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American Morning
Rescuers Resume Search For as Many as a Dozen People Missing After Mudslide
Aired January 11, 2005 - 07:00 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.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What can you do, I mean, we're up there with shovels digging.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR, AMERICAN MORNING: Twelve people missing this morning and time is running out to find them.
Elsewhere in the state, the water rising and homes are falling.
And more snow in the California mountains. What's another three feet when you've already had 19 on the ground?
And the desperate moments, a two-month-old baby in that raft. The raft goes over. One incredible rescue on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR, AMERICAN MORNING: Good morning. Welcome, everybody.
Weather is sure a big story this morning. Just an amazing scene in Los Conchita, California. Look at this mountainside just giving way. Then it just literally pours downhill. People killed. Three people killed, their homes utterly obliterated and crushed.
This morning, we'll talk about the search for the missing with a member of the Ventura County sheriff's department. Also, we're going to talk with Chad. He says there is even more rain coming, which of course, the folks there absolutely do not need.
HEMMER: Do not. You are indeed right about that.
Also this morning, the military's investigation into how a nuclear submarine managed to run into an underwater mountain. It happened in the Pacific. A lot of questions surrounding what happened there. Is it possible, though in the end, nobody is to blame? Have a report on that for you this morning, as well.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: McHale's navy going on there? What's that?
(CROSSTALK) (LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: Good morning, Sailor.
CAFFERTY: That CBS -- morning, Sailor.
That CBS News report's out; 224 pages long. Bottom line, is CBS News blew it big time on the report that Dan Rather aired on President Bush's National Guard service. We'll take a look at how much damage that report may do to the credibility of the media at large. Look at that in a few minutes.
O'BRIEN: Look forward to that. Thanks, Jack.
Let's get right to the top stories this morning. Kelly Wallace, at the CNN New York bureau, with a look at the stories making headlines.
Hey, Kelly. Good morning.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NEWS ANCHOR, AMERICAN MORNING: Good morning, Soledad. And good morning, everyone.
"Now in the News", there's been another attack this morning on Iraqi security forces. U.S. military telling CNN, a car bomb went off near a police station in Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit. At least six Iraqi police have been killed. Insurgents have increasingly targeted Iraqi security in the days leading up to the January 30 elections.
President Bush poised to take the lead on Social Security reform. Less than four hours from now the president will head a public discussion on the future of the government-run retirement system. He's touting private accounts so younger workers can invest a portion of their contributions. And aide says the president will not release a detailed plan of his proposal until later this year.
In North Carolina, work is underway this morning to reopen traffic on Interstate 95 in Johnson County. A tanker truck hauling diesel fuel rolled over and burst into flames yesterday, near the town of Smithfield, killing the driver. Southbound traffic has resumed. Workers hope to have the northbound lanes open by this afternoon.
And the 300 people living in the Alaskan village of Caktovek (ph) are waiting for a power boost. The town's power generator quit Sunday during a blizzard with 60-mile per hour winds and sub-zero temperatures. An Air National Guard plane is expected to arrive there today with a crew to help with repairs. So hoping to get power there soon, Soledad. Obviously, a scary situation. Back to you.
O'BRIEN: No question about that. All right, Kelly, thanks for that update.
Rescuers have resumed their search this morning for as many as a dozen people who are missing after that massive mudslide north of Los Angeles yesterday that killed three people. CNN's Ted Rowlands is live for us in Ventura, California, with the very latest.
Ted, good morning.
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT, AMERICAN MORNING: Good morning, Soledad.
There is still optimism here. Crews have worked overnight and into this morning. They have detected an audible hit inside the debris pile. They are hoping that somebody inside is still alive.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROWLANDS (voice over): More than 160 rescue workers searching and listening for survivors in a massive, 30-foot pile of mud and rubble. At least nine people have been pulled from the rubble. At least three of those were kept alive by pockets of air.
BOB ROPER, VENTURA COUNTY FIRE DEPT. SPOKESMAN: People were in voids, like corners of the home, under a doorway, under some furniture and stuff. So, what it was is the mud and the debris that collapsed the house and they had just this little cubicle they were in. And so the crews were able to go in there, get that off of them.
ROWLANDS: In an instant, a rain-soaked hillside gave way, sending an avalanche of mud and debris into more than a dozen homes below.
BILL HARRISON, GOOD SAMARITAN: Just popped and just came rushing down like a freight train. And just plowed through, probably, over a dozen houses.
ROWLANDS: Crews were in the area at the time of the slide as residents ran for cover. Firefighter tried frantically to rescue survivors. They plan to keep searching, but there is concern about the possibility that there may be another slide.
ROPER: The geologists are concerned that that mud flow may start pushing more of the hill down and as it released part of that hill, the other parts of the hill that are unstable then may also start sliding down.
ROWLANDS: Homeowners were in the process of being evacuated when the hillside gave way. Los Conchita, a seaside community between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara has a history of mudslides. The most significant one until now was in 1995, when nine homes were destroyed.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROWLANDS: Heavy rains overnight forced the suspension in the search efforts. They have resumed, however. And right now, the weather is cooperating. There is optimism, because of these folks that have been able to survive for hours in air pockets. Again, they have heard an audible sound in the debris pile. And, Soledad, they are hoping to pull somebody out alive. They're hoping it's somebody they can get to. It is a very arduous and difficult task. O'BRIEN: No question about that. All right, Ted, thanks. Our fingers are crossed as they try to do that. It would be terrific news to be able to report that.
