Return to Transcripts main page

Live From...

Authorities Hold News Conference on California Mudslides

Aired December 26, 2003 - 15:05   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: I'm being told we're getting new pictures now, live pictures, out of San Bernardino, California. These are coming from our affiliate, KCAL-KCBS in San Bernardino, rescue crews continuing to search for bodies that are unaccounted for.
I'm also being told that they are starting the news conference now, Chip Patterson with the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department addressing reporters.

Let's listen in.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

CHIP PATTERSON, SPOKESMAN, SAN BERNARDINO SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: P-A-T-T-E-R-S-O-N. I'm a spokesman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

And the latest information that we can bring you -- actually, I want to also explain a little bit about what these people were doing. Can everybody hear?

QUESTION: No, not really.

PATTERSON: Explain a little bit about what these people were doing at the time that the flood hit.

Right now, we're pretty sure we're looking for 14 missing people. And it's possible that as many as nine of those are children. And, again, these numbers may fluctuate as time goes on. But, at the moment, we're pretty comfortable with what we've found out from the survivors.

Apparently, these people are all family and friends of the caretaker to Saint Sophia Camp. And they were up there for the holiday visiting. It wasn't a church-related function, per se. They were there as his friends and family, and obviously got caught in the flood, the mudslide, when it happened.

We've found two bodies thus far. But, as I mentioned earlier, there's a couple vehicles that are also in the slide area. So we're not sure if the dead are from the camp or maybe a resident or maybe an occupant of a vehicle. That will all be determined by the county coroner. And I understand that they have -- are starting their extrication process right now. They have a recovery team that involves five members. And they're going to be doing their work as -- throughout the day. They're going to recover the bodies; 14 people were -- had survived this incident yesterday. And I'm told that one still remains in the hospital. And the other 13 were treated and released. Tracey may have some details about that.

Any questions?

QUESTION: Have you identified the two dead yet, in terms of age and gender?

PATTERSON: No, we don't have anything further on the dead yet. We're going to be waiting for the coroner for that inspection.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) They haven't been recovered?

PATTERSON: Yes, the recovery process is ongoing.

Now, you might have seen our helicopter landing. There were several people that were -- actually, four airlifts we did. Those people were not directly related to the flood. In other words, they weren't caught in the slide. They are residents of that area. And they have different medical problems. It's much easier and efficient to airlift them out. I'm told that also eight people have walked out today so far from that area, that is, eight residents.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

PATTERSON: Age range of the children, we believe, is from 6 months to 16 years. And, as I mentioned earlier, our searchers on the mountain are diligently trying to find anybody else who is alive. And that's going to go -- that's going to continue, obviously, throughout the day.

We have about six or more dogs involved and 65 to 75 search and rescue people on the ground. County fire has several dozen. And Tracey can talk more in detail about that.

QUESTION: Chip, you said 14 missing, two bodies found, though. Are they considered part of the missing until they're identified? Or how does that work?

PATTERSON: Yes. Yes, the 14 it's a total number. In other words, from this morning, we have -- we believe that there's 14 individuals that we have that were unaccounted for. But, obviously, we have -- we would subtract the bodies from that number.

But, again, this may fluctuate. There are some homes up there. As I said, there are some vehicles caught up there. So, when it all settles out, I don't know what we're going to end up with. So these numbers are not hard and fast.

QUESTION: And all the missing, the 14, are they reported from the family that was up at the camp?

PATTERSON: Yes.

QUESTION: Are there other families? (OFF-MIKE) reports of people who can't

(CROSSTALK)

PATTERSON: That we know of, all 14 from this outing at the camp that we talked about.

QUESTION: Chip, you said that this was not a church-sponsored event, per se.

PATTERSON: Right.

QUESTION: The church says they had absolutely nothing to do with it and says that they didn't even know that these people were there. Do you have anything that would contradict that?

