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Hurricane Irene Slams the Bahamas; Libyan Rebels Think Moammar Gadhafi is Cornered; Steve Jobs Resigns as Apple's CEO; U.S. East Coast Prepares for Irene's Landfall; What to Have on Hand in an Emergency; Purported Message From Moammar Gadhafi Aired on Loyalist Television Station

Aired August 25, 2011 - 11:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Live from Studio 7, I am Fredricka Whitfield in for Suzanne Malveaux. Let's get you up to speed for this Thursday, August 25th.

Hurricane Irene is beating up on the Bahamas today with the weekend visit to the U.S. east coast looking very likely. The brunt of the storm veered east of Nassau today, but Irene devastated the southernmost islands in the chain. Irene is a dangerous category 3 storm with top winds at 115 miles an hour. It may reach category 4 status today, as it heads toward the Outer Bank of North Carolina. Evacuation orders -- in fact, mandatory evacuation orders -- are under way right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It kind of cramps you a little bit if you wait until the last minute, because you might not be able to get everybody off.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ED DODSON, TOURIST: This is the beginning of hurricane season, and so this is part of the risk. It is hurricane season. We'll be back. This is a bump in the road. We hope everything turns out fine and that no one's harmed by this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And then, after North Carolina, potentially, Irene could hit New York and New England late this weekend. Keep watching for the latest turns in the hurricane's track.

And right now, a firefight is under way outside a cluster of buildings in Tripoli. Libyan rebels believe they have Moammar Gadhafi pinned down. They tell CNN he may be hiding in apartments not far from his compound. Some of his sons may be with him.

Rebels have put $1.5 million bounty on Gadhafi. The fugitive dictator is wanted by the International Criminal Court at The Hague for alleged war crimes. Moammar Gadhafi's son, Saadi, wants a cease-fire to stop the bloodshed in Tripoli. He contacted our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson by e-mail.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: He said, "Look, I want to negotiate a cease-fire in Tripoli, a city of two million people. He said, "I don't want this to turn into Somalia, or I don't want there to be seas of blood here in the coming days. And I want help in these negotiations."

He says that he has reached out to Washington, has reached out to NATO. And this is -- and he wants help in doing this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Rebels claim they captured three of Gadhafi's sons earlier this week, including Saadi. We know two of the sons are free, but Saadi Gadhafi's status is not clear.

All right. The number of Americans filing first-time jobless claims is up again. The U.S. Labor Department says initial claims jumped by 5,000 last week for a total of 417,000. Analysts say weekly applications need to fall well below 400,000 for the economy to create jobs.

And Apple's stock is falling today. Investors are worried about the company without Steve Jobs at the top.

Jobs says he cannot longer run Apple day to day, though he'll remain as the board chairman. Jobs has a rare form of pancreatic cancer. He brought Apple from the brink of bankruptcy to a blockbuster brand with the iPod, iTunes, iPhone and iPad.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every other company in the world, whether they're in consumer electronics or clothing or automobiles, they can learn from Apple and what they do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Apple's chief operating officer, Tim Cook, will take over for Steve Jobs.

A 4.5 magnitude aftershock rattled Virginia today. It was centered near the town of Mineral, where the original East Coast earthquake hit Tuesday.

The Washington Monument, by the way, will be closed to tourists indefinitely. The quake left cracks in the stone. Engineers say Washington's National Cathedral is structurally sound, but the quake snapped three of the building's four spires and caused significant cracks in the limestone exterior. American Air says engineers will inspect all of the airline's jetways at Los Angeles International Airport. One jetway actually collapsed last night. A pilot and a passenger tumbled 10 feet on to the concrete tarmac. They have neck and back injuries.

And usually the judge throws the book at the defendant, but this defendant threw something at the judge. June Carson (ph) slung a backpack at the judge in Cleveland Municipal Court. He also slugged a lawyer in the head. The backpack hit the front of the bench. The judge ducked anyway.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUDGE MARILYN CASSIDY, CLEVELAND MUNICIPAL COURT: The only time I kind of had a concern was when that backpack was coming at me. I wasn't sure if there was something that was going to come after that. I didn't know if he threw that and then was going to pull a weapon or some other thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: June Carson (ph) faced a misdemeanor trespass charge. Now he has got 30 days in the clink for contempt of court.

