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CNN Live Today

Rivers Rising, More Rain Falling; Earthquake Relief; Driven to Extremes

Aired October 14, 2005 - 10:59   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go ahead and take a look at what's happening "Now in the News."
The Navy says it's not sure why an F-18 fighter jet crashed this morning off the coast of southernmost Florida. The plane had just taken off from a training mission from Naval Air Station Key West when it crashed about 35 miles off the coast. The pilot ejected before the crash. The pilot's status is unknown at this time.

Authorities in Florida have arrested a man accused of punching out an airplane window in an outburst during a flight. According to an FBI affidavit, Ryan Marchione shattered the plastic shield covering the window. The outer window was not damaged, and the plane did not depressurize. It happened during an America West flight from Las Vegas to Tampa.

A crucial vote nears in Iraq. Security is tight ahead of tomorrow's referendum on a new constitution. The vote is seen as a key test of efforts toward democracy. Despite the security clampdown, insurgents attacked two offices of a Sunni-Arab party today. There were no injuries.

President Bush's top adviser is back before a grand jury investigating the leak of a CIA operative's identity. This is Karl Rove's fourth appearance before the panel. Rove has insisted that he did not leak the operative's name.

Good morning. And welcome to CNN LIVE TODAY.

Checking the time around the world, it is 11:00 a.m. in Atlanta, Georgia; 8:00 p.m. in Islamabad, Pakistan.

From CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Daryn Kagan.

We begin in the U.S. Rivers rising and more rain is falling. Much of the already saturated Northeast is getting soaked again today.

At least 10 people have died in flooding across the region. Four others are still missing in New Hampshire.

Parts of Connecticut, New York and New Jersey remain under flood warnings. Residents in some New Jersey communities have been urged to evacuate. The northern section of the state received as many as six inches of rain in the last two days.

So this is the eighth straight day of rain in the Northeast. Our Chris Huntington joins us with more on the flooding. He has been wading through the waters in Lincoln Park, New Jersey.

And probably dreaming of the day where you once wore dry clothes, Chris, I would imagine?

CHRIS HUNTINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, I'll have the luxury of pointing out of here at some point in the not too distant future. But the folks who live here are really fed up with this situation.

This is an area that gets regularly flooded. We spent some time with a family yesterday for whom this is their third evacuation from their neighborhood.

You look over my shoulder here, and this is a new river, if you will, here on Midwood Road (ph) into a neighborhood that is -- when you get down to those houses, there's five, nearly six feet of water. It gets deep pretty quickly.

We saw a police car come down here earlier. We're not exactly sure what his mission was, but he drove in here only about a car length to find his hood under water, and he backed out pretty quickly.

About three hours ago it was not raining, and we were actually able to measure the waters here receding over so slightly. That situation has reversed. It's coming down again, it's coming down hard, and the water is visibly rushing faster and a bit higher.

The situation around here is compounded by the fact that this is down water from down river and downhill from a mountainous area in the northern part of New Jersey that will send runoff down here for days. So the situation is as follows: this is a downpour that frankly the forecasters are telling us it's just a brief downpour that will pass through. But that doesn't mean that these folks are out of the wet situation by any stretch of the imagination.

They could be seeing floodwaters here for several days to come. The authorities were predicting that the floodwaters here would crest, would peak out sometime this morning. That may be a premature projection -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Well, and Chris, this is already so waterlogged, more than a foot of rain in some parts of New Jersey in the last couple of weeks.

HUNTINGTON: Daryn, this -- it is mind-boggling when you drive around this area. Obviously we're in one area here that's severely flooded, but you drive for miles and miles and towns and towns around here, and you see a similar situation to this.

The folks in this area are -- are a tough bunch, and they sort of shrug it off. But frankly, many of them are really, really fed up.

The family that we met up with yesterday that was being evacuated from here by local rescue operations have come back this morning, just appeared on the street just a few hours ago. Suzanne Ritterbush (ph), who we spent time with, came to look down here, and she said, in no uncertain terms, that that's it.

She's pulling out. She's had it with this area. And we've heard that refrain from the many, many people.

Of course one of the problems in this area is the home prices in this area are phenomenally high. This is one of the most rapidly rising real estate markets in the country. So if you want to move and move quickly, you're facing barriers of an economic time while you're fleeing rising water -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Chris Huntington, live from New Jersey. Thank you.

Four minutes past the hour. We move overseas now to the quake zone.

Rescuers in Pakistan have pulled this 5-year-old girl from the wreckage of her home. Sarabe Sha (ph) spent close to 100 hours -- that's four days -- in the debris. She'd been shielded underneath a stairwell.