PATTERSON: I can't speak to that. That would be between the church and the people.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

PATTERSON: Well, again, the caretaker is affiliated with the church. And it's a church camp. So what their relationship was, that's -- I can't speak to that.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

PATTERSON: That I know, he's missing as well so far. And -- I forgot what I was going to say.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) are missing?

PATTERSON: I don't have that kind of detail, so I can't confirm that. I know that he, himself, is missing. That, we know.

QUESTION: How did you find the two bodies that you found? Was it dogs? Was it through the air?

PATTERSON: Search and rescuers on the ground. And, as you know, they're going on foot through that area. We've done a number of flyovers with helicopters and will continue to do that.

But because of the nature of the slide, they have to be -- they have to go very slowly right through the debris.

QUESTION: Were they on the site, the two that were found? Or had they been washed some distance?

PATTERSON: I don't know specifically where they were found. We can try to get that for you and have it later.

QUESTION: Chip, I just want to clarify the numbers; 14 were rescued yesterday. You think there are still around 14 missing now?

PATTERSON: Yes.

QUESTION: And that would not include the two bodies you found (CROSSTALK)

PATTERSON: That would include the two...

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: Total of around 30 people, then, overall?

PATTERSON: No, we're talking -- we would be talking about 28 people total, 14 that survived initially yesterday and 14 that we are seeking now. Now, you can subtract the two bodies from that. So now we have 12.

(CROSSTALK)

TRACEY MARTINEZ, SAN BERNARDINO FIRE DEPARTMENT: In addition, there were four vehicles up in that area, OK? We do not know how many folks were in those vehicles, because they were evacuated. So we know for sure 14 were missing from the camp. In addition, that's why we've been telling you upwards of 20, because we don't know how many people were in those vehicles, if that will help.

QUESTION: Was the caretaker's home one of the two buildings that were washed away, do you know?

MARTINEZ: We don't know anything about what's going on up at the camp or who lived there or anything like that.

QUESTION: Do you know how many different families were at the camp?

MARTINEZ: No, sir, we do not.

QUESTION: Are you being helped by the people who were rescued, indicating where these people might -- where the floods went?

MARTINEZ: They're helping us as much as they can. They're trying to tell us the layout of the camp, exactly where they were located, if there was anyone in the surrounding buildings. Most of them have been great, talking about what happened, what direction the flow went.

Any other questions?

QUESTION: I understand now that some of the survivors are actually now taking part in the search.

PATTERSON: Well, not in the search itself. It is too dangerous to have those folks up there. They're helping us in other ways, by trying to let us know who was at the camp where and things like that.

We will have another briefing at 3:00. We're bringing you guys back as often as we can to give you every update that we have.

Anything else?

QUESTION: Do you know if they're using the FLIR on the helicopter to look?

PATTERSON: That's a good question.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) of the helicopters have FLIR?

PATTERSON: Yes, we have that capability, but I don't know the answer. I'll try to find out for you.

QUESTION: Chip, do you know what time the slide happened and how the events unfolded?

PHILLIPS: San Bernardino County's fire and sheriff representatives there briefing reporters on the California mudslides.

You're looking at live pictures via KCAL and KCBS out of Los Angeles. She are two of the rescue workers, sort of a tedious task, step by step, hopefully, in their minds, for survivors.

But here's the count so far. Some campsites that were devastated by these mudslides, two campsites. And these are the numbers; 14 people have been rescued so far, but there are still 12 people missing. Nine, they believe, are children, 6 months to 16 years old, two people definitely confirmed dead.

And now they're saying there could be additional people in vehicles that were overcome by the mudslides. They're still not sure. That's why the search continues for vehicles that might have been traveling along these roads that you now see have been completely overrun by mud, and the workers, rescue workers there continuing to sort of comb through this wide landscape for the 12 campers that are still missing, nine of whom, they believe, are children 6 months to 16 years old.

