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CNN Live At Daybreak

Refusing Rescue; FEMA's Failure?

Aired September 06, 2005 - 05:00   ET

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

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR:
ANNOUNCER: From the Time Warner Center in New York, this is DAYBREAK with Carol Costello and Chad Myers.

COSTELLO: And good morning to you. We'll have more on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in just a moment.

But first, "Now in the News."

In just under five hours, the casket containing Chief Justice William Rehnquist's body will arrive at the Supreme Court. Some of his former law clerks will act as pallbearers. People can view the casket today and tomorrow.

The stakes have been raised for Supreme Court nominee John Roberts. President Bush now wants the federal judge to succeed William Rehnquist as chief justice. Senate hearings on Roberts were to start today, but have now been delayed.

Rain, wind, floods and landslides. A powerful typhoon is bringing all of it to southwestern Japan this morning. More than 100,000 people have fled their homes. One woman drowned. Several others are missing.

To the forecast center now and Chad.

Welcome back.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol. Thanks. Nice to be back, actually. Sometimes it's nice to be gone, but this time it's nice to be back.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.

MYERS: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: "Mission Critical." Here is the latest on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

New York City is doing its part. One hundred fifty NYPD officers heading out to Louisiana to help in the relief effort. More than 170 others are already there. Police say the support New York got after 9/11 inspired them to contribute. The relief effort seems to be picking up. The government now has provided 8.5 million meals and 15 million liters of water. The Red Cross is housing more than 142,000 evacuees in 16 states. Donations to the agency have topped $400 million.

A mobile hospital is now up and running in a Kmart parking lot in southern Mississippi. Doctors had wanted to set it up in Louisiana but ran into red tape. Louisiana wanted to restrict the kinds of procedures doctors would be allowed to do. The 113-bed hospital travels in a huge convoy. It has state-of-the-art equipment.

Moving time again. About 4,000 Katrina evacuees are moving out of the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. They'll now be sheltered on two cruise ships docked in Galveston. Elderly evacuees get first priority. Carnival Cruise Lines canceled cruises for the ships for the next six months.

Finally fixed. Repair crews in New Orleans have patched a major levee breach and are now pumping water from the city. It could take three months to drain some neighborhoods. Helicopters dumped more than 200 massive sandbags into the holes.

In the meantime, people still in the New Orleans area are taking baby steps toward recovery. Some in Jefferson Parish are being allowed to return home to collect whatever belongings they can. And door-to-door searches are going on to rescue those who remain in water-soaked homes. Yet even now, some people simply don't want to be rescued.

Ed McCarthy of CNN Radio joins us now with why.

Good morning, Ed.

ED MCCARTHY, CNN RADIO: Good morning, Carol. How are you this morning?

It is a situation where people don't want to leave. You know, and you can understand that this is your life and your life is going to be turned upside down. That's the situation for many that are being evacuated here and taken to the airport on helicopters. And then they are going through the process of getting medical care.

And then if they are well enough, sent to other places, places unknown. Not just Houston, but other places all over the country.

COSTELLO: Ed, a question for you. Authorities can force these people to leave now. Why aren't they doing that?

MCCARTHY: Well, they're trying to as much as they can right now. They're focusing also on the grim task that they have ahead of them of trying to collect bodies that have been piled up and they've been finding in canals in other areas.

The disease factor is certainly what people are so concerned about here in New Orleans. And that's why they want these people to get out, because they want them to get to safety, they want them to get medical care, and just to move them, at least if it's temporarily. Whatever they can do for these people. They want them to go. But some people are just reticent to do that right now.

COSTELLO: The mayor of New Orleans came out and said there could be as many as 10,000 people dead in New Orleans. What are you hearing?

MCCARTHY: We are hearing astronomical tolls of people dead here. We don't have firm numbers, obviously. We're so far away from getting to that point right now.

But I have heard stories from people that there have been people that are desperately tying bodies to trees. This is when the waters were -- floodwaters were so high that they didn't want those bodies to float away, and they were trying to keep them in that area.

Very, very sad. We're also getting searchers going through the area trying to find other survivors, as we mentioned. And we're in a situation right now where it's a day-to-day thing.

