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CNN Live Today

Hurricane Wilma Update; Florida Still Recovering from Hurricane Charlie; Cuba Prepares For Hurricane Wilma; Mother Throws Children In San Francisco Bay; Combating Mold Tips

Aired October 20, 2005 - 10:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Miles and Carol, have a great day.
Hello, I'm Fredricka Whitfield at the CNN Center in Atlanta. Daryn Kagan is of today. We get the latest on Hurricane Wilma in just a moment. But first, a look at what else is happening "Now in the News."

President Bush meets with Palestinian Leader Mahmoud Abbas as the U.S. again plays middleman at hard road to peace in the Middle East. We are expecting a live news conference this hour beginning at 10:50 Eastern Time. And we'll talk with a former ambassador about whether Israel and the Palestinians can find common ground.

CNN has confirmed that Presidential Adviser Karl Rove and Vice Presidential Aide Lewis Libby discussed their conversations with reporters about CIA Operative Valerie Plame. Those discussions took place days before her identity was leaked in media reports. According to the Associated Press, Rove told the grand jury he might have learned Plame's identity inside the White House.

Congressman Tom DeLay is expected to turn himself in at the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office in Texas today. The former house majority leader is to be booked on conspiracy and money laundering charges. DeLay is due to make his first court appearance tomorrow in Austin.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is demanding more information from Supreme Court Nominee Harriet Miers. Republican Chairman Arlen Specter and senior Democrat Patrick Leahy say Miers didn't fully answer a questionnaire she turned in on Tuesday. Confirmation hearings are set to begin November 7th.

Somebody won the whole jackpot and he or she has yet to come forward. Lotto officials say a lone ticket holder is the winner of the $340 million Powerball game. It is the richest jackpot in the game's history. The lucky ticket was sold in Oregon.

Hurricane Wilma is right now a powerful category four storm that may restrengthen later on today and forecasters predict a Florida landfall some time Sunday. A mandatory evacuation for Key West residents is set to begin now tomorrow morning. Tourists in Cancun, Mexico, are making plans to leave or move into shelter there. And Wilma could dump up to 25 inches of rain in Cuba's mountains. Our Lucia Newman is covering Wilma from Cuba. We'll also hear from CNN's Allan Chernoff covering storm preparations in Punta Gorda, Florida. But first, let's check in with CNN Meteorologist Bonnie Schneider in the Weather Center.

Bonnie.

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, Fredricka, of course, this is still a powerful storm, a category four with maximum winds at 145 miles per hour. The storm has grown in size as well. We have tropical storm force winds that extend outward of 230 miles. So the storm is getting larger and it is moving steadily to the west, northwest, near about 77 miles per hour. So a slow-moving storm.

It's already producing some cloud coverage and a little bit of rain to the south as well, down towards the Florida Straits area. As we take a close up look on the hurricane, you'll see that's already starting, just beginning now to get some of that cloud coverage toward the Yucatan Peninsula. And this is where we're really concerned with where there will be some torrential down pours of rain. That and western Cuba. Expected rainfall totals could be as much as 15 inches. But on the higher terrains of Cuba, we could see up to 25 inches.

This storm track has been very, very tricky and very difficult to predict. We've seen a lot of fluctuation in the computer models thus far. The one thing to note is the storm is slowing down and it's likely to re-intensify before it approaches the Yucatan some time today into tomorrow. That means it could get back to category five strength before it either makes landfall on the Yucatan or just skirts it. Either way, it's likely to bring some strong wind and heavy downpours to the region.

And the more it interacts with land, of course, the worse off it is for Mexico, the better it is for the U.S. mainland because the interaction with land will likely weaken the storm. But the track still contains a movement to the right. We're seeing that sharp right turn and eventually landfall is expected somewhere in South Florida. The time stamp has been pushed back, though. You'll note that we're looking ahead now toward Sunday into Monday before we make landfall and it moves across the Florida Peninsula and eventually up to the northeast and we'll be concerned about that as well and how it will affect New England.

So this is a changing situation that we will keep you up-to-date and we will keep monitoring for you.

Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And so, Bonnie, what about this cold front that's expected in parts of the southeast? Might in any way that influence this hurricane?

SCHNEIDER: Absolutely. Frederick, we're watching for a cold front or a trough of low pressure to help to kind of lift up the storm and take it toward Florida. The reason we had some fluctuation on the computer models yesterday and even some that are still not quite taking it on this exact path you see here is some of the models are saying this trough won't make it far down as south enough to pick up the energy from Wilma and take it off to Florida.

So the track is still changing and we'll keep you up to date on it.

WHITFIELD: All right, Bonnie Schneider, thanks so much.

SCHNEIDER: Sure.

