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Tornadoes Cut Deadly Path Across Midwest; Dow Tops 16,000 For First Time; City Council Versus Toronto Mayor; Princeton Considers Meningitis Vaccines

Aired November 18, 2013 - 10:00   ET

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

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: The state's governor declared a seven- county disaster area and plans to tour that devastation later today.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: CNN covering every angle of this tornado outbreak with several crews in the region. But first, we want to start with a look back at how this all unfolded.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS CUOMO, ANCHOR, CNN'S "NEW DAY" (voice-over): It's like being under attack.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our father, who art in heaven --

CUOMO: Prayers echoed through basements as a monster size twister roars above. Central Illinois took the brunt of the furry, a string of tornadoes, left several dead, dozens more injured. Just north in Peoria --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We may need to take shelter ourselves.

CUOMO: Newscasters were abruptly rushed off air.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We will be back when we can.

CUOMO: Tornado ripped right pass their studio. Down south, Washington County was devastated by a tornado. Wind reports of 200 miles an hour spun entire blocks of homes to the foundation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I felt the house shaking and waited probably a minute then I came back up and saw what you are seeing here.

CUOMO: In the community of Pecan, authorities went door-to-door checking on residents for fear of gas leaks. One resident described the aftermath as a war zone.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm just devastated. I just feel sick.

CUOMO: Further south, the tornado carved a path of destruction in Brook Port directly hitting two mobile home parks.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't have anything. My whole, I don't know where it went.

CUOMO: Wide spread funnel clouds even spotted in Chicago.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please clear the seating area calmly.

CUOMO: Tornado warnings forced officials to evacuate Soldier Field, delaying the Bear's game. Once the twister passed, there was a new blast of energy, clean-up efforts, waves of people coming to each other's aid, looking for survivors, searching for valuables, toppled semis pulled upright. Most importantly, spirits raised.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will make it through it. We are so grateful the Lord preserved so many lives here.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: The voice behind that piece, of course, Chris Cuomo, who is right in the middle of this in Washington, Illinois. Chris, give us a sense of what it is like there right now this morning.

CUOMO: Well, you can see it behind us, John and Christine, but there is something new here. In the homes behind us you see this kid? They're starting to come back to their houses now that the sun is up, and this is for the first time for many of these people, getting a chance to go through what's left of their homes as they knew them.

So going on behind us, it's obviously very sad, but also a reflection of the resilience of this community in that we spoke with the mayor this morning, and he said that immediately afterwards, as people crawled out of their safe places and basements, the community starts pouring in. So much so, listen to this.

We've covered a lot of tragedies, John. Imagine a situation where there is so much help coming that it has to be turned away. The mayor said they literally had to do that. Listen to the mayor in the interview this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR GARY MANIER, WASHINGTON, ILLINOIS: Thirteen years I never would have dreamed something like this would have been something I would, you know, be tasked to help. Our residents are resilient. The people weren't worried about what they lost.

They were worried about their neighbors. I can tell you we actually started turning people away. Not just Washington, the surrounding areas. We had people coming from everywhere, doctors, nurses, EMTs, firemen, policemen. The surrounding community didn't even wait for a phone call of help. They just started showing up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: You know, there luckily has been a relatively small amount of loss of life, injuries, we leave several dozen. Numbers are still coming in, but that doesn't mean there hasn't been tremendous loss, so many have lost their homes and yet this community as mayor was saying, really has profound perspective on what matters. They probably didn't need this type of lesson of what matters, but through their faith and belief in one another, they're coming together.

As we all know, that's going to make a huge difference in how quickly they can come back. That said, with the holidays coming, so many out of their homes we have to keep the people here in our thoughts and in our coverage through the holidays -- John, Christine.

ROMANS: You know, something else, Chris you see people crawling through the rubble. It's important to be careful, keep the injuries low because it's dangerous out there. Those pictures really tell the story. Sometimes in a situation like this, you know, pictures don't ever show how really terrifying it was on the ground there.

Those pictures you're showing right now, the pictures behind you, we'll know later today from the National Weather Service maybe, or in a few days, just how bad these storms, how powerful the storms were, but those pictures, Chris, are saying, these were very powerful tornadoes.

