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CNN Live At Daybreak
America Recovers: Cleanup and Rescue Operation in New York a Momentous Task
Aired September 25, 2001 - 08:12 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We turn now to the recovery effort under way at the World Trade Center and the tremendous amount of assistance needed.
Joining me now is FEMA director, Joe Allbaugh.
Don't call you Joseph, right?
JOE ALLBAUGH, DIRECTOR, FEMA: Something like that.
(CROSSTALK)
ZAHN: Welcome -- good to see you.
ALLBAUGH: Good to see you, Paula.
ZAHN: The fire commissioner last night said he had all but given up hope of finding anyone in the rubble of the World Trade Center. Do you share his view?
ALLBAUGH: We're losing time. Time is working against us. I think we all pray and hope for a miracle. But this morning, we're about to mark two weeks, and it's highly unlikely we're going to find anyone alive.
But those workers down the street are working as diligently, as hard as they can -- it's going to start raining here later this morning --putting their own lives at risk -- the men and women down at the site. They are heroes just like those individuals who are lost are heroes to our country.
ZAHN: Take us inside the process now. And as we talk, we're going to share with the audience some of the video your cameras captured. The difficulty now and the challenge, you said besides the dangerous, slippery conditions...
ALLBAUGH: Right, right.
ZAHN: ... that await these workers later today is what?
ALLBAUGH: Tight, tight places. I was down with urban search- and-rescue team, as well New York City fire officials, and these men and women go inside and can only spend about 20-30 minutes before they run into pockets of carbon monoxide. It takes such a toll, they have to come out and rest for about an hour. We have dogs on site. I think there was a dog
(CROSSTALK)
ZAHN: Yes, there's one right there.
ALLBAUGH: Roscoe (ph), I believe that's Roscoe (ph). He carried a miniature camera around his neck, and then his handler has a camera -- a monitor as the dog can get into places sometimes that individuals can't get into. They are really heroes, what they're doing performing yeoman duty.
ZAHN: And what is it you're looking for in those tight spots?
ALLBAUGH: Signs of life, quite frankly -- pockets where individuals may have congregated. But there is, you know, 1,400-1,500 story (sic) building now that's compressed into about 80 feet. I mean, it is really tough. The building was made of steel and concrete. The steel is just twisted like pretzels, and the concrete is basically disintegrated, and time is still working against us.
ZAHN: You said they continue to have extremely dangerous work conditions down there.
ALLBAUGH: Yes.
ZAHN: Describe to us some of the injuries that these workers are sustaining in going about their business.
ALLBAUGH: I ran into -- yes -- I ran into an individual yesterday, who had suffered an injury. A large piece of glass came off one of the buildings surrounding the site hitting him in the back -- a large gash. I think there have been 1,400 or 1,500 people injured at the site thus far working. We have about at any one time, 2,500-2,600 (sic) individuals working in one of the four zones at the site. These people are incredible individuals.
I'm not sure that I could do what they do, Paula. They are unique Americans, and I'm thankful that they are here.
ZAHN: I know it's always stunning to hear that many of these workers have to be reminded that their shift is up after 24 hours...
ALLBAUGH: Right, right.
ZAHN: ... and they need to go home, which I think shows us all the level of commitment they have. How long is it going to take to get the site cleaned up?
ALLBAUGH: Months. It's going to take months. About 1.2 million tons of debris to be removed, and that's going to take a while. I know city engineers, as well as the Corp of Engineers, are working right now to dredge out an area around Pier 6, so we can bring in barges and help facilitate the removal of the debris. But it's going to take months. ZAHN: How will your job change once this new Homeland Security cabinet position is up and running?
ALLBAUGH: I don't know yet. Governor Ridge, who is a fine American, is the perfect man for this job. He and I haven't spoken yet. I have been focused here on New York and at the Pentagon and Pennsylvania -- on those sites. But it will change somewhat; I'm sure it will. I mean, this is a monumental task. The whole world has changed as of two weeks ago.
ZAHN: And the other thing, obviously, that has to be a concern of yours is a warning coming out of the World Health Organization -- and I can read it right here -- that governments need to be prepared for possible biological or chemical weapons attacks.
Are you satisfied with the level of smallpox vaccines that are on hand and anti-botulism vaccines?
ALLBAUGH: I'm not sure that I am satisfied, but at the same time, we, at FEMA, spend an inordinate amount of time dealing with state and local responders trying to educate them, train them to be prepared in their response, should anything like this take place.
ZAHN: Well, we wish you continued good luck. I'll tell you, anybody across the country that's watching what you and your team is trying to do, along with the help of men and women that have come in from all over the country, is quite admirable.
ALLBAUGH: Thanks very much, Paula. There is one thing I need to mention, though. As a result of all of this, people are going to need counseling, and one of the things that we offer is crisis counseling. Now, I need to give you a phone number...
ZAHN: OK.
ALLBAUGH: ... so people can call in.
ZAHN: You folks have a pen and a piece of paper?
ALLBAUGH: Now, forgive me for reading this, but I want to be exact. It's 1-800-462-9029. It's a place where they can register.
ZAHN: We already actually got it up on the screen right now.
ALLBAUGH: That's great. They can register. That starts the flow of federal assistance. They need to call that number if they have not yet.
ZAHN: This is one of the rare times we allow people to use a 1- 800 number here on the air.
ALLBAUGH: Yes. Yes, I understand.
ZAHN: You're not running for office, so we'll allow it this morning.
ALLBAUGH: Forgive me for doing that. Nice to see you, Paula.
ZAHN: Mr. Allbaugh, no, I think it's for a very good reason -- continued good luck,
ALLBAUGH: Thank you, Paula.
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