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Rescuers Search For Survivors Amid Catastrophic Damage In Florida; Ian Leaves Staggering Scale Of Destruction In Florida; Home Insurers In Florida Could Go Under After Ian; President Biden Gives Update On Federal Response To Hurricane Ian, Briefly Speaks On Putin, Ukraine; Ian Intensified To Hurricane Again, Takes Aim At South Carolina. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired September 30, 2022 - 13:30   ET

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

[13:30:00]

ANA CABRERA, CNN HOST: We are staying on top of all of the headlines of Hurricane Ian. The storm now set to make its second landfall in South Carolina.

These are live images, meantime, in Florida. The state still reeling. You can see live water rescues under way right now. This is North Port, Florida. We'll take you there next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:35:12]

CABRERA: The president is about to speak about Ian. We will bring that to you live, any moment.

Happening right now, though, live water rescues happening in North Port, Florida.

Our Carlos Suarez is there for us -- Carlos?

CARLOS SUAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Ana, the U.S. Army as well as the emergency officials, firefighters and folks that live in this neighborhood south of I-75 are all working together at this hour to try the reach some folks that are stranded inside of their homes.

In the last couple of hours, what is happening out here is that there's a great deal of flooding brought on by a river just to the north of where we are.

And so they are using the jet skis and kayaks and airboats to try to make their way into some of the more deeper parts of this neighborhood.

This entire morning, afternoon that we have been out here, we are told that folk are going to be getting on the life rafts and they've been bringing them out. And from here, they're being taken to the high school in the city of North Port.

However, a few minutes ago, we were told that because of the flooding concerns at the high school, they are being taken from that location to a church.

The folks that have lined up out here are offering whatever they have to be able to get some of the individuals out of their homes. They have been stuck for five to seven hours we're being told.

And across the street, on the other side -- I'm not sure if you can make them out -- there's a group of individuals also trying to help folks get out of their homes.

This one woman that we caught up with earlier today, her name is Jade Torres.

Jade, you are one of the first folks that I saw when I got here. Tell us what happened.

JADE TORRES, FLORIDA RESIDENT WHO DID NOT EVACUATE: Well, we thought that we were in the clear yesterday. The flooding will not stop. It is now at the bottom of everyone's doors.

And they are predicting five more feet is yet to come. So we knew it is go-time. I have children. I just have to evacuate immediately.

SUAREZ: And you can see, this is part of the problem you were telling me, right?

TORRES: Right.

SUAREZ: What is this?

TORRES: This is back flow coming from north to south. That is why we are getting the water coming in. It is not anything to do with rain. It's just the surge is incredible from the river and just floating down south, flowing south of us.

SUAREZ: You were telling me you don't live here. You were riding out the storm in someone else's house?

TORRES: The church people, their husband is stranded in Punta Gordo. And fortunately, my 13-year-old son was able to board up the house and take it down. We did as much as we could, but now it's go-time.

SUAREZ: You have your cat with you, too?

TORRES: I do. My cat, Squish.

SUAREZ: Are you scared?

TORRES: At this point, yes. Yesterday, we thought we were in the clear. We didn't lose a roof. It was a lot of rain, a lot of chaos. It was definitely frightening.

But we are well supplied. We had a generator and tons of food. And now it is at a point that you cannot run anything because there's so much water coming in.

SUAREZ: Walk me through when you saw the military. TORRES: Well, that was a big standpoint of now it's go-time, we need

to get out because this is getting more and more serious.

And you know, for them to communicate with me and let me know that we are looking at five more feet of surge, we would just get trapped inside. So.

SUAREZ: And you said there are folks that are on their lawns, near their cars, they're also waiting to get out.

TORRES: Correct. A lot of them had put flamingos and what not to see how much higher up the water is coming, and it is beyond all of that now at this point.

SUAREZ: At what point did you figure it was time to go?

TORRES: When it hit the flamingo's bum. Move your ass.

(LAUGHTER)

TORRES: Excuse me.

SUAREZ: Jade, thank you so much.

Ana, as you can see, folks out here are just trying to get to higher ground, because of all of these concerns out here. The military is still on site.

