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Hurricane Ida Slams Louisiana With Wind, Rain & Storm Surge; Official: Reports Of People With Water Up To Their Chests; Biden Attends Dignified Transfer Of Troops Killed In Kabul; Actor Ed Asner Passes Away At Age 91. Aired 10-11p ET

Aired August 29, 2021 - 22:00   ET

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

[22:00:00]

PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: Jose Andres, thank you so much for joining us.

JOSE ANDRES, FOUNDER, WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN: Thank you for having me.

BROWN: And I'm Pamela Brown in Washington. You were in the CNN NEWSROOM on this Sunday evening. It is busy tonight. We are in breaking news coverage. Hurricane Ida has plunged New Orleans and its entire surrounding parish into complete darkness. And power outages blanket of the siege state of Louisiana. We're going to have more on that in just a moment. The storm slammed ashore just shy of a category five storm.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh my god, yow, yow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: Ida is officially tied for the strongest storm ever to hit the state sustained winds at landfall were 150 miles an hour. That is even stronger than Katrina, which hit 16 years ago today. It's too early to assess the damage but the wrecking power is obvious. Just look at this video right here. Flooding is widespread and some areas could see up to 20 inches of rain.

More than 700,000 homes and businesses are without power. That number is sure to climb and official say it could take weeks to fully restore power. New Orleans will see its highest winds and heaviest rain soon. The city is under a flash flood emergency right now. The levee system there was vastly upgraded after Katrina and its holding, the rainfall and storm surge have pushed water over a levee and Plaquemines Parish.

A flash flood emergency is in effect. As we mentioned earlier, residents are urged to seek higher ground. A lot of people have been calling in fearing for their lives. And earlier, I spoke with a critical care doctor in Baton Rouge who was bracing for the worst.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. CHRISTOPHER THOMAS, BATON ROUGE CRITICAL CARE PHYSICIAN: We believe it will probably be the most significant event of our lifetime. We currently have a full hospital. But we're the Regional Medical Center. And so we are essentially acting that role. We have over 700 providers in the hospital, 50 of those are physicians, 400 are nurses, 300 are nonclinical. We're split into two staffs. We will do one shift during the day, one shift at night. And we will alternate until we are able to get through this.

We're also becoming very concerned about our southern most neighbors. The hospitals that are already in the path here of Ida are demonstrating some failures, whether that's roofs or whether it's generators.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: CNN's Brian Todd is on the line from New Orleans. So Brian, is there any hope of the power being restored soon?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's not clear Pamela. It doesn't look great at this hour. This was a catastrophic power failure due to some kind of a load imbalance, were told by officials. They're trying to address this. They're trying to rectify it as soon as possible. But first they've got to kind of assess, you know, where source of the failure was. This was a transmission failure of catastrophic proportions is what we're told.

The city is in complete darkness. I'm standing on Bourbon Street right now. It is complete darkness as the rain continues to pound here. And that's what is writing to a lot of people now. There, you know, there aren't many people out. And it's very peaceful on the streets. But, you know, this is -- its cause for concern because, you know, obviously, when it's pitch black outside and people don't know about the water level possibly rising, then they get concerned, they can't see you know, much down their street, you know, much less anywhere else. So that's a big concern.

As you mentioned, there's a flash flood emergency in place. And still, I believe it's midnight, local time tonight in about 20 communities of New Orleans in the south shore area where we are in the French Quarter. There's been some flooding but we got it -- I've got to say that it hasn't been too bad. But the French Quarter is on one of the higher one of the higher, you know, elevations here in the New Orleans area. So it was not expected to see a lot of flooding in this area.

And as you mentioned, the levees are holding well. The storm surge is not necessarily going to be the issue with just the continuing pounding rainfall. This area of New Orleans could get between 15 to 20 inches of rain. This is an area that already has basically set records before this. The New Orleans average is 62 inches of rain a year already but before the storm hit, they had had 65 inches and we hadn't even been through August yet. So this is going to set all sorts of records. And it's just entering into a very concerning period here in New Orleans for the next several hours, Pamela.

BROWN: Right as you were always under this flash flood emergency Brian Todd, thanks for bringing us latest there. And recorded history of Louisiana has never been hit by a hurricane stronger than Ida. Joining us now on the line is Louisiana's Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. Thank you so much for joining us. You have so much experience dealing with these storms over the years. You're in Baton Rouge now. Where is your focus in the state right now as the storm slowly moves across it?

[22:05:04]

LT. GOV. BILLY NUNGESSER (R-LA): Well obviously as the storm approaches, Baton Rouge, this area of the state has never seen a category two, usually they die out before they get this far north. And a lot of these homes and structures and mobile homes in this area have never been tested. And so there may be some major failures in these homes in this area that have never been tested by a hurricane before.