CUOMO: Yes, and there's no question about it. We'll wait for the official data, but we don't really need it. Anecdotally, you can see what it did. That may mean something for the insurance adjustment, for record-keeping. The toll is in what's obvious. It's also cold today. It's like 25 degrees colder than it was yesterday. For these people to face the day, it's a cold reality and cold weather as well. They have each other. That's going to mean a lot, guys.

BERMAN: That's right. It is sunny there at least not raining. Hopefully they can pull something out of the wreckage of those homes. There Chris Cuomo for us, doing a great job in Washington, Illinois. Thank you so much.

About five minutes after the hour right now and we have been watching history this morning unfolding before our very eyes.

ROMANS: That's right. For the first time ever the Dow passed the coveted 16,000 mark. Assistant managing editor for cnnmoney.com, Paul Lamonica joins us now. Paul, you've been writing the story on CNN Money about this milestone. It's pulled back a little. It is a milestone but a good marker for people to remind them what a great year they've had.

PAUL LAMONICA, ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR, CNNMONEY: This has been really amazing year. I mean, the Dow is up more than 20 percent. They're the laggard. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq both have more than 25 percent this year. Stocks are just really on fire.

BERMAN: But it's just stocks, right or is it more? Is this a sign that everything is rosy out there?

LAMONICA: Unfortunately not. I think that what we're seeing with stocks rise to the level they are. It's a reflection corporate profits are pretty good and people are happy the Federal Reserve is still buying bonds, pumping money into the system, but the overall economy is still relatively weak. A lot of the earnings are coming from companies keeping expenses down. Even if they're not laying off as many people as they used to they're not really hiring that much high.

ROMANS: And you'll hear some people complain that all the fed stimulus for the economy is something that's benefited people who already have money, not those out there looking for a job. It's something that the fed nominee Janet Yellen has really spoken a lot about. She wants the job market to improve. That's why you have two speeds, right? You've got a stock market doing well. You got a job market just starting to heat up.

LAMONICA: Exactly. I think the big question though that a lot people, particularly critics in the fed have is, even though the fed has been really trying to do everything in its power for five years to get the economy back on track, all that we're really seeing evidence of is Wall Street is doing well. The stock market keeps going higher and higher. So maybe the Fed continues to buy more bonds well through next year and that's going to be great news again for investors, but it may not mean necessarily a great level of job growth.

BERMAN: Creating 200,000 jobs or so a month, which is just in that range which is OK for recovery.

LAMONICA: Right. It's middling. You know, keep in mind. We had the financial crisis and recession, 2008. It's five years later. A lot of people are wondering, why haven't we had that economic rebound when you look at Dow 16,000, you would think, wow, we must be growing 3.5 percent a year.

ROMANS: Every source is saying, are you buying, selling, holding? Trying to figure out what people are recommending normal people like us to do? And you know, I asked one of the biggest investors in the world, big bond investor. I said, look, a big, big run. Should regular Joe and Jane, 401(k)-holding Americans be selling or buying or holding here? Listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHAMED EL-ERIAN, CEO, PIMCO: At some point, you need to get off this wave because this wave cannot last forever. Now, no one can tell you whether it's within in the next few months or in the next few years. But at these levels of evaluation, it's time to take some money off the table and be more cautious.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Paul, coming in here now, is the average investor too late?

LAMONICA: You are getting closer to being too late, but I think there's a distinction with what Mohamed said. Money in a random account as opposed to your 401(k), yes, be more cautious. With your 401(k) if you're not looking to retire for many, many year, definitely don't bail now.

ROMANS: That's a very good point.

BERMAN: CNN.com's Paul Lamonica, thank you so much. ROMANS: You can read his story on cnnmoney.com right now.

Still to come, the Toronto City Council versus Mayor Rob Ford.

BERMAN: We are going to speak with one lawmaker as the council prepares for yet another vote on the mayor's powers.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: All right, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is defying critics and doubling down, really, on his refusal to leave office, despite what has just been unrelenting controversy, including his admission that he smoked crack.

