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The Big Spill?; Mine Rescue Mission
Aired May 04, 2006 - 13:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Containing Okeechobee. One of the largest lakes in America is kept within its banks by a dike that some now compare to Swiss cheese. Not only that, but as you can see on this map, if you didn't know already, the Okeechobee is in Florida, hurricane country.
CNN's Gary Tuchman investigated for "ANDERSON COOPER 360."
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When it comes to risks in Florida's Lake Okeechobee, a 10-foot long alligator prowling the waters is low on the list.
High on the list is the possibility of devastating loss of life and flooding from a hurricane. South Florida's water agency says in a report that Katrina-caliber flooding could easily happen here. And the dike that surrounds this lake, the second largest freshwater lake entirely inside the United States, is in danger of failing.
GOVERNOR JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: I'm very concerned about this.
TUCHMAN: The governor of this state, the president's brother, is asking for an immediate federal response.
J. BUSH: Obviously, the first thing that needs to be done is that there needs to be a commitment to fortify the dike. Secondly, we need to adjust our evacuation plans.
TUCHMAN: The dike rises up to 35 feet above the ground and protects nearby towns from floodwaters.
The Herbert Hoover dike was built during the depression after a terrible hurricane in 1928 that killed more than 2,000 people.
What does it mean to you, this lake?
LAVONNE SHERRYL, RESIDENT: It means everything to me. I was born and raised here.
TUCHMAN: Lavonne Sherryl lives in Clewiston, a sugar producing town, heavily damaged in that hurricane nearly eight decades ago.
On a scale of one to 10, how concerned are you about a hurricane here?
SHERRYL: Ten. Very concerned.
TUCHMAN (on camera): The report proclaims this dike poses an imminent danger to south Floridians, and that its physical characteristics bear a striking resemblance to, quote, "Swiss cheese." Not exactly what a lot of people want to hear.
(Voice-over): But the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers insists the dike, which it built, remains safe and is being made even safer. Many in the corps don't feel this part of Florida faces the same sort of risk as New Orleans.
JIM HAMMOND, ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS: Absolutely not the same animal. Again, we are at a much higher elevation, above sea level. They're below sea level.
TUCHMAN (on camera): The people in charge of safeguarding the lake like to stay out of the political disputes, but are more than aware of the worst-case scenario.
So, it's something that's not being ignored, that possibility?
TRAVIS FRANKLIN, FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE: No, sir, it's not. It's very much something we'll pay attention to, with the hurricanes of the last two years.
TUCHMAN (voice-over): The governor is asking for fast repairs and daily inspections. The Army Corps promises to review the report as south Florida gets ready for another hurricane season.
Gary Tuchman, CNN, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Watch for Gary Tuchman's reports weeknights on "AC 360." That's at 10:00 Eastern, 7:00 Pacific.
And a reminder: If you're worried about your insurance coverage should disaster strike this year, we can help you get some answer that you need. E-mail us at livefrom@CNN.com, because Carolyn Gorman of the Insurance Information Institute, well, she's going to answer for us live. That's in the 3:00 p.m. hour of LIVE FROM. So e-mail us, livefrom@CNN.com.
Geology nuts are all gee-wheezing about what's happening inside the country's most famous volcano, Mt. St. Helens. Towering over the Cascades, ad now sporting a funky looking sharp, smooth slab of rock right in middle, it's about as big as a football field and growing fast, about six feet a day. People getting ready for the volcano climbing season: A, they're crazy; B, they can't wait to take pictures of the mountain's mini me.
Let's get straight to Carol Lin. She's got more on that volcano in Indonesia that we've been reading about all morning -- Carol.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: You bet. Nobody wants to climb up this one, Kyra, to take pictures, at least not yet. This is Mt. Merapi. It's in Indonesia. And right now, lava is flowing out of it. They have not raised the alert level yet to alert-level one, which would require mandatory evacuations of the villages around. But some 14,000 people live close to the base of this mountain.
Merapi is the most active volcano in Indonesia. It's in an area called the Ring of Fire, so there are several volcanoes there. This one is a killer, though, a proven killer. It killed 70 people back in 1994 during an eruption at that time, and 1,300 people back in 1930.
So, Kyra, hopefully the technology is better, the warning system is better, and those people will be fairly warned before they would have to evacuate. But dramatic pictures there. Look at that.
PHILLIPS: That's pretty amazing stuff. all right, we'll keep our eyes on it. Thanks, Carol.
