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Hurricane Ian's Aftermath In Florida, Death Toll Now 74; President Biden And First Lady Jill Biden Off To Florida And Puerto Rico; Ukraine Liberates Lyman From Russia; NFL To Update Concussion Protocol After Tua Tagovailoa Concussion; All Hands And Hearts Non- Profit Helping Rebuild In Florida. Aired 5-6p ET

Aired October 02, 2022 - 17:00   ET

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

[17:00:00]

JIM ACOSTA, CNN HOST: Nadia Romero, thank you so much for that report. We appreciate it. Terrific work as always.

And back here where we're standing in Fort Myers, Florida, again, the scene of destruction is just all around us. We've been talking to residents throughout the day. I was with a lady in Iona, Florida earlier today who was saving the American flag. That was the thing that she wanted to save from her home. She plants it out in front of her house.

Right now, you're watching a boat being pulled out of the wreckage here. Just people trying to get normal -- back to normal here on the Florida gulf coast as there is so much destruction and devastation all around them.

That's the news. Reporting from Fort Myers, Florida, I'm Jim Acosta. Thanks so much for joining us these last couple of hours. I'll see you back here next Saturday. Pamela Brown takes over the CNN NEWSROOM live after a quick break. Have a good night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST (voice-over): Ian's death toll in Florida is rising today.

UNKNOWN: Can we get some help down here? (Inaudible) to ask?

BROWN (voice-over): Finally, more supplies are coming in. There were four boats that just arrived moments ago.

UNKNOWN: This community has never ever seen this high of flooding before.

UNKNOWN: Now we're going into day four without having electricity. That's when you get to that life-threatening range.

UNKNOWN: We have no power, no phone service, nothing.

UNKNOWN: The buildings are just ripped off of their foundation and just swept backwards. UNKNOWN: Should there have been a mandatory evacuation that came

sooner.

CARMINE MARCENO, SHERIFF, LEE COUNTY, FLORIDA: I wouldn't have changed anything. This storm was very unpredictable.

KEVIN ANDERSON, MAYOR OF FORT MYERS, FLORIDA: There's a degree of personal responsibility here.

UNKNOWN: I think people got complacent.

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (through translation): Lyman was completely liberated.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: The phenomenal strategic victory for the Ukrainians is likely to have a roll-on effect to Russian positions further towards the Russian border in the days ahead.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: I'm Pamela Brown in Washington. You are live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

The death toll from Hurricane Ian jumps again in Florida. Seventy-four people now confirmed killed by the storm and officials expect that number to climb as search crews are finally able to reach areas cut off by flooding, debris and wiped-out bridges.

Across the state, more than 800,000 homes and businesses remain without power more than four days after landfall. And in Lee County, which accounts for more than half the statewide deaths, questions are being raised about whether evacuation orders went out soon enough. CNN put that question to Governor Ron DeSantis moments ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NADIA ROMERO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Is that one of the things you'll be reviewing once we get out of the aftermath, people get their power back on, looking at those evacuation orders because even Lee County, if they would have followed their own evacuation orders from what we've reviewed, they should have had that mandatory evacuation order sooner.

RON DESANTIS, GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA: Well, but you know, the issue though is also that there were a lot of -- they informed people and most people did not want to do it. I mean, that's just the reality. So, you're in a situation, are you going to grab something out of their home that doesn't want to, I don't think that's the appropriate use of government. I mean, I think that that takes it a little too far.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: Alright. Let's begin our coverage this hour with CNN's Jim Acosta in Fort Myers Beach. So, we just heard a little bit there from Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, talking to our Nadia Romero. What else did he have to say, Jim?

ACOSTA: Yeah, Nadia Romero was asking Governor DeSantis about these questions that we've been hearing and frankly they're no coming from us in the press. They're coming from residents here on the gulf coast of Florida. People have been telling me as long as 24 hours ago when I was over in another part of this area, people are saying why wasn't the evacuation order issued sooner. We didn't realize we had to get out of this area. When we did, we thought the storm was going to Tampa and so on.

Now, granted, there are a lot of people who are battle hardened Floridians and they just decided to ride the storm out. No question about it. That is certainly the case. But there are folks that we've run across anecdotally and I think just about every correspondent stationed down here has heard this time and again, that they just did not get that evacuation order soon enough.