We'll continue to follow this as the search continues. We'll update you as much as we can, as we get new information.

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 December 26, 2003 - 15:05   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: I'm being told we're getting new pictures now, live pictures, out of San Bernardino, California. These are coming from our affiliate, KCAL-KCBS in San Bernardino, rescue crews continuing to search for bodies that are unaccounted for.
I'm also being told that they are starting the news conference now, Chip Patterson with the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department addressing reporters.

Let's listen in.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

CHIP PATTERSON, SPOKESMAN, SAN BERNARDINO SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: P-A-T-T-E-R-S-O-N. I'm a spokesman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

And the latest information that we can bring you -- actually, I want to also explain a little bit about what these people were doing. Can everybody hear?

QUESTION: No, not really.

PATTERSON: Explain a little bit about what these people were doing at the time that the flood hit.

Right now, we're pretty sure we're looking for 14 missing people. And it's possible that as many as nine of those are children. And, again, these numbers may fluctuate as time goes on. But, at the moment, we're pretty comfortable with what we've found out from the survivors.

Apparently, these people are all family and friends of the caretaker to Saint Sophia Camp. And they were up there for the holiday visiting. It wasn't a church-related function, per se. They were there as his friends and family, and obviously got caught in the flood, the mudslide, when it happened.

We've found two bodies thus far. But, as I mentioned earlier, there's a couple vehicles that are also in the slide area. So we're not sure if the dead are from the camp or maybe a resident or maybe an occupant of a vehicle. That will all be determined by the county coroner. And I understand that they have -- are starting their extrication process right now. They have a recovery team that involves five members. And they're going to be doing their work as -- throughout the day. They're going to recover the bodies; 14 people were -- had survived this incident yesterday. And I'm told that one still remains in the hospital. And the other 13 were treated and released. Tracey may have some details about that.

Any questions?

QUESTION: Have you identified the two dead yet, in terms of age and gender?

PATTERSON: No, we don't have anything further on the dead yet. We're going to be waiting for the coroner for that inspection.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) They haven't been recovered?

PATTERSON: Yes, the recovery process is ongoing.

Now, you might have seen our helicopter landing. There were several people that were -- actually, four airlifts we did. Those people were not directly related to the flood. In other words, they weren't caught in the slide. They are residents of that area. And they have different medical problems. It's much easier and efficient to airlift them out. I'm told that also eight people have walked out today so far from that area, that is, eight residents.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

PATTERSON: Age range of the children, we believe, is from 6 months to 16 years. And, as I mentioned earlier, our searchers on the mountain are diligently trying to find anybody else who is alive. And that's going to go -- that's going to continue, obviously, throughout the day.

We have about six or more dogs involved and 65 to 75 search and rescue people on the ground. County fire has several dozen. And Tracey can talk more in detail about that.

QUESTION: Chip, you said 14 missing, two bodies found, though. Are they considered part of the missing until they're identified? Or how does that work?

PATTERSON: Yes. Yes, the 14 it's a total number. In other words, from this morning, we have -- we believe that there's 14 individuals that we have that were unaccounted for. But, obviously, we have -- we would subtract the bodies from that number.

But, again, this may fluctuate. There are some homes up there. As I said, there are some vehicles caught up there. So, when it all settles out, I don't know what we're going to end up with. So these numbers are not hard and fast.

QUESTION: And all the missing, the 14, are they reported from the family that was up at the camp?

PATTERSON: Yes.

QUESTION: Are there other families? (OFF-MIKE) reports of people who can't

(CROSSTALK)

PATTERSON: That we know of, all 14 from this outing at the camp that we talked about.

QUESTION: Chip, you said that this was not a church-sponsored event, per se.

PATTERSON: Right.

QUESTION: The church says they had absolutely nothing to do with it and says that they didn't even know that these people were there. Do you have anything that would contradict that?