Well, coming up, trapped below ground and yet a few comforts of home are close by. We're going to check on the status of those miners stuck in Australia next.
The news keeps coming. We'll keep bringing it to you. More LIVE FROM next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: In good spirits, and seemingly in good health, but darn good and ready to get out. Two Australian coal miners have now been trapped for nine days half-a-mile underground. Rescuers are working around the clock to reach them. But it's slow going.
Chris Reason with Australia's Channel 7 has an update.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS REASON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At noon today, the breakthrough everyone here has waited for. With pinpoint accuracy, the 20-centimeter pilot drill cut beneath the floor of the cave where Todd and Brant are trapped. It will lead to their freedom. But neither man even noticed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They were asleep. They didn't know we were drilling.
REASON: The 20-centimeter hole is meant as a guide track. Now a bigger drill will grind out a one-meter wide path beneath them, surface at the same point, and create their escape tunnel.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What we're doing is unique and so we don't have any benchmarks to compare it to.
REASON: Overnight, engineers worked tirelessly to prepare the route. Backup drillheads were also delivered from interstate.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That wouldn't be sensible. There's -- they've got -- you know, they've got as much equipment here as Desert Storm.
REASON: Meanwhile, the first pictures have emerged of miner Larry Knight, walking a path from which he'd eventually never return. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the last time these miners will see daylight for 12 hours.
REASON: This corporate video on the Beaconsfield Mine, shot a year ago, also shows Brant Webb taking a meal break 700 meters below ground.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Down here, these creature comforts mean a lot.
REASON: A little better than the meals they're getting now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They've had egg sandwiches and yogurt. So some small solids.
REASON: And for dinner?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Apparently, they've put in a request for chicken sandwiches tonight.
REASON: But anxiety in the township is building.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Got hit pretty hard?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. It's very hard.
REASON: This resident wanted to read a public thank you, not only to the rescue crew...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But also to your wives. We've -- and children and parents. Thank you so much for letting these men and women put their lives at risk to help save others.
REASON: The mine is the town's biggest employer? They fear it could close, but the state's mining industry is promising jobs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're talking about bending over backwards and doing whatever it takes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a marathon. And it's not over until it's over.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Chris Reason has been on the scene ever since an earthquake caused part of that mine to collapse. The trapped miners are alive only because they were working inside a very small steel cage.
Sticks and batons, protesters and water cannons, lots of people hurt. A long-brewing dispute in South Korea boiled over today. It happened south of Seoul at the place the U.S. Army plans to relocate its headquarters. Anti-American groups and local land owners say no way. Even though the move is a done deal, 100-plus protesters were arrested. Others and several police were hurt as well. . A nuclear standoff, decades of ill will and then there's that axis of evil thing. You wouldn't think Iran would be a comfort zone for an American to live and work. But CNN's Aneesh Raman found one just trying to make a living.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At 7'2", it's hard for Garth Joseph not to stand out, especially as an American basketball player in Iran.
GARTH JOSEPH, PLAYS BASKETBALL IN IRAN: I was skeptical of coming here, just like everybody in America. You know, my wife is kind of like -- is very concerned. So she went on the Internet and she tried to find embassy, and when she found out we didn't have an embassy here, she was really mad.
RAMAN: But last October, Garth came anyway, leaving behind his life in New York and becoming one of 20 foreign basketball players in Iran, a country very much at odds with his own, a situation his family finds more and more troubling.
JOSEPH: They always call me asking me something like, the nuclear -- you know, nuclear struggle that's going on, they call me and ask me about this all the time. And I'm like, well, I don't see that, I don't hear that.
RAMAN: What he does see are restrictions everywhere. And a lifestyle that to this American is a bit boring.
JOSEPH: The lack of excitement, the lack of stuff to do. You can't go to a bar or a club.
RAMAN: As we head to his apartment...
(on camera): Man, they've got to give you some extra room.
(voice-over): There are also some physical restrictions. And inside a quick tour of contraband, things that would seem ordinary in the U.S. But here in Iran, alcohol is forbidden and bootleg bacon.
JOSEPH: This cost $11.
RAMAN: Pork is also forbidden in this Islamic state. .
JOSEPH: Lucky. Give me that.
RAMAN: But Garth says it is the Iranian players and people here that keep him sane.
JOSEPH: These are the best people I've seen, especially my teammates. I have never been on a team where I loved everybody.
