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Hurricane Ida Batters Louisiana, Knock Out Power, Killing One; Hurricane Ida Knocks Out Power to Over 1 Million in Louisiana; Volunteers Help with High-Water Rescues in Louisiana; U.S. Official; At Least Five Rockets Fired at Kabul Airport. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired September 02, 2021 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:00]

LAURA JARRETT, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. Welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world. This is "EARLY START." I'm Laura Jarrett.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Christine Romans. It is Monday, August 30. It is 4:00 a.m. exactly in New York. We begin with the breaking news this morning.

Ida now a category 1 hurricane. This hour we have the first reported fatality and more than a million without power as Ida slows to a near standstill over Louisiana. The storm making landfall early Sunday, 16 years to the day after infamous hurricane Katrina. The single death reported so far came Sunday evens in Prairieville, Louisiana where a tree toppled over a home.

JARRETT: Listen to that sound in New Orleans. A flash flood emergency has been declared for the entire south shore metro area and all of New Orleans Parish including New Orleans is without power after what the power company is calling catastrophic transmission damage. Entergy Louisiana said some of the customers could be without power for weeks. Now the 9-1-1 system in New Orleans is experiencing technical difficulties.

South of New Orleans in the town of Jean Lafitte, the levies overtopped. The mayor tells CNN the town and surrounding areas are experiencing total devastation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR TIM KERNER, JR. JEAN LAFITTE, LOUISIANA: We have a bunch of people trapped that we can't get to. One being able to land, we can put both in the water. It's just too rough. It would be life threatening for the person operating the boat at this time. And we try to do high water trucks. We can't get through the water. Our main bridge going to a big portion of our community of 1,500 odd people. Now and most of them are evacuated but we have about 300 people. 200 people were still there. And I was told to about that bridge.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: So as those stayed in their homes wait for help, many of them are also cut off from basic utilities. Axial health system, the biggest Louisiana, says it is evacuating patients from two facilities hit very hard.

President Joe Biden has declared a major disaster in Louisiana and offered up federal aid.

JARRETT: Our coverage begins this morning with CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam live in Houma, Louisiana. Derek, I know you were getting whipped around earlier. What does it look like now?

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, we were in the bulls eye of this storm. It was a nightmare scenario that unfolded here right before our eyes. It was relentless. The ending fury of category 4 hurricane winds felt right where I'm located -- I just -- it's so hard to describe exactly what happened. But I'm going to do my best to share it with you. Because it was white knuckle, anxious moments for my team, for the people on the ground here, and certainly for the individuals who tried to ride out the storm in the area.

It was like taking, for example, an analogy. It was like taking a direct hit from an EF 3 tornado. Winds over 140 miles per hour over a large space in time, and over a large distance, as well. The storm, we anticipated the eye to go over this area. So we thought we would get some respite, a bit of relief, a bit of a break. That did not happen. The storm pivoted over this location and pounded us with that relentless wind for hours, hours, hours, hours. It was incredible.

There have been helicopters flying around. Familiar sounds of generators humming in the background. The only emergency vehicles that we see on the roads are the blue lights flashing occasionally. I think they're making sure trying to scope out the situation, of course, we'll get a better idea of the devastation once we get first light here in the next couple of hours. It was a scary moment for our crew yesterday as the worst of the storm came in and that was about 5:00 p.m. evening time. So it was still daylight but then once it kind of worked its way into nighttime, it was a disaster.

There was natural gas leaks in the area. There were trees that fell on cars behind us. You can see directly over my right shoulder here. This is just a small taste of the problems that we're going to be dealing with this morning. This was more of a wind damage disaster here than a flood damage. We haven't seen any extensive flooding in and around the general hotel area that we're located in. But really what we're talking about here was a true nightmare, and a scary situation for people who did not have admittedly the luxury of a reinforced concrete building like we had. We really have to think and pray about the people here this morning in the Terrebonne Parish.

JARRETT: Yes, you know, we see these pictures. We are listening to that wind. But feeling it on the ground, I know, is different. Thank you for being there for us.

