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CNN Live Today

American Hostage Roy Hallums Now a Free Man; Search for Missing Persons Continues in Gulf Coast

Aired September 07, 2005 - 11:30   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, once again, we go back to our breaking news. Former, and we can say former, American hostage Roy Hallums, who had been held in Iraq since November 1st, is now a free man.
With more on that, I welcome on the phone right now his ex-wife, Susan Hallums.

Susan, congratulations.

SUSAN HALLUMS, ROY HALLUMS' EX-WIFE: Thank you.

KAGAN: You have actually talked with him.

HALLUMS: Yes, I did, and that's the best phone call I've ever gotten.

KAGAN: And tell us about it.

HALLUMS: Well, it was just very, very early this morning, and he called and said that he was free, and I said that's just, you know, the prayers -- our prayers were answered. And he -- I was just telling him about what was going on. He didn't know about New Orleans. He said, I don't -- you know, he said, I haven't been able to listen to news. And I told him about that, and he was very sorry for all the people there. And anyway, it just sounded -- it was just so wonderful to hear his voice and to hear my kids telling me, and so happy. My little granddaughter, that's 8 years old -- she talked to him and told him she had a celebration in her head.

KAGAN: Oh, that's very sweet. Now you're his ex-wife, but clearly you're still close, you're still...

HALLUMS: Oh, we're very close. I thank God that he's -- that our prayers were answered and God saw him through this ordeal, and that he's going to be coming back, and he said he didn't want to be anywhere else, he wanted to just stay home.

KAGAN: I bet. What was he able to tell you about his condition right now?

HALLUMS: He just said -- he said he was optimistic that he would be OK. And I said, can you walk? And he said a little -- I've walked a little bit.

KAGAN: And did he give you any details of his rescue? HALLUMS: Not yet, no.

KAGAN: Basically, all you need is the end story, he is free.

HALLUMS: That's what I wanted to hear, that he's free. And we've -- I waited for that day for more than 300 days. And I've -- I can't believe it. I thought I was having another dream. But -- because I've had so many dreams that he would be OK. But our prayers were answered. And my -- I believed all things are possible if you believe. And I have that sign up in my office, saying also faith will see us through, and it definitely did. And I just thank God.

KAGAN: Well, congratulations to you and your family. Any idea when that reunion will take place?

HALLUMS: I'm hoping this weekend. That's what I'm hoping, and that he'll be back, that he said he'll be back in a few days. So hopefully, he will. I think he's just -- they're just doing tests on him and checking him over and hopefully, hopefully he'll be home soon.

KAGAN: Well, when he gets there, I bet he's going to be staying put for a long time to come.

HALLUMS: Right, anyway, we're just all really happy.

KAGAN: Congratulations to you and the entire Hallums family.

KAGAN: OK, thank you, thank you so much.

HALLUMS: Once again, Susan Hallums, ex-wife of Roy Hallums. Now he's a former American hostage, released. He's been in captivity there since November 1st, one very happy family. They said they never gave up hope that he would be coming home alive.

More on that ahead, as well as more on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, but we leave you with that image, Roy is free. The Hallums family very happy today.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Live pictures coming in once again from New Orleans. We've been seeing picture of this helicopter for almost a week now. It's a rescue helicopter that crashed. We can tell you that the crew members that were inside were able to get out. Nobody was killed in that crash. More live aerial pictures coming in from New Orleans as they continue to try to drain water from that city. Now still about 60 percent surrounded and underneath water.

More from New Orleans in just a moment. First, though, the more hopeful and helpful part of our coverage, our victims and relief desk, where we try to put those who have been separated from their loved ones in touch with people, because they don't even know where they are.

