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American Morning
Pierce City, Missouri Truly Devastated by Tornado
Aired May 06, 2003 - 08:03 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Back to the big story again, Pierce City, Missouri truly devastated by a tornado. Population just a bit under 1,400. Officials say the townspeople there are in total shock and very few, if any, of the buildings will be able to be saved.
David Mattingly is there live to take us through what he is finding out with the sun up yet again today -- David, good morning there.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
That's right, the sun has come up, and with that the sound of chainsaws now filling the air as people trying to get their houses uncovered from all the debris that is here. And when you look at all the destruction, you have to wonder how this town managed to make it through this tornado with only one fatality.
One of the big reasons for that was for the police and fire were patrolling the streets, sounding their sirens, warning everyone to take cover as the storm was approaching. Many of those people, 40, maybe more, took cover in this building right here. This is the armory here in town. Normally that's a very good idea for people to seek shelter there. But this time the armory was directly in the path of the tornado.
That's why if you look at the building today, you see all the windows have been blown out. The roof is caved in. The building next to it, also part of the armory, the roof there is caved in. Tragically, this is where the town's one fatality did occur.
Now, later today we're also expecting a continued tragedy here. All of the old buildings that this town was very proud of, so many of them so badly damaged that some of them may have to be demolished today for safety reasons.
So, again, this disaster just continues for this town. Everywhere you look, on this corner, for example, there are all these broken vehicles, these power lines here all piled up on the corner. It is like this for probably about a 12 block radius in this area. This is ground zero where the tornado came through, just an idea of the destructive power.
There's a telephone pole there that's been twisted and torn. Behind it look at that house, the magnolia tree, you see how twisted that is. So the tornado came right through this area. Everything in here was torn up. That, in fact, some of these vehicles, it looks like they were all hit with a sand blaster there was so much stuff coming through here.
In fact, about the only thing, Bill, that did not move -- and I think we can show it to you here -- was the tank that is parked outside the armory. The only thing here that I see that does not appear to be damaged -- Bill, back to you.
HEMMER: David, quickly here, I see no one in our shot there. Has the place been evacuated and cleaned out?
MATTINGLY: They closed off the streets last night. They will be opening them up a little bit later today for people who need to go back and recover some things. National Guard patrolling last night to make sure there weren't any looters. No reports of anything like that. Everyone getting back to that huge task at hand of trying to figure out what do we do next.
So, a big question to be answered today -- Bill.
HEMMER: Yes, what next, indeed, is the question.
David, thanks.
We'll put it to the governor in that state of Missouri, saying the swarm of tornadoes Sunday night and Monday morning are the worst in state history, and the evidence is there in David Mattingly's live picture in Pierce City.
Governor Bob Holden live from Jefferson City, Missouri.
Governor, good morning to you.
I certainly wish we could talk about other matters but the question from David to you, what next and what now on this Tuesday morning?
GOV. BOB HOLDEN (D), MISSOURI: Well, as he said, we've got the National Guard in there patrolling to make sure for the safety of the individuals and the community. We've got SEMA officials there working now with the people, getting an assessment of the loss that they have. We will have all of our state departments -- housing, economic development and the others, the small business community, sitting down and working with all the business folks in the area to make sure and get an assessment.
Our job is to be their partner and to be their neighbor and work with them, both at the federal level and at the state level, to get the resources and the assets that they need to start rebuilding their lives.
HEMMER: Governor, I'm certain there is a list of priorities. At the top of that list is what right now?
HOLDEN: Well, first of all is let the local officials do their job, do their assessments so we, the state officials and the federal officials can get in and be of help immediately. It's important that now, as we come through this tragedy, that we look to the future and how we're going to rebuild that community, because it's a community of very proud people, hardworking people, and they'll come back even stronger.
HEMMER: Governor, I know your state -- and correct me if I'm wrong here -- in a state of emergency, right?
HOLDEN: Correct. We've...
HEMMER: And if that's the case, what does that mean exactly?