Now, my colleague, Boris Sanchez, as Nadia Romero was asking the governor just a short while ago, my colleague Boris Sanchez was at a press conference with the Lee County sheriff earlier today and was asking the sheriff here in Lee County about that evacuation order, why wasn't it issued sooner and here's what he had to say. He stood by the decision. Here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARCENO: I stand 100 percent with my county commissioners, my county manager. We did what we had to do at the exact same time. I wouldn't have changed anything. And I know being in those meetings from the very minute, this storm was very unpredictable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: And so there you have it. You know, you have local officials, Pam, and there's just no other way to describe it, they're sounding very defensive about some of these questions that are being asked.

[17:04:58]

But, again, they are coming from local residents here and you're looking at the Lee County evacuation timeline on screen there. Sunday, 11:00 p.m., the National Hurricane Center mentions the four to seven foot storm surge possible for Lee County. Tuesday 7:00 a.m. Eastern, Lee County issues a first evacuation message. And then Tuesday, 11:00 a.m. Eastern, the forecast predicts 8 to 12 storm surges for Lee County.

I will just tell you, Pam, you know, talking to residents here, you know, I was hearing, I mean, just earlier today from a resident that they were anticipating a storm surge that was much lower than what they ultimately got here. And so, it does seem as though, wires were crossed, there wasn't enough accurate information getting out.

People were just not armed with the kind of information and evacuation orders that they needed to avoid the loss of life that we're seeing here right now. BROWN: Yeah, and it's worth noting too and emphasizing that the Lee

County emergency management site says that if storm surges got up to 6 feet, if that is predicted, there should be an evacuation. And as you just pointed out in that timeline, Jim, on Sunday, the National Hurricane Service said -- it was predicting surges 4 to 7 feet in that area.

Again, hindsight is 2020, but we as CNN, are the vehicle for these questions coming directly from the residents speaking to you, Jim. You were out there talking to these residents again, today, touring the area. What did you see?

ACOSTA: You know, we just saw more devastation, Pam. I was in a community not too far from here, in Iona, Florida, and we spoke with a woman named Patty McIver and she actually works as a police aide for the Sanibel Police Department. And when we went into her community, it was just -- it was like a river of mud washed through her neighborhood and took out her home. Take a look at a little bit of what she told us. It's just heartbreaking.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATTY MCIVER, RESIDENT, IONA, FLORIDA: (Inaudible) because once you get past here, this is sturdy, it's not going anywhere.

ACOSTA: I can tell this is -- oh, my gosh.

MCIVER: We were going to do the kitchen in October and I have to tell you, I'm going to show you something, if you guys don't mind.

ACOSTA: Absolutely.

MCIVER: The floors have little bit (inaudible).

ACOSTA: Sure. Sure.

MCIVER: This is (inaudible).

ACOSTA: Oh, my gosh.

MCIVER: Look at these wine glasses. I mean --

ACOSTA: The wine glasses made it somehow.

MCIVER: They just made it -- my boyfriend (inaudible). So that's probably what they are (inaudible) and you fold them down.

ACOSTA: Wow.

MCIVER: Careful.

ACOSTA: Yeah.

MCIVER: I want to show you something. My dad (inaudible).

ACOSTA: Yeah. MCIVER: I have my cellphone.

ACOSTA: Oh, yeah. I have a cellphone. I can put the light on in here.

MCIVER: They have just (inaudible).

ACOSTA: Your dad just did tilework in here.

MCIVER: Oh, he's (inaudible) like 50 percent of these homes.

ACOSTA: Oh, my goodness.

MCIVER: I just want to show you because I just got it.

ACOSTA: Oh, it's beautiful.

MCIVER: Yeah.

ACOSTA: He did a great job.

MCIVER: He (inaudible) in here. Just got it brand-new, like, sink. All of this was re-tiled, new vanity.

ACOSTA: It was great. Oh, my goodness.

MCIVER: That was a sun room now (inaudible). Be careful.

ACOSTA: Yeah. Absolutely.

MCIVER: I think you guys know.

ACOSTA: Of course. Oh, my goodness.

MCIVER: The other thing is -- oh, look what I got. The Sanibel police car.

ACOSTA: There's your police car right there. But the water just came through here.

MCIVER: He did this one as well. And (inaudible) all the glass doors on here. He's 84-years-old.