And, you know, hearing that transmission problem in New Orleans, is just another punch in the gut for New Orleans at a time when businesses were struggling with COVID shutdown to see that delay, maybe weeks of getting back open the French Quarter and people back in town is just another blow. So this thing is going to be measured for years. We always talked about before and after Katrina. This will be a new set in history that we will gauge for the storms on.

BROWN: Are you getting a sense of the scope of damage across the state from Ida?

NUNGESSER: Well, I just got word report a little while ago in art (ph). And it's just a community on the west bank of Plaquemines Parish has been inundated with three to four feet of water. Those homes have flooded a few times since Katrina, in a couple of storms. So that's really tough for those people that just have gotten back after flooding two or three times from hurricanes, to know that that community is also underwater again.

Those are the kinds of things we're still rebuilding in Lake Charles, from the last storm, and to have another one hit so strong, and so widespread, is going to take a lot of work to come back.

BROWN: You, other officials in Louisiana have been warning residents about this storm, there was strong language ahead of it saying that it could make parts of Louisiana uninhabitable. But has there been anything so far about this storm that has surprised you that maybe you weren't expecting to be so bad?

NUNGESSER: The high winds. When you see the boats and the vessels like corks bouncing around off the Port Fourchon and out of Venice and the barges floating around the Mississippi River, the amount of wind that has broken those vessels loose and then just tossing them around like small toys, we haven't seen anything like that since Katrina. And in the massive destruction of buildings, you know, down in Grand Isle. Not only the tidal surge but so many businesses destroyed from the wind as well.

BROWN: Yes, and you mentioned the wind, Hurricane Ida was extraordinary slow to weaken. It is slowly creeping north, how much does that add to your concerns about the damage as you're in nightfall now in New Orleans? NUNGESSER: It's going to be widespread. And like I said, as it approaches Baton Rouge and all the communities in between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, they're going to be experienced high winds, way out of the range, they usually experience for a hurricane. Usually it's less a category one or less by the time it travels that far north, though this is a new experience for a lot of these communities and wondering whether those homes and especially the mobile trailer parks can withstand this type of wind.

BROWN: The reality is you don't know the extent of the damage and the damages is still happening as we speak because that storm is still packing a strong punch in parts of Louisiana. What is your biggest fear when you wake up in the morning and its daylight about what you're going to see what the damage?

NUNGESSER: It's the widespread damage because of the extensive, the slow moving storm with the high winds, the pounding on businesses and homes, the trees, the power lines, the widespread damage, and the time it takes to get people back, get that infrastructure back in place. The longer it takes, the less likely more people will come back. So time is important. We're just going to have to all work together and bring back this community and the coast as quickly as possible.

People have been through this many times and Louisiana's help out their neighbors as people come from all over the country to help out. We're surely going to need that after this storm.

BROWN: There's been a lot of comparisons to Katrina as you've been discussing, because also today is the 16-year anniversary of Katrina. Fortunately, the levees are holding it last check around New Orleans, which is certainly helping this situation. But what is also different this time around is of course the pandemic the state's medical system was already struggling under the weight of the COVID crisis with many Hospitals add or near capacity. How are things held up?

[22:10:03]

NUNGESSER: Well that, you know, we've got some real champions in the healthcare industry. Many of them took their mattresses to the hospitals because they knew it was a long haul and bunk it in the hospitals to take care of those sick people. We're just hoping when the sun comes up in the morning, we start the rescue efforts. We don't have a lot of injured people to add to the already stress of those hospitals. And most people took the warning and left. We always have people that stay behind. Hopefully they realize how serious this storm was. And the majority of the people got out.

BROWN: All right Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser thank you for joining us and bringing us the latest in your state and we wish you the best of luck.

NUNGESSER: Thank you my friend. CNN Jason Carroll is in Houma, Louisiana not far from where the storm made landfall. So what's the situation right now? What kind of damage have you seen there, Jason?

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I wanted to give you a first look at some of the damage that we're seeing. Right now we're at the Houma generating station. They call it the power station out here. You can see part of the sides of this building have already come off here. Part of the roof has come off as well. The reason why we know that is Pamela we spoke to some of the workers who were here during the worst of Ida, they decided it was no longer safe for them to be here seeing that part of the building side of the building was coming off. So they made their way to the Civic Center, which is just about a half mile from where we are where we were doing live reports before, so they hunkered down there.

