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American Morning
America Celebrates Fourth of July
Aired July 04, 2001 - 09:08 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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: From coast to coast across the country, Americans are celebrating this 225th Independence Day.
We begin our live look this morning at celebrations and preparations right here in Atlanta where the largest fireworks display in the southeast takes place.
Our national correspondent Brian Cabell is live at ground zero for the display -- Brian.
BRIAN CABELL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon.
If it was 9:30 tonight, I'd be in a fair amount of trouble right now. This will be the center of activity, the center of light, the center of noise. This is where all of these fireworks will be going off -- 4,500 pounds worth of fireworks, more than 2 tons, 1,900 firing devices.
Let's take a look at one of them fairly close up right now, as a matter of fact. This is an aerial shell -- a five-inch aerial shell. I'd say it weighs, oh, two or three pounds or so, consists of various chemicals in a cardboard canister. There's also some black powder at the bottom, a fuse in the middle, a timing device. All of this is electronically controlled and electrically fired very, very precise to within one-thirtieth of a second.
Let's take a look at last year's show, as a matter of fact, not quite as big as this year's at the Lenox Mall, but nevertheless, very big. This one will be bigger. Every year, we're told, these displays are getting larger, they're getting more sophisticated and they are getting safer. The technology comes from all around the world.
But again, we have about two tons worth of fireworks set to go off at 9:30 tonight. Three hundred thousand people from around the south scheduled to come out.
I'm Brian Cabell, CNN, live in Atlanta.
HARRIS: All right, thanks, Brian. We'll talk to you later on this morning -- Daryn.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Now we go to Niagara Falls where thousands of Fourth of July visitors are flocking to America's oldest state park. Bringing all that natural beauty to us, live, this morning is our Jeff Flock who looks like he is above the state park.
Jeff, good morning.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I am above it all and it's not tremendously stable where we are right now. We are in a hot air balloon. This is a new attraction. A first-ever live report from this hot air balloon over the falls. And this really gives you -- if Jeff gives us a perspective there -- really shows you the Niagara River how the Grand Island -- that's Grand Island out there -- that divides the Niagara River into the two channels, the one that goes over the Horseshoe Falls on this windy day up here and -- did I say hot air balloon, I meant helium balloon, that's what is propelling us up here -- and then the American Falls -- the American Channel and the American Falls. And as you can maybe see, it's a -- it's a windy day up here.
I don't know if we're able -- if we wave, I don't know -- if everybody can wave up here, if we -- if they see us from the observation position. That is a camera that we've got placed on the American side and yet another camera off to see the Horseshoe Falls.
And I'm with the mayor of Niagara Falls.
Irene Elia, is your -- is your breakfast staying down OK?
IRENE ELIA, MAYOR OF NIAGARA FALLS: Absolutely! Absolutely! This is fun.
FLOCK: This is all part of the Niagara experience.
ELIA: That's a -- that's exactly true.
FLOCK: It's not just coming up and looking at the falls.
ELIA: No, it's awesome, isn't it? And it's an experience to wonder. You know Niagara Falls is one of the wonders of the world and it's coming back in a renaissance fashion and we're delighted about this. This is just the beginning.
FLOCK: Now I hear you've got the thought about maybe some casinos over on this side because there are a few in Canada, correct?
ELIA: That's correct. There are a lot of things going on and the governor has signed a pact with the Seneca Indians and so you'll be seeing casinos here.
FLOCK: Excuse me.
(LAUGHTER)
FLOCK: And we're going to talk to the governor actually later this afternoon.
ELIA: That's correct. FLOCK: Yes.
ELIA: The governor is coming down.
FLOCK: OK.
ELIA: But I do want to point out that it is the experience. You know you can view something but when you experience it, that's the wonder of it. So welcome, Jeff.
FLOCK: Mayor, thank you so much.
And, Mike, you're responsible for all this. Mike Davis runs the Great American Balloon Company. It's a little windy up here right at the moment.
MIKE DAVIS, GREAT AMERICAN BALLOON COMPANY: Yeah, it is a little bit windy, but, yeah, that's part of the fun of the ride.
FLOCK: Now you've got another one of these balloons where -- in, is it Victoria Falls?
DAVIS: I've got one in Victoria Falls in Africa. And we came over here about a year-and-a-half ago, realized we could get a spot within 400 feet of Niagara Falls. We were delighted and we've been working on it since.
FLOCK: Now if you're wondering how we get our pictures back there, I don't know, Jeffrey, if you're able to show John (ph) there who's pointing a nice microwave device.
This is a first-ever live report you've had in one of your balloons, correct?
DAVIS: Pretty much. Certainly on this scale by far. It's one of the -- one of the first.
FLOCK: And what is the deal on this? We're on a tether, is that correct, so any chance of us going off into the distance here somewhere in Vancouver or something?
DAVIS: The basic specks on this -- it's actually a helium balloon. It's filled up with 200,000 cubic feet of helium and it gives us about 5 tons of lift. Now we're going up 400 feet in the air here connected to this giant steel stable. And, no, there's no chance of it going anywhere. I mean we're very securely fastened to the ground here.
FLOCK: And somebody also had the question, what happens if you puncture the balloon? Is there -- I'm looking for disaster (INAUDIBLE).
DAVIS: No, I'm sorry I can't give you the sort of thrills and spills that you guys like to have, but a small puncture on there will do virtually nothing. It'll take us days to find it. It would have a very gentle drop in pressure and we'll find it and stick a sticky plaster on it.
FLOCK: All right, sticky plaster will do the trick. At least I'll take your word on that.
Well, a unique perspective certainly above the falls. And I don't know if Jeffrey's able to do it, perhaps you can get one last look out there -- the Canadian Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls.
And if you stay tuned, in two hour's time, we will be at the base of Bridal Veil Falls with the water coming down on our heads as we give you about the most up close and personal look at Niagara Falls that you can get so stay tuned.
That is the latest from high above Niagara Falls, New York.
Back to you folks.
KAGAN: Jeff, thank you.
HARRIS: Figure there had to be a way for him to get wet.
KAGAN: Yes.
HARRIS: Yes, every live shot somehow, some way, he's got to get wet.
KAGAN: And show us pretty pictures. Leave it to him.
HARRIS: He took some incredible pictures.
KAGAN: Absolutely!
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