ACOSTA: Yeah.

MCIVER: We re-painted the bedroom. We didn't do the flooring yet, thank God. But people want to know and people that are here that can't see, I mean, they just want to --

ACOSTA: And you're saving the flag there, huh?

MCIVER: Saving the flag. It's muddy, but it faired pretty good. (Inaudible). Maybe I've got a flagpole over there. We're going to hang it up, so.

ACOSTA: Got to save the American flag.

MCIVER: Absolutely.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA: And, Pam, that just goes to show you what people are going through in this area. You know, she took us on a tour of her flood- ravaged house. It was coated in mud and, you know, we looked into the kitchen and she sees this muddy American flag sitting on the kitchen counter.

[17:09:58]

And she took it upon herself in the middle of all of this that she's dealing with on a personal level and she wanted to make sure that she saved the American flag and put it outside of her home. And it just -- it just tears you up. It just tears you up inside to see people going through what they're going through right now, Pam.

BROWN: Yeah, just really moving. That little anecdote. And her story is so representative of what so many Floridians are going through right now, those that you were talking to, going to see their homes, seeing the destruction up close. Jim Acosta, thank you. We'll check back in with you soon.

ACOSTA: You bet.

BROWN: Alright. Let's travel about 30 miles south along the gulf coast. CNN's Leyla Santiago is in Naples. Leyla, what are you seeing there today?

LEYLA SANTIAGO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A lot of cleanup, a lot of salvage mode is what one neighborhood told me, saying that the reality of all of this, of the destruction of the aftermath is now setting in. Let me show you what's behind me, you know, sort of, you know, points -- makes the point of what they're dealing with.

I mean, you have one house where a boat is in the backyard. You have another house where things have tipped over all around it. You see debris in the backyard and then I spoke to Hank DeWolf who lives in this home here and he was telling me they don't know whose car that is that landed in their backyard after Hurricane Ian came in and that surge took its toll.

But I also want to point out one other part of Hank's backyard. You see that railing that kind of is sinking into the water there, that railing was to a dock. The dock that came up around the house and is now in his neighborhood's front yard. I asked him to kind of explain to me how this all happened because it really makes the point of the force of Hurricane Ian. Here's what he told me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HANK DEWOLF, RESIDENT, NAPLES, FLORIDA: That's a concrete floating dock which is on the other side of our house. It came up off of its pilings and apparently made its way around through the condo complex there and ended up, up there. So, you can see, that's sitting up pretty high so you can see. And it weighs about 4,000 pounds. So, you can see how high the water had to be just to be able to get it there. The ocean is an extremely powerful, powerful thing and this doesn't surprise me at all.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANTIAGO: You know, in talking to the neighbors, I've also been kind of struck by the sense of gratitude given how bad this hurricane was, many of them just feeling lucky to not have been injured, still be alive. I actually had a conversation with the city manager, asked him about the death toll. Did he think that that would change? And he specifically said, you know, they're worried about that.

This was bad and they're still sort of searching and getting an assessment of how bad this actually was all over the city of Naples. I also asked him about where the efforts are today in terms of the focus. Two things he mentioned that I think are important.

One, he talked about still assessing the damage on the infrastructure when it comes to power. Only about a third of customers still don't have power. They've been able to restore quite a bit, but he has no idea how long it will be before they get to 100 percent. And they're also working on finding housing for those that have been displaced.

BROWN: Yeah. They are working around the clock there. Leyla Santiago, I know you are as well. Thank you so much.

And there's much more to come tonight on this Sunday. Up next, a live report from the White House as President Biden prepares to see hurricane damage firsthand in both Puerto Rico and in Florida.

Plus, inside the Ukrainian city of Lyman that the Russians retreating, the city begins to pick up the pieces.

And then later, back to Hurricane Ian, there's so much need in southwest Florida. We're going to show you how you can help.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:15:00]

BROWN: Welcome back. President and Mrs. Biden will travel to Puerto Rico tomorrow to survey the damage from Hurricane Fiona. And then the Bidens will travel to Florida on Wednesday in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Let's bring in CNN's Arlette Saenz at the White House with more. Arlette?

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Pamela, President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will see firsthand the devastation that was brought by those two hurricanes. First Hurricane Fiona, which struck Puerto Rico two weeks ago. They will be traveling there tomorrow where they are expected to see firsthand the damage that's been caused and meet with local officials and those affected as well as the president delivering some remarks down there.