RAMAN: A native of Dominica, Garth has traveled the world from Cuba to Iran, putting aside his NBA dreams for economic realities. In Iran, he gets a paycheck and every night he calls home, speaks to his three kids. Their pictures are always close by. They are, he says, the reason he came here.
It is perhaps an ironic twist. An American coming to Iran to make a living, here amid a brewing international conflict; staying away from politics, though, and sticking to what he does best.
Aneesh Raman, CNN, Tehran.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Once again, we want to show you this videotape that we got in within the past hour. Our Jamie McIntyre actually is going to come back and talk about this at the top of the two, but if you haven't seen it -- we can't get enough of it around here -- but you recognize this man, Zarqawi. He's supposed to be, you know, al Qaeda's number one man in Iraq. But it's pretty amazing to watch this -- these are basically outtakes from a videotape, insurgent videotape that U.S. forces came across.
And Zarqawi is supposed to be shooting his machine gun. It's supposed to be automatic fire. But he starts shooting single shots, one at a time, He can't figure out what's going on. Something's wrong with his machine gun. He be looks down, he can't figure it out, so he calls to his friend, they help unblock that stoppage and then they get the weapon firing again. and then you see him just kind of toss off the gun, and they start walking away.
But then there's another part that's coming up -- I guess -- oh, we're not going to roll. But there's another part where he actually hands it off and they grab the hot barrel of the machine gun and burn themselves. So the question here is, this man who is supposed to be leading al Qaeda and supposed to be this big warrior doesn't even know how to handle his squad automatic weapon.
We're going to talk about it more with Jamie McIntyre at the top of the 2:00 hour.
All right. Where in the world does Jeanne Moos find these people?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On the map, the current day Iraq?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wouldn't know, because I don't really believe in one-dimensional surfaces.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All I want is Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It wouldn't on this map. According to actual topography, it would be somewhere just around there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: The better question might be, why can't anybody find anywhere on a map? LIVE FROM will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, just to head you off at the pass, the answer to the to following question is not measured in elapsed time. Now that that's been established, any idea how long the world's longest lei would be? Participants at the Radisson Waikiki hope they set the record with a Hawaiian lei that was 2,700 feet long. More than 92,000 silk blossoms were strung together in the May Day attempt. For the record, May Day is celebrated as Lei Day in the nation's 50th state.
Well, lost in America. We told you about that survey showing Americans don't quite know their place in the world or anybody else's. Our Jeanne Moos found proof in a story you may have first seen on "PAULA ZAHN NOW."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): You know that country where the U.S. fought a war, the one you've heard about oh, say just about every day for the past three years or so?
(on camera): Tell me where Iraq is on this map.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have no idea.
MOOS: Well, you can, you know, kind of guess. Sort of, Iraq. Wrong. That's Africa.
Iraq?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Iraq is right around in there somewhere.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Asia, right?
MOOS (voice-over): The only risk in this game is of embarrassment. Many young Americans might as well toss the dice to pinpoint countries on the map.
(on camera): Show me Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, god, don't ask me.
MOOS (voice-over): We've hidden her face to protect her from mortification. The study for National Geographic showed that six out of 10 Americans ages 18-to-24 can't find Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I guess it's around here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Iran, Iraq.
MOOS (on camera): Iraq -- Iraq, Iran.
(voice-over): Seventy-five percent can't find Israel.
(on camera): Come on, that's South America -- Israel.
(voice-over): Nine out of 10 can't find Afghanistan. He's the exception.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This state right here.
MOOS: But who wants to watch correct answers?
(on camera): On the map, the current day Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wouldn't know, because I don't really believe in one-dimensional surfaces.
MOOS: All I want is Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It wouldn't be on this map. According to its actual topography, it would somewhere just around there.
MOOS (voice-over): If you don't like that map, why not try another?
(on camera): Ohio.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oooh, Ohio.
MOOS: That's not Ohio.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Iowa.
MOOS: Fewer than 50 percent of people know where Ohio is.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I know where it's is. That's where my sister is.
MOOS: Can you point at it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why oh, why oh, why oh, did I ever leave Ohio?
MOOS (voice-over): This girl opted to use a lifeline.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You need to come help me find countries.
MOOS: But her rescuer missed a few, couldn't even take a hint when it came to Ohio. Same color as my jacket.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here?
(MUSIC)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This blue is the United States, if I remember correctly, right?
MOOS (on camera): That is South America.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the United States right here.