[04:05:00]

Stay safe and we will come back to you in just a little bit. ROMANS: Yes, just a beast of a storm here. Some residents in

Plaquemine Parish told to evacuate immediately because of a levy failure and high tide in Grand Isle, Louisiana is about 30 minutes away from now. So, the flood threat is very active. Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri tracking this monster storm. He's live with the CNN weather center. And it's good to remind people that, you know, New Orleans and southern Louisiana have had more rain so far this year than they usually do on average. It's a very wet, soggy situation. One reason why when the storm came ashore, it still had the very organized eye wall, very fierce still because it's just so wet there.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Absolutely. You know, it's a very good point here, as well. It's a Metrological phenomenon. It impacts about 20 percent of tropical systems where it's called the Brown Ocean Effect. Where the soil is so saturated that it essentially it acts like the Gulf of Mexico. Moisture fuels the storm and this particular feature 13 hours since landfall now. So, 13 hours over land still maintaining category 1 hurricane strength at this hour. Spent about five hours at category 4 strength over land.

Again, when you put it over the bayou region or across the marshland, the waterways, that's really conducive to maintaining an intensity of a tropical system. But this particular one now crossing into the state of Mississippi in the last hour still maintaining hurricane strength. It really speaks volumes as far as how intense of a storm we're dealing with.

But notice estimated rainfall totals in this region in the colors of pink there, that's very rare to see that within a 12-hour period. It's about a foot of rain that has already come down, that was the radar estimates put at across this region of northern Louisiana.

But as you noted, Plaquemine Parish of the southern and southeastern Louisiana, 13 levy systems across this region, they span about 276 miles in that parish alone, one of these levies has now failed. And of course, when you put a tremendous amount of water in this region, the wind speeds, at one point, making landfall at 150 miles per hour, this is among the strongest storms you'll ever see make landfall across the U.S. In fact, in Grand Isle, the anemometer, the wind measuring device had 148 miles per hour wind gusts and asterisk is indicative of the anemometer breaking down because of the intensity of the storm system. We lost communication with it. So, winds certainly could have gone higher than that.

But really again, it speaks to how intense of a storm we're tracking here. In here it goes. Still very symmetrical, very organized, we think it'll finally begin breaking down and become a tropical storm in the next several hours. Much of Monday afternoon is going to be spent across portions of the state of Mississippi and then eventually as we go into Monday night and Tuesday morning, we'll see this cross into the Tennessee Valley and push all the way across the Ohio Valley even on into the northeast. So, a significant weather player and peak hurricane season, Christine, is just about a week away. Notice Ida our "I" letter storm, now we've already transitioned to Julian. That's the "J" letter storm over the open sea. We don't expect that to be a major player quite yet. This 80 percent chance that would be Kate evolving off the coast of Africa. That is one that we're watching very carefully here for another potential impact over the next week or so.

Wow, five hours as category 4 hurricane over land. Remarkable. Just shows you how big this thing is. All right, Pedram, we'll talk to you again soon. Thank you, sir.

JARRETT: OK, rescue efforts about to ramp up significantly in Louisiana. We're going to speak to a member of the Cajun Navy. That's next.

[04:10:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JOHN BEL EDWARDS (D) LOUISIANA: When you have brought the height of a hurricane, you can't get first responders out because it's just simply too dangerous. The wind, high speeds don't allow for that, and the other half is associated with the hurricane. But just as soon as we possibly can, we will be engaged in very robust search and rescue operations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JARRETT: Volunteers springing into action in assisting first responders in this extensive search and rescue effort underway in Louisiana this morning. Among the crews are members of the volunteer rescue group the Cajun Navy. The group is assembling its boats and lending additional resources to high-water rescues among other concerns.

ROMANS: So, more on the effort, let's bring in Jordy Bloodsworth from the Cajun Navy. So nice to hear from you this morning. I know there's a lot of work going on. You know, this is one of the reasons why they asked -- authorities asked people to get out of the way because they're so worried about this particular period when you have people asking for help in a dangerous situation and help can't quite get there just yet. Still too dangerous. Where are we on the spectrum of hunkering down to full blown rescues?