Then on Wednesday, the president will travel to Florida to see the devastation brought by Hurricane Ian. One big question going forward in Florida is whether he might meet with Governor Ron DeSantis who he has spoken to several times, but obviously, has some political divisions and differences with him.

The president has said that in these moments they need to put politics aside and focus on the storm at hand and said he would be willing to meet with DeSantis if DeSantis would like to. Now, the administration and President Biden have pledged that the federal government would be there throughout the recovery efforts and process both in Puerto Rico and Florida.

But today, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell offered some advice to homeowners saying that if they own a home, even if it's by water, any type of water, that they should consider getting flood insurance. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEANNE CRISWELL, FEMA ADMINISTRATOR: Our flood maps address a very specific type of flooding. But what I would say, Dana, is that people need to understand that, well, in certain areas, we require flood insurance. Everybody has the ability to purchase flood insurance. And if you live near water or where it rains, it can certainly flood, and we have seen that multiple storms this year.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RON DESANTIS, GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA: -- is voluntary. If you want to be rescued you will. If somebody does not want to leave their home, of course, they are not going to, but it's been a team effort.

[17:19:58]

We had -- there's more urban search-and-rescue teams in Florida now than in any one place in American history since September 11th. And if you think about it, there's been massive events that have happened since September 11th and we have more here.

And part of that is just a reflection that, yes, it was a very powerful hurricane, it was a big hurricane and it cut across, you know, the entire state of Florida. I mean, some of these other major hurricane events, it hits one spot and then that's really where you tend to. Well, this is hundreds and hundreds of miles and so it's a big deal.

And they focus on -- and we have Coast Guard who has been great. Obviously, urban search and rescue, local law enforcement has been fantastic, and they'll focus on maybe somebody being helicoptered out of Fort Myers Beach or some of those, and rightfully so, but the local law enforcement across the state, these water rescues with the flooding.

Now, some of those folks that are rescued, you know, the water is up to certain things. They may not be in imminent danger of a fatality, but they need to be rescued from that situation. So, you've had so many of those water rescues that have taken place here in this county. Hardy, they've done it, central Florida, you name it. So, it's really been great. I think people have worked really, really hard and I was there down at the surfside collapse in 2021, and we had the urban search-and-rescue teams, the two Miami teams were there from the beginning and that was really tough because as you're doing the -- as you're doing the pile, you know, they're finding a lot of people and it was very difficult.

You know, this one, they were able to get in there so early, you know, that they were actually able to bring a lot of people to safety. And so, they deserve a lot of credit and we're really proud of all the great work that they've done.

UNKNOWN: (Inaudible)

DESANTIS: So, the questions about power, and just to correct, you know, they've done a great job. They're not my crews. They're their crews. They're doing it. Now, we paved the way with the state of emergency early and made sure they can be pre-staged. We've cleared roads for them and everything.

But ultimately, you know, these utilities have really, really worked hard to do it. So, give them a lot of credit. You know, everyone from FPL to Duke to the different municipal electric who've worked hard, so they do. So, the question is, we have 7 percent without power statewide right now.

What's the prognosis for extended outages? You know, if you end up having two-plus million restored by close of business tonight, that would be a world record probably in terms of especially for how big it is in the state. But that is still going to leave some other folks.

What I think what they will tell you on the utilities is the areas that are reconnects will come online in relatively due time. They can't guarantee you're going to get it today, but it didn't get to take a month. Some of the areas like Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach, some of those, they may have just suffered real severe structural damage to the underlying infrastructure.

So, the question on that becomes, do you have to rebuild the infrastructure? And if you do, that's going to take a little bit longer time. It's not clear to me exactly how many are going to be rebuilt. There is going to be some rebuilt for sure.

I was just in North Port and I don't know if it's going to require a rebuild, but there's still flooding in places that they would need to go to be able to reconnect some of the power lines. And so obviously, it needs to be safe for them to do it. So, some of that I think is a little bit dependent on the circumstances.

But I will say, if you are in an area where they tell you that they have to structurally rebuild rather than restore, then you would -- you should expect longer outages. If it's just a restoration, that's something that's on an easier timetable than if you have to rebuild everything.