WHITFIELD: Well, Punta Gorda, Florida, was hit hard by Hurricane Charlie just 14 months ago and rebuilding is still going on. Now residents may have to deal with Hurricane Wilma. CNN's Allan Chernoff is in Punta Gorda.

And how are people feeling about this approaching storm, Allan?

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, you said it, when people around here think hurricane, they think of Charlie back in August of 2004. It pounded this town and pounded it by surprise. It wasn't supposed to actually hit this area too hard. So people now certainly want to be prepared.

Right behind me you can see some of the damage still. Over there you see that sign. That used to be a Holiday Inn. That damaged sign, that's all that remains of the Holiday Inn. It was totally destroyed.

Just past the sign is the condominium. They've been busy rebuilding that for the past 14 months. This morning, the contractor had workers out there putting tarps over drywall, over doors, kitchen cabinets as well that were going to be installed. They're certainly hoping that all the work they've been doing for the past 14 months won't go to waste if Wilma really does hit this town.

Now lots of people, of course, know they need to prepare, especially given their experience with Hurricane Charlie. And, believe it or not, some people, they've already got all the preparations done, such as Harold Clemons. This morning, he was out fishing. Yesterday, he was quite busy preparing. He spent 45 minutes waiting for gasoline, bought several extra containers for his generator. He's got bottled water at home, canned food. He's already, so he figured why not enjoy some fishing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HAROLD CLEMONS, PORT CHARLOTTE RESIDENT: Me and my wife, we are very prepared. So and we're planning on staying. We rode Charlie out and we're not going to leave unless things get too bad.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHERNOFF: Clemons did catch one catfish this morning and he's also hoping to get some red snapper. I hear the red snapper is pretty good around here.

Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, not bad at all. All right. Now he says, you know, he rode out Charlie, he plans to stick around until things get bad. But isn't that a big concern for a lot of officials there that sometimes people wait too late before they realize that the storm just might be so bad that they should be getting out?

CHERNOFF: Yes. Well, at this point, the officials here are saying they're going to keep on tracking the storm and see, is it really going to make that turn and head straight towards this area? If that, of course, does happen, I think then the officials will get much more serious. And who knows, maybe at that point, we'd have a mandatory evacuation. But thus far in this town, none whatsoever.

WHITFIELD: All right. Just a good urging for folks to pay attention and keep tabs of what this storm will do.

Allan Chernoff, thanks so much, in Punta Gorda.

The Pentagon is also gearing up for Wilma. The Navy has placed three ships on standby in case Wilma makes landfall in the U.S. The ships are carrying helicopters, amphibious landing vehicles and emergency supplies. In addition, Homestead Air Reserve Base south of Miami has been designated a mobilization center. From there aid and equipment will be distributed to the affected areas.

Wilma is expected to dump up to 25 inches of rain in the mountainous areas of Western Cuba. Evacuations have already started there and thousands of soldiers have been mobilized to help the residents. Our Lucia Newman joins us now from Batabano, Cuba, with the very latest.

And how's it looking, Lucia?

LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Frederick, I'm speaking to you from a fishing village called Batabano on the southwestern part of the island. This is a very low lying area. An area that becomes flooded very easily, very, very vulnerable to hurricanes. And, of course, people here are already being evacuated. In the province next door, Binazoro (ph), on the far western tip of Cuba, already 96,000 people have been evacuated and civil defense authorities say that up to a quarter of a million will be moved from their homes before the hurricane actually approaches this island.

Cuba, of course, very, very vulnerable to hurricanes, to storm surges. It's already drenched from two other hurricanes that have hit this season. Hurricane Rita being the last. The dams and reservoirs are already full to capacity. There's a lot of concern about this and, of course, the storm surge.

School has already been closed. People in the meantime are stock up on hurricane supplies as best they can. Cubans very nervous and weary as this hurricane approaches, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Lucia. And, of course, we are looking at some video ranging from folks in the streets, their homes, to even video at the hospital, and what kind of activity is taking place at the hospital for any kind of emergency care for those some quarter million people that would eventually be moved, as you reported. NEWMAN: Well, as of yesterday, the hospital staff began deciding which people could go home or could at least free up some of the beds so that they will be geared up in case there are injuries and people that need to be brought to hospital. Of course, they're gearing up they are stocking up on medicine, oxygen, everything that they need to face any possible emergency.

But Cuba is very well prepared, Fredricka, in general, to get people out of harm's way. What they are not very good at doing is protecting property. I saw people, for example, trying to tie down their roofs on the way here with just some simple rope. Obviously if this hurricane hits with the force that some people are expecting that it will, a piece of rope will not be enough to save those people's homes.