Along North Carolina's Outer Banks, tourists and some residents are packing up and heading to higher ground. Mandatory evacuation orders are going out as Hurricane Irene heads that way. Right now it is slamming the Bahamas.

CNN is your hurricane headquarters. Jacqui Jeras has the latest on Irene's expected track. And Jim Spellman is in the Bahamas. So let's begin with Jim.

You are in Nassau, the capital city. How powerful is that storm where are you beyond what we can see?

JIM SPELLMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

Yes, it's plenty powerful. I'd say it's probably only tropical storm-force winds. And it has died down ever so slightly in the last hour or two.

But this storm is so big, it's been over 12 hours of winds like this. You can see what it's doing to these trees, high surf coming in.

Amazingly, I think, here in Nassau, there have been no reports of any kind of major damage. All the preparations so far seem to be holding.

I just spoke with a couple of police officers. They said they don't have any trouble. No roofs off of homes, any of that stuff we often see, even with tropical storms.

Unfortunately, some of the smaller Bahamian islands in the southern part of the archipelago not doing so well. We have reports of whole structures -- whole settlements wiped out. Right now it's somewhere near Cat Island and Eleuthera. And those islands are getting pounded right now.

So, it's not good here. It's definitely not anything people want to be out in. But, so far, they feel like they haven't had any major damage here, and they're very glad about that -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: So, Jim, how prepared are people generally there? Are there a lot of folks who have generators, for example, or did people board up significantly?

SPELLMAN: Not too many people have generators in their normal homes. But in the big tourist hotels here, they are really built to withstand. (INAUDIBLE) hear this wind, and it's pretty deafening out here.

Most of the tourists have gotten out. Others are being hold up. Locals are coming and spending the night there in the hotels. Generators, I don't think you'd have that in average people's homes --

WHITFIELD: All right. Jim Spellman, obviously the weakening of our signal really does signify the intensifying of that storm.

We're going to continue to watch and check tabs with Jim Spellman there in Nassau, the Bahamas.

So it's not often that America's biggest city has to deal with a hurricane, but that indeed could be the case in New York just days from now. Michael Bloomberg says New York is prepared for the worst.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG (I), NEW YORK: Now, city government is also taking every possible step to prepare for the storm. Yesterday, we activated our command center at the Office of Emergency Management. We are checking in regularly with the National Weather Service. I spent a lot of time on the phone today with MTA chairman Jay Walder. And we are in constant communication with the state and closely coordinating any needed resources with state officials and agencies.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: All right. Meantime, here's a rundown of some of the stories that we're covering.

First, a bounty is out for Gadhafi, dead or alive. We'll tell you who's offering and by how much.

And Steve Jobs resigns as CEO of Apple. We'll take a look at how he has changed the way we all live.

Then, we'll look at what's happening to Apple's stock since Jobs' announcement. Plus, more on the man who is going to fill his shoes.

And later, who's leading the pack in a new Republican presidential poll?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Is fugitive Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi cornered? Libyan rebels tell CNN they think Gadhafi and his sons are holed up in an apartment complex near his former compound, and they have the area surrounded.

CNN's Arwa Damon joins us live from Tripoli International Airport.

So, Arwa, what is the latest on the rebels' claim?

ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the fighting unit that we're with here cannot talk about what's happening in Tripoli, quite simply because they're very embroiled in their own battle. There have been a series of heavy explosions. We've also been hearing machine gun fire being exchanged around this airport complex. And they do say though that in this area, at the very least, they are managing to make gains.

Remember, they've been struggling for control of this airport ever since they took it over. But today they say they finally managed to make it to Gadhafi's farm around 15 minutes away. And they say they brought this mobile home back from it that they say belongs to Gadhafi himself.