PATTERSON: I can't speak to that. That would be between the church and the people.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

PATTERSON: Well, again, the caretaker is affiliated with the church. And it's a church camp. So what their relationship was, that's -- I can't speak to that.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)

PATTERSON: That I know, he's missing as well so far. And -- I forgot what I was going to say.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) are missing?

PATTERSON: I don't have that kind of detail, so I can't confirm that. I know that he, himself, is missing. That, we know.

QUESTION: How did you find the two bodies that you found? Was it dogs? Was it through the air?

PATTERSON: Search and rescuers on the ground. And, as you know, they're going on foot through that area. We've done a number of flyovers with helicopters and will continue to do that.

But because of the nature of the slide, they have to be -- they have to go very slowly right through the debris.

QUESTION: Were they on the site, the two that were found? Or had they been washed some distance?

PATTERSON: I don't know specifically where they were found. We can try to get that for you and have it later.

QUESTION: Chip, I just want to clarify the numbers; 14 were rescued yesterday. You think there are still around 14 missing now?

PATTERSON: Yes.

QUESTION: And that would not include the two bodies you found (CROSSTALK)

PATTERSON: That would include the two...

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: Total of around 30 people, then, overall?

PATTERSON: No, we're talking -- we would be talking about 28 people total, 14 that survived initially yesterday and 14 that we are seeking now. Now, you can subtract the two bodies from that. So now we have 12.

(CROSSTALK)

TRACEY MARTINEZ, SAN BERNARDINO FIRE DEPARTMENT: In addition, there were four vehicles up in that area, OK? We do not know how many folks were in those vehicles, because they were evacuated. So we know for sure 14 were missing from the camp. In addition, that's why we've been telling you upwards of 20, because we don't know how many people were in those vehicles, if that will help.

QUESTION: Was the caretaker's home one of the two buildings that were washed away, do you know?

MARTINEZ: We don't know anything about what's going on up at the camp or who lived there or anything like that.

QUESTION: Do you know how many different families were at the camp?

MARTINEZ: No, sir, we do not.

QUESTION: Are you being helped by the people who were rescued, indicating where these people might -- where the floods went?

MARTINEZ: They're helping us as much as they can. They're trying to tell us the layout of the camp, exactly where they were located, if there was anyone in the surrounding buildings. Most of them have been great, talking about what happened, what direction the flow went.

Any other questions?

QUESTION: I understand now that some of the survivors are actually now taking part in the search.

PATTERSON: Well, not in the search itself. It is too dangerous to have those folks up there. They're helping us in other ways, by trying to let us know who was at the camp where and things like that.

We will have another briefing at 3:00. We're bringing you guys back as often as we can to give you every update that we have.

Anything else?

QUESTION: Do you know if they're using the FLIR on the helicopter to look?

PATTERSON: That's a good question.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) of the helicopters have FLIR?

PATTERSON: Yes, we have that capability, but I don't know the answer. I'll try to find out for you.

QUESTION: Chip, do you know what time the slide happened and how the events unfolded?

PHILLIPS: San Bernardino County's fire and sheriff representatives there briefing reporters on the California mudslides.

You're looking at live pictures via KCAL and KCBS out of Los Angeles. She are two of the rescue workers, sort of a tedious task, step by step, hopefully, in their minds, for survivors.

But here's the count so far. Some campsites that were devastated by these mudslides, two campsites. And these are the numbers; 14 people have been rescued so far, but there are still 12 people missing. Nine, they believe, are children, 6 months to 16 years old, two people definitely confirmed dead.

And now they're saying there could be additional people in vehicles that were overcome by the mudslides. They're still not sure. That's why the search continues for vehicles that might have been traveling along these roads that you now see have been completely overrun by mud, and the workers, rescue workers there continuing to sort of comb through this wide landscape for the 12 campers that are still missing, nine of whom, they believe, are children 6 months to 16 years old.

We'll continue to follow this as the search continues. We'll update you as much as we can, as we get new information.

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