Now, you know, there's infrastructure that goes into this. We've asked all the utilities to work together. You know, some municipal co-op needs a part and they don't have. You know, we want FPL and these others to help and they've said that they would. And so, we think that's good.

We also announced yesterday a public request for Lee County's electrical cooperative to accept mutual aid from other electrical utilities to get it going quicker because right now FPL has about 50 percent of their Lee customers restored. The Lee County co-op or electrical only that has 3 percent.

And it's our view that if you had more resources, that may make some of that better. Some of that is going to be a rebuild, but at least get as much on as quickly as possible that you can.

[17:24:56]

BROWN: Alright. We were just listening there to Governor Ron DeSantis in Arcadia there in Florida giving an update on the latest with search and rescue efforts in the wake of the hurricane there, Hurricane Ian. Also talking about how in some communities it could be a while for power to come back on. Of course, we will keep you posted in all the latest developments there on the ground in Florida. And we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROWN: It is being called a significant victory for Ukraine and another stunning setback for Vladimir Putin. Here you can see Ukrainian troops getting rid of Russian flags at a government building in Lyman after Russian forces abandoned the area, they retreated.

[17:30:05]

It's a strategically important city in Donetsk, one of four Ukrainian regions Putin claims are now Russian territory, even though Ukrainian troops continue pushing the Russians back. And CNN was the first media outlet in Lyman after that retreat with CNN's Nick Paton Walsh has just returned from there. So, let's bring him in. What did you see inside the city, Nick?

NICK PATON WALSH, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL SECURITY EDITOR: It was startling to see exactly how vital this railway hub clearly been to Russia's occupation of Donetsk and Luhansk neighboring areas. And the retreat has sparked open bickering between members of Russia's elite about how they could possibly have let this happen.

And here's what we saw as the first television crew into Lyman earlier on today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALSH (voice-over): It may not look like much, but this is where Putin's defeat in Donetsk began. A prize from the last century perhaps, but trains and tracks are still how Russia wages war today. Lyman, what's left of it, now freed of Russia. WALSH (on camera): Well, this is what it was all about. The central

railway hub here now in Ukrainian hands. And devastated by the fighting. And this was such a seminal part of Russia's occupation of Donetsk and Luhansk. The concern for Moscow is the knock-on effect this is going to have for their forces all the way to the Russian border.

(Voice-over): From the town's edges, we saw no sign of the hundreds of Russian prisoners or dead that had been expected to follow Moscow's strategic defeat here nor inside it either. Perhaps they have already been taken away. Instead, utter silence. Only local bicycles on the streets. Several residents told us the Russians actually left in large numbers on Friday.

TANYA, LMAN RESIDENT (through translation): They left in the night and the day, people said. I didn't see it myself. But they say they sat on their APC's and their bags were falling off as they drove. They ran like this.

WALSH (voice-over): It would be remarkable timing that Russia fled Lyman in the very same hours that Putin was signing papers declaring here Russian territory and holding a rally on Red Square. A similar story in the local administration where the only signs of Russia left are burned flags.

They ran away without saying a word to anybody, he says. It was bad. No work, no gas, no power, nothing. The shops didn't work. It truly feels as if there is nobody left.

(On camera): Ghostly silence here. Apart from occasional shelling and small arms fire. And it is for so much of this town, utterly destroyed. So many locals we're told leaving when the Ukrainian push towards it began. But now it's just this utter ghostliness in a place that's such a strategic defeat for Russia.

(Voice-over): Gunfire in the distance. They're nervous some Russians may be left. Outside what's left of the court, the constant change in violence is too much for some. Her husband just arrested.

UNKNOWN (through translation): You want the truth? You put on a hat, you take off a hat. What life is this? I am 72 years old. I'm like a rat in a basement crawling out of the basement.

UNKNOWN (through translation): You will not show this -- the truth. Yesterday, Ukraine came, checked documents on a checkpoint.

UNKNOWN (through translation): And took my husband. A man disappeared from the police station. One hat, another hat.

UNKNOWN (through translation): People are suffering. One beat us, another beat us -- and we cry.