HOLDEN: Well, it means that we're, we've released and using the National Guard personnel to patrol the area and to provide assistance. It means that we're allowing our Department of Economic Development and Housing to step in there and start working with these people immediately. It means that we're working with the federal government to try to get assistance from them as quickly as we can, to make sure that we provide the assistance that they need now to get the job done and start turning around their lives.
HEMMER: Yes, Governor, also a couple of questions here. I don't know if you can give us updated numbers on this now, but the number of dead right now in your state is holding at what?
HOLDEN: Seventeen.
HEMMER: Seventeen. And among the missing, what's the number there now?
HOLDEN: The number of missing fluctuates between three to about eight, and right now I don't have a firm number on that.
HEMMER: All right, what about the homeless right now, left out in the rain today with a system coming through? Are they able to find enough shelter?
HOLDEN: Yes. I was in Pierce City and in that area yesterday and that's one of the questions I asked is to make sure that everybody was taken care of, either through shelters that we provide or personal friends that they may have. Now is the time for all of us to come together and work as a people to help these individuals that have gone through so much tragedy.
HEMMER: Governor, in the short time we have left, your message to the people in your state if they're watching this right now is what?
HOLDEN: Well, our people have reacted, I think, in a very outstanding fashion. They've come through this tragedy. We'll work with them. We will be their partner in this and we will bring Pierce City and Stockton and the other communities back stronger than ever.
HEMMER: Thank you, Governor.
And we wish you the best of luck in finding the missing you listed as less than 10 or fewer than 10, so good luck on that front.
HOLDEN: Appreciate it.
HEMMER: Governor Bob Holden in Jefferson City, Missouri.
Certainly -- Heidi.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go ahead now and get right to Leon Harris.
He is in Jackson, Tennessee this morning -- hi, Leon.
I know the weather is just treacherous all over again today, right?
LEON HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's been wreaking havoc with, you know, our equipment, but it, more importantly, with people's lives here in Jackson, Tennessee. And this rain that's coming down, that's been coming down all night, as a matter of fact, as well, it's just adding insult to the injury this town has already suffered with these tornadoes that barreled their way through here.
As you can see here, extensive damage through what used to be the center of downtown Jackson, Tennessee. And this is pretty much the way this entire maybe two or three square block area looks like. And one of the big problems that they have to deal with right now is the main post office here is also looking sort of like these buildings here. There is an effort under way right now to at least resume that part of every day life here.
But much of life around here is also going to be at a standstill -- it's going to be at a standstill for some time to come.
The rain is expected to keep falling here for at least the next two to three days, according to local reports here. There's already a number of reports I've heard of massive -- not massive, but extensive flooding in the region. More flash flood watches will be in effect for some time to come. We're right now, as a matter of fact, in the middle, as well, of a tornado watch, which will be in effect for at least another 45 to 50 minutes or so. And I've got to tell you, there's been some pretty, pretty ugly looking clouds that have been rolling through here.
That may complicate matters for officials who plan on coming in here and taking an aerial tour. From what we hear, Governor Bredesen, Senator Alexander, as well as the mayor plan on coming through here and taking a tour of the area to get an assessment by helicopter. Don't know if they'll be able to do that today.
The FEMA director is also going to be traveling with them. We hope to get some time to talk with him to find out exactly what's being done to help the people who are dealing with this mess. Last reports that we've gotten as many as up to 1,600 structures across this area totally either wiped out or damaged in some way. The death toll right now standing at 14 for the state, seven on one road alone here in Madison County.
Maybe if we get a chance to talk with the mayor when he stops by later on, Heidi, we'll have to ask him about one part of life that will not go on. Today was supposed to be election day for Jackson, Tennessee for the mayor. That's not going to happen. We'll have to find out what he will be working on once he stops by to talk with us -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes, and what the consequences of that will be.
Leon, you know, as we were saying, it was a little bit too early when we talked to you last time, but I think I am starting to see some people sort of milling around behind you. Are people out now? Are you able to talk to them? What are they doing?
HARRIS: Well, you know, the people you see around us right now basically are all the media. We did see a number of people walking around this area last evening, before the rains came in and hit hard. Many of them were walking around in just, pretty much, you know, almost in stunned silence, a lot of them looking at what used to be some, a computer company here, a couple of shops.