They say they're pretty confident about that because they've seen him riding around in it. And they believe that this is possibly something he may have used in recent days. That's what they're telling us.

And they said that when they first entered the compound, there was a fairly intense firefight. They detained a few individuals, and they also -- they were still trying to clear the compound.

Now, as we move further back, there's a bathroom, a kitchen. Everything looks like it has been packed away, but it looks as if it is and would be fairly functional. The water all works as well.

And from one of the back rooms, they pulled out this container that they said contained a gas mask in it. The bed has also been made up. In fact, both of the beds back here are made up. And then there's -- they pulled this out, your basic toiletries, although some products for men, quite a few products for women as well.

But the rebels are saying that the fact that they've managed to get their hands on this, the fact that they've managed to reach Gadhafi's farm, that is, again, around 15 minutes away, makes them feel like they are beginning to make gains, because they have been under intense fire in the area around this airport.

WHITFIELD: Well, Arwa, it's surprising that this RV or motorhome hasn't been ransacked, it hasn't been looted, damaged. Why is it in such pristine condition? DAMON: Well, because they actually have been very careful to make sure that it's not. Of course, the rebels have been going through. They have been rifling through a lot of what is here.

But whenever they move away, they have been taking care to lock the doors. They actually say that they don't want all of this stuff to be removed. They want to be able to go through it right away.

And then, of course, they plan on taking it to Zintan. That is to the south, and that is where the unit that captured this from is.

But we have been noticing -- because we have been here at this airport complex for the last few days -- is that the rebels are actually taking great care not to damage anything. At the end of the day, they say they realize that they're the ones who are going to have to rebuild their own country. But, of course, they have been going through this.

There was a pair of glasses around here that has gone missing. But, for the most part, they are being quite careful to try to preserve things as they are.

WHITFIELD: And so, Arwa, is there anything more that perhaps rebels are sharing with you about this bounty for the capture or even killing of Gadhafi? Are rebels trying to encourage people to take one route over the other in terms of capture versus killing?

DAMON: Well, the overall sense is that most people would want to see him captured, they would want to see him somehow put to trial on a public stage. They say that would be very critical for Libyans that want to see some sort of justice, some sort of accountability for all that they have suffered over the last 40 years.

And when it comes to the bounty, they do feel that, on the one hand, it may encourage some people who are hiding him to perhaps change their minds, to give him up. But at the end of the day, they will tell you that this is not about money. This is about getting Gadhafi himself. It is about ending what they say has been a nightmarish existence for them for the last four decades.

There was a belief amongst the senior commanders here that Gadhafi could perhaps be hiding somewhere to the east, or that loyalists were trying to clear a route for him to cross through simply because of the intensity of the fighting that has happened. I mean, this location was pounded yesterday, all day, all night. And now we are hearing rounds coming in once again and again. That heavy machine gunfire is still going on to the northeast of this airport complex.

WHITFIELD: All right. Arwa Damon, thanks so much, there at the airport outside the city of Tripoli.

All right. Well, now, a chance to "Talk Back" on what's happening in Libya.

Carol Costello is live for us now from New York. Carol, what do you have?

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, the question today: What should happen if Moammar Gadhafi is captured?

Despite what Arwa says, Moammar Gadhafi, he remains at large. Actually, she did say that.

The slippery dictator has evaded capture only to pop up on the radio, vowing to fight against the rebels for months or even years. Gadhafi's spokesman has also added, "We will turn Libya into a volcano of lava and fire under the feet of invaders and their treacherous agents."

While we all wait for the hot magma to start flowing, retired Major General Spider Marks says that this kind of rhetoric closes the door to a peaceful surrender by Gadhafi.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJ. GENERAL JAMES "SPIDER" MARKS (RET.), U.S. ARMY: Somebody needs to shoot him in the face or -- and I don't know that there is an alternative.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Libyan rebels have now put up a $1.4 million bounty to anyone who kills or captures Gadhafi. Still, knowing the eyes of the world are upon them, the rebels have also said they would offer Gadhafi a fair trial if captured alive.