JORDY BLOODSWORTH, CAJUN NAVY MEMBER HELPING WITH RESCUE EFFORTS (via phone): We are getting closer to rescues than the hunkering down part, thankfully. Because it's been a long night waiting to get a little place into sunrise and some better conditions to get to some of these people that are trapped.

ROMANS: Jody, we're hearing reports of downed bridges and water levels as high as people's chests, in some cases. To any victims potentially listening to this, if they can, given the power situation. What advice can you offer to help them through right now?

BLOODSWORTH: As hard as it is, just try to remain calm. If you can get on top of something, to stay out of the water. Do that and we'll come and help is on its way as soon as daylight comes, you'll see us and hear us. We'll be there as soon as possible along with all the local law enforcement. ROMANS: Yes, this is a very dangerous storm. You've got flying debris.

You really can't have people out there in boats trying to get to attics and people's homes just quite yet. And the anniversary here of Katrina interesting here. Ida made landfall on the 16th anniversary to the day of hurricane Katrina. We know that there've been a lot of improvements made, you know, to sort of, you know, protect against storm surge and the like. Tell us living through these, how do they compare on the ground from what you're seeing?

[04:15:00]

BLOODSWORTH: Without getting to see exactly what's been impacted and how much yet, I don't think area wise it's quite as much flood damage as Katrina was. There's still serious impacts in several areas but not quite as much of a coverage area being flooded like Katrina. But the storm seems to have a ton of wind damage along with it for a bigger area. So, they all vary a little bit. And somewhat lived up to be as bad as of a storm as they said it was going to be. You know, with record winds and gusts and storm surge possibilities. It's definitely wasn't a good one.

ROMANS: Yes, every one of these is a little bit different. Each of these storms has its own sort of fingerprint. And I know after hurricane Katrina, billions of dollars were spent on flood management to make sure that the water event wouldn't be the problem. This definitely, Laura, a wind event.

JARRETT: And do you feel like you had what you need to prepare for something like this. Obviously, there have been reports for some time that things, you know, could be pretty ugly. Do you feel like you had the resources on the ground to have what you need?

BLOODSWORTH: Yes, I think we have everything in place. This is our sixth year doing this, unfortunately. It's the situation that we help in but we kind of have what we need down to a science, for the most part. And you know, it's stays already pretty much all year.

ROMANS: Jody, remind our viewers you know what the Cajun Navy is. I mean, this group of volunteers with your, you know, personal boats and how you coordinate these rescues.

BLOODSWORTH: Yes, that's pretty much exactly it. We're just a group of local mainly volunteers. You know, have some of these resources of our own and we pull them together and put everything together and coordinate throughout the year to be ready to go out and help anyone we can when the storms come. You know, if we can save one life, then it was worth it.

JARRETT: And to anyone who might be up early watching us, at this hour, is there anything that the public can do to help? Obviously to just right now stay safe as possible, but anything you want people to know.

BLOODSWORTH: Yes, ma'am. You can follow on Facebook. Louisiana Cajun Navy and we'll have updates there, posted for different supplies and things we might need like water, toiletries, for them set up distribution centers in the aftermath to try to get some of these victims back on their feet. There's also a donate button that will help us buy food that we cook for hot meals. Get gas for our rescue efforts, things like that. We can always use help. Some people think because they're not here and don't have a boat they can't help. But we can almost certainly find a way for everyone to help.

JARRETT: Wow. That is certainly something I know a lot of people just want to know. Thank you so much for your work. Jordy Bloodsworth of the Cajun Navy, stay safe out there, sir, thank you.

BLOODSWORTH: Thank you.

ROMANS: And our other top story breaking overnight rockets fired at the Kabul airport. Who is responsible for the latest aggression as the U.S. withdrawal winds down?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Breaking overnight as many as five rockets fired over Kabul's airport with the final U.S. withdrawal just a day way. International security editor Nick Paton Walsh is in Doha, Qatar for us this morning. And Nick, what do we know about the rocket attack?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY EDITOR: Yes, as of this morning, blasts heard near Hamid Karzai International Airport. Remember, we are in the closing hours of the U.S. presence there. As far as we understand from a U.S. official, five rockets seemed to have been fired in its direction. Initial reports suggesting once again they believe possibly ISIS-K may have been behind this.