WALSH (voice-over): The Ukrainian troops we did see had already stopped celebrating. There is little time. They're on the move again. Another Russian target further east, Kreminna in their sights. And those left in Lyman, a town cursed to have these bars of rusting steel running through it, are gathering the ruins to burn for fuel with winter ahead. Left in the wake of Russia's collapse here, a town they took weeks to occupy but only hours to leave.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(ON camera): Now, the impact of losing Lyman could be felt by Russia across its positions in Donetsk and Luhansk as I said that all the way to the Russian border. Already Ukrainian forces continue to advance. In fact, that town was so empty of them we were told because they'd already, frankly, moved on to the next target.

[17:35:00]

And so, with the pressure mounting in the east and it appears tonight in the south as well against Russian forces, very dark weeks ahead here for Moscow's invasion of choice of its neighboring country, Pam.

BROWN: Nick Paton Walsh, thank you for that.

And let's bring in CNN military analyst, retired Lieutenant General Mark Hertling, former Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army. First off, what an incredible piece by our Nick Paton Walsh. So, illuminating, just seeing Lyman now desolate now that the Russians have retreated. I just want to get your reaction first off to that.

MARK HERTLING, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: I've been watching this for weeks now. And like it's interesting because Nick has really a great soda straw on this town of Lyman. And if any of your viewers would have googled it on Google Maps, they would see that that railroad center that's in the center of town shows just how important that town is.

It is a hub for all of Donetsk, but it also goes into Luhansk province. If you look at the roads coming out of that town which the Ukrainians forces are now driving down in pursuit of retreating Russians. You'll see that they are very restrictive and that the battles over the last 24 to 48 hours have really leaned in, again, in Ukraine's favor.

They are not only pushing the Russian soldiers out of these defensive territories, but they're putting them on the run and then they are attacking them as they are retreating which is the worst case for a retreating army to be in, to be attacked while they're retreating.

But the key point is, that this one small city that is a great railroad hub is the key to many larger cities and many locations within the areas that Mr. Putin allegedly held a referendum on, a no legal annexed just two days ago.

BROWN: Yeah. And we heard Nick Paton Walsh talk about the knock-on effect to Russian forces affected the Ukrainians, re-took Lyman. Tell us a little bit more about what that means and how do you forecast Putin's next move here?

HERTLING: Well, you not only have to look at -- we've been -- our attention has been drawn to the north over the last two weeks. But there is still activity going on in the south in Kherson providence. And if that reporting narrative says that the Russians are on the run there and Ukrainian forces are putting in -- putting them in a north, south and eastern pincer move to capture close to 15,000 Russian forces and not allowing them to get across the Dnipro River.

In addition to that, you have Ukrainian forces continuing to fight within Zaporizhzhia, within (inaudible). All of these are very -- probably, unfamiliar to your listeners, but these are all very large oblast that are states within the Russian territory so -- excuse me, within Ukrainian territory.

So, Russia is facing attacks on about four different directions and they cannot, without these roads and railroads, move their forces around. Without logistics they can't support their force. So, the Russian military is in really bad shape right now, Pamela, because Ukraine is attacking on multiple access and pushing them back.

Something that is just phenomenal to watch and they are very effective in terms of using the HIMARS that they've been located and as you saw in the film that Nick just showed, they have a lot of M-113s which are U.S. personnel carriers, they're getting equipment from NATO and other western forces, which are helping them maintain a momentum and a style of maneuver warfare which is pushing back a very demobilized and low- moral Russian force.

BROWN: And with the growing momentum on the Ukrainian side, is growing desperation on the Russian side, and now you have the head of the Chechen Republic nicknamed, Putin's attack dog, urging the Russian president to use so-called low-grade nuclear weapons on the battlefield there in Ukraine. What are low-grade nuclear weapons and how serious is this threat?

HERTLING: Well, any nuclear weapon is serious, Pamela, because it can create such devastation. When you're talking about low grade, you're usually talking about ten kilotons or less. But that's a relatively large weapon. It causes a lot of explosions and a lot of after effect with radiation and flow to within water sources or citizens in the area.

They are very imprecise because they do have such a large explosion. Russia has used -- I've been to exercises with Russian forces where they normally end an exercise with the use of some type of tactical or small-yield nuclear weapon.

So, this is something that I think we have to be concerned about. But the fact that you have a bunch of heads, talking heads on Russian TV saying, hey, Mr. Putin, you got to use these now.