And these boats are going out every couple of minutes because they understand folks are stranded and they need to be able to get to safer ground.

CABRERA: And what an interesting revelation that the water is rising and blue skies, it stopped raining, the storm has passed, yet there's this literal trickle-down effect impacting the communities with the water levels still going up, and the flood concerns very fresh still.

Thank you, Carlos Suarez, for your reporting.

[13:39:09]

The other big story we're following today, Russian President Vladimir Putin claiming nearly one-fifth of Ukraine is now Russian territory. We are talking about millions of people. Ahead, how this illegal land grab could impact the battle.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CABRERA: We are tracking Hurricane Ian right now. And the storm is about to make landfall in South Carolina as a category 1 hurricane. So less intense than what hit Florida on Wednesday, but still very dangerous with storm surges up to seven feet in some areas.

In Florida, the damage could be the worst the state has ever seen. These overhead shots showing entire communities just wiped off of the map. Buildings leveled. Stunning scenes like this one, piles of boats that were just tossed around as if they were bathtub toys.

CNN's Matt Egan is here to lay out the scale of the devastation.

Matt, how daunting could this recovery be in Florida?

MATT EGAN, CNN REPORTER: Yes, Ana, it is a nightmare. It is going to take time and money to rebuild. A lot of money. Core Logic estimates that a record number of homes and properties have been destroyed by this hurricane.

[13:45:06]

Wind damage alone is estimated up to $32 billion. Flooding damage could be another $15 billion. Put it together and we're looking at up to $47 billion of insured losses.

For context, that would be just shy of the priciest storm to ever hit Florida, Hurricane Andrew in 1992. That devastating storm did about $55 billion in damage on an inflation-adjusted basis.

And remember, these estimates out today are just for Florida. As you mentioned, the hurricane is striking the Carolinas. And that's just going to add to the financial toll.

When it is said and done, this could be one of the most expensive storms to ever hit in U.S. history. That list, of course, topped by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 that did almost $200 billion in damage.

And, Ana, remember, this is happening at a time of very high inflation in the United States. The cost of building materials and labor has gone up. And that just makes the situation that much more challenging.

CABRERA: That is a good point for the people who have to rebuild. Now all of the costs associated with building are that much higher compared to years ago.

Housing, of course, it is a critical issue after a storm like this one. But Florida's home insurance market was already volatile, already challenging for people. What is the outlook there?

EGAN: Ana, the home insurance market in Florida was a hot mess before this storm, and it is going to be that much worse after it.

One issue in Florida is that it is very expensive to get home insurance. The average homeowner paid $4,200 a year. This is almost triple the national average.

And not only is it expensive to get home insurance in Florida, but it's also hard to find. The National Home Insurers don't really play in Florida, in part, because of this risk from storms. That leaves it in the hands of some smaller players that don't have the financial resources.

Ana, even before this storm, six home insurers in Florida had gone under. And unfortunately, that number is going to be rising.

CABRERA: Matt Egan, thank you for tracking it for us.

Our next guest led the military effort for Hurricane Katrina, retired Lieutenant General Russel Honore.

General, thanks for being with us.

A warning the president is expected to speak any minute so we may have to break away.

But of course, Katrina was the most destructive in history. You have seen the worst that Mother Nature has to offer. Based on what Ian has left behind so far, what is your assessment? How does it compare?

LT. GEN. RUSSEL HONORE, U.S. ARMY, RETIRED: Well, just visualize something that Katrina, and this is looking like 10 times larger in terms of the number of people that might be affected.

Katrina, we had about 250,000 homes in New Orleans. And of course, we lost a lot of homes in Mississippi coast. But not nearly as big as this storm.

And with the density of the people, and I mean, we are only 500,000 people in the New Orleans area, and maybe 100,000 on the coast of Mississippi when Katrina hit.

Now compare that with the size, the population, and this storm is transited to Florida in some of the most populous areas --

CABRERA: General, forgive me for interrupting.

President Biden is speaking at the White House.

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And the storm just hours away in South Carolina and some parts are already hit.

I want to update you on what we have done since I spoke on this some 24 hours ago.