The girl was thirsty and she was dusty. Otherwise, Sarabe (ph) barely had a scratch. A true miracle.

Well, almost a week after the earthquake, rescue efforts are winding down. The focus now is help for the estimated 2.5 million people who have been left homeless. Disaster teams still haven't been able to reach some remote Himalayan villages.

Our Andrew Stevens joins me now live. He is from Chaklala Airbase in Pakistan, a staging ground for the relief effort. It's a report you'll see only here on CNN -- Andrew.

ANDRWE STEVENS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks very much, Daryn.

Well, as you can see behind me, it's getting actually now quite low as far as the number of relief pallets that have been coming in here over the past 24 hours. And what's been happening basically is the services have been moving these very quickly, getting them off up north as quickly as they can.

We're now waiting for more relief flights to come in. There's a U.S. military flight expected to come in, in the next hour or so.

What they've been moving today, I've seen a lot of medical equipment going up, a lot of dressings, a lot of syringes, also a lot of ready-made meals, halal (ph) meals. A lot of this stuff has come from the U.S., and what also is going up completely, or a very important part of this whole relief effort, of course, in these boxes behind me we have tents, winter tents.

Now, you've got to remember, winter is starting to come on in the northern parts of Pakistan. We're talking inaccessible, very high mountain ranges, and villages in those mountain ranges which has been absolutely devastated.

These are heavy-duty tents which are going to be flown up in the next -- next day or so. There's a call still going out across the world for as many tents as they can get.

At this stage, the official number -- and this is just the official number -- 2.3 million people homeless. Many of those are injured. Some reports are saying there could be as many as five million people are still homeless in those northern parts of Pakistan.

We don't know the exact number, because there are many places that the aid has just not reached yet. There are many people there, many victims who haven't seen any form of aid, no food, no water, no shelter like this, no blankets, no medical equipment. It's a race against time here.

And this, where I am, is the international base. This is where the aid is coming in from right across the world. But what we're doing is also getting Pakistani local aid coming in. That's also incredibly important -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Andrew Stevens, live from just outside Islamabad. Thank you.

Back here in the U.S., the New Orleans beating video. The Associated Press has now released the full five-minute tape of the incident that played out on Bourbon Street last Saturday. It shows an officer kicking victim Robert Davis, who's already on the ground restrained. And at one point, though, it's very hard to hear, Davis appears willing to cooperate.

He tells the officers, "If you allow me to turn over, I will." The tape also shows hurricane relief worker Calvin Briles (ph). He tried to intervene, but was pushed away by police and later handcuffed.

Three New Orleans police officers have been suspended. Their lawyer says the men were acting within proper police guidelines.

A city in lockdown, security tight. Iraqis preparing to go to the polls tomorrow, voting on the country's constitutional referendum. We'll show you why every vote counts.

Plus, the war in Iraq has added tension to President Bush, but is his body telling us more about his state of mind than his words? A body language expert joins us.

And they say cheaper by the dozen. But what if you have 16, yes, 16 kids? One family's new arrival makes their life pretty sweet. Their words just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: A lot of parents would shutter at the pitter-pat of 32 little feet around the house. Not the Duggars of Arkansas. Bob and Michelle have 16 children. The newest arrived this week, the oldest is 17.

There are two sets of twins. All the kids names begin with the letter "J." So how does this mom do it? Teamwork.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHELLE DUGGAR, MOTHER OF 16 CHILDREN: We just work together as a team. And as they've gotten older, we -- it just seems to have gotten easier in a lot of ways.

The younger ones love the older ones, and they love to follow them around. And they want to be like them. And the older ones enjoy playing with the younger children.

So this house would not work if we didn't have the buddy system. The older children mentor the younger ones. They help them with their little phonics lessons and games during the day, help them practice their music lessons. They'll play with them or help them pick out the color of their outfit that they want to wear that day. And just all of those types of things.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Mom and dad say, yes, indeed, there could be a 17th baby. What's one more when you are home-schooling 16? Yes, on top of everything, those children are home-schooled.

Allan Chernoff, what's the economics of having 16 children?

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I can tell you, you'd want to buy stock in Procter & Gamble to make Pampers.

KAGAN: There you go.

CHERNOFF: That would be the economics of it.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

KAGAN: We're expecting any minute to see a videotape of President Bush. He paid a visit today to the Pakistani embassy in Washington, D.C. The purpose of the visit, to sign a condolence book on behalf of the people of the United States.

This, of course, comes after the deadly earthquake that hit the Pakistan-Kashmir region on Saturday, 7.6 magnitude, thousands dead, many millions homeless. And the United States sending aid right away, as much as $50 million in aid. Also, a lot of military help in the form of helicopters.

