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Hurricane Ian Weakens to Cat 1 But Remains Dangerous; Sarasota to Clear Emergency Routs Once Winds Decrease; More than 2.3 Million Homes, Businesses Without Power in Florida; Russian Ships Observed Near Baltic Pipeline Leaks. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired September 29, 2022 - 04:30   ET

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

[04:30:00]

PAULA NEWTON, CNN ANCHOR: And welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Paula Newton and we have an update on our top stories this hour. Hurricane Ian now a category one storm and it's hammered much of south and central Florida. More than 2 million homes and businesses currently without power. That's 20 percent of the entire state in the dark this hour.

Authorities warn the storm remains dangerous as considerable flood threat remains. Now in the coming hours Ian is expected to move northeast. Jacksonville, Florida has closed all beaches and canceled all flights into the international airport.

Meantime Georgia and both the Carolinas are under states of emergency and bracing for the storms impact. We want to check back in with meteorologist Pedram Javaheri. Pedram, in terms of the storms right now does it remain dangerous as it continues to make its way up to the northeast?

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You know, one map appear really kind of shows you the answer to that. The weather service across has a variety of offices. Eastern Florida, Paula, into portions of Georgia and the Carolinas, hundreds of miles away, issuing watches and warnings, hurricane warnings in advance of this system that still maintains that category one intensity. So, absolutely a threat here as the surge moves eastward.

In fact, made landfall some 13 plus hours ago and has traversed about nine miles per hour from that time span the entirety of the state of Florida which spans about 120 miles total. So, it's nearly clear to the entire state of Florida as a hurricane land falling at 150 miles per hour made it the fourth strongest hurricane in state history out of 280 in the hurricane center's database of hurricanes that have made landfall across the state. Comes on top four. So again, speak to the rarity, the impressive nature of this system that really rapidly intensified on approach to lands.

And really important to note, when you go from one category to the next it's not just that one scale increase as far as what to expect in damage. Because of the exponential growth, you go from a category three to a category four. A cat four has 250 times the damage potential of a category three. And of course, this system was a high end category four. So closer to 500 times more damage than you'd expect from a category three. So really an important perspective here when you consider what we see in the morning hours once the sun comes up as we kind of look at the damage and survey what has been left behind.

But look at the data sets here that has been left blank as a result of this intense storm that has traversed the state of Florida. Essentially the areas that we have no observed wind gusts to tell you about here because the storm causing damage across the infrastructure in this landscape.

Now almost two and a half million customers still remain in the dark. This number has gradually increased from what I got here last night to about 1.9 million to two and a half million. We expect this to expand farther as the system travels towards the north.

And of course, we do expect this to move over the Atlantic Ocean. Shouldn't have enough time to reorganize back up to hurricane but it will try. It is -- the models are indicating that the pressure will drop. Meaning the storm will try to identify before it makes its third and final landfall somewhere between Savannah and Charleston, we think on Friday morning and then produce an incredible amount of damage along that coastline as well.

Look at this coverage here. Areas in yellow, those are tropical storm force winds. So, we know power outages will expand across that region as well. And then we think the system will finally rain itself out across this region. Maybe as much as 6 to 8 inches could come down. The storm surge of 3 to 5 feet possible along the Carolina coastline as well. So, again, the story far from over for our friends off towards north and east.

NEWTON: Yes, it's staggering how much water has been associated with this storm. Pedram, thanks for that update. Appreciate it.

Now in Florida, Sarasota County tactical teams will begin clearing emergency routes once the winds decrease. Then officials will conduct damage assessments including assessing the county's water and wastewater systems. Now officials are asking people to just to stay off the roads and they've announced that all schools will remain closed through Friday.

Jamie Carson is communications director of Sarasota County, Florida and he joins me now. I cannot -- pardon me, she joins me now. And I can't imagine what a day and a night it has been for you. In terms of the conditions that you're facing, what's your priority? And have the conditions approved enough so that you can get to those priorities?

JAMIE CARSON, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, SARASOTA COUNTY, FLORIDA: Hi Paula. Yes so, the condition has improved. We've hit that crucial mark of being under 45 miles per hour. So, our first responders are out there in the northern portion of our county.

That is not the same situation for the southern portion of our county. You know, first we had to send out our tactical teams to assess for our emergency routes. So, we're working to get to as many of those 9- 1-1 calls as we can in the northern portion.