But the amazing thing, Heidi, is just that when you see things like this, you see what the vagaries of what happens in a tornado. You see all of this destruction. Well, right next to us -- and we probably can't get a shot of it from our, this particular vantage point -- is the memorial that was set up to remember those who died in the tornadoes that struck this area back in 1998. Six people died then. No damage whatsoever in that spot and that's maybe 20 feet away.
It's amazing what you can see, you know, at ground zero, if you will, of these tornadoes.
COLLINS: All right, Leon Harris, we're going to keep on checking in with you as the day goes on.
Thanks so much, Leon.
For now, though, we are going to get a check on the very latest on the storm system that just keeps hammering away at the same area.
Chad Myers is at the CNN Center with the latest -- hi, Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi. Good morning, Bill.
And it's going to back up today back into parts of Missouri, back into Kansas, Oklahoma and even to Arkansas, and then move forward again over the same areas that we've had these storms.
I want to focus your attention on Nashville right there. It has been raining all night in Nashville so pictures from last night before sunset here, and it was flooding then. We've had three and a half inches of rain since. You've seen the pictures here. Since the pictures were shot here, three and a half additional inches of rainfall already in this area overnight. So more flooding today around the Nashville area and, in fact, over most of Tennessee. If we can go back to the maps, I have a couple of tornado warnings I want to get to you here. From, to the northwest of Birmingham and also to the west of Huntsville, a very strong storm right there. You can see the red spot right in the middle of it. It is moving to the east rather quickly, almost 50 miles per hour. Tornado warnings for the Limestone, Colbert, Lauderdale and Lawrence County areas. Actually, a weather spotter saw a tornado, a funnel cloud, if you will, over Killin (ph), moving to the east, very close to the dam right now. And that's going to be in effect, that tornado warning going to be in effect for another 25 minutes as it moves east over northern Alabama.
So it's not done yet and it's going to go all day today and we'll keep you up to date -- Heidi, back to you.
COLLINS: All right, Chad Myers, thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired May 6, 2003 - 08:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Back to the big story again, Pierce City, Missouri truly devastated by a tornado. Population just a bit under 1,400. Officials say the townspeople there are in total shock and very few, if any, of the buildings will be able to be saved.
David Mattingly is there live to take us through what he is finding out with the sun up yet again today -- David, good morning there.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
That's right, the sun has come up, and with that the sound of chainsaws now filling the air as people trying to get their houses uncovered from all the debris that is here. And when you look at all the destruction, you have to wonder how this town managed to make it through this tornado with only one fatality.
One of the big reasons for that was for the police and fire were patrolling the streets, sounding their sirens, warning everyone to take cover as the storm was approaching. Many of those people, 40, maybe more, took cover in this building right here. This is the armory here in town. Normally that's a very good idea for people to seek shelter there. But this time the armory was directly in the path of the tornado.
That's why if you look at the building today, you see all the windows have been blown out. The roof is caved in. The building next to it, also part of the armory, the roof there is caved in. Tragically, this is where the town's one fatality did occur.
Now, later today we're also expecting a continued tragedy here. All of the old buildings that this town was very proud of, so many of them so badly damaged that some of them may have to be demolished today for safety reasons.
So, again, this disaster just continues for this town. Everywhere you look, on this corner, for example, there are all these broken vehicles, these power lines here all piled up on the corner. It is like this for probably about a 12 block radius in this area. This is ground zero where the tornado came through, just an idea of the destructive power.
There's a telephone pole there that's been twisted and torn. Behind it look at that house, the magnolia tree, you see how twisted that is. So the tornado came right through this area. Everything in here was torn up. That, in fact, some of these vehicles, it looks like they were all hit with a sand blaster there was so much stuff coming through here.
In fact, about the only thing, Bill, that did not move -- and I think we can show it to you here -- was the tank that is parked outside the armory. The only thing here that I see that does not appear to be damaged -- Bill, back to you.
HEMMER: David, quickly here, I see no one in our shot there. Has the place been evacuated and cleaned out?