The International Criminal Court in The Hague wants Gadhafi, too. We know what that kind of trial would look like.

But if a trial took place in Libya, would it resemble that, or would it resemble Saddam Hussein's trial in Iraq? Hussein, you'll remember, was found guilty and hanged. A videotape from his execution showed people taunting him, and it became an international controversy.

So, the "Talk Back" question today: What should happen if Gadhafi is captured?

Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I'll read your responses later this hour.

WHITFIELD: All right. We look forward to that, Carol. Thanks so much.

Steve Jobs took Apple from a two-man company in a garage to a multibillion-dollar powerhouse. Now that he has resigned, we look at the legacy of a man who brought us the iPod and the iPhone.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JOE NICERO, "THE NEW YORK TIMES": Steve Jobs is one of the great innovators in the history of modern capitalism. He is also one of the genius marketers, with ways of getting people to get interested in and buying products that nobody -- that we haven't seen in a long time. Apple is going to miss that, without question.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The man behind the iPod, the iPad and the iPhone, stepping down from his job as Apple's CEO. Steve Jobs resigned last night as CEO of the world's largest technology company. The college dropout who co-founded Apple in his family's garage will stay on as Apple's chairman of the board.

Joining me now from Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California, is CNN Silicon Valley Correspondent Dan Simon.

Dan, this is a big blow and a big surprise to a lot of people.

DAN SIMON, CNN SILICON VALLEY CORRESPONDENT: It really is. Even though Steve Jobs has been sick for some time, I think the news caught many people off guard.

One employee telling me here on the Cupertino campus that this really came out of left field. But if you were ever going to leave a company for any reason, now is the perfect time to do it, as Apple, of course, has never been in better shape.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEVE JOBS, CEO, APPLE: Today Apple is going to reinvent the phone.

SIMON (voice-over): He has been called a modern-day Thomas Edison.

JOBS: You can do multi-finger gestures on it. And boy, have we patented it.

SIMON: Others have tried to emulate his style --

JOBS: Amazing.

SIMON: -- but rarely with the same success. The Apple story is well known -- two kids in the garage, Jobs and Steve Wozniak launched a company that would change the world.

JOBS: We worked hard, and in 10 years, Apple had grown from just the two of us in a garage into a $2 billion company with over 4,000 employees.

SIMON: In 1984, Jobs introduced the Macintosh, the first mainstream computer with a mouse and the first with multiple fonts. But sales were sluggish and there were internal divisions in the company. Jobs was forced out.

His second act a decade later is considered one of the greatest CEO tenures of all time.

JOBS: It's called the iPod touch.

SIMON: Jobs brought us the iconic iPod, and of course a string of other life-changing technologies like the iPhone and iPad.

For a few years now, Jobs has looked thin and frail. His health problems, including a bout with pancreatic cancer, are well known. And two years ago, he had a liver transplant.

In the letter to the Apple board, Jobs writes, "I have always said if there ever came a time when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come."

TIM COOK, COO, APPLE: And we have computers like the iMac.

SIMON: As new CEO Tim Cook takes the reins, he inherits a company that has never been stronger, more influential, or profitable. Jobs will become chairman of the board while the company he started enters a new phase.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SIMON: And you can see the front page of "The San Jose Mercury News": "Jobs Exit Ends an Era." Even with everything going on in the world right now, the Steve Jobs news taking up the entire front page of "The San Jose Mercury News."

Now, when you talk about the succession plan, Apple has put this together for many years. Tim Cook taking over.

If Steve Jobs was the product guy and the visionary guy when it came to the attention to detail, Tim Cook really handled the balance sheets, made sure that Apple has been churning out these unbelievable profits for the last few years.

And Tim Cook put out a statement to Apple employees. The statement making the rounds on the blog. It says, "Apple is not going to change. Steve built a company and culture that is unlike any other in the world, and we are going to stay true to that. It is in our DNA."

That statement today coming from Apple's new CEO, Tim Cook -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: So, Dan, you've covered a lot of Apple events. You have seen Jobs first hand, in person many times. What is kind of the real distinguishing quality about Steve Jobs based on your encounters?