For our south County residents, were asking them to hold on. You can still just need call into 9-1-1, please be patient. But this was a catastrophic storm for our area -- Paula.

NEWTON: And how many cars have you gotten? I mean, I've heard in some counties that there are hundreds of people that have called and that they've had to say that hang on, hang on a few more hours.

CARSON: So, at this point we're not exactly looking at the numbers because it's all hands on deck. Every level we have supervisors even taking calls. So, we're going to look at those numbers as we get further down.

[04:35:00]

But right now, it's whoever can answer the calls, whoever has that training, they're answering the calls.

We also are offering a non-emergency line that's 3-1-1 for our community. And we're taking those calls as well, 24 hours a day. We're getting a lot of reports obviously water intrusion, structural damage, power lines down, roadways blocked. You know our Inglewood communities they were faced with 18 feet of storm surge.

NEWTON: 18 feet of storm surge. We have seen some of the video. But what are you expecting to find after that given, you know, whether -- I sure a lot of the water has begun to recede. But you've had buildings basically swept off their foundations.

CARSON: So, you know our community we're Floridians. So, we prepare for this year round. We are a strong community. We partnered with our local municipalities, the state. We've been working closely with the National Weather Service.

We are now in recovery mode. But it's going to take time. You know, it's been a while this storm hurricane Ian was a slow mover. It dropped a lot of rain, a lot of heavy winds for our areas. So, you know, it's a new day and with a new day brings the promise and the light and we are out and assessing the damage. And we're committed and we're promising our community we are going to do the best we can. But Paula, we have to ask them to please be patient. It's going to take a time for us to be able to get out to everyone to really assess the damage.

We're working on our water and our wastewater systems. That's a huge part of our infrastructure that's definitely has been impacted. So, as we work through that process to assess and turn on where we can, we're going to have to issue boiled water notice is for our communities moving forward.

NEWTON: Have you been able to get an assessment of how your critical infrastructure is doing and whether it's clinics or hospitals or things that will enable you to actually get on the road and get to some of these rescues in the coming hours? CARSON: So, we have our partners. You could see behind me. This is our

multi-agency coordination center inside of our county's emergency operation center. And we have representatives from all of our agencies to include our help partners. We actually have our local department of health director is located here with his team. And they are working with our local hospitals out in the community and our first responders.

So right now, as I mentioned before, just in our northern portion of our county our teams are even able to get up to those 9-1-1 calls. And we're working with our partners to transport them to where we can. Those hospitals that are able to support right now. But Paula, it's going to take some time.

NEWTON: You know we heard that your county has done a lot to try and already mitigate the effects of storms like this. Was this just too large, too unexpected? That this was a storm that through a lot at you all at once for a sustained amount of time.

CARSON: Well Paula it's interesting that you asked that question. So, every year our county holds a hurricane preparedness exercise. And the last exercise that we held was about a direct hit to our Englewood community. So, our team have been preparing for situations just like this. But Paula, as you know, with every good plan you're going to come up against challenges. You're going to need to adapt and overcome. And this team behind me right now that is what they're doing. They're hearing about challenges and doing the best to accommodate and overcome them.

NEWTON: OK we'll leave it there for. Now but just a quick question it is 4:37. Do you expect in the coming hours that, you know, the conditions have gotten better so that you can, you know, as some officials told me it's go time Will it be go time for you guys in the next couple of hours?

CARSON: That go time started 2 a.m. Eastern time for us, Paula. We are out there and we are actively working through our community.

NEWTON: OK and as you said, you continue to tell people to stay patient and you've got a packed room there. People working throughout the night and continue to work throughout the day. Jamie. We can't thank you enough, appreciate it and good luck with everything.

CARSON: Thanks Paula.

NEWTON: Now we can't emphasize this enough. Although Ian has been downgraded to a category one. It is, as you just heard, still a dangerous storm. And it's moving slowly unfortunately, dumping a huge amount of rain. It's overwhelmed electrical grids right across Florida. Here is CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam in Bradenton, Florida now with a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: We're going close to ten hours of tropical storm force winds. Hurricane Ian has rewritten the history books here across the southwestern Florida Peninsula as one of the strongest storms to reach this shoreline. I'm in Bradenton and we are part of the nearly 2 million customers that have been plunged into darkness.