But then once they got there part of the route, there are two buildings there, part of the roof on both of those buildings started to give way as well. And so that just gives you a sense already as to see some of the damage that we're seeing. Even at this point, we've only been able to do a cursory tour, because it's now dark because of the high winds that we're still experiencing here. And because the streets are blocked, so we were only able to do a cursory tour.

But we saw several buildings that were damaged already from Hurricane Ida when you think of home and think about this for several hours, while we were out here, we experienced sustained winds, topping 100 miles per hour Hurricane Ida just sat on top of this area and just did as much damage as she could before she moved on. And so what's next, what's next is to see what kind of damage has been done out here.

The sheriff says he's received a lot of calls from folks who say, hey, I've lost my roof. I'm seeing this type of damage or that type of damage. The sheriff says look, we told people to evacuate as you know, Pamela, you heard the warnings. And now it's just -- they have to wait until morning until they can make sure that the roads are safe enough to get out there to assess the damage. But we're already seeing the damage here. Again here at the power station, Houma like much of Louisiana without power. The folks here now just are going to be waking up to see what type of damage Hurricane Ida has left behind. Pamela?

BROWN: Now utility companies are worried that power outages from Ida could last for weeks, we have that on top of all of this damage and you're giving us a little window into what is likely the case across many parts of the state. Jason Carroll thank you very much.

Let's go straight to Baton Rouge now and check in with CNN's Ed Lavandera. What's the situation there Ed?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Pamela. We're here in Baton Rouge. We are finally starting to see the strongest rain bands from Hurricane Ida. It has taken hours for the storm to make its way this far north since it made landfall earlier today and this storm and the brunt of it is really passing and threading the needle between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

We spent much of the day today driving in through many of those low lying communities to see how they're preparing for this moment. And we -- it really kind of match what the lieutenant governor was telling you a short while ago, and how people there are really nervous about the wind speeds because hurricanes usually don't stay at such a strong level, this far north, this far away from the coastline.

So many people we spoke with say that was one of the things they are most concerned about. They'd never been through the storm with winds as high as it was probably going to be here. And the worst of this now is that the brunt of this storm is going to be striking many of these communities in the evening hour.

So here between now and 2 o'clock in the morning is really where a lot of these communities are going to be taking the brunt of this storm. And that always adds another layer of another terrifying layer to having to deal with storms of this magnitude. And the power outages are starting to pile up through the region. Here in the Baton Rouge area, a 100,000 people already without power. Those numbers will continue to grow in the hours ahead.

[22:15:03]

And Pamela it's really important to point out that this isn't just these communities trying to get through the brunt of this storm, it's the rainfall as the storm continues to push north, and the rainfall continues to fall, it's going to be flooding in the next day or two, that is going to cause perhaps the most damage. And when several communities that we were in today, many people said they were planning on writing out the initial impact of the storm in their homes, but they were also packing up their belongings.

So as soon as the storm passed, they were going to be ready to escape from the area because they're anticipating those floodwaters coming back and draining out toward the Gulf of Mexico. So this isn't just an event that is going to be over here in the next couple of hours. They are going to be dealing with it for several more days. Pamela?

BROWN: That is such an important point. And we still don't know what the ripple effect will be from Hurricane Ida. There is still so much unknown right now including the extent of the damage there. A lot of people we've spoken with tonight are nervous about waking up in the morning, what they're going to see and then what lies ahead in the days ahead as you just pointed out there. Ed Lavandera, thank you.

And we do an update our viewers, we just learned that Ida is now a category two storm with sustained winds currently 110 miles per hour. But just to put this in perspective, Ida made landfall around 10:00 this morning, and it's highly unusual for it to move so slowly to be downgraded so slowly. It has been packing that powerful punch ever since it's -- it had landfall there in Louisiana, and is that just for you, the latest there. Folks in Louisiana are not out of the woods yet depending on where they are and it will eat a lot of help recovering from this storm and the Red Cross is standing by to lend a hand. We're going to have an update on how they're getting ready up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROWN: Breaking News just in to CNN. We're learning of the first death reported from this storm and Louisiana. The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office says a fallen tree is to blame for this. Hurricane Ida, as we just reported, is now a category two storm but don't let that number fool you. It is still slamming Louisiana right now. There's still a lot more to learn about how it's impacting the people there, the damage it caused. And now we're learning that there is at least one death caused by a downed tree.

And its slow movement is increasing the risk of major flooding. New Orleans is under a flash flood emergency and completely out of power. Jefferson Parish's President told me this evening that they're getting calls from people trapped in their homes with water up to their chest. Every road and Lafourche Parish is now impassable. And the sheriff says two of the Parishes' three hospitals have been damaged.