MOOS (voice-over): We had just about as much luck testing the geographical skills of chihuahuas. (on camera): Mexico?
(voice-over): But what really took us aback was that 50 percent of young Americans couldn't locate ...
(on camera): ... New York state.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, it's got to be between here and here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is New York, right?
MOOS: That's Pennsylvania.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here's New York right here.
MOOS: No, that's New Jersey.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, here's New York here -- here's New York.
MOOS: No. Yes. Let me put it this way, where is New York?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're you're standing there, aren't you?
MOOS (voice-over): Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: And you can find Jeanne Moos' reports on "PAULA ZAHN NOW" weeknights at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, 5:00 Pacific.
We want to listen in for a minute in West Virginia. The Sago Mine hearings are taking place. A lot of friend, family members, talking about their loss and what they want to see changed, of course, for miners in West Virginia. This is Debby Hamner. She lost her husband, George.
DEBBIE HAMNER, HUSBAND DIED IN SAGO MINE: He was a hard worker. He loved his family. He adored his son, and he cherished his wife. Our hearts today are just as broken as it was January 2nd. Marty Bennett was a member of mine rescue for 13 years. If he could have gotten those men out of that mine, I know he would have brought them out.
I've told Davitt McAteer from the day I met him -- and I think he'll tell you this himself, today MSHA is not working. It does not work. And in my opinion -- and this is just my opinion -- it failed us as FEMA failed Hurricane Katrina victims.
(APPLAUSE)
HAMNER: Technology is here. We need to use it to our advantage. We have lost 12 men, and their families grieve every day. But the family that I see grieve every day is my own. And I see my sister die just a little bit every day, because she lost half of her heart. And I hope that I could come up here and do this without crying, but I can't.
And I also want to thank those men who desperately tried to save their lives. You won't ever, ever know how much we appreciate that. And to the mine rescue, I know you did what you could do and what you were allowed to do.
And I ask Mr. Hatfield and everyone at Sago Mine to please keep those miners safe and to do whatever it takes to ensure that no family ever goes through what we've been through. Thank you very much.
(APPLAUSE)
AMBER HELMS, FATHER DIED IN SAGO MINE: My name is Amber Helms and I'm Terry Helms' daughter. And before I even start, I want to say in response to Russell Bennett saying that if they would have started at 58 block, they would have only been one miner dead, that's how that one miner would have wanted it.
I would like to first thank everybody who came and testified here today and came to ask questions and support, to find out what happened. I would like to thank Davitt for putting this together, and also for putting together the symposium that happened a few weeks ago. And I would like to thank Governor Manchin for even making this an option for the families ...
PHILLIPS: You're listening to Amber Helms. She lost her father, Terry, in that mining accident in West Virginia. It's been nothing but tears and emotion for the past couple of days as family members, friends, rescuers, have stepped up to that mic and given testimony in public hearings.
Of course, the ultimate goal is to make mining safe in that state and to learn from the mistakes that were made when we saw those brave men lose their lives in the past year.
We're going to continue to follow these hearings. Of course, you can watch them on CNN.com/pipeline. They'll be carrying the hearings throughout the day. But right now as we go to break and get ready for the next hour of LIVE FROM, we would like to honor every life that was lost in that mining accident.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): Alva Martin Bennett was known as Marty. Relatives say mining was the only job they can remember him doing in his 50 years. Like many in this tight-knit community, working in the mine was a family tradition. His father and son worked as miners, as well.
61-year-old Jim Bennett was known as a religious man who said he loved working in the mine. His son-in-law says he prayed every day for those going to toil underground. He had planned to retire this year.
57-year-old Jerry Groves had been a coal miner for more than 30 years. His father, grandfather, and brother were miners, too. 50-year-old Terry Helms mined coal for 35 years but he wouldn't let his son become a miner. His sister says that Helms was the first one to go down into the mine on Monday morning before the deadly blast.
David Lewis worked in the mine so he could stay at home at night with his three daughters while his wife went to school. He was 28 years old.
Martin Toler was a mine foreman. The 50-year-old had worked with his son, Chris, and Chris says he had planned to tell his dad to retire.
59-year-old Fred Ware had been getting ready for a Valentine's Day wedding. He'd been a miner for six years. His fiancee says he'd always told her he believed he would die in the mine.
Jack Weaver was 52. Marshall Winans was 49 years old, and all we know of George Hamner, Jr. so far is his name.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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