That is one of my greatest concern for people as this storm slowly marches across the state with its powerful winds and extremely heavy rain. and dangerous conditions, is that people will have to endure this weather, this onslaught in the darkness of night. A Very scary moment for people here to say the least.

As meteorologist I've witnessed something that I have never seen before in my entire career. It is called reverse storm surge. The wind was so intense here earlier this morning that it actually pushed out the water from the river -- in the Manatee River that's behind me here.

[04:40:00]

Some of the sailboat were actually sitting on their keels in the Bradenton Harbor. Absolutely incredible.

We actually had a moment as well where our communications and our electricity was disrupted because transformers were blowing behind us in the distance. Sending in sparks well into the sky. We also drove down some of the city streets here and saw debris getting lofted into the air under some of these heavy violent gusts that continue to move through.

We've got another few hours of some of the intense wind but then there's major threats going forward of course is the inland flooding with some locations already receiving 19 inches of rain. That's 2 to 3 months' worth of rainfall for these locations and it's not done yet as the storm emerges off the east coast of the Florida Peninsula.

I am CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam from Bradenton, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: So, as we've been telling you, parts of Florida are facing a long and difficult recovery after one of the most destructive storms in the state history. A report from hard-hit Naples it just ahead.

And we have new information about a possible Russian role in the Baltics Sea pipeline leaks. Now we're hearing Russian navy ships were in fact in the area around the time when the leaks begin. That's ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GOV. RON DESANTIS (R-FL): This is going to be one of those historic storms and it's going to really, you know, shape the committees and southwest Florida and have a profound impact on our state. So, we just ask people for their thoughts and their prayers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Florida's governor there commenting early on the historic nature of hurricane Ian and the lasting impact it is ensure to have.

Downgraded now to category one, it is still a powerful storm that will exit Florida in the coming hours. The forecast calls for it to make a second landfall, yes, along the southeastern U.S. coast.

[04:45:00]

North Carolina being the latest post hurricane watches and warnings are along the Carolina and includes Georgia.

Meantime, Florida no stranger to destructive hurricanes, as we've been saying. But Ian is already one for the record books. Listen to this report from affiliate WINK in Naples just south of where Ian came ashore.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TAYLOR WIRTZ, REPORTER, WINK NEWS: Honestly, I'm just trying to wrap my mind around what's going on right now because it is so unbelievable. If you take a look behind me, this whole bay there is a dumpster just flowing by like a log through the water. You can see the roof about to be ripped off. There are several boats -- I don't know if you can see any of those -- just floating off in distance.

These boats that we were showed you yesterday were tied up probably at least five feet above the pier. They are just floating. No one on them, just floating aimlessly through the water. There's a whole rack of kayaks that washed up and paddle boards. Have no idea where it came from -- another resort, another home. And it's just been bobbing up and down right in front of us.

Our news cars that we drove to get here are completely underwater. They are buried. So, the situation I -- we've all been sitting inside just trying to compartmentalize and I honestly think that's the only way. You just have to right now be concerned about your immediate safety. Because you cannot even begin to look around you and process what's going on.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: And that's the kind of damage so many people in Florida are facing this morning. We will continue to update you on hurricane Ian.

Now to some other news. The first -- this from CNN -- three resources are telling us that European officials observed Russian navy ships in the areas where Nord Stream pipelines are now leaking. Our Western leaders are increasingly suspecting foul play after multiple leaks were discovered in undersea pipelines built to bring Russian natural gas to Germany. And the timing would coincide with underwater explosions that's happened before the leaks began.

And we're now also hearing from Germany that a new fourth league in the pipeline has been discovered. Nada Bashir is following that story for us from London and she joins us now. And you know, CNN, as we were saying, has learn that from European officials. But of course, this is going to turn into another of PR campaign. We know that one investigation is underway but what is Russia saying about all of this?

NADA BASHIR, CNN REPORTER: Yes, absolutely, Paula. As we imagine we have heard that strong objection from the Kremlin already against any sorts of suggestions or allegations that the Russian Federation may be behind this incident. We've heard from the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov describing such allegations predictably stupid. And the Kremlin of course, now launched its own preliminary investigation into this incident. Pointing the blame to what it has described as international terrorism.