Even I was being asked this morning by National Guard troops at the airport what -- what they've heard, which indicates to me that still the communication level is just a little bit low. And they wanted to know what -- what they were up against today as their day began.

COSTELLO: Well, you know, this is going to be such a long process, because not only do they have to gather all of the dead, they have to identify them as well. Most of the -- most of their belongings are gone. I mean, how are -- how are they going to do that?

MCCARTHY: That is going to be a question that -- I know that they have hired morticians that are coming in. And they're working on the embalming process. They have a thousand coming up, I think, today. That is the word I am hearing. So they're going to be the professionals that will be in charge of that -- of that effort.

COSTELLO: Ed McCarthy, reporting live from New Orleans this morning.

Thank you.

Former first lady Barbara Bush is speaking out about the refugee crisis. She met with some of them in the Houston Astrodome, and she says many of the refugees are overwhelmed by the hospitality. And then she added this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARBARA BUSH, FMR. FIRST LADY: Almost everyone I've talked to said, "We're going to move to Houston." And so many of the people in the arenas here, you know, were underprivileged anyway. This is -- this is working very well for them.

(END VIDEO CLIP) COSTELLO: Former presidents Bush and Clinton are doing their part for hurricane victims. They have formed the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, with donations going directly to the governors of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama for Katrina victims in those states.

The former President Clinton says those people were failed by their government. He's calling for a federal investigation into the perceived failures of FEMA. In an exclusive interview with CNN, the former president also said changes need to be made in order to avoid a repeat performance.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our government failed those people in the beginning. And I take it now there is no dispute about it. A hundred percent of the people recognize that -- that it was a failure. And I personally believe there should be a serious analysis of it.

I have my own ideas about what caused it. And -- but I don't think we should do it now. I think that in a few weeks we should have some sort of Katrina commission. It should be bipartisan, nonpartisan, whatever. We ought to really look at this, as I always try to, what is the best structure and what are the best kinds of personnel decisions you can make to be good at emergency management?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Some have suggested that FEMA be renamed the "Federal Emergency Mismanagement Association." But are the critics being too harsh? You be the judge.

CNN's Tom Foreman takes us through FEMA's response during the few days before and after Katrina hit.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Days before Katrina, FEMA said it knew what it was facing and that it was ready.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The hurricane center at its 5:00 forecast says this could easily be a Category 4 by the end of the weekend.

FOREMAN: Monday, the storm hits, and FEMA says it has built an arc of relief. Teams with food, water, blankets, medicine all around the strike zone. Rapid-need assessment helicopters will take off on the heels of Katrina to direct resources to the right places.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And we need everyone to stay put. Help is on the road.

KATRINA: Tuesday, 150 miles of coast are in ruins. New Orleans is being flooded. Tens of thousands are trapped in plain sight at the Superdome and the convention center. Thousands huddle on rooftops amid looting and violence.

Michael Brown says his arc of relief is facing impassable roads, poor communication.

MICHAEL BROWN, FEMA DIRECTOR: And so we're going to ask you for the time being to turn to the American Red Cross, the charities, Salvation Army, local churches, others who can provide for your immediate needs.

FOREMAN: Wednesday, in New Orleans people are dying on TV.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I need you to get him to the hospital. We have no other transportation.

FOREMAN: Even as the president flies overhead, critics along the coast say FEMA's relief is inadequate or missing.

Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff, who overseas FEMA, says for the scope of the disaster things are going well.

MICHAEL CHERTOFF, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: We will work tirelessly to ensure that state and local authorities benefit from the full mobilization of our capabilities.

FOREMAN: His own FEMA director, however, now says he was surprised by the storm's power. Surprised people did not evacuate. Surprised levees failed, even though that was all predicted by many experts for many years. As for FEMA's arc of relief, 48 hours after the storm...

BROWN: And we're going to have those caravans moving tonight. So tomorrow you're going to see that relief.

FOREMAN: Thursday, hour by hour, trapped people cry for help and it does not come. Some buses, yes, but certainly not enough. FEMA says it's delivering enormous amounts of aid all over.

Local leaders are also under heavy criticism, and by Friday they explode.

MAYOR RAY NAGIN (D), NEW ORLEANS: It's too doggone late. Now get off your asses and let's do something!

FOREMAN: Tens of thousands at the convention center have been in the news for three days. Help finally arrives, with an admission.

