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Long Road Back Recovering From Weekend Storms

Aired November 12, 2002 - 14:33   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.


MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the damage is done. Now, communities from Mississippi to the Great Lakes are faced with the very difficult job of rebuilding from a wave of weekend tornadoes that swept across the Eastern U.S. The storms killed 36 people: 17 in Tennessee, 12 in Alabama, five in Ohio, and one each in Mississippi and Pennsylvania. One woman remains unaccounted for in Mossy Grove, Tennessee.
And that is where CNN's Miles O'Brien has been all day long. He joins us live with an update -- Miles.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Marty, it's a remarkable scene that's unfolding right behind me in this little valley, where the tornado came down. It came right down the mountain and came across here. What you're seeing is just an outpouring of support and assistance from friends, and family members. Looks like there's National Guard troops in the mix there. Utility crews. We got people operating back-hoes, bulldozers, just friends going through clothing. It's in many senses the bright side of this terrible story.

I want show -- to tell you about Massell Phillips (ph). Massell (ph) has lived in what was this house. You look at it, the roof is completely gone right now -- for 20 years. She is in here. She's got an amazing story to tell. This is what used to be her kitchen.

Massell (ph), can you come on over here? I want to talk to you a little bit about what happened on that night. You walk carefully there, though, ma'am. This is her daughter, Joanne Pass (ph), who came up from Atlanta. Saw this house on CNN and became a little bit worried about that.

I bet your were. What went through your mind when you saw your mother's house on TV?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am glad I saw -- I knew my mother was OK before I saw the house.

O'BRIEN: You did know that?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I did know that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good thing she knew that before she seen the house, because she wouldn't have believed I'd be alive.

O'BRIEN: Massell (ph), what did you do? Where were you? How did you get through this? Because this house is a wreck right now. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, Sunday evening, I went out on the back porch. It started thunder and lightning. I guess about 7:30 or 7:00, 7:00, 7:30, I don't know what time it was. And the -- that hot iron hit me and everything. I had seen a tornado in Danville, so I said to myself, There's coming a tornado, and I'm going to the basement. So I come through my kitchen, got a flashlight, and went to the basement. And I just got my chair, and sit down when it hit.

O'BRIEN: You did the right thing. So you just felt it coming? You knew...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Actually, I knew it was coming. It was -- it felt like it did this evening, in Danville, Kentucky, when that one hit.

O'BRIEN: Wow, that's something else. And as you go through here, and when it was all over, you must have been quite thankful.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I couldn't back up here that night. They had to get me out through the basement. And then I come back down here. I've just got to come in here yesterday. I just can't believe it. I just don't know how any of it is standing, but still, it's more than I can take right now, I think.

O'BRIEN: I believe it. I believe it. Show me this one thing which is pretty remarkable story. This is something you got for your 50th anniversary. Look at all of this destruction we are in middle of.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's on top of a piece of furniture.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, not enclosed or anything.

O'BRIEN: How did that happen?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't know.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's got -- it has the water in there and won't come out.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hair-dry it.

O'BRIEN: How the water got in there is an interesting story.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I had just got that new refrigerator last week on Tuesday. That new refrigerator, the handle is gone off of it. (UNITELELLIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That is about four days old.

O'BRIEN: Look at that refrigerator, that's four days old. I don't know...

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And it don't look too good.

O'BRIEN: What's next for you? You going to rebuild here, Massell (ph)? It's a big task that lies ahead.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I doubt if I rebuild. I might consider getting a double wide trailer or something. I not made -- I haven't time -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE). I'll do something. I'll make up my mind. But right now, I don't know.

O'BRIEN: You got insurance?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Yes, I've got some insurance.

O'BRIEN: You got some help?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I got some good help. And Lord, everybody has offered to help.

O'BRIEN: Well, that's the best part of this story here is that all of these people out here want to help out.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And they're gonna all help me. They say they're going to help me clean up. I've had several men come say they was going to help clean up and everything.

O'BRIEN: Good luck.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've had the governor of Tennessee even been here. Everybody has been here, I think. And they're going to help me.

O'BRIEN: We're glad you're here to be helped. Massell Phillips (ph), Joanne Pass (ph), thank you very much. We wish you well as you begin your efforts to rebuild.

All right, she did the right thing, she went down to the basement.

Now, there is all kinds of stories like this where it would seem unlikely that somebody could survive such a thing. They live to tell a story. And perhaps the most notable one in this last wave of storms comes out of Van Wert, Ohio. That theater story where more than 60 people in there watching a movie, and thanks to some heads up and some warning, they all lived to tell that story.

For that, we turn to CNN's Jeff Flock.

JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, Miles, thank you. We have obtained now some exclusive videotape of the inside of that theater. You wonder where did those people go? Where were they, in the bathroom? We have obtained pictures of that; were going to show you that in a moment.

But first, I just want to give you a sense for what is happening as we speak here. This is the industrial park that is on the other side of town in Van Wert. This is the ruin of a handbag manufacturing company right now. If you look through the rubble, you see everywhere handbags here and there. There is one that was all ready to go on out. And also all sort of raw materials for the making of handbags everywhere. Stacks and stacks of fabric, and all that sort of thing. So boy, just a real -- a real mess out here. Again, an industrial park, in some ways great, that it was that was hit, a lot of damage, but not a lot of people. So that was the good thing.

Where the people were, though, was in that movie theater. I want to show you that tape -- interior of the what was the women's bathroom. And the reason that most people were in the women's bathroom is, I'm told, it was bigger than the men's bathroom. So most of the people in there, we talked to a survivor there, who told us that people were crying, people were lying on top of each other. Just an incredible scene, and not that big of a bathroom. So fortunately, there weren't more people in that theater, because there were not that many safe places to go.

I do want to show you one other scenes from inside the theater as well. You know, there were five screens in there. You saw the one yesterday outside where all of the walls were down, and you could see it from the open air. All of the other screens were damaged in some way, but I want to show you the other one. I believe this was cinema number 2. In that one, you can see the screen that fell down on top of -- on top of the chairs. The ceiling is out of that. The ceiling was out of the bathroom, too. Tremendous damage inside this theater. The owner of the theater indicating that it may be very difficult to rebuild it without completely knocking the whole thing down.

And you know, the other thing is that was there was an outdoor theater, a drive-in theater with a big high screen, about 60-by-80, and that was toppled as well. And there's some doubt about whether that drive-in theater, not too many drive-in theaters left in America, Marty. And that was one of them. Whether or not that one makes a reappearance again, I guess we'll have to see.

But the good news is no one hurt or injured in those theaters, and that is good news today, given how -- how strong this storm was, an F-5 storm here in Van Wert, Ohio.

Back to you ED. Did I say five? If I said five, I meant four. F-4 -- in Van Wert -- Marty

SAVIDGE: Jeff Flock, it is amazing, especially by what we see behind you. Thank you very much. Reporting live from area right up where I hail from.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired November 12, 2002 - 14:33   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the damage is done. Now, communities from Mississippi to the Great Lakes are faced with the very difficult job of rebuilding from a wave of weekend tornadoes that swept across the Eastern U.S. The storms killed 36 people: 17 in Tennessee, 12 in Alabama, five in Ohio, and one each in Mississippi and Pennsylvania. One woman remains unaccounted for in Mossy Grove, Tennessee.
And that is where CNN's Miles O'Brien has been all day long. He joins us live with an update -- Miles.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Marty, it's a remarkable scene that's unfolding right behind me in this little valley, where the tornado came down. It came right down the mountain and came across here. What you're seeing is just an outpouring of support and assistance from friends, and family members. Looks like there's National Guard troops in the mix there. Utility crews. We got people operating back-hoes, bulldozers, just friends going through clothing. It's in many senses the bright side of this terrible story.

I want show -- to tell you about Massell Phillips (ph). Massell (ph) has lived in what was this house. You look at it, the roof is completely gone right now -- for 20 years. She is in here. She's got an amazing story to tell. This is what used to be her kitchen.

Massell (ph), can you come on over here? I want to talk to you a little bit about what happened on that night. You walk carefully there, though, ma'am. This is her daughter, Joanne Pass (ph), who came up from Atlanta. Saw this house on CNN and became a little bit worried about that.

I bet your were. What went through your mind when you saw your mother's house on TV?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am glad I saw -- I knew my mother was OK before I saw the house.

O'BRIEN: You did know that?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I did know that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good thing she knew that before she seen the house, because she wouldn't have believed I'd be alive.

O'BRIEN: Massell (ph), what did you do? Where were you? How did you get through this? Because this house is a wreck right now. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, Sunday evening, I went out on the back porch. It started thunder and lightning. I guess about 7:30 or 7:00, 7:00, 7:30, I don't know what time it was. And the -- that hot iron hit me and everything. I had seen a tornado in Danville, so I said to myself, There's coming a tornado, and I'm going to the basement. So I come through my kitchen, got a flashlight, and went to the basement. And I just got my chair, and sit down when it hit.

O'BRIEN: You did the right thing. So you just felt it coming? You knew...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Actually, I knew it was coming. It was -- it felt like it did this evening, in Danville, Kentucky, when that one hit.