SIMON: Well, it's interesting. Every time I went to one of these events, it almost took on the feel of a sporting event -- the excitement, all the crowds, people just wanting to see the latest.

And one thing that sticks out in my mind -- and I think we have a picture of this. This was during the iPad 2 presentation. There was a picture. And it says, "Liberal arts meets technology," the intersection.

And if I could just kind of give you an example that Steve Jobs has talked about over the years, is when he was a freshman at Reed College, he went to a calligraphy class. He dropped in and really liked it.

And so, many years later, when he invented the Macintosh, he took the calligraphy and turned that into beautiful typography. And now, that's why we have all these beautiful fonts that we see on computers, just because of that one class.

So, taking the very best of culture and inserting it into products, Fred. That is what Apple is all about and that's what Steve Jobs is all about.

WHITFIELD: Dan Simon, thanks so much.

Libyan rebels think they are closing in on Moammar Gadhafi. We'll go live to Libya for the latest on claims by the rebels that they have Gadhafi cornered.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Here's a rundown of the stories we are working on next.

Rebels in Libya move to stamp out resistance and say they have Moammar Gadhafi cornered.

Then, investors react to Steve Jobs' resignation as CEO of Apple. We'll get a live report from the New York Stock Exchange.

And the east coast gets ready for a powerful hurricane.

Rebel leaders think they have fugitive dictator Moammar Gadhafi cornered. Here's the latest. The rebels tell CNN they believe Gadhafi and his sons are hiding out in a cluster of buildings near his former compound. They say they have the area surrounded.

Earlier rebels offered a $1.4 million bounty for Gadhafi's capture. They've also promised amnesty for anyone who catches or kills him. And efforts are underway to give the opposition access to Libyan money frozen in foreign banks. The U.S. will ask the U.N. Security Council to vote today on releasing up to $1.5 billion.

And we'll hear from our Dan Rivers momentarily from Tripoli, right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Let's get more now on the claim by Libyan rebels that they have Moammar Gadhafi and his sons surrounded. CNN's Dan Rivers joins us live from Tripoli.

So, Dan, how credible is this information from the rebels? DAN RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think we have to be deeply skeptical about it, frankly. They have been proven wrong in the past with their claims.

For example, the capture of one of Gadhafi's sons, Saif al-Islam. He then showed up at the Rixos hotel showing that that was completely wrong. Yesterday, they told me they thought they had Gadhafi cornered into a different part of the city. That turned out to be wrong.

I think there is an element of wishful thinking and talking a good game here, talking things up, especially to the media because they just are desperate to try to finish this off and find, capture or kill Colonel Gadhafi.

The reality is this is a big sprawling city and to the south, it is still very dicey. There are an awful lot of places that he could hide. And that is assuming he is even in Tripoli. He could have fled to his hometown of Sirte. He could have simply headed out into the Libyan desert, which is vast. So there are lots of options for him.

At the moment, though, we just have the one source on Reuters, quoting a rebel source, I think, saying that they think that he may be cornered into an apartment building somewhere in the vicinity of his compound, outside his compound, but nearby.

And that's all we've got at the moment.

WHITFIELD: Meantime, Dan, it sounds awfully quiet where you are. Looking at the traffic moving behind you, as well.

Can you give us a sense as to what is and is not taking place in downtown Tripoli?

RIVERS: Yes. I mean, things are normalizing here slowly, but surely. There are encouraging signs here of normal life beginning to resume in parts of the city.

You can still a little bit hear a bit of celebratory gunfire. You can see there's cars flowing up and down the street. We're getting reports of shops beginning to open in some places, restaurants and cafes beginning to finally unshutter their shop fronts after several days of intense fighting.

It's different in different parts of the city. But certainly up here around near the port, there is a dense of normality returning. However, it must be said -- a lot of these cars, just looking at them are actually full of rebels with guns. So, you're wrong on to suggest that this is normal life going on back here.