BERMAN: And now in a new TV show, yes, folks, he has his own TV show, debuting tonight, Ford takes aim at some of his most vocal opponents, the Toronto City Council.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR ROB FORD, TORONTO: I'll do a drug and alcohol test right now, and -- and I put a motion for that. Every councilor do it to. I know people party on the side. I know lawyers, doctors, everybody has a good time. I'm not going to name names. That's not --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your name is out there. Why not?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Let them vote on it and see who comes forward and who doesn't. That show is called "Ford Nation" begins tonight in Canada. In an exclusive interview with CNN, the mayor talked about his troubles and the scrutiny he's now facing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FORD: I'm not an addict. You ever got drunk before, Bill?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course.

FORD: OK. Sure.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not running the --

FORD: It doesn't matter. This is the thing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can't you see why some would question your judgment?

FORD: So what? Lie about it? Just hide? No, no, no.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't do it in the first place.

FORD: No, no. I didn't say that. I didn't say that. You're absolutely wrong what they said. They said, do you smoke crack and are you a crack addict? No. I don't smoke crack and I'm not a crack addict. Have I? Yes. I didn't lie. I haven't smoked crack in over a year, but did I? Come on, typical media. You guys are the sail. All cut from the same cloth. Me, if you -- you know what I mean? You can spin it any way you want, but you know what? It's --

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: This interview straight out of the twilight zone with our Bill Weir can be seen in its entirety tonight on "AC 360." Joining me right now, however, is Toronto City Councilor, Karen Stintz. Good morning, Karen. Today, you're busy in the city council. You're holding yet another meeting, trying to strip even more powers from the mayor. What exactly, specifically, are you trying to do today?

KAREN STINTZ, TORONTO CITY COUNCILOR: Well what we're trying to do today is make sure that the city can continue to function. And we are going to give the staff and any non-statutory power to the deputy mayor. So in effect, the deputy mayor will become the mayor of the city and act in that capacity until the 2014 election.

BERMAN: So the mayor, one of the many things the mayor has said, is that everyone drinks occasionally, and he is called, that all city councilors should join him in taking the drug or alcohol test. Is that about to happen?

STINTZ: Well, no. I think this really his behavior and comments speak to why council is taking the steps that we are because it's clear that the mayor doesn't understands the issues he's facing. This isn't whether or not someone has a few drinks. I don't think anybody would disparage anyone who's had a drink or two.

It's the mayor's inability to adhere to the laws of the rest of us, his inability to understand the impact that his behavior is having on the city. The public trust that he has broken that is so damaging and his inability to apologize in a meaningful way and take real, tangible steps to repair the harm he's done. He continues to deny and he continues to lie, and this is why the city council has to take the steps we're taking today.

BERMAN: He's a person who clearly loves the camera, loves being in the spotlight. He went to the football game this weekend even after they said, please, don't come. Sit in the stands. Please, don't come. But by everything you're doing, all the focus that the city council continues to put on him, aren't you just keeping this story going? Might it be a better strategy just to ignore him?

STINTZ: Well, we tried to ignore him for three years and ignoring him, his behavior escalated to the point we can't turn a blind eye. We need to say to the city we have the ability to run the city and although the mayor is a figurehead. He was elected by the majority of us. He is a great mayor and the reality is Mayor Ford does not represent the face of the city. We are taking the steps we're taking to give the deputy mayor the powers and the responsibility and the staff to exercise the functions that the mayor no longer can.

BERMAN: All right, Karen Stintz from the Toronto City Council, again voting today to take more powers away from Rob Ford. Appreciate you being with us.

ROMANS: All, still to come this morning, a rare meningitis outbreak at Princeton University. Now school officials deciding whether to offer an emergency vaccine, the only problem, that vaccine is not approved in the U.S.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: A big health scare in the Ivy League. Right now Princeton is facing a rare meningitis outbreak. This morning officials there are deciding whether to offer students an emergency vaccine that has only been approved overseas.

ROMANS: There are seven cases now of meningitis already reported on the New Jersey campus. Our senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen joins us now live from New York. Clearly some big concerns when you have seven cases.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Sure. I mean, if I were a parent of a Princeton student right now I would definitely be concerned. Here's why -- meningitis can be very sneaky. It can look like any old virus or the flu and your child can go from having a fever and not feeling well to being in a coma in a matter of hours.