MATTINGLY: They closed off the streets last night. They will be opening them up a little bit later today for people who need to go back and recover some things. National Guard patrolling last night to make sure there weren't any looters. No reports of anything like that. Everyone getting back to that huge task at hand of trying to figure out what do we do next.
So, a big question to be answered today -- Bill.
HEMMER: Yes, what next, indeed, is the question.
David, thanks.
We'll put it to the governor in that state of Missouri, saying the swarm of tornadoes Sunday night and Monday morning are the worst in state history, and the evidence is there in David Mattingly's live picture in Pierce City.
Governor Bob Holden live from Jefferson City, Missouri.
Governor, good morning to you.
I certainly wish we could talk about other matters but the question from David to you, what next and what now on this Tuesday morning?
GOV. BOB HOLDEN (D), MISSOURI: Well, as he said, we've got the National Guard in there patrolling to make sure for the safety of the individuals and the community. We've got SEMA officials there working now with the people, getting an assessment of the loss that they have. We will have all of our state departments -- housing, economic development and the others, the small business community, sitting down and working with all the business folks in the area to make sure and get an assessment.
Our job is to be their partner and to be their neighbor and work with them, both at the federal level and at the state level, to get the resources and the assets that they need to start rebuilding their lives.
HEMMER: Governor, I'm certain there is a list of priorities. At the top of that list is what right now?
HOLDEN: Well, first of all is let the local officials do their job, do their assessments so we, the state officials and the federal officials can get in and be of help immediately. It's important that now, as we come through this tragedy, that we look to the future and how we're going to rebuild that community, because it's a community of very proud people, hardworking people, and they'll come back even stronger.
HEMMER: Governor, I know your state -- and correct me if I'm wrong here -- in a state of emergency, right?
HOLDEN: Correct. We've...
HEMMER: And if that's the case, what does that mean exactly?
HOLDEN: Well, it means that we're, we've released and using the National Guard personnel to patrol the area and to provide assistance. It means that we're allowing our Department of Economic Development and Housing to step in there and start working with these people immediately. It means that we're working with the federal government to try to get assistance from them as quickly as we can, to make sure that we provide the assistance that they need now to get the job done and start turning around their lives.
HEMMER: Yes, Governor, also a couple of questions here. I don't know if you can give us updated numbers on this now, but the number of dead right now in your state is holding at what?
HOLDEN: Seventeen.
HEMMER: Seventeen. And among the missing, what's the number there now?
HOLDEN: The number of missing fluctuates between three to about eight, and right now I don't have a firm number on that.
HEMMER: All right, what about the homeless right now, left out in the rain today with a system coming through? Are they able to find enough shelter?
HOLDEN: Yes. I was in Pierce City and in that area yesterday and that's one of the questions I asked is to make sure that everybody was taken care of, either through shelters that we provide or personal friends that they may have. Now is the time for all of us to come together and work as a people to help these individuals that have gone through so much tragedy.
HEMMER: Governor, in the short time we have left, your message to the people in your state if they're watching this right now is what?
HOLDEN: Well, our people have reacted, I think, in a very outstanding fashion. They've come through this tragedy. We'll work with them. We will be their partner in this and we will bring Pierce City and Stockton and the other communities back stronger than ever.
HEMMER: Thank you, Governor.
And we wish you the best of luck in finding the missing you listed as less than 10 or fewer than 10, so good luck on that front.
HOLDEN: Appreciate it.
HEMMER: Governor Bob Holden in Jefferson City, Missouri.
Certainly -- Heidi.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Let's go ahead now and get right to Leon Harris.
He is in Jackson, Tennessee this morning -- hi, Leon.
I know the weather is just treacherous all over again today, right?
LEON HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's been wreaking havoc with, you know, our equipment, but it, more importantly, with people's lives here in Jackson, Tennessee. And this rain that's coming down, that's been coming down all night, as a matter of fact, as well, it's just adding insult to the injury this town has already suffered with these tornadoes that barreled their way through here.