BROWN: I think it was yesterday morning when we first found out about it. We were just as surprised as everybody else.

FOREMAN: A week after Katrina, the situation is finally better. But there are still few details about where the government's arc of relief was during four terrible days when relief was terribly needed.

Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Jeb Bush, Florida's governor and the president's brother, says Hurricane Katrina has sparked interest in the need for a national hurricane fund. Nobody knows the price of rebuilding and recovering from Katrina yet, but it's estimated up to $600 million will be needed in Florida alone.

Florida has long promoted a program that would call for U.S. homeowners or taxpayers to share the cost of huge storms. Property and homeowners' insurance policy premiums are going to go up anyway. Governor Bush hopes the wake of Katrina Washington politicians will rally around a national program to ensure hurricane risks.

Governor Bush says, "The concept is that there are disasters that take place: floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, fires. That makes sense to share that risk in a broader way than just one state bearing the burden."

And to put it all in a nutshell, Chad, that means everybody will have to pay part of the insurance premiums for those who live in areas that...

MYERS: On the beach.

COSTELLO: On the beach, or in San Francisco, where earthquakes hit.

MYERS: Correct.

COSTELLO: In fact, All State Insurance is also pushing this. And we're going to talk to someone from All State in the next hour of DAYBREAK.

MYERS: Their hands are tied, too. They have to go state by state. So now all those premiums in Louisiana all over the state are going to go up to pay for the problems in southern Louisiana.

So that's what they're all saying, should there be a national catastrophe fund? Should we be able to take money from the people that paid insurance in Milwaukee and give it to the people in Louisiana? Should there be some type of national cross-the-borders, cross-state-lines type of fund?

We want to know what you think. Go to DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

Now this isn't like the national flood insurance program, but there sure would be a problem for people in Toledo going, "Wait a minute. What's my money going to somebody who just rebuilt their house on the beach again?"

But Toledo, you never know what could happen to your city either.

COSTELLO: But Chad...

MYERS: So, you know, this is all kind of a -- a kind of love thy neighbor kind of thing.

COSTELLO: Exactly, but what about those people who are very wealthy who build these beautiful homes in areas that may be hit by a hurricane and their homes are wiped out? Why should I have to pay for their insurance when they could well afford it?

MYERS: Don't get me started.

COSTELLO: Oh, I hope that got our audience started.

MYERS: All right.

COSTELLO: DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

MYERS: OK.

COSTELLO: Some school kids in Atlanta are offering some sweet relief in the wake of Katrina. They call themselves the kings and queens of lemonade. They set up a stand selling lemonade and cookies to anyone who would give a donation to help the hurricane victims. The kids say the tragedy made them sad, so they decided to do something to help out.

They're called stragglers, but who would possibly straggle behind when everything you need to live is gone? Coming up, a look at the people who are refusing to leave New Orleans.

Also, what if you couldn't hear the warnings? We'll show you one deaf man's ordeal as he tries to get out of the flood zone.

But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Tuesday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Time to check our -- time to check the markets, the international markets, at least. They're mixed this morning.

Japan's Nikkei closes down 35 points. Britain's FTSE is trading up 16. The German DAX is up nearly 29 points.

Let's turn to oil now.

In futures trading, light, sweet crude is about $66.50 a barrel this morning.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:17 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

Hurricane survivors in Biloxi, Mississippi, are now getting enough food and water. And authorities say the security situation is stable. At least 160 people are now confirmed dead in Mississippi.

Starting this morning, Chief Justice William Rehnquist's body will lie in repose at the Supreme Court. His casket will be placed in the court's great hall. Rehnquist will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery tomorrow.

In money news, Jerry Lewis' annual Labor Day Muscular Dystrophy Telethon raised about $1 million for Hurricane Katrina relief. Another $55 million was pledged to fight the disease. Lewis says he was surprised they were able to raise so much money so soon after the hurricane.

In culture, "Transporter 2" took the top spot at the box office over the long Hollywood weekend. The sequel pulled in a little over $20 million, and that is a record for the traditionally slow Labor Day Weekend.

In sports, you knew it had to happen. Jerry Rice, the hardest working man in football, is retiring. The certain Hall of Famer walks away after 20 years in the game. He holds 38 NFL records, including the one for most all-time touchdowns.