[22:20:21]

I want to bring in Jason Keeling, he is a spokesman for the American Red Cross. Thanks for joining us. Looking at the power and just the ferociousness of Ida. What do you see as the biggest need right now?

JASON KEELING, SPOKESMAN, AMERICAN RED CROSS: Well, so good morning -- good evening, Pamela. At this point, we don't know the full extent of the damage, potentially until tomorrow morning. But what we do know is that the American Red Cross is ready to provide those immediate needs to the public, who have been affected by this. And so we have prepositioned roughly 4 to 600 volunteer workforce. We've opened dozens of shelters, particularly in Louisiana and Mississippi, and we want the public to know that these shelters are there for them, should they need to evacuate.

BROWN: And the power company in Louisiana says the power could be out in some areas for weeks. And you have Louisiana's governor warning that it may also be weeks away. How does the Red Cross step in and help in a situation like this?

KEELING: So I mean, this is what -- when our mission is fulfilled, we have been prepared, preparing for this for some time. And we have spring disaster workers who are going to be there to provide that emotional support for individuals to provide, you know, the shelter, the clothing, the food as needed, and help to, you know, be the best part of what's a very difficult time.

BROWN: And when can the right cross, give aid to those who need it?

KEELING: Well, again, we have various shelters that are already open. And what I would like to emphasize is for those who may need shelter, to call 21141800 Red Cross or lastly download the free Red Cross emergency app.

BROWN: That is very important for folks who might need help. What do you do though, in a situation like this, where so many people are most likely going to be in need of aid? How do you decide who to give aid to first where to go, how to dish it out?

KEELING: Well, the aid is distributed simply based on need. There's no other factor except for that. So anyone who is in need will be helped by our organization.

BROWN: And what do you see is the biggest obstacles to getting aid to those most in need?

KEELING: Well, of course, at this point, just the storm itself and so our teams are waiting for the storm to go through. Many of them are, you know, hunker down, if you will, until he goes through and then we'll be in a position to -- we will be ready for those that need that aid.

BROWN: All right, Jason Keeling with the American Red Cross, thank you. And earlier tonight, I spoke with Cynthia Lee Sheng. She's the Jefferson Parish president just south of New Orleans, and she gave us a really disturbing update about the rising water there. I want you to hear how she describes it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CYNTHIA LEE SHENG, JEFFERSON PARISH PRESIDENT, GRETNA, LA: Right now my concern is we've lost contact with Grand Isle, so we -- that is the island right on the Gulf of Mexico that I've been very, very concerned about. We lost contact with them. We've not been able to reach them, so I don't know what they're going through. And then closer up here, it's still outside the hurricane protection system, an area called Lafayette and lower Lafayette Barataria at Crown Point. The water is rising.

People are in their homes, and we're getting reports of people with water up to their chest. They're asking to be rescued, so very, very dark situation and we just can't get out yet.

BROWN: That is dire. What else are you hearing from people calling in? I mean, that is horrific.

SHENG: It is horrific. We're almost -- the electrical grid is just almost out where we're probably at 95 percent out of electricity. We were a very large transmission tower came down. That said a lot of our community so we're getting reports of roof damage roofs, you know, trees down, tree roots pulling up and damaging water mains. So now our water pressure is going down.

So, you know, we are also responding to an assisted actually a condominium where there some elderly people who are living there and their roof partially collapsed. They were trying to get them out to a church across the street. So it is very, very busy here and we're -- we just can't respond yet.

[22:25:13]

BROWN: Right. I mean, so what are you doing in these cases when you get a call like that with these senior citizens or the person who has, you know, water up to their chest or -- what can you do?

SHENG: Well, people just, you know, I got a text from a friend of mine and she said a tree fell on her neighbor's house. She wants the neighbors to come to her house, but she said she can't walk outside right now. So it's just the winds are so heavy, so high right now. We just can't get out. We were able to get one of the fire chiefs over to the Assisted Living Center to see what it's like. It's not a dire situation, but they do have water in the building that's on the first floor. There is some type of collapse that's having water intrusion. So the real situation I think is very dire, the water that is rising in the areas of lower Lafayette.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN: And many Louisiana residents got out of Ida's way. They left their homes. But one who's riding out the storm joins us next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROWN: Our breaking news this hour, Hurricane Ida is a deadly category two storm. And we're learning of the first death reported in Louisiana, caused by a fallen tree at home according to the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office.

[22:30:07]

And nearly 1 million are without power in Louisiana and Mississippi. Meantime, New Orleans in the dark tonight, this is normally a city that's full of life. Not tonight catastrophic transmission damage is blamed for the power failure, as Ida makes its closest pass at the city.