O'BRIEN: Wow, that's something else. And as you go through here, and when it was all over, you must have been quite thankful.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I couldn't back up here that night. They had to get me out through the basement. And then I come back down here. I've just got to come in here yesterday. I just can't believe it. I just don't know how any of it is standing, but still, it's more than I can take right now, I think.

O'BRIEN: I believe it. I believe it. Show me this one thing which is pretty remarkable story. This is something you got for your 50th anniversary. Look at all of this destruction we are in middle of.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's on top of a piece of furniture.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, not enclosed or anything.

O'BRIEN: How did that happen?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't know.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's got -- it has the water in there and won't come out.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hair-dry it.

O'BRIEN: How the water got in there is an interesting story.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I had just got that new refrigerator last week on Tuesday. That new refrigerator, the handle is gone off of it. (UNITELELLIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That is about four days old.

O'BRIEN: Look at that refrigerator, that's four days old. I don't know...

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And it don't look too good.

O'BRIEN: What's next for you? You going to rebuild here, Massell (ph)? It's a big task that lies ahead.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I doubt if I rebuild. I might consider getting a double wide trailer or something. I not made -- I haven't time -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE). I'll do something. I'll make up my mind. But right now, I don't know.

O'BRIEN: You got insurance?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Yes, I've got some insurance.

O'BRIEN: You got some help?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I got some good help. And Lord, everybody has offered to help.

O'BRIEN: Well, that's the best part of this story here is that all of these people out here want to help out.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And they're gonna all help me. They say they're going to help me clean up. I've had several men come say they was going to help clean up and everything.

O'BRIEN: Good luck.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've had the governor of Tennessee even been here. Everybody has been here, I think. And they're going to help me.

O'BRIEN: We're glad you're here to be helped. Massell Phillips (ph), Joanne Pass (ph), thank you very much. We wish you well as you begin your efforts to rebuild.

All right, she did the right thing, she went down to the basement.

Now, there is all kinds of stories like this where it would seem unlikely that somebody could survive such a thing. They live to tell a story. And perhaps the most notable one in this last wave of storms comes out of Van Wert, Ohio. That theater story where more than 60 people in there watching a movie, and thanks to some heads up and some warning, they all lived to tell that story.

For that, we turn to CNN's Jeff Flock.

JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, Miles, thank you. We have obtained now some exclusive videotape of the inside of that theater. You wonder where did those people go? Where were they, in the bathroom? We have obtained pictures of that; were going to show you that in a moment.

But first, I just want to give you a sense for what is happening as we speak here. This is the industrial park that is on the other side of town in Van Wert. This is the ruin of a handbag manufacturing company right now. If you look through the rubble, you see everywhere handbags here and there. There is one that was all ready to go on out. And also all sort of raw materials for the making of handbags everywhere. Stacks and stacks of fabric, and all that sort of thing. So boy, just a real -- a real mess out here. Again, an industrial park, in some ways great, that it was that was hit, a lot of damage, but not a lot of people. So that was the good thing.

Where the people were, though, was in that movie theater. I want to show you that tape -- interior of the what was the women's bathroom. And the reason that most people were in the women's bathroom is, I'm told, it was bigger than the men's bathroom. So most of the people in there, we talked to a survivor there, who told us that people were crying, people were lying on top of each other. Just an incredible scene, and not that big of a bathroom. So fortunately, there weren't more people in that theater, because there were not that many safe places to go.

I do want to show you one other scenes from inside the theater as well. You know, there were five screens in there. You saw the one yesterday outside where all of the walls were down, and you could see it from the open air. All of the other screens were damaged in some way, but I want to show you the other one. I believe this was cinema number 2. In that one, you can see the screen that fell down on top of -- on top of the chairs. The ceiling is out of that. The ceiling was out of the bathroom, too. Tremendous damage inside this theater. The owner of the theater indicating that it may be very difficult to rebuild it without completely knocking the whole thing down.

And you know, the other thing is that was there was an outdoor theater, a drive-in theater with a big high screen, about 60-by-80, and that was toppled as well. And there's some doubt about whether that drive-in theater, not too many drive-in theaters left in America, Marty. And that was one of them. Whether or not that one makes a reappearance again, I guess we'll have to see.

But the good news is no one hurt or injured in those theaters, and that is good news today, given how -- how strong this storm was, an F-5 storm here in Van Wert, Ohio.

Back to you ED. Did I say five? If I said five, I meant four. F-4 -- in Van Wert -- Marty

SAVIDGE: Jeff Flock, it is amazing, especially by what we see behind you. Thank you very much. Reporting live from area right up where I hail from.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com