And our Carol Lin is handling that -- Carol. CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: You bet, and a lot of viewers also who want to donate money to some of the families that they're seeing on our screen. We are still getting a constant stream of inquiries at the victims relief desk about missing people. Some others also want to let you know that they're OK. So our crews out in the field are talking to people who want to send messages home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JULIE THIBODEAUX, BAY ST. LOUIS, MISSISSIPPI: My name is Julie Thibodeaux. I'm from Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. And we're missing some family members. If anybody knows any of -- the whereabouts of any of these people, please, this is the room number we're staying in. This is the telephone number. Please call. Let us know that they're all right.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hey, Rose, I'm here in Houston, at the Astrodome. If you can hear me, if you can see me, I'm here in Houston, Texas at the Astrodome. Please contact me. I'm on the Internet. I'm on the line. So all you have to do is access the line and I'll be here.

ANTOINE JONES, HOUSTON, TEXAS: My name is Antoine Jones. I'm looking for Debra (ph) Fields. She work at Doubletree Hotel in New Orleans. And if you see me and you recognize me, you can reach me at area code 821-366-1600.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm looking for Corey Jones, Vanessa Jones, along with my two kids, little Corey Jones and Cody (ph) Jones. I'm located at the Thurgood Marshall School up in Houston, Texas. Please, if you see me on television, please get in contact with that place. That's where I'm located at. I need to find ya'll. I miss my children.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: I'll bet she does. Now we have an update for you on one of the women we've been reporting as missing. We first told you about Maria Luisa Moguerza last week. Her daughter was looking for her. Well, someone e-mailed us a list of people evacuated to Houston, and Maria's name is on that list. But 87-year-old Nettie Lee's grandchildren are still looking for her. All they know is that she was airlifted from a bridge on Friday and taken to a hospital, but they don't know which one. She is diabetic and has she Alzheimer's. So if you know anything, please send us an e-mail. I'm going to give you the address shortly, but it's -- well, it's hurricanevictims@CNN.com.

Whether they are lost or found, we also want to hear about your loved ones. That's the same address. It's hurricanevictims@CNN.com. And if you're look for information, we have a list of resource at CNN.com/helpcenter. But put the names of the people in your subject line if you recognize any of these people or can help the folks on our air. Daryn's going to be back. We're going to be hearing more from the evacuees at the Astrodome in Houston.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: We continue to tell the story and hopefully offer our resources for those looking for family members. We're doing that not just here in Atlanta, but in Houston as well.

Outside the Astrodome is where we find our Betty Nguyen -- Betty.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, there are countless stories of people still trying to find family members that they last saw in New Orleans, whether it be at the Convention Center or the Superdome, or even at their homes that were filling with water.

I have with me now Angela Mack, who -- her story is just really heart-wrenching. You are looking for not just one, but three family members, including your 10-year-old daughter. When did you last see them?

ANGELA MACK, EVACUEE: At the Comfort Suite Hotel on Balong Street (ph) in New Orleans, downtown area.

NGUYEN: And how -- tell us how you get separated from them.

MACK: My son was having an asthma attack, so I went to the nearby place to get aid, which was in the Superdome. And when I got to the Superdome, there was no way out. Once you enter, that's it. And that was because of safety reasons. So...

NGUYEN: And you didn't want to bring your daughter because she didn't want to wade through the high water, correct?

MACK: Yes, that's correct.

NGUYEN: And this is your son here, Kevan (ph), just two years old.

MACK: Yes.

NGUYEN: And you thought for sure you'd be reunited with them. And now you're here in Houston with no one, no family, no friends, and you still haven't heard from them.

MACK: That's correct.

NGUYEN: That's got to be so difficult for you as a mother.

MACK: Yes, it is.

NGUYEN: So what are you doing every day as you search for these loved ones?

MACK: I go and there's a room set up with computers. I get on the Internet. I also say my prayers. And I talk to loved ones that I can get in contact with, and I ask them to go on the Internet also.

NGUYEN: And I'm sure your son has to be asking for his sister.

MACK: Yes, he asks for her all the time. And his comment is, is Tiasha (ph) gone?

NGUYEN: What do you tell him?