At this stage, no reports of casualties, but it adds to the general fever pitch, frankly, around that final moments of U.S. departure on the airport. It is unclear when that may necessarily be. But we've had a horrific, frankly, 48 hours behind us in terms of the number of blasts heard in Kabul.

Yesterday there was a drone strike on a compound in Kabul. The U.S. saying it was defensive. That they believe they were under imminent threat and that they saw secondary explosions as a result of that drone strike. But after having initially said there were no indication of civilian casualties, they have now said it is possible. We are still assessing the results of the strike, which we know disrupted an imminent ISIS-K threat.

It may have caused additional casualties. It is unclear what may have happened, and we are investigating further. We would be deeply saddened by any potential loss of life. Reports from the scene and local journalist talking to CNN, has talked about a nine possible civilian casualties here including children. But it's clear here the U.S. is still examining quite what happened in that incident. Shocking as it would potentially be.

Separately, we're also hearing, too, from Taliban that they are not interested in a proposal put forward by a number of countries for possibly establishing a safe zone in Kabul. Unclear necessarily how that would work. But it would have been possibly one of the bridges between where the European and U.S. allies are now, which is hoping that first of all that they can continue these evacuations. That does at the civilian airport seem viable.

There have been assurances that if people have, quote, the right documentation they would be allowed to leave. But at the same time, obviously, the notion of an area in Kabul that is outside of Taliban control is kind of unworkable. But most importantly here is clearly a heightened threat environment for those remaining troops on Hamid Karzai International Airport. Unclear at this stage quite who's behind those recent blasts. Although as I said in those initial reports suggests ISIS-K but this is a fast-evolving situation with a lot of things at stake right here.

JARRETT: Yes, we're looking at live pictures right now of the airport and not seeing much movement there. But Nick, let's talk about what happens next. The U.S. and about 100 other countries put out a statement saying they're going to hold the Taliban to their promises about allowing people to leave Afghanistan after August 31, after tomorrow. How exactly is that supposed to work?

WALSH: Yes, I mean this is part of the general game of leverage almost between the Taliban, who so far appear to have left the United States to leave in an orderly fashion. Even provided perimeter security. Who so far have not publicly as we seen so far, necessarily conducted the sort of revenge attacks that many were concerned about inside of Kabul. That may have been happening outside of the public view on a larger scale.

[04:25:00]

So, the Taliban presenting a sort of more acceptable face of their own to the international community. That critics suggesting this is purely a short-term measure to try and do things like get the airport running, get a degree of international recognition or at least diplomatic channels still existing with them. Because they need international aid. Because they need their bank accounts unfrozen or assessable around the world. And they don't want to be targeted by sanctions. But this hundred strong statement clearly a way of the international community banding together and saying to the Taliban these are the things we want from you, if do you are going to get the things out of us, we want.

And of course, the key thing the U.S. wants is get those remaining personnel and citizens it has inside Kabul, Afghanistan out and possibly to be able to continue to evacuate SIV applicants after that airport is essentially handed over to the Taliban on August the 31st, tomorrow. It's unclear quite what the fate it will be. Whether they'll be an international mechanism to keep it running. But certainly, things moving fast on that airport and a real desire clearly for the U.S. to be able to finish the job bringing out all the people they made promises to.

JARRETT: Yes, trying to get it done. All right, Nick Paton Walsh, thank you.

ROMANS: Thanks, Nick. JARRETT: We'll talk to you again in a half-hour, thanks.

All right, and hurricane Ida devastating parts of Louisiana. At least one person confirmed dead but the real rescue work just beginning. New Orleans completely in the dark. Life threatening storm surge a threat. CNN is live in Louisiana.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Good Monday morning. This is EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.

JARRETT: I'm Laura Jarrett. About 30 minutes past the hour here in New York. And parts of southeastern Louisiana could be uninhabitable for weeks even months. A dire warning from the National Weather Service after hurricane Ida made landfall on Sunday as a category 4 storm. Flash flooding and potential levy failures among the chief concerns this morning. Ida is one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the state. Tied only with Laura last year. Another storm more than 160 years ago.