As you can see here, extensive damage through what used to be the center of downtown Jackson, Tennessee. And this is pretty much the way this entire maybe two or three square block area looks like. And one of the big problems that they have to deal with right now is the main post office here is also looking sort of like these buildings here. There is an effort under way right now to at least resume that part of every day life here.
But much of life around here is also going to be at a standstill -- it's going to be at a standstill for some time to come.
The rain is expected to keep falling here for at least the next two to three days, according to local reports here. There's already a number of reports I've heard of massive -- not massive, but extensive flooding in the region. More flash flood watches will be in effect for some time to come. We're right now, as a matter of fact, in the middle, as well, of a tornado watch, which will be in effect for at least another 45 to 50 minutes or so. And I've got to tell you, there's been some pretty, pretty ugly looking clouds that have been rolling through here.
That may complicate matters for officials who plan on coming in here and taking an aerial tour. From what we hear, Governor Bredesen, Senator Alexander, as well as the mayor plan on coming through here and taking a tour of the area to get an assessment by helicopter. Don't know if they'll be able to do that today.
The FEMA director is also going to be traveling with them. We hope to get some time to talk with him to find out exactly what's being done to help the people who are dealing with this mess. Last reports that we've gotten as many as up to 1,600 structures across this area totally either wiped out or damaged in some way. The death toll right now standing at 14 for the state, seven on one road alone here in Madison County.
Maybe if we get a chance to talk with the mayor when he stops by later on, Heidi, we'll have to ask him about one part of life that will not go on. Today was supposed to be election day for Jackson, Tennessee for the mayor. That's not going to happen. We'll have to find out what he will be working on once he stops by to talk with us -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes, and what the consequences of that will be.
Leon, you know, as we were saying, it was a little bit too early when we talked to you last time, but I think I am starting to see some people sort of milling around behind you. Are people out now? Are you able to talk to them? What are they doing?
HARRIS: Well, you know, the people you see around us right now basically are all the media. We did see a number of people walking around this area last evening, before the rains came in and hit hard. Many of them were walking around in just, pretty much, you know, almost in stunned silence, a lot of them looking at what used to be some, a computer company here, a couple of shops.
But the amazing thing, Heidi, is just that when you see things like this, you see what the vagaries of what happens in a tornado. You see all of this destruction. Well, right next to us -- and we probably can't get a shot of it from our, this particular vantage point -- is the memorial that was set up to remember those who died in the tornadoes that struck this area back in 1998. Six people died then. No damage whatsoever in that spot and that's maybe 20 feet away.
It's amazing what you can see, you know, at ground zero, if you will, of these tornadoes.
COLLINS: All right, Leon Harris, we're going to keep on checking in with you as the day goes on.
Thanks so much, Leon.
For now, though, we are going to get a check on the very latest on the storm system that just keeps hammering away at the same area.
Chad Myers is at the CNN Center with the latest -- hi, Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi. Good morning, Bill.
And it's going to back up today back into parts of Missouri, back into Kansas, Oklahoma and even to Arkansas, and then move forward again over the same areas that we've had these storms.
I want to focus your attention on Nashville right there. It has been raining all night in Nashville so pictures from last night before sunset here, and it was flooding then. We've had three and a half inches of rain since. You've seen the pictures here. Since the pictures were shot here, three and a half additional inches of rainfall already in this area overnight. So more flooding today around the Nashville area and, in fact, over most of Tennessee. If we can go back to the maps, I have a couple of tornado warnings I want to get to you here. From, to the northwest of Birmingham and also to the west of Huntsville, a very strong storm right there. You can see the red spot right in the middle of it. It is moving to the east rather quickly, almost 50 miles per hour. Tornado warnings for the Limestone, Colbert, Lauderdale and Lawrence County areas. Actually, a weather spotter saw a tornado, a funnel cloud, if you will, over Killin (ph), moving to the east, very close to the dam right now. And that's going to be in effect, that tornado warning going to be in effect for another 25 minutes as it moves east over northern Alabama.
So it's not done yet and it's going to go all day today and we'll keep you up to date -- Heidi, back to you.
COLLINS: All right, Chad Myers, thanks so much.
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