Strong winds, heavy rains expected to continue for hours. And in Grand Isle on the Louisiana coast, a dire report that the water is rising after getting battered for hours by strong winds. One official now says they're getting calls from people with water up to their chests inside their homes. Let's bring in CNN meteorologist Pedram Javaheri, what's the latest Pedram?

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Pamela, what a remarkable day. We're all along the northern Gulf Coast. That's certainly one that's going to reshape the landscape across this region of southern Louisiana. And a storm system that is as incredible as it gets. I've covered tropical systems for upwards of 20 years now looking at them every single season. And I don't think I've seen one that is maintained the intensity of this system has over nine hours now from the official landfall, still just one mile per hour shy of what would be considered a category three or a major hurricane, that's 111 miles per hour, latest advisory brings this down to 110 with nine hours overland.

And closest approach here in the last hour, just 30 miles west of New Orleans cloth a wind gust across New Orleans up to 90 miles per hour that speaks to the ferocity of the storm system, the intensity is still in place as it traverses over land, and of course, the bayou, the waterways, the land across this region conducive to allow storms to maintain that intensity. And that's why the system is going to be so devastating even into the overnight hours.

We often say take the sun down and of course cool the atmosphere down a little bit that allows the system and thunderstorm activity to diminish a little bit and of course, overland that also helps and this hasn't been the case in the past several hours. You notice these areas around New Orleans, whether it be northward into say Hammond or westward back towards Baton Rouge into southward around the New Orleans area, upwards of 950,000 customers now in the dark across this region and really again speaks to the incredible winds that were felt in this region into the morning hours had landfall, wind gusts observed to 150 plus miles per hour.

Pamela, it only takes about a 60 to 70 mile per hour gust to bring down trees, especially if the soil is saturated. And what a lot of people are not keep in mind, in New Orleans, we've had the second wettest year on record prior to Ida making landfall this morning, over 60 inches has already fallen in the first nine months, eight months or so of the year here. So it really speaks to how wet it's been. And of course, once the system passes through, this will play 2021, the wettest all time with all that moisture already in the soil. We know not only flash flooding is going to be an issue into the overnight hours but also significant damage.

And when you're speaking of winds of this magnitude at landfall, the National Hurricane Center often says this area will be uninhabitable for a period of weeks to months. So we know what that damage in place that certainly has already taken place along that southern coast of Louisiana. And you take a look at the multiplier effect. People often think category increased from say a one to a two is a linear increase, you're only seeing a one category increase but the damage impacts are actually logarithmic.

So you're about a 10 percent, 10X increase there in the damage impacts. And you bring the winds up to 150 miles per hour as Ida had a peak intensity at landfall. That's 256 times more damage than a category one at landfall. So again, speaks to the historic nature of the storm system not only in intensity with landfall, in New Orleans of course in Louisiana, I should say has now had back to back years, with 150 mile per hour landfalls. Laura did so back in 2020 and now the only state in U.S. history to see back to back hurricane seasons with 150 mile per hour storms making landfall in that state.

So certainly, hearts and prayers go out to our friends here across the state and you'll notice widespread coverage areas indicated in red here with flood warnings that are in place, whether it's in New Orleans itself points just to the west and importance just to the south even into home at this hour seeing flood warnings which means flooding is imminent or occurring with the amount of rain that has come down on top of what has been the wettest year on record around this region among the wettest years on record.

This is going to be a major story into the overnight hours with the amount of water that's going to be running across this region and flash floods that are taking place. Pamela?

BROWN: All right, Pedram Javaheri, Javaheri, I should say, thank you so much for bringing us the latest there on Hurricane Ida.

And for residents who didn't evacuate, Louisiana's governor says it could be quote, days, perhaps even weeks before help arrives. My next guest Thomas Bourne heated warnings and did evacuate his home in Houma near where the eye of Ida passed by. He is about 90 minutes away staying with family right now, and he joins me on the line. So Thomas, tell me what you're feeling right now. I mean looking at all the damage in Houma, you must be pretty relieved you evacuated

THOMAS BOURNE, LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA: Hi Pamela. Yes, pretty nervous right now looking back on news channels and everything like that and see what's going on. I'm kind of nervous to get back but ready to get back. I know we got some damage. Most houses in our neighborhood have their sealants collapsed, roofs are leaking, so it's going to be interesting when we get back.

[22:35:15]

BROWN: Do you know anything about how your home fared in this?