Here are the symptoms you see, headache, fever, vomiting. Who hadn't had that, right? The problem with meningitis is can turn on a dime very, very quickly. That's why they're considering at Princeton letting students take a vaccine that isn't approved in this country. It's approved in Europe but not here.

BERMAN: What do we know about this strain of meningitis?

COHEN: It's meningitis B. It's really unusual to see a cluster, an outbreak of meningitis B. You don't see that much. Now experts tell me that it's no worse than other strains of meningitis, but still, meningitis is bad no matter what.

BERMAN: It concerns me. I don't remember much from college. One of the things I most distinctly do not remember is hygiene. I would think this would spread like wildfire?

COHEN: Right and that's exactly what happens is you have students are living close to one another, eating together, doing all sorts of things together, right? A lot of kissing and other activities going on and so that's why it can spread. It's interesting. You don't have staff members getting meningitis or people living in the area. It's just students. They think it's because they live so closely together.

ROMANS: So can I a moratorium on kissing at Princeton?

COHEN: They could try. I wish the block.

BERMAN: With this vaccine, reasons to be concerned about its safety? It's not approved in the U.S.?

COHEN: It's not. It's approved in Europe. What doctors have been telling me is that the European process is similar to ours. So the doctors I've talking said, look, if this were my kid I'd want them to get the vaccine because meningitis can be and is so deadly. They say the vaccine is safe. Parents and students have to make a decision. If it is made available, first, not required, just made available, you have to decide. It's a vaccine. Any medicine has risks. Do I want my child to have that risk to be protected from meningitis?

ROMANS: All right, Elizabeth Cohen, interesting story. We'll continue to follow it. Thanks, Elizabeth.

BERMAN: Still to come, a tornado outbreak tears through the Midwest leaving communities looking like a war zone this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've seen the rain swirling and just took off running. Next thing I know, stuff was flying.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Next, we'll go live to one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Welcome back, everyone. I'm John Berman with Christine Romans in for Carol Costello this morning.

ROMANS: Right. This Monday morning, we are following the devastation from the tornado outbreak across the Midwest. We're expecting to hear from Indiana's governor shortly. Sixty tornado reports coming from several states including Indiana. Illinois, hardest hit with six people killed and entire neighborhoods flattened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVE BUCHER, TORNADO SURVIVOR: My attitude was, in the next minute and a half, we're either going to be in heaven or in the hospital or we're going to walk out of here, and completely in the lord's hands.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: And he walked out of here, at least one of the twisters that hit Illinois was an EF4 packing estimated winds of 200 miles an hour touched down in the town of New Minden. CNN's Brian Todd is there and joins us now by telephone. Can you hear me, Brian?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Yes, Christine, I can.

ROMANS: What are you seeing on the ground this morning?

TODD: Well, we were at the home of an elderly man who lived there with his sister, Frances. That home completely destroyed. An EF4 strength storm touched down there on Sunday and we were walking around the area, the property with friends and neighbors who just were talking about how upset they were about the death. They could not survive injuries. Were found by a niece who came by trying to rescue them and just could not.

But that home, we were just right there. It was completely leveled. There is -- you know, there is a lot of farmland in that area. Some other properties that were ship distance from the home that were not damaged nearly as badly, but for this poor family, just that EF4 strength tornado just hit them scare-head-on and it was complete devastation.

We're headed to another place in Illinois where two deaths were confirmed. The death toll where we are is pretty heavy as we move from one devastated area to another -- Christine.

ROMANS: Wow. An EF4 tornado, that's up to 200 mile-per-hour winds. In a case like that, you know, the safest place to be, interior bathroom, basement is the safest place. Even in an interior bathroom, it can be difficult to survive something like that.

TODD: Absolutely. When we were at this house, Mr. Hoi (ph), we saw the foundation of his house, the rest of his home was completely ripped open. Even if he had taken refuge in the interior room of this house or the basement, he was probably vulnerable. This tornado was this powerful. EF4 winds between 166 and 200 miles an hour. It certainly looked like that hit this property.

ROMANS: All right, Brian Todd on the phone for us in New Minden, Illinois.

BERMAN: You know, he said it was an EF4 tornado. To think that there were dozens and dozens of tornadoes of tornadoes that touched down over a wide, wide area.