Missouri will be an enormous job.

CNN's Ali Velshi is in Joplin in the middle of a residential neighborhood where people are starting -- well, to go home. So Ali, I just can't even imagine how it would feel if I saw my house blown to smithereens.

ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's been a big heavy moving equipment coming here. But look over here, look at all of these people. They've just, I mean, honestly Carol, in the last 20 minutes, I've seen people starting to -- to show up. And they are days -- they're coming back to their homes. I mean, look (AUDIO GAP) -- a can of soup, there's food, there's clothing.

But this is the heart of the destruction. Look at this property here, look at this house. There is nothing left of it all. You can see clothes there. You can see a clothes rack but there's nothing left to this house. I don't even know where you would start.

But if you walk two blocks down behind where I am, now -- this devastation, it's almost like about a block and a half from here, was the edge of the tornado. And then, there are house that are actually still standing or kind of standing. And people are walking around with bins and boxes.

Honestly, like in a daze. You can see there are some people over there. They are talking to some police. They have been sort of look at things, most people are taking pictures of what's going on around their homes.

There are still Marshalls and military police, National Guardsmen blocking a lot of the intersections because a number of people are not here. They don't want them coming back just yet because they haven't inspected to see if these properties are safe.

There are about 1,500 people -- I know you know this Carol -- unaccounted for, because they have left town to stay safe and cell service isn't working very effectively. So we don't know where they are. Also about two blocks down, there are some people who told my producer Steven that they spent the night, when there was a treacherous night last night, they spent it on their porch. Because they -- they hadn't lost everything. And they were worried that looters were going to take the stuff that they've got.

We haven't had any reports of looting just yes. But you know how people get about their stuff. So I mean, this is utter devastation. If this were my house, I -- I there would be nothing to collect. There -- there I like I said, there is an unopened can of soup. That's about probably the only salvageable thing left here. And this is how most of the area looks -- Carol.

COSTELLO: I just can't even imagine that in days to come, you would have to deal with your insurance company and taking pictures. And it's just -- yes, a hard road ahead. But I'm glad that there are workers already out there clearing debris.

VELSHI: Yes.

COSTELLO: Good Midwestern spunk there. Ali Velshi thanks so much.

There is no shortage of shocking stories in Joplin. We heard about a baby boy ripped from his mother's arm. Somebody sucked out of St. John's Hospital by the winds too and then there's Will Norton. He was driving home from his high school graduation when the twister hit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARA NORTON, WILL NORTON'S SISTER: Well, I was riding with my mom. And we were in a separate car. And we were about 30 seconds in front of them, one block.

We pulled into the garage, trees started blowing in. We immediately got our dog, went into the basement. And then, my dad called and he said, "Open the garage door." He didn't know it was so serious. And then, I just heard him say, "Pull over, Will. Pull over." And then, they started flipping.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST, AC360: They were in a Hummer?

NORTON: Yes. In a Hummer H3.

COOPER: And what happened to Will?

NORTON: Well, my dad said -- when my dad gained consciousness, he said that, he saw my brother, his seat belt snapped, and he was ejected through the sunroof.

COOPER: He was actually ripped through the sunroof?

NORTON: Yes, that's what my dad said. Yes.

COOPER: And -- and how is your dad?

NORTON: He's in stable condition, he has broken bones, but he's got 20 staples in his head but he's -- he's stable. Thank goodness we found him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Will Norton, though, he's still missing. If you would like to help the tornado victims in Joplin, go to our Web site, CNN.com/impact, you'll find links to several charities where you can call, text, or go on line; to donate, ImpactYourWorld@CNN.com/impact.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Let's take a look ahead and see what's making news later this morning.

Former world heavyweight champ Muhammad Ali will join the families of two U.S. hikers being held in Iran in appealing for their relief. He will be joined by prominent American Muslim leaders and clergy in Washington at 10:00 Eastern.

Actress Jessica Alba travels to Capitol Hill to urge Congress to pass legislation limiting toxic chemicals in baby products. That's also at 10:00 Eastern.

And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a joint session of Congress. CNN's live coverage of the speech begins just about an hour from now at 11:00 Eastern.

We're following lots of developments in the next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM. Let's check in with T.J. Holmes on the ground in Joplin.

HOLMES: Hey there, Carol.

Of course, the overall story here in Joplin is incredible but a lot of the individual survival stories are just as amazing. I'll have that for you at the top of the hour including the house behind me that you can't recognize that was relocated Sunday night from one corner to the other.

DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Dana Bash on Capitol Hill where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will speak before a joint session of Congress in little more than an hour. And no doubt he will get a warm bipartisan reception, far different from the icy atmospherics that surrounded his meeting with President Obama. More on that at the next hour.

KEILAR: I'm Brianna Keilar at 10 Downing Street in London where literally the red carpet has just been rolled out as British Prime Minister David Cameron is set to welcome President Obama next hour. We'll have that for you live.

COSTELLO: Thanks to all of you. And after 25 years, the "Oprah Winfrey Show" is coming to an end. But how did Oprah become Oprah? If you ask her, she'll give credit to one of her old bosses. He's known as the man who discovered Oprah. We'll talk with him coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) COSTELLO: We'll have more tornado coverage in the next hour from Joplin including a live report on a search and rescue. Plus, we'll hear from survivors and get a forecast on, yes, more severe weather targeting the region.

We saw one of the great comebacks in NBA playoff history last night. Jeff Fischel from HLN Sports is here. So one team is feeling invincible, the other kind of heartbroken.

JEFF FISCHEL, HLN SPORTS: Yes, you know the Oklahoma City Thunder, they had a 15-point lead with five minutes left. You could see it. They knew. We're going back to Dallas, we're going to be tied two games apiece, but no.

This was the shot, the thunder and the fans are feeling so good about. Kevin Durant buries the three, 99-84 with five minutes to go. Look at them celebrate. But in 20 years when you see highlights of Dirk Nowitzki's Hall of Fame career, this will be the shot and the game you will see.

Look at this -- leaning away, falling away hits it. The Mavericks force OT. And in overtime, Nowitzki still unstoppable. In fact, three guys going in so he dishes the Jason Kidd. The Mavericks win. They're one win away from the finals. The Thunder still in shock. Better recover fast; Game five tomorrow.

This could be the play of the NHL playoffs. Tampa Bay's Steve Downey gets the rebound goal for Tampa Bay. And look at the open net -- but no, Boston goaltender Tim Thomas, the spectacular stick save. The bruins go on to win this one. They lead that series 3-2. They're one win away from the NHL finals.

The Minnesota Twins honored number three, Harmon Killebrew, after the legend's passing last week. And then a future Hall of Famer showed off his own power. Jim Thome cranked one deep to right for a two-run homerun in the fourth. That's not bad for his first game off the disabled list.

But wait, there's more. Thome another one -- three home runs number 592, 593. But Seattle did win the game over the Twins. Nonetheless, Thome, great to see you back and healthy.

COSTELLO: I know. He always looks like a cartoon character to me.

FISCHEL: He is. He's the hulking guy, right?

COSTELLO: He is. He's got that distinctive face. I love him.

Thank you, Jeff.

FISCHEL: All right.