BOURNE: I'm not sure yet. Nobody's going to be able to check it. So maybe tomorrow I got some people that could go in and check. But I know they had a tornado go through our neighborhood. So we're kind of uneasy about that.

BROWN: Do you know any neighbors that decide to stay behind and weather the storm?

BOURNE: I do. I had one that lives next to me. He works at a hospital so he was mandated to stay. And he'll be checking on the house tomorrow.

BROWN: Well, that's nice. So, you know, some people though in Louisiana decided not to evacuated. You did. What was -- was it that pushed you to do so?

BOURNE: I was wanting to write out but my wife had other plans. And she wanted me to go with them and the kids to get out of there. So, you know, that's more important.

BROWN: Well, aren't you happy that you did looking at how bad it's been?

BOURNE: I am but I'm the type of person who likes to be there to try to fix things as they happen and driving me nuts that I can't do that. But it is what it is.

BROWN: So from what you can tell, how does this storm compared to others you've experienced?

BOURNE: This is the worst. I mean, I was in Baton Rouge growing up when Andrew came through. And I've seen Laura, I've seen -- been there for Katrina and risen all of them and this one is going to be right up there at the top.

BROWN: What is your family feeling like right now? Are you guys worried about what you're going to see come daylight what you're going to -- what the report is going to be about your home and the damage in your community?

BOURNE: Very nervous, very nervous. I never been in the situation before so not sure what to do. I'm putting myself expecting the worst that way it's not too bad. I got some positiveness in there.

BROWN: Well, listen, it's a good thing you listen to your wife, wife's always know best.

BOURNE: That's right.

BROWN: So I'm glad that you are safe, that your family is safe. And thank you for sharing your story with us, Thomas.

BOURNE: Thank you for having me.

BROWN: All right. Well, our storm coverage continues next, more on the rescue. We're standing by to help anyone in need. What the leader of the Cajun Navy says he's most worried about right now?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[22:41:07]

BROWN: You were looking at security camera footage captured in Louisiana St. Bernard Parish. Hurricane Ida's powerful winds and roaring waters are ravaging the state right now. The storm remains a powerful category two hurricane. Don't let that number fool you. It is still packing a powerful punch. And right now, New Orleans is feeling the strength of Ida strong winds and heavy rain are hitting the city as the storm pushes inland.

And the city is under a flash flood emergency and completely out of power. Nearly 1 million customers are in the dark right now in Louisiana and Mississippi, a lot of people going through a tough time. Millions decided to ride out the storm. And an army of private citizens called the Cajun Navy is ready to spring into action to help anyone who may need a rescue. Just moments ago, I spoke with Todd Terrell. He is the president of the United Cajun Navy. And listen to what he said is making him nervous about hurricane Ida right now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TODD TERRELL, PRESIDENT, UNITED CAJUN NAVY: The main thing is making me nervous right now even more so is that it's continued to keep it strength once it got into land. I don't think that anybody knew that this thing was going to stay as strong of a category as it is right now. And it's just as relentless. This has not given up. It has not given up. We are really kissing the devil over here. And it seems like it's going to be like this way all the way through the night.

BROWN: Your mission is to try to help people but you have a powerful storm that is moving slowly over Louisiana. And it's nightfall there. So what are you able to actually do right now?

TERRELL: Well, you know, we have guys coming in from all over the country. And right now we're trying to cut our way into Houma, and go a little bit south. There's a lot of people trapped down there. The problem is a lot of power lines across the road and stuff. We have airboats going in.

One of the main needs we have right now is how our teams fuel for these air boats. These air boats take 90 plus octane fuel. So we're having trouble finding that right now. But it's dire display, there's people in their home with kids, handicap, elderly, with no roof on their house and it's the weather still plummeting pretty good. So we're going to do the best we can into the night to try to get into some of them.

BROWN: And if you would just paint a fuller picture of what you're hearing, you just sort of describe it there, there's a people are trapped in their homes, can you just bring us into the situation a little bit more.

TERRELL: A lot of people weren't expecting this, you know, a lot of people to rescue off of the house, and they have kids and stuff. And we can't get through them. We, you know, the waters higher on the road or the power lines are down. So for the first time in my life, we're having to tell pretty much everybody to hunker down. All school is grab a mattress and get in a bathtub or getting this into your house. And there's been hundreds of people that we've had to tell that to today. We just can't get to them.

BROWN: How does that make you feel?

TERRELL: Well, you know, 16 years ago today was Katrina and a lot of us, we've suffered a lot of losses, personally with that. So, it's just -- it's kind of like deja vu these, you know, here again, and we were talking earlier to General Russel Honore. And him and I worked together during Katrina 16 years ago. It's just surreal, you know, we're looking around and we're seeing total destruction. And we really haven't been able to see it yet, because it's dark. But we know that we wake up in the morning, it's going to be leveled to where we're at.