I directed that every possible action be taken to save lives and get the help to the survivors, because every single minute counts. It is not just a crisis for Florida, but this is an American crisis. We are all in this together.

And I have spoken to Governor DeSantis on multiple occasions, as well as this morning, as well as mayors and county officials, both Republican and Democrat, from the places most affected.

I have spoken with Governor McMaster in South Carolina this morning as well.

Last night, I received a request for an emergency declaration from Governor McMaster, which I have approved right away, just as I did for Florida,

This allows for immediate federal funding for the state to shelter people and provide other essential support. By approving it early ahead of the storm's landfall in South Carolina,

we can get the supplies in and provide shelter if necessary.

My message to the people in South Carolina is simple. Please listen to all of the warnings and the directions from local officials and follow their instructions.

As you all know, the situation in Florida is far more devastating. We are just beginning to see the scale of that destruction. It is likely to rank among the worst of the nation's history.

You have all seen on television homes and property wiped out. It is going to take months, years to rebuild.

Our hearts go out to those whose lives have been absolutely devastated by this storm. Americans hearts are breaking just watching people watching it on television.

[13:50:04]

I just want the people of Florida to know we see what you're going through and we're with you. We're going to do everything we can for you.

I say, for the rest of the Americans, imagine yourself in that situation, water rising, walls collapsing, streets turned literally into rivers. Charter boats on top of automobiles.

Watching the home and the community work so hard to establish, literally washed away. And folks across the country are now waiting to hear from parents and grandparents who live in Florida, just hoping and praying they're OK.

At my direction, we pre-deployed the largest team of search-and-rescue experts in recent history. Because so many of the rescuers need to take place now, need to be there in place now, in the water now.

And the United States Coast Guard has been deployed as well. Six fixed-wing aircraft, 16 rescue boats and crews, 16 rescue helicopters, which were in the air all day yesterday and at it again today.

Working with the Defense Department, National Guard, state and local first responders, they have rescued 117 people on southwest Florida coast and Fort Myers and Naples so far.

Just this morning, I spoke personally with the lieutenant commander of the Coast Guard, Christopher Hooper, who is leading the search-and- rescue operation there.

He emphasized this is one plight. Everyone working together, Coast Guard, Defense Department, Customs and Border Patrol, Florida Fish and Wildlife, local officials, they're doing everything they can to rescue people.

He said, Mr. President, we will not rest at night until we know they're safe and sound. He talked about how they rescued a 94-year-old woman who had the

courage to be hoisted up on to a helicopter, the wind blowing, and as well as a 1-month-old baby. Not at the same time, but a 1-month-old baby as well. And so much in between.

He also spoke to aviation survival second class technician, Second Class Zach Lesh (ph), who described how difficult the decision is for people to leave everything and come to safety.

I told him how proud of him I was. And thanked him for all the work he and his Coasties are doing to save lives.

I'm grateful for the brave women and men, federal, state and local folks working so hard. They're all working as one team. Hear that from the governor and the federal folks.

In the past 24 hours, my administration has approved four more counties in Florida for individual disaster assistance in addition to the nine counties we had announced yesterday.

What that means is the federal government will cover -- is covering every cost, 100 percent of the cost, to clear the massive debris left in the wake of the hurricane and these counties.

It all needs to be cleared out for communities to begin the hard work and trying to get back on their feet.

That declaration also means that we will cover all the extra costs for emergency personnel who are saving lives and providing for public safety.

Because phone lines and Internet might go out, FEMA is registering people directly to be able to get help. They're setting up disaster recovery centers and in shelters across the state. So we can get survivors registered for the help they need as quickly as they can possibly get it.

If you can't get to a center, we're sending out mobile teams in the communities to meet people where they are.

Getting the power back on is also critical. I want to recognize -- and this is, I think, impressive -- 44,000 utility workers and restoration personnel from 33 states and the District of Columbia.

We're working around the clock to help get power back on for millions, millions of Floridians who lost it.

I ordered more than 400 personnel from the Army Corps of Engineers to Florida with more than 250 generators to enable power supplies for key locations like hospitals and shelters.