But certainly, things -- I'm beginning to see, for example, on the streets, I saw someone actually sweeping up the debris and sweeping away the spent bullet cartridges in one road that we went down. I mean, that gives you a sense that perhaps people are beginning to feel the worst might be over in their neighborhood and they want normal life to begin as soon as possible.

WHITFIELD: Dan Rivers in Tripoli. Thank you.

Back here in the U.S., Apple stock value is falling after Steve Jobs resigns. CNN's Alison Kosik joins us from the New York Stock Exchange.

So Alison, how are stocks in general doing today and is Apple taking a hit because of Jobs' resignation?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Fredricka.

So stocks overall are in the negative column. The Dow down 115 points. That's after a rise in the number of first time unemployment claims that were filed last week.

We did see the markets get an initial pop at the opening bell. That's thanks to Berkshire Hathaway's $5 billion investment in Bank of America. Bank of America shares are surging 12 percent. As for Apple shares, they are lower. About 1.75 percent.

But even so, you know, experts are not at all that concerned about the future of Apple after Steve Jobs. You look at its stock, it's currently trading at $371 a share. And a majority of analysts, they have a price of $500 a share or even higher. So clearly investors know Apple is still a sound company , even without Jobs at the helm. Since he announced the leave at the start of the year, just an indicator of how well Apple has done, Apple's shares have gained 17 percent, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: In the meantime, it is Tim Cook that'll be taking over that job from Jobs. But, is there a feeling that Apple will, indeed, remain the same?

KOSIK: There is that feeling. You know, and Tim Cook, Fredricka, has been running the day-to-day operations since Jobs took medical leave in January. He has 30 years experience in the computer industry. Before coming to Apple, he worked at IBM, he worked at Compaq. He was named COO of Apple, that was back in 2005. And he's mainly overseen Apple's product sales and operations. He negotiated with wireless networks that carry the iPhone.

And one of the biggest things that Cook's been responsible for is the retail store strategy. Everybody knows an Apple store when they see one. The crowds that are in there every time you walk by one. Just a couple of hours ago, Cook sent out an e-mail to employees saying Apple is not going to change and in part he wrote that Steve built a company and a culture that is unlike any other in the world and we're going to stay true to that. It is in our DNA

So the hope is is that Apple's tradition will carry on, that Steve Jobs' legacy will carry on -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Alison Kosik, thanks so much.

Well, whether you're on Wall Street or anywhere else along the east coast, this is something you might be a little concerned about -- hurricane watches. Right now, those watches are going up along the east coast as hurricane Irene heads that way. The storm is already causing widespread damage in the Bahamas. We'll check the latest on Irene's expected track.

And it's bigger and brighter and now even easier to find CNN's most compelling video. We invite you to check out the bold new look of CNN.com's groundbreaking new video experience at CNN.com/video.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Already widespread damage is reported as hurricane Irene pounds the Bahamas at this hour. In just a couple of days from now, the U.S. east coast is expected to come face-to-face with this powerful storm.

Right now, there is an exodus of ships, cars and people from North Carolina's Outer Banks Mandatory evacuation orders are already going out. Tourist have already been ordered to leave and residents could soon be getting that order, as well.

Then, on to Virginia. The Navy has ordered ships from the Norfolk Naval station to move out to sea to ride out the storm.

The most eastern tip of long island is keeping a close eye on Irene, as well. Officials in Montauk, New York, are worried about possible power outages and flooding should Irene keep its current storm track passing right over the coastal hamlet.

And then they are even taking hurricane precautions in New Hampshire. Yes, it could be that powerful for that long. The big worry is flooding, of course. State officials are advising people to stock up on food and supplies in advance of Irene's possible arrival.

So right now, hurricane Irene is hundreds of miles from its expected landfall along the North Carolina coast. The storm is over the Bahamas right now where it is expected to stay most of today. Then it will be heading north to the U.S.

If Irene stays on track, millions of people along the east coast will be feeling the impact as we just spelled out. So a lot of them would be losing power, water, phone service, you name it. It could be miserable if, indeed, it does what it's promising to do thus far. Jacqui Jeras is with us now with more on the track.

JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: The track, you know, as we think, could be heading to the Carolinas on Saturday and move into northeast. And the thing to think about here, this isn't just a coastal storm. You don't need to be prepared just on the coast, but 100 or 200 miles inland from this thing.

WHITFIELD: Help us do that. Do prepare.

JERAS: We're going to help you do that. So we have an emergency disaster kit, basically.

You know the first thing is you have to have a family plan. So talk to each other, talk to your husband, talk to your kids. Where are you going to be at the time the storm hits? You know, find out if you have to evacuate and can get online and find that, most of the emergency manager websites all have that information.

And if you don't, could you be prone to flooding? Could you be prone to tornadoes? Where is the safest place in the house for all that kind of stuff?

Then, the chances after the storm hits, you are going to lose power, right? And so, you need to be prepared for three days, at least, to not have any power.

WHITFIELD: Or potentially water.

JERAS: Or water. So water is one of the things you need. Non- perishable food items. Like these little MRE-type of things or peanut butter or can of beans that kind of stuff.

WHITFIELD: If you have cans, remember to have a can opener.

JERAS: Exactly, one that is not electric.

WHITFIELD: Exactly, right.

(CROSSTALK)

JERAS: So in addition to food or water -- and that is for everybody in the house, three0day supply for everybody -- you need things like a flashlight. If you will not have power, you need this. I love this because it's a hand crank.

WHITFIELD: Yes, I haven't seen that.

JERAS: You don't need batteries for this thing. And this is an all in one, because you got your flashlight on there, you also have an alarm. If you are stuck in rubble and something like that and you need to identify yourself. And it also has a NOAA weather radio on it.

WHITFIELD: Oh, fantastic.

JERAS: So you can get emergency information.

WHITFIELD: It has everything.

JERAS: And if you don't have a hand crank one, obviously, what is the biggest thing you need?

WHITFIELD: Batteries.

JERAS: The first aid kit, that's a huge thing. A lot of people get injured in debris. You walk outside, power lines are down, there are nails all about, all kinds of hazards. So make sure you have one of these.

Something else to think about, cell phone chargers. Make sure the cell phone is charged. Gas, make sure your gas tank is full because the power could go out and turn off the gas and all the electricity.

WHITFIELD: But there we go again, if you don't have power, then charging your cell phone.

JERAS: Might not help you out. That is why you have the car charger.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: The nice little card right there.

JERAS: A prepaid cell phone card. Use one of these. Your cell phone is probably going to go, I know it's probably hard to find a landline.

(CROSSTALK)

JERAS: But that could help you.

And keep in mind ATMs will not be usable. Make sure you have enough cash on hand to help you out as well.

And have an out-of-state contact. Somebody somewhere else where they are not going to be impacted by the storm that you know you're going to be able to get a hold of so you can make plans and get in touch with your loved ones.

WHITFIELD: These are things you need to have. A lot of people think if they are going to be in an area that may be subject to a hurricane are thinking about boarding up, all that stuff like reinforcing the house, but if you are in the area, you need the supply kit.

JERAS: You can put together your own or find a lot of this stuff online, or even like Home Depot and stud has these premade kits.

WHITFIELD: Perfect. All right, good to know. Thanks, Jacqui.

JERAS: Sure.

WHITFIELD: Our "Talk Back" question of the day: What should happen if Gadhafi is captured? We will read through some of your responses.

And hear them roar, "Forbes" has the list of the most powerful women of the world. First lady Michelle Obama is number eight on the list, but can you name the top three?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) ` WHITFIELD: We keep you posted on all that's taking police in Libya. We understand, CNN confirming now, that a purported message from Moammar Gadhafi has just aired on a loyalist television station. Apparently, in that message, he is encouraging his supporters to continue fighting, and he says not to be scared. We'll get you more information as we get it.

Meantime, our "Talk Back" question had a lot to do with Libya. Carol Costello is in New York for us with today's "Talk Back" responses already.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: Yes, what's should happen if Moammar Gadhafi were to be captured, that's the question. What are they saying?