BROWN: Yes, if you even go to sleep tonight. How do you think Ida compares to Katrina? You mentioned that today is the 16-year anniversary?

TERRELL: I think when it's all said and done, this storm is going to have more widespread damage than Katrina. We're yet to see exactly what's going on in New Orleans. We're having a lot of reports around in the floss area, Mary (ph) and a little south with a lot of flooding. Unfortunately, it's nighttime. And you know, we can't assist that damage right now yet. I think it's going to be as bad or worse on a bigger scale. You know, this is devastating. And the calls that we got today they were desperate. It's going to be a long time for the weekend to recover from this.

[22:45:04]

BROWN: What is your biggest concern right now, Todd? Is it the rain? Is it the winds? Is it the combo? What is it that's really striking the fear for you right now?

TERRELL: The fear for us is -- well, you know, we've been preparing for this for like two years with COVID. Right now, some of the people that we're picking up, in fact, I'm in a hotel right now, it is a power, and it is just, the rain is coming down for some of the people that were brought in, you know, there's no COVID protocol right now, we try to do the best we can with mask and temperature checks. But right now, my biggest fear is that we have people that we're bringing into an environment that, you know, we could have some problems later on. Unfortunately, you know, you got to consider saving a life first, you know, so right now, it's just this, we worried. This is the big worry everything. We got COVID. We got storm, devastated people, and there's nowhere for people to go.

BROWN: There's nowhere for people to go, you've got the hospitals overcrowded with COVID patients, they can't evacuate the patients. You said, you've been preparing for this? How has your organization prepared for the devastation that this storm is likely to bring to your state in the Gulf Coast? As you pointed out, Todd, we still don't know the scope of the damage and this storm is still very powerful?

TERRELL: I'm in Denham Springs, Louisiana right now, because this is, our home base is Baton Rouge. And right now, we're getting plummeted. I don't think we're going to get as much of a storm as we could have over here. But I think when it's all said and done, you know, it's going to be as like a -- as bad or worse than Katrina on a widespread scale.

Going back to your COVID thing with the hospitals being closed, you know, full and stuff, people are wet, they're been wet all day, you know. And when you get wet, you know, you get sick. You get the sniffles and stuff. So, we're seeing people right now that they're picking up and they're sniffling. And, you know, we're not sure if it's because they're wet or they got COVID. So, the big concern right now is with the secondary is COVID on us.

But right now, we just have nowhere to bring these people. We were prepared because we have supplies. We have tons of foods, snacks, water, Gatorade that we store in warehouses that are ready to go. But at this stage right now, we were not prepared for this type of destruction. And even on our scale of having supplies, I'm worried.

BROWN: And you have all these people calling in needing help but you can't help them right now. It's just frankly too dangerous. Todd Terrell, thank you very much. Thank you for all that you and your organization that all -- that you're doing to help in this very powerful storm.

TERRELL: It's a mess but thank you all.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN: And this will be a very long night for so many people who are facing this storm. But this is how we got here. A rapidly intensifying storm that hasn't led up the gas since it made landfall.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: We have breaking news on Hurricane Ida. This extremely dangerous storm just made landfall only moments ago as a category four storm with 150 mile an hour winds.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lordy. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My weather vane registered 168 miles an hour winds and then it broke.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And it almost feels like someone with giant hands has taken the wind and the water from behind me and is pushing it towards the city of New Orleans.

MAYOR LATOYA CANTRELL, NEW ORLEANS: This is the time to stay inside. Do not venture out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was flying debris all over the place. You'll see my eyes start back and forth because I've got to constantly watch out for me and my team.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can see these bands of wind and rain that had steadily been coming through here in Houma that makes it very difficult at this point to stand up.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let these visuals play out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unbelievable.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The reason I can stand here is only because of this concrete wall to my left.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've got to be prepared to stay for the first 72 hours on your own. Nobody should be expecting that tonight a first responder is going to be able to answer a call for help.

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're praying for the best and planning prepared for the worst. As soon as the storm passes, we're going to put the country's full might behind the rescue to recovery.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN: And people impacted by the storm will need help to recover, so for more information about how you can help just go to CNN.com/impact.

A heartbreaking moment we watched today as all 13 fallen U.S. service members came home. They were killed this past week and as suicide bombing at the Kabul airport. President Biden stood by to watch the dignified transfer, his first as commander in chief. And he also met with family members of those troops. CNN Jeremy Diamond reports on the mood inside the White House. Jeremy?