What a great guy, Chad.

MYERS: One of the really nice guys in football, yes. So hopefully he gets into the Hall of Fame rather quickly, as we know he will. First vote, I'm sure.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.

That's a look at the latest headlines for you this morning.

Our coverage on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina continues. But as we go to break, from CNN's victims and relief desk, some of the missing and their contact information.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MYERS: Ah, from Jerome in Fairlawn, New Jersey, "Are you mad? Are you seriously proposing subsidizing irrational behavior? Do you really want to make it easier for persons to settle in dangerous areas?"

Oh, Carol, we're fired up this morning.

Should there be a national catastrophe fund, is our DAYBREAK question of the day. And I have -- I have some smoke coming out of the back of my computer this morning. We'll be reading these e-mails in a minute.

Get in there. DAYBREAK@CNN.com, let us know what you think.

COSTELLO: All right. Thank you, Chad.

MYERS: Sure.

COSTELLO: Search and rescue missions are a constant in New Orleans. The city's still largely under water, a city which the deputy police chief describes as destroyed.

Still, as CNN's David Mattingly reports, some people are refusing to leave.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Even as the floodwaters filled the first floor of his New Orleans house, Ralph Amat was determined to stay.

RALPH AMAT, HURRICANE SURVIVOR: The gutter came down and slammed into the side of the house.

MATTINGLY: There's a hole in the wall. And the roof needs fixing from the hurricane. The hardwood floors are wet and spongy from the flood. Yet, the retired merchant Marine is still willing to stay and take his chances.

(on camera): What do you do all day?

AMAT: I plow up garbage.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): There's no electricity, no running water, no phone and no promise of when they will come back. Amat is driven by a need to protect his property. A .38 and a shotgun came in handy when looters twice tried to break in.

AMAT: I shot at people. I didn't shoot to kill, which is not my fault. I missed. I'm 69 years old. I will be 70 in three days.

MATTINGLY: Sustained for the moment by occasional handouts of food and water from passing military patrols, authorities refer to Amat and others like him as stragglers. And there could be thousands of them. The world they live in reeks of stagnant water and sewage. There's a constant roar of helicopters overhead.

Their once park-like streets are littered with disabled city buses and piles of trash.

(on camera): The smell of rotting garbage is so thick in some areas that it can take your breath away. But behind all the filth and all the debris, there are still neighborhoods, homes, and lives that some people are refusing to leave behind.

PATRICIA KELLY, HURRICANE SURVIVOR: It's pretty much nice.

MATTINGLY (on camera): This is nice?

KELLY: For being out there, it's OK here. This is how we sleep.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): Pat Kelly is a missionary forced out of her flooded home. She waits to return to her flooded church and for word from her family, taking up residence for now on the open porch of a beauty parlor.

She and three others sleep on salvaged mattresses, among the flies and stray dogs.

(on camera): But you have the option of leaving. Why do you stay?

KELLY: To leave and go where, sir? MATTINGLY: You'd rather stay here on a porch?

KELLY: I'm -- oh, I'm doing fine, because my children are up in age. It's not like I have my small babies with me or anything. So I'm fine.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): But, as each day passes, more of the stragglers decide, it's time to go. After holding out for a week, hopes of hearing from her missing son fading, Bettie Perrier is among those who are saying goodbye to a ravaged city.

BETTIE PERRIER, HURRICANE SURVIVOR: If he hear me, your mama and daddy is going to the Convention Center, and we don't know where we're going from there.

MATTINGLY: But many won't be moved. City buses continue to provide transportation to evacuation centers, but none of them is full. The pull of home, such as it is, is just too strong.

David Mattingly, CNN, New Orleans.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: So many of you have been extremely generous, and donations for hurricane victims are pouring into the American Red Cross. According to the latest figures, Red Cross officials estimate the organization has received almost $353 million in gifts and pledges.

A reminder about how you can help. The American Red Cross can be reached at its Web address, www.redcross.org, or 1-800-HELP-NOW. A full listing of charities also on our Web site at CNN.com.

Our coverage of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina continues in the next half-hour. We'll hear the tale of Australian tourists who were vacationing in New Orleans as Hurricane Katrina blew into town.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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