So the hospitals are doing everything they can. They're stocking up on a lot of food in the evacuation centers. Telling ordinary citizens, of course, to be prepared, stocking up on water and food for at least three or four days because it's expected that after the hurricane passes there will be no power either.

Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Lucia Newman, thank you so much from Batabano, Cuba.

Well say with CNN for continuing coverage of Hurricane Wilma. We'll bring you the latest on the storm's strength, speed and track and we'll have live reports throughout the day.

The road to peace in the Middle East goes through Washington. Ahead this hour, live coverage from the White House as President Bush and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas discuss the future of the region.

But first, a horrible story out of San Francisco. Children thrown into the bay. We're live as the search to find them resumes.

And a shark attack off the coast of California. One witness describes his efforts to help as the attacker circled its prey.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A tragedy is unfolding in San Francisco where police say a mother tossed her three small children off a pier into the cold dark waters of San Francisco Bay. One tiny body has been recovered and a mother is under arrest, booked on three count of murder. CNN's Rusty Dornin joins us near the place of the search.

Rusty.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Frederick, we're actually where the incident did occur. That's pier 7 in San Francisco. It's a 700-foot long pier. Very popular with tourists and fishermen.

Now from what we understand, about 5:30 local time yesterday afternoon a woman walked out with her three children and "San Francisco Chronicle" reporter told me that he saw a stroller and clothes lying there. She reportedly stripped her children naked and tossed them into the very chilly waters of San Francisco Bay.

Now one witness rushed into a restaurant, called 911. Rescue teams and firefighters were here within four minutes, but already the bodies had disappeared. About four hours later, they discovered the body of a reportedly the three-year-old. The children were aged one, three and six. They found the three-year-old about four hours later about two miles away. That's how quickly the currents in San Francisco Bay can carry something like that.

Now the woman who was arrested reportedly has had mental health problems. That's according to her cousin who spoke to reporters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She was out of her mind. She wasn't in her right mind. Lashaun was not the kind of person to do anything wrong to her kids.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She loved her kids. Her kids were spoiled.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Two years ago she wasn't the person she is right now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did she have a fight with the father or anything like that?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All of the time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did something happen that precipitated this?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not sure. I wasn't around. All I know is I talked to Lashaun a few days ago and she told me she was coming to San Francisco.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DORNIN: Now reportedly that's Lashaun Harris, 23 years old, was living in a homeless shelter in Oakland with her children. She has been charged with three counts of homicide and also three charges of assault with the intent to commit great bodily harm or death to a child. So also police or the mayor, we're not sure which, is going to be giving a press conference this morning to give us an update. We did see the Coast Guard cutter (ph) go by a little while ago. Four or five search boats will be back out on the water this morning, including a helicopter, to see if they can find the bodies of these children. They have very little hope of finding them alive. The waters here are very cold.

Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And, Rusty, you talk about the currents and how two miles away is the location where they found the bodies of one of those children. Do you have an idea about the scope of their search with the use of the helicopters and the boats, et cetera, today?

DORNIN: Well, what was interesting, Fredricka, is I saw as I was driving in at 3:00 this morning, the coast guard cutter, which was out near Alcatraz, I could see their search lights and that sort of thing. And when I came in, they ended up coming in and switched out crews. Apparently for a while, the coast guard cutter was the only boat out on the bay, indicating they have very little hope of finding these children alive. Of course, this was about 10 hours after the incident occurred. So at this point it's simply a recovery process.

WHITFIELD: Heartbreaking. All right, Rusty Dornin, thank you so much, from San Francisco.

In Vacaville, California, two children are dead, 10 others injured and a 24-year-old man faces murder charges. Police say David Michael Bell (ph) lost control of his car Thursday and drove into a group of children outside an elementary school. They say Bell also hit a parked car and large tree. Police say Bell was driving at a high rate of speed.

And near Bodega Bay, California, a woman was attacked by a 14 foot long shark while suffering off Salmon Creek Beach. The woman was grabbed from behind. The shark sunk its teeth deep into her leg and pulled her under water.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID BRYANT, FRIEND: We were charging in and every paddle we were both slapping the water and screaming at the shark, you know, hey, no, no, no, you know, trying to drive him away. And right when we were getting to her, she disappeared underwater, board and all. And that's I mean, I get a chill down my spine just saying that to you because that's when we thought, we lost her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: But remarkably they didn't. The woman says she actually beat the big fish on it's tail and it finally released her leg. The bite mark stretches from her thigh to her calf, but she is reported to be fine. The beach, of course, is closed today.

Hurricane Wilma churning in the Caribbean and expected to make a big turn toward the Florida coast. The newest information on the strength and the path of the storm from the CNN Weather center straight ahead.

We also want to remind you that we are awaiting a news conference from the White House on the future of the Middle East. President Bush and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will be speaking. We'll be bringing that to you live.