But of course, across the board from Western officials we've heard the list they believe is an act of sabotage. That was certainly the message we heard from the NATO secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg and the European Union's own diplomatic chief, Josef Borrell. But of course, those investigations are still ongoing. Of course, the developments are still coming in. As you mentioned, there's a fourth now unfortunately discovered according to Germany's ambassador to the United Kingdom.

But as you mentioned we have learned from to Western intelligence sources and another source familiar with the matter. That Russian naval support ships were observed on Monday and Tuesday by European security officials in the facility of that affected area. And in fact, just a week before that Russian submarines were also observe in the area. So, this is perhaps adding further weight to the suggestion that perhaps the Russian Federation may be connected with this incident.

But it has been noted that we have heard from Danish officials. Denmark of course a key player in this investigation. Highlighting that that Russian naval activity in the Baltics Sea in this area isn't out of the ordinary. They are routinely active in this area and have been increasing their presence in the Baltic Seas over recent years. So, there may not be a direct link but that will certainly be one of the key focuses of this ongoing investigation. Of course, we do understand that Denmark and Sweden will be playing a leading role in that investigation over the coming days and weeks -- Paula.

NEWTON: Yes, and important as well, of course is the extent of that damage. Nada Bashir for us in London. Thanks for the update.

Now U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris as visiting the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea today. She's in the region after traveling to Japan to attend the state funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The visit comes one day after Pyongyang fired to ballistic missiles off the coast. Again, raising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Now Harris met earlier with South Korea's president, as well as a group of females industry leaders. Her trip is meant to try and reinforce the strength of America's relationship with South Korea.

Still to come for us, worst flight ever! Team of storm hunters gets tossed around by hurricane Ian. You'll want to see this. And how they described flying into the storm. We'll have that when we return.

[04:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICK UNDERWOOD, NOAA HURRICANE HUNTER: Oops, there goes the sky. They're going to go bad. Holy cow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: My stomach hurts looking at that, right. That was hurricane hunter Nick Underwood with his team who flew into hurricane Ian Wednesday morning and it was clearly not a smooth ride. Underwood were told CNN that they hit the storm at its strongest point and were collecting data near its eye.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNDERWOOD: That was my 76 hurricane penetration. So, it's 76 times into a hurricane and back out the other side. And out of all of those that was absolutely worse. There was a ton of turbulence both up and down and the lateral turbulence -- which is honestly the most unsettling part of. It was -- it was something else.

As we are flying through it was intensifying up into that strong high end category four and really just had all the right conditions in place. Not a ton of wind shear and that's wat allows these storms to really grow in size and intensity.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: Takes guts.

[04:55:00]

Now the NFL has announced contingency plans in case the damage from hurricane Ian affects Sunday night scheduled game between the Bucks and the Kansas City Chiefs in Tampa. As of now the game is actually still a go. But if needed the league has chosen Minneapolis as a backup site where the teams could play. And that's because Minnesota -- the Minnesota Vikings that is, are playing in London this weekend so their stadium, yes, it's free for the visitors.

All right major league baseball though also discussing alternatives for this weekend series between New York Mets in the Atlanta Braves and they are tied on top of the NL East Division with one week left to the regular season. Their best of three day showdown -- and it will be a showdown -- was set to begin Friday evening in Atlanta. But depending on the weather -- we've just been showing you the maps, right -- this may cause some issues. The league may start the game earlier in the day and the league also says it will reschedule rained out games for next Thursday but only as a last result.

And we are happy to bring you this baseball news. An American League record that stood unchallenged for 61 years now appears to be on the verge -- on the verge -- of falling to a new home run king. It was in the seventh inning in Toronto against the Jays when New York Yankee slugger Aaron Judge his 61st home run of the season tying a record set by Yankees Roger Maris back in 1961. The previous record of 60 home runs in a single season belong to Babe Ruth, also a Yankee, in 1927. Judge reveled in the accomplishment -- why would you -- after the game. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AARON JUDGE, NEW YORK YANKEES: I am nothing without my family. You know, they mean the world to me. You know, they're the reason I'm here, the reason why I am the person that I am. And you know, I'm going to share this, you know, moment with my mom and also try to give a little nod to, you know, Roger Maris Jr. It means a lot that he shows up here too. And looking forward to taking a back home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: OK, stay with us. We will have more on hurricane Ian after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:00:00]