So it looks like we're getting the videotape, President Bush walking into the room at the Pakistani embassy in Washington, D.C.

Let's listen in.

President Bush just not signing his name, but also a note of condolence in this book at the Pakistani embassy. We believe after he does this that he does make a couple of comments. He doesn't answer any reporters' questions, but basically expressing his sympathies. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Mr. Ambassador, thank you for having me.

I'm here to express the condolences of the American people to those who have suffered mightily as a result of the earthquake that struck your country. There's been a lot of loss of life, and Americans pray for those families who have lost a loved one. There's been a lot of damage, and we want to help in any way we can.

I told the ambassador that -- I reminded him of what I told President Musharraf, that when I spoke to him, I said, "Pakistan is a friend, and America will help."

We've moved a lot of military equipment in the area. We're helping with humanitarian aid as well. And so not only will we offer our prayers, but we'll offer our help to help the people, to help the government, to help this great nation get back on its feet.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.

BUSH: Thank you for having us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President, will you take questions from the Pakistani media?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: President Bush choosing not to answer any questions on this occasion, only coming by the embassy, the Pakistani embassy in Washington, D.C., to express his condolences for all that Pakistan has been through in the wake of that devastating earthquake on Saturday.

President Bush also has something else on his mind. Back in front of a grand jury with a possible indictment on the line, Karl Rove is testifying for the fourth time in the CIA leak investigation. We will go live to Washington for details.

Plus, they were the young victims of Hurricane Ivan. Now what this elementary school class did to help other kids, this time who were affected by Rita and Katrina. Some of the students will talk with me about their endeavor.

That's ahead when CNN LIVE TODAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: When it comes to NASCAR, the drivers aren't the only ones who feel the need for speed. The pit crews have just seconds to service the cars and get them back on track.

Senior Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes us on a pit stop in his series, "Driven to Extremes." (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's been called ballet without tutus, every step choreographed, two tire changers, two tire carriers, a jack man, a gas man and a catch can man, all moving in unison. Each position requiring a different blend of strength, agility, flexibility, reflexes and coordination.

A good pitstop means four new tires and 22 gallons of gas in 14 seconds. Let your local full service station try that. Phil Horton coaches the pit crews for Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates (ph). He recruits former college and high school athletes with the skill he needs in the pits.

PHIL HORTON, GANASSI PIT CREW COACH: An example of that would be the tire changers. They have to be accurate in what they do, you know, five off, five on with the lugnuts. And they have to be precise. So then we would use a quarterback, wide receiver, somebody who is going to be accurate in what they do and precise. And then that translates into being a good changer.

GUPTA: Wander into one of Coach Horton's practices and you may think it's a football team, working on agility and fitness. A pitstop may look smooth, but the moves are not easy, as I learned for myself.

HORTON: If you take off on the correct foot -- if you come off on the correct foot, you can cut this corner here, and cut this corner here without shuffling your feet. And it can concentrate on working on the lugnut, on hitting the lugnuts. So that is kind of basic Ergonomics 101. That's proper footwork. That's the way it's done. You ready?

GUPTA (on camera): Three point two seconds.

HORTON: That was good.

GUPTA (voice-over): Coach Horton said he could even have me ready for pit row -- in a year-and-a-half.

HORTON: There you go. All right, you got to start over.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And for more on life in the fast lane and the physical demands of NASCAR, don't miss Dr. Sanjay Gupta's primetime special, "Driven to Extremes." That is Sunday, at 10:00 p.m. Eastern, right here on CNN.

Good weather helps a good NASCAR race. Dave Hennen it is here to look at what's happening around the country.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: What does President Bush's body language tell us about what he's thinking? Coming up, I'll speak with a body language expert who will give us some insight into what may be behind some of the president's better known gestures.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: We're coming up on the half-hour. I'm Daryn Kagan. Here's a look at what's happening "Now in the News."

An eighth straight day of rain is pushing rivers to flood stage in the Northeast this morning. Watches or warnings extend from New Jersey to New Hampshire. Some areas have received a foot of rainfall this week.

In The Hague this hour, Dutch police are stepping up security at government buildings. Authorities say they've arrested seven people. The group is suspected of terrorist activities. The arrests come as two members of parliament tell police they have received death threats.

And Russian officials say an attack by rebels has been crushed in the town of Nalchik. Russian forces say they have freed several hostages at a police station, killing the captors. Officials say a total of 91 militants, along with two dozen law enforcement officers, were killed in the two-day uprising.

Security is tight in Iraq. It is just hours before a crucial vote on the country's future. It is a vote that could determine the future of the U.S. military presence there. Tomorrow's referendum on a draft constitution is seen as a key test in the push for democracy in Iraq.

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