[17:40:00]

It's just jabber on the network and it's Putin getting things from different directions. What we have to consider too is that in every step of the way, Mr. Putin has failed in his strategy. Not only in the economic and diplomatic strategy, but in connecting the battles to operations to a campaign plan and it has not succeeded in any one of the Russian advances. BROWN: Alright, Lieutenant General Mark Hertling, always great to hear

your perspective on the unfolding situation there in Ukraine. Thank you so much.

Well, changes are expected soon over how the National Football League handles concussions sustained by its players. The move comes after the Miami Dolphins' quarterback was seriously injured in back-to-back games. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROWN: And this just in to CNN. We are learning that in the NFL today, two injuries to report, both head injuries.

[17:44:59]

Buffalo Bills receiver Isaiah McKenzie took a very hard hit. The team says that he was taken out of the game for a concussion. And also, just in, Patriots quarterback Brian Hoyer is now out of the game also with a head injury.

Today's injuries follow the two scary incidents involving Miami Dolphins' quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. That now has the NFL and its players association agreeing to change the league's concussion protocols.

He was allowed to return to last Sunday's game despite what happened on this play where you can see his head hit the turf hard. Worse for him, he took another shot to the head four nights later. He had to be carted off the field on a stretcher and taken to a hospital. The Dolphins' quarterback was discharged just hours later and flew home with the team that night.

But had he been in the NFL's concussion protocol after Sunday's game, Tua wouldn't have been allowed to play in Thursday's contest. The league says it is investigating what happened.

Doctor Bennet Omalu joins us now to talk about this. Doctor Omalu, we should note, your credentials to talk about this. You are a pioneer in researching chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the brain disease also known as CTE. You were the inspiration for the 2015 movie "Concussions" starring Will Smith.

You discovered CTE and your research among NFL players has led to changes in the game. So, with that in mind, what is your reaction first off to what we just learned? Two other players now hit in the head, taken out of the game in addition to what has happened to Tua with the Miami Dolphins?

BENNET OMALU, PRESIDENT AND MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF BENNET OMALU PATHOLOGY: Well, like I have -- thank you so much for having me. Like I have been saying for over 20 years now, this month will be the 20th year anniversary of the Mike Webster autopsy. People need to know the truth about concussions, about the effects of brain trauma.

By the time you've suffered a concussion, you've suffered brain damage. We take you out of play because something around a concussion increases your risk of suffering subsequent concussions. And if you suffer, if you have concussions withing a short period of time, you could drop dead on the field or (inaudible) that injury.

So, the NFL has to be very honest with the consumers of your commodity that playing football, blows to the head is inherent to the play. Not just concussion. The sub-concussive impacts, for example, in college football, one single player can receive over 1,400 violent blows greater than 10g on their head in just one season.

So, players need to be educated adequately sufficiently so that they can make reasonably -- they can make reasonable decisions for themselves. Because like I had said earlier, I blame Tua for getting back to play. Nobody compelled him to go back to play. He was the one who made the decision or accepted to go back to play. We shouldn't blame the NFL. We shouldn't blame the Dolphins. These are corporations that are out there to make money by selling entertainment. But duty falls on the individual players.

BROWN: And let's show that video again of Tua that we showed. First, he was knocked down, we know taken up and you see him back on the field. And I hear you what you're saying that, look, it was on him. I mean, he made the ultimate decision to come back onto the field. But when you saw this video, what was your concern., I mean, seeing how hard his head hit the ground in that game and then another game?

OMALU: Well, the first instance, I thought it was a misappropriation of the science. And for the physician that made the decision to advise him to go back, my honest opinion, that qualifies for malpractice or negligent practice. There was no reason whatsoever for him to go back to play.

And if you listen to my subsequent interviews, I said if Tua went back to play the next game, there was a very high risk he was going to suffer another concussion and that happened exactly. So, I honestly do not know what the solution would be. By the time you suffered a concussion, you've suffered severe brain damage. It's permanent.

And then in addition to the concussions, we have sub-concussive impacts. Players simply need to know that and play at your own risk. And I think it's high time we start blaming the NFL. The NFL is not in business to provide health care to players, no. They're in business to sell football. And so each and every player needs to know especially children, parents of children need to know inherent dangers in playing high impact, high contact sports like football, ice hockey, mixed martial arts, wrestling and rugby.

[17:50:00]

BROWN: Yeah. I'll tell you right now, mine will not be playing football while they're kids, while they're under my watch. I'll tell you that right now, declaring it here.