But first, what flood waters and Hurricane Katrina didn't ruin on the Gulf Coast, mold did. But you don't have to go through a storm to be a mold victim.

Gerri. GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Frederick, good to see you.

You know, we're going to tell you how to spot mold, how to prevent it. It's easy to get. Five Tips is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A quick look at the board right now. The Dow is down 12 points at 10,401.

Well, you don't need to go through a hurricane or severe flooding to be concerned about mold in your home. Any type of water damage can lead to major problems. CNN Personal Finance Editor Gerri Willis has today's "Top Five Tips" on how to protect your home from mold.

And, Gerri, you say, from the beginning, just use your senses.

WILLIS: That's right. You're going smell it, you're going to see it. Most likely, though, you'll smell a musty odor. That means there could be mold in your house. And look, Fred, I'm not talking about the little gray spots on the back of your shower curtain. I'm talking about slimy, smelly mold that can grow on the inside of your walls and create a real health hazard, particularly for people who have respiratory problems already. Runny noses, irritated eyes. You get the picture.

WHITFIELD: And some folks feel like they want to resort to kind of home testing in order to determine whether indeed it is a severe problem. You say, skip it.

WILLIS: Yes. You know, the home testing kits can be expensive and it's $40 to $50 just to get a test run for you. You've got to send it into the lab. It takes a while. You're better off if you have an effected area that's bigger than 10 feet square to actually hire in a professional and get it taken care of.

WHITFIELD: But when it comes down to removing it, you say you can do it yourself?

WILLIS: You can do it if it's smaller than that 10 square foot spot. If you've got a small patch, get some bleach, get some water. You want to mix about a cup of bleach for every gallon of water and take a steel brush and a stiff bristle brush and get rid of that mold. Now it's the easiest way to do it. You want to stay on top of it. If it recurs over and over and over again, call in a professional.

WHITFIELD: And sometimes to find the source it means just really inspecting your air-conditioning unit. What do you mean?

WILLIS: Well, a lot of people don't change the filters and what you find is that mold grows because of that. Make sure you don't use fiberglass filters. Clean them, change them all the time, even if you've got in-window air-conditioning units like you're seeing right here. You want to make sure that the coil is shiny on those and that your filter isn't covered with dirt.

WHITFIELD: And what are some other ways to perhaps prevent it if there is a way to do that?

WILLIS: Well, you want to make sure that your bathrooms are ventilated. That's a big deal. A lot of people have problems that start in their bathrooms because they don't even open a window and they don't have a fan. Make sure you do.

Make sure your house doesn't have leaks. And I've got to tell you, Fredricka, the one big problem that you're going understand if you run into mold, your insurance company isn't going pay for this. You're probably going to have to pay for it yourself. So you'll want to go after it as soon as you can, get rid of the problem and keep an eye on it. It's a big issue for people.

WHITFIELD: It is. That alone is incentive.

All right, Gerri Willis, thanks so much.

WILLIS: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Watching Wilma. Right now it's a powerful category four storm that could get even stronger later on today. We'll bring you the latest on the storm.

Also ahead, we are waiting a news conference from the White House on the future of the Middle East. President Bush will be joined by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. We'll bring that to you live when CNN LIVE TODAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Coming up on the half hour. Fredricka Whitfield in for Daryn Kagan today. A live look at the White House right now where President Bush is meeting with Palestinian Leader Mahmoud Abbas. The two men will speak with reporters in the Rose Garden in just about 20 minutes from now. And, of course, we'll be carrying that live for you.

First, here's what else is happening right "Now in the News."

The U.S. Army is investigating what it calls alleged misconduct by soldiers serving in Afghanistan. The move follows the airing on Australian television of video showing U.S. soldiers near the village of Sanbad (ph). The soldiers are standing by the burning corpses of two suspected Taliban fighters. The fighters have their bodies laid out facing Mecca. The video includes a message taunting Taliban fighters to retrieve their dead and fight.

Michael Ray Aquino is expected to plead not guilty to charges. He passed classified information. Aquino, seen here in the glasses and the striped shirt, has an arraignment next hour in federal court in New Jersey. Aquino is a former Filipino police official. He's accused of conspiring to pass U.S. intelligence to current and former officials in the Philippines.

European health officials are meeting today to discuss how to stop the spread of bird flu. The meeting, held northwest of London, is dealing with the production and distribution of antiviral drug. An E.U. spokesman says the ultimate goal is coming up with a vaccine against bird flu.

A pumping operation is expected to begin this morning in Taunton, Massachusetts. Officials hope to relieve pressure on a weakened dam. The town's state of emergency is expected to remain in place until next week. About 2,000 people evacuated their homes after the wooden dam began buckling.

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