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American Morning

Central European Flooding Worst in 150 Years

Aired August 20, 2002 - 08:29   ET

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

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We want to get to Europe right now, Central Europe, where the worst flooding in more than 150 years has taken a toll. Receding flood waters now giving the first close look at the long and costly cleanup ahead.
Michael Holmes reporting live now in Grimma, Germany with more on the scene and the situation there -- Mike, hello. Good afternoon.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi to you, Bill.

I've got to tell you, that's exactly what's happening. The flood waters of the Elbe River are receding and they're leaving behind them quite the scene.

I think in this town of Grimma, particularly hard hit, every house in this town of 19,000 people damaged in some ways. Houses have collapsed here.

But I think it's useful to give you a comparison in this situation of just how much water came through this town.

I'm going to get Paul here to pan up the column behind me. It's a list of flood water high marks over the years. The second lowest is in 1771, way up there. The mark reached on the 13th of August, 2002. The river at that time running eight meters. That's about 25 feet above normal. What a scene. I mean, as you know, Bill, I'm 6'4" and I am dwarfed by that. An unbelievable sight.

But as the flood waters do recede, what we're seeing here is really a snapshot of what's going on up and down the Elbe River in Eastern Germany -- Bill.

HEMMER: And it's going to cost so much to clean it up, billions they're already talking about.

Thank you much, Michael.

Michael Holmes in Grimma, Germany with a live report from there.

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