OMALU: You're a smart parent. You're a smart parent. You're a wise mother. BROWN: And no judgment to others who make different decisions, but, man, it's just so frightening to think they're growing -- you know, they're developing, they're growing and they're brains are so vulnerable. And like what you just pointed out, I mean, how many concussions you can get in a game.

I'm wondering what your thoughts are on this reporting coming in that the NFL and the NFL Players Association, they are going to modify the concussion protocols after the Tua injuries. What should those modifications look like? What more should they be doing to protect players that they're not already doing in your view?

OMALU: Well, first and foremost, we need to know that by the time you've suffered a concussion, you've suffered brain damage. The concussion protocol prevents you from suffering subsequent and catastrophic brain damage, like I have always said. I think if the player suffers a concussion he should be out (inaudible) for the entire season, okay.

And now how independent could a neurologist, a true physician be? So, in my opinion, I think there has to be for every game just like they have in soccer, there has to be a panel of commissioners that may actually supervise to re-contemplate players. And members of that panel should also be families of the players.

BROWN: That's really interesting. So important to get your insight on this. Doctor Bennet Omalu, thank you so much for your time. We'd love to have you back on the show. This issue is not going away.

OMALU: Thank you so much. Thank you.

BROWN: And you're in the CNN NEWSROOM on this Sunday. Up next, getting help to those most in need in southwest Florida. Stay with us.

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[17:55:00]

BROWN: In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, aid groups are scrambling to help communities in need. And one of those non-profits on the ground right now is All Hands and Hearts which was founded to address both the immediate and the long-term needs of communities after a disaster.

Joining us now is CEO of the All Hands and Hearts, Jess Thompson and the group's co-founder, Petra Nemcova. Hi to you both. Thank you so much for coming on. So, Jess, what is All Hands and Hearts doing right now to help in Florida?

JESS THOMPSON, CEO, ALL HANDS AND HEARTS: We're conducting assessments at the moment to see where our volunteer crews can be the most helpful. So, they're out and about visiting neighborhoods and communities that have been impacted to see what might be the most help. It seems right now like the critical need is clearing driveways and roadways so that people can get out and about to get their basic needs like water, gas and so on. There are trees down blocking these roadways and that's really impacting people to be able to access those basic services and needs.

BROWN: And Petra, to bring you in, we should note you're a supermodel. You are a co-founder of this organization. You're on the ground rolling up your sleeves right now. What does it seem like people need the most where you are, Petra?

PETRA NEMCOVA, CO-FOUNDER, ALL HANDS AND HEART: Thank you, Pamela, for having us. And as Jess said, clearing (inaudible) pathways so people can get water, gas and medications, is going to be the first need. And then debris removal, tree removal (inaudible) so that's why our team is assessing the communities which are in the biggest need and the type of work which is needed. And we have our volunteers on the ground helping to do this work.

BROWN: And it's amazing the work that they're doing. Jess, All Hands and Hearts stays to help rebuild. You're not just there in the immediate aftermath, you're there for the long haul. When do you think that rebuilding process will start? What do you expect it to look like?

THOMPSON: Unfortunately, that can take time. Rebuild can start now for those who can afford it, but thor those going through the insurance process, that's going to take a while. For ourselves, nonprofits, it's really driven by funders. So, those kinds of funds start to trickle in around the three-month mark, but the sooner we can get the funds together to do that work, we can make a start within weeks.

BROWN: Petra, I'm curious, as again, a co-founder of this, there have been so many natural disasters, just recently Hurricane Fiona. How do you decide where to put your resources, where to show up? There are so many people in need right now.

NEMCOVA: You're right. The need is so tremendous. In U.S., around the world, and it's very hard to often decide because it really depends a lot on funding. So, depending on how much funds we have out available, we can help more communities and more places around the world. We have helped in 23 countries over 1.2 million people together with our volunteers, but a lot depends on our donors and abilities -- our ability to help depends on donations.

So, more support we can get, more communities we can help. We are right now, as well as here in Florida and in Puerto Rico, in Louisiana as well as many countries around the world from Philippines to Mexico to Nepal, but it's not easy.

[17:55:55]

It really depends on our supporters and also on having the caring hearts of volunteers from around the world. Thankfully there is no shortage of those, but it really depends on donations.