COSTELLO: Yes. What would happen if Moammar Gadhafi would be captured? It's amazing he keeps popping up on the radio, isn't it?

Anyway, Ray says, "He should be prosecuted by his own people. There is no reason for an international court to get involved. He only has to answer to the people under his rule. They're the only ones that should be allowed to judge him."

This from Chase, "The new Libyan government should try him for whatever crimes he's accused of, but they need to lay the groundwork for a productive and civil society starting the second they catch him, which mean a fair trial and fair treatment."

This from Michael, "The Arab world isn't as squeamish isn't as squeamish about executions as the West. However, imprisoning him would help him from becoming a martyr and that would lessen his appeal to his more extreme followers. Also, a trial would show him for the delusional terrorist he is. Thus, I think it would be best for Libya in the long run if he's humiliated and imprisoned."

And this from Jorgen, "Whatever happens, the United States should stay out of the way It's none of our business. We can offer knowledge and guidance to stabilize the country, but we can't make other countries' problems ours."

Keep the conversation going, Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I'll be back with you in 20 minutes or so.

WHITFIELD: All right, Carol, thanks so much.

So before the break, perhaps you heard, we first told you that first lady Michelle Obama is number eight on "Forbes" magazine list of most powerful women. So who do you supposed ranked the top three?

COSTELLO: I think coming in at number three was Fredricka Whitfield.

WHITFIELD: Yes, OK. There we go.

Dilma Rousseff coming in at number three, president of Brazil. And Hillary Clinton, secretary of state, and number one Angela Merkel, president of Germany.

Yes, women in charge, women in power of country.

COSTELLO: Loving that. WHITFIELD: And policy.

All right, thanks so much, Carol.

COSTELLO: Sure.

WHITFIELD: You know him as the guy who yelled, "You lie" at President Obama. Today some health news involving Representative Joe Wilson. We've got that story and more in the CNN Political Ticker.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: President Barack Obama can escape Washington's searing political heat, well today, but the punch line can singe a president no matter where he vacations.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST, CBS'S "THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN": Meanwhile, President Obama is still vacations on Martha's Vineyard, enjoying all the sun and fun there on Martha's Vineyard.

It's really sad when your SPF factor is higher than your approval rating, don't you think?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, he received national attention for calling the president a liar, but now Representative Joe Wilson is having health problems.

Kate Bolduan, part of "The Best Political Team on Television," is live from Capitol Hill.

So, Kate, what's going on with the congressman?

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, Fredricka.

Yes, some troubling news for South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson. Wilson is being hospitalized for what his office calls an extended fever. And while it isn't immediately clear what caused it this week, Wilson's office released a statement saying he was postponing a series of appearances in his district during the recess because he's possibly contracted Lyme disease while doing yard work at his home.

The South Carolina Republican, as you just mentioned, is likely familiar to many of our viewers for the attention really internationally that he received after shouting "you lie" at President Obama during an address to the joint session of Congress back in 2009. Of course, we should remind our viewers also that Wilson later apologized for that.

So we'll be wishing him well and a speedy recovery and keep you updated on that. WHITFIELD: Let's talk about some poll numbers now involving the presidential contenders. Mitt Romney, where is he on the list?

BOLDUAN: Yes. Very interesting poll numbers that have a lot of people talking. Mitt Romney led Republican contenders in Gallup's July numbers, but a now Gallup poll puts Texas Governor Rick Perry at the top of the Republican field.

According to the survey, and this is a survey of Republicans and Republican-leaning Independents, he leads the GOP field with 29 percent support. He's followed by former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney at 17 percent, then you have Congressman Paul at 13 percent, and Congresswoman Michele Bachmann then with 10 percent support.

It is, of course, still early, and this is only one poll, but very interesting nonetheless and has a lot of people talking today.

WHITFIELD: All right, Kate Bolduan, thanks so much in Washington.

BOLDUAN: Of course.

WHITFIELD: And for the latest political news, you know exactly where to go, CNNPolitics.com.