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well Pam for the first time in his eight months as President. President Biden attending a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base attending as the remains of those 13 service members who were killed in that terrorist attack on Thursday in Kabul arrived at Dover Air Force Base.

[22:50:14]

Families were also in attendance, President Biden becoming the fourth commander in chief to preside over one of these dignified transfers. Now, we know that President Biden before those transfer cases were loaded off of that military C17 plane, he met personally with the families of those 13 service members. And we saw as the President stood by alongside the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretary of State and other top U.S. government officials, in silence near total silence as these 13 transfer cases of the service members were taken off of that plane.

The President bowing his head as if in prayer holding his hand over his heart and we know that he has spoken in recent days about the impact that this has had, the heavy burden that you can feel here at the White House in those days since that Thursday attack. Now listen, what we need to remember here, as well as the fact that President Biden and his top officials have made very clear that there is still a very, very high threat of additional terrorist attacks in Kabul as the U.S. completes this evacuation and the drawdown of all of those nearly 6,000 troops who over the last week have helped to facilitate those evacuations.

Secretary of State Tony Blinken today saying that this is now the most dangerous time in an already extraordinarily dangerous mission. Pam?

BROWN: Our thanks Jeremy Diamond from the White House. And we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[22:55:54]

BROWN: Sad news tonight, beloved actor Ed Asner has passed away at the age of 91. It was just three months ago that Ed joined me live to react to the passing of his longtime friend and fellow actor. As he talked about "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" he recalled how their characters met starting with Gavin's role as Murray Slaughter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ED ASNER, ACTOR "THE MARY TYLER MOORE" & "LOU GRANT": Well, he was always aware of the finagling going on, the double talk and the deception. And he was a good confidant. Mary always took him into her confidence.

BROWN: Did you all know you were making such a legendary show at the time?

ASNER: No, we didn't. It did kind of grew us and we grew with it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: On that day, Ed, also posted this tweet, my heart is broken. Gavin was my brother, my partner in crime and food and my comic conspirator. I will see you in a bit Gavin. Tell the gang I will see them in a bit. Betty, it's just you and me now. Of course he was referring to series costar Betty White. And now it's just Betty. Stephanie Elam has more on Ed Asner and his life on and off camera.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ASNER: You know what? You got spunk.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well --

ASNER: I hate spunk.

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He was the tough but lovable boss Lou Grant in the 70s sitcom, "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" one of the most acclaimed T.V. series in American history.

ASNER: Lou Grant gave me my center.

What do you think I was violating your civil rights if I asked if you're married?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Presbyterian.

ASNER: His simpler soul. He's a more honest, so far less devious than I am.

Hi.

ELAM (voice-over): The role of sexist sex turned women's champion garnered as her two Golden Globes and three Emmys.

ASNER: People love mean crabby people who show their soft side. And I guess I'm created a career now developing that aspect.

ELAM (voice-over): Another groundbreaking show followed in 1977. The miniseries "Roots" one of the most watched television events of all time.

ASNER: Can you capture or buy 170 healthy blacks and deliver them to the hold of the Lord Ligonier?

ELAM (voice-over): Asner's portrayal of a slave ship captain won him an Emmy.

ASNER: That's my desk OK.

ELAM (voice-over): That same year, he reprised the beloved Lou Grant in a T.V. drama of the same name.

ASNER: It's a hell of a story.

ELAM (voice-over): His performance as a newspaper editor in the Post Watergate era earned Asner two Golden Globes and two Emmys for Best Actor.

ASNER: City desk? ELAM (voice-over): Later in his career, Asner played Santa in the Christmas favorite "Elf."

ASNER: It's time to start preparations for next Christmas.

ELAM (voice-over): And starred as the voice of Carl Fredricksen in the award winning animated film "Up."

ASNER: So long boys. I'll send you a postcard from Paradise Falls.

ELAM (voice-over): Off screen, the Kansas City native campaign for the Equal Rights Amendment and serve two terms as president of the Screen Actors Guild. In 2002, the Guild honored Asner with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

ASNER: I'm so glad I won the American Life Achievement Award which to me means living with purpose and passion.

ELAM (voice-over): Ed Asner, an authority figure in front of and behind the camera, who acted from the heart and lead with his conscience.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN: He certainly lived a life of purpose and passion. Our thanks to Stephanie Elam. Ed Asner will be greatly missed.

Well, thank you so much for joining me this evening. It was a busy Sunday night. I'm Pamela Brown. We're getting a new update on Hurricane Ida from the National Hurricane Center. And Michael Holmes continues our special coverage now. Have a good week.