And last night, my Homeland Security adviser met with electric sector leaders to ensure they're coordinating with owners and operators of the grid so nothing will stand in the way of getting the power back on. Yesterday, I was briefed by the leaders of FEMA, the Coast Guard, the

Army Corps of Engineers, and other organizations that are at the tip of the spear right now.

I directed them to provide me with information on where housing and health facilities and power and cell service and other critical infrastructure has been most effective so we can prioritize and focus efforts and expand them where help is needed the most.

[13:54:59]

In addition to what we're doing for Florida and South Carolina, we remain focused on recovery records -- efforts in Puerto Rico as well. I'll say it as long as we're going to stay with it, stay at it, as long as it takes.

I spent a lot of time with people in the aftermath of disasters. I have immense gratitude for the first responders and emergency crews who always show up no matter what.

Times like these, Americans come together. They put aside politics, they put aside division, and we come together to help each other. Because we know if it were us, who just lost our homes or our loved one, we would hope people would show up to help us as well.

Red Cross volunteers, volunteers as far away as Oregon and the Dakotas, and utility workers from Minnesota and Nebraska, Vermont, have traveled to Florida in the past few days to help do whatever they can.

That's America. That's who we are. We're going to keep doing everything we can and we'll do it as the United States of America.

So God bless all of you who are hurting. May God protect the troops and all those brave souls risking their lives.

I want to say one more thing. I want to also speak to Mr. Putin's remarks this morning.

You know, America and its allies are not going -- let me emphasize -- are not going to be intimidated -- are not going to be intimidated by Putin and his reckless words and threats. He's not going to scare us or intimidate us.

Putin's actions are a sign he is struggling. The sham referendum he carried out, and the -- this routine he put on, don't worry -- (INAUDIBLE) -- the sham routine he put on this morning showing the unity and, you know, as people holding hands together.

Well, the United States is never going to recognize this. And quite frankly, the world is not going to recognize it either. He can't seize his neighbor's territory and get away with it. It's as simple as that.

And they're going to stay the course. They'll continue to provide military equipment, so Ukraine can defend itself, and it's territory and freedom. Including additional resources that the Congress is going to give me today of 13 billion more dollars to help Ukrainians defend themselves and fight back.

And we're fully prepared to defend -- I'm going to say this again -- America's fully prepared with our NATO allies to defend every single inch of NATO territory. Every single inch.

So, Mr. Putin, don't misunderstand what I'm saying. Every inch.

And I've been in close touch with -- with our allies. And we're announcing new sanctions today as well that include new authorities to sanction anyone who provides political or economic support to Russia's fraudulent territorial claims.

I've been in close touch with our NATO allies who are united in our resolve to take on his aggression.

I thank you all very much.

Also asked me earlier about the pipeline. And let me say this. It was deliberate act of sabotage. And now the Russians are pumping out disinformation and lies.

We're going to work with our allies to get to the bottom of exactly -- precisely what happened.

And at my direction, I've already begun to help our allies enhance the protection of its critical infrastructure. And at the appropriate moment, when things calm down, we're going to be sending divers down to find out exactly what happened. We don't know that yet exactly.

We're not -- just don't listen to what Putin is saying. What he's saying we know is not true.

Thank you all so very much.

(CROSSTALK)

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN HOST: OK. You've been listening to President Biden there at the White house. He was just giving an update on the federal response to Hurricane Ian.

He was also telling the people of South Carolina to heed the warnings right now. They are not out of danger. That's where Hurricane Ian is expected to make landfall at any moment. So he was telling them to heed the locals' warning.

He also talked briefly about Vladimir Putin and what's happening in Ukraine.

Let's start with the hurricane. Because Ian is bearing down on the South Carolina coast right now. This is a category 1 storm, with 85- mile-per-hour winds. A federal emergency is declared for the state.

The hurricane is predicted, as I said, to make landfall at any moment between Myrtle Beach and Charleston. Both very low-lying cities.

[13:59:54]

This is Myrtle Beach on your screen right now. You can see what the tides are doing and rolling over the seawall. Tide levels are more than nine and a half feet there in Myrtle Beach. Winds and rain already damaging some areas there.