MACK: Sometimes I don't answer and sometimes I say, you'll see her soon.

NGUYEN: Well, hopefully he will see her soon. So let's get this information out there. Your father's name?

MACK: It's Morris Joseph Mack, Sr. My brother's name is Joseph Mack the III. And my daughter is Tiasha Mack.

NGUYEN: And she's just 10 years old. And for folks who may have seen them or know some family members who can get in contact with them, what's the number? What's the e-mail address where they can write or call?

MACK: OK, the number here is-713-610-4305, and my e-mail address is angelamack4900@yahoo.com.

NGUYEN: And if for some reason, hopefully, that they could be watching right now, what do you want to say to them?

MACK: Please contact me. Let me know something. I miss you and I love you and you're always in my prayers.

NGUYEN: Well, we appreciate your time and we just really wish you the best of luck as you look for so many family members, including your daughter, your 10-year-old daughter.

MACK: And again, just want to put those names out. Morris Joseph Mack, Sr., Joseph Mack III, and 10-year-old Tiasha Mack. And the number, once again, is 713-610-4305.

This is just one of many stories out here. Yes, people are looking for homes and assistance, and trying to get their kids in schools. But most importantly, they just want to find their loved ones. They want to be united with their families and they're trying. Hopefully this information can help -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Betty, I just have to smile, because one of the rules of television, no matter how small the microphone, little kids can always find it, whether you hold it...

NGUYEN: They love it.

KAGAN: Yes, they do. Beautiful little boy there. Thank you. Thank you so much.

Well, even when they're relatively safe in a shelter, Katrina victims face some serious medical risks. How the smallest victims are coping emotionally in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

And for more on Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, you can check out our Web site for up-to-the-minute information. The address is CNN.com. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: In our "Daily Dose" of health news, schools around the country are opening their doors to students evacuated from the Hurricane Katrina disaster zone. Louisiana officials say schools in New Orleans and neighboring St. Bernard Parish may be closed for the entire school year. One hundred and 35,000 students attend public schools in those areas. Another 52,000 attend private or parochial schools.

The destruction and upheaval caused by Hurricane Katrina can be especially difficult for young children to understand.

On CNN's "LARRY KING LIVE," the man some call America's therapist offered advice on helping children cope. Here now is part of Larry's interview with Dr. Phil Mcgraw.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY KING, CNN HOST: How do you explain this to a 5-year-old?

DR. PHIL MCGRAW, HOST, "DR. PHIL": I think one of the things you have to be careful about is allowing them to watch this coverage too much. And your explanations, of course, need to be age-appropriate, but I think you and I talked about before, First Lady Bush and I were working with some children on the Oprah show after 9/11 and one of the most shocking things I heard from those kids is, every time they saw this on television, they thought it was happening again.

So, they would see a building get knocked down and then they would see it from another angle and they thought every building in the country was being knocked down and they were horrified and nobody knew that until we talked to them.

So, if your children are going to watch this, I think you need sit with them, you need to watch it with them, you need to answer their questions. And if they don't have any, you need to answer the questions they should be asking, which has to do with, 'is this going to happen to us?' And, 'what's happen?' 'Did those people do something wrong?'

You need to answer all of the kinds of questions because children then to fill things in to their detriment. And the best thing that people can do to overcome their own concern and depression, their children's negative reactions to this, is do something.

They've got to -- if the children can collect some of their toys that they can give to the children, if they can raise some money by anything from a lemonade stand to their piggy banks or whatever and take it to the church and give it.

It's when people feel helpless to impact a situation that they experience the most stress. And that's true all of us adults, but certainly get your children involved in volunteerism so they don't feel helpless.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Dr. Phil has been visiting and assisting hurricane victims in the Katrina Zone. For more on the medical aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and for more on the latest health news, log on to our Web site. The address is CNN.com/health.

Our Katrina aftermath coverage continues after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: I'm Daryn Kagan. More of CNN's coverage of Katrina's aftermath continues after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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