Ted Rowlands for us this morning. We'll continue to check in with him.
Bill?
HEMMER: As Ted mentioned, rescuers already pulled nine people from the mud there in California. Now, they're searching for others, believed to be buried underneath 30-feet high of mud and debris. And Bob Brooks is with the Ventura County sheriff's department.
Welcome here, good morning, sir. I want to ask you a few more questions about what Ted Rowlands is reporting, about this audible sound. What can you tell us about this audible hit that was hit over the night?
BOB BROOKS, VENTURA COUNTY SHERIFF DEPT.: Well, we have sound sensors placed in the debris. And that's been what's led us to the people that we've recovered from that debris field.
There was a cessation of sound for a while after we made the initial recoveries. About 12:30 this morning, they were able to detect sound again. They started the rescue process. They had to back away, because of the rains, that hillside is still very tenuous and very dangerous to work close to. They've resumed the rescue efforts this morning and we're hopeful that they will find someone.
HEMMER: These sound sensors, what to they detect. Do they detect breathing or tapping, or what underneath the mud?
BROOKS: Usually, it's something like tapping. Usually they're looking for a sound, that someone might make if they were tapping, or down there and trying to attract attention. Breathing, if it was very close, is possible.
HEMMER: Do you know how many people at this point are missing?
BROOKS: Right now, we're probably looking at about 20. We had some people in the area when the slide actually occurred. They said they saw 30 to 40 people that were overtaken by the mudslide. We've had about 22 people reported missing by family or friends.
HEMMER: When do you expect the search to resume today?
BROOKS: It's ongoing now. And we'll continue. Right now, the emphasis is on rescue. We're not worried about recovery at this point. We want to be able to save lives. When we've finished the rescue process, then we'll have to go into recovery.
HEMMER: More rain is expected in the area today. Can you do anything now to make that area more secure?
BROOKS: There's absolutely nothing you can do. The ledge above it is a couple feet high. It's been badly eroded. There's a crevice that goes all along the face. The geologist is saying it's very dangerous at this point. The rains make it more so.
HEMMER: That is my understanding, there's a retaining wall in place, has been in place for years there, but did little to prevent this mud from slipping off the hill.
Is there anything, then, when we look at this wall of mud coming down from Southern California, is there any way to get better prepared for these moments?
BROOKS: Well, the retaining wall that's there is very inefficient. It's a small portion of the debris field itself. When you look at the volume, I think in '95 when they had the last slide, they were talking about 600,000 tons of sand and mud coming down. There's really nothing that can stop something of that magnitude. It's almost a completely sheer cliff. That's why it's so dangerous for the rescue workers at this point.
HEMMER: Listen, my best to you. Stay safe out there and good luck in the night hours again. About 4 o'clock local time in Southern California. Bob Brooks there, Ventura, California.
Twenty people missing, but as Ted Rowlands now reports, an audible sound has been detected. Hope for the best out there. We'll keep you posted when we get more.
At the half hour here on AMERICAN MORNING we'll talk to one of the men who helped pull victims buried in the mud to safety. That is coming up.
Soledad?
O'BRIEN: Amid California's wild weather, one family is counting its blessings this morning after flooding stranded them in their cabin in the Angeles National Forest. An attempted rescue took a sudden turn for the worst.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN (voice over): Dramatic moments in Southern California. A two-month-old baby rescued from raging flood waters, not once, but twice. It happened in San Dimas. All seemed to be going well in the first rescue attempt, but watch.
The inflatable raft carrying the rescuer, the mother, and her baby suddenly overturned throwing all three into the water. Luckily, another rescuer rushed in and was able to reach them. He grabbed the baby, fighting through knee-deep water to get back to dry land.
CAPT. SAM MCDONALD, U.S. FOREST SERVICE: Her and the baby were again taken under. And I was trying to yell at her as she was moving downstream, hold the baby up, hold the baby up. Every time I'd say that, she'd actually listen she would try to get the baby up, but it was quite hard for her. O'BRIEN: Officials sate infant's body temperature dropped to 90 degrees. He was quickly put into warm clothing and taken to a hospital, where he's expected to make a full recovery.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: The LA County Fire Department says it's logged more than 500 flood- or water-related incidents since just last Friday.
HEMMER: Check of the weather now, Soledad. We mentioned more rain in Southern California. To Chad Myers, what are you seeing on the radar map there?
(WEATHER FORECAST)
HEMMER: We'll keep an a close eye on Southern California with the audible sound now detected, hoping for the best for rescuers working right now around the clock.
On a different story today, there's a black eye for CBS once again today. And some high-level employees are now without jobs. CBS News President Les Moonves talked with Paula Zahn about the report.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LES MOONVES, CBS NEWS PRESIDENT: Clearly, this is a bit of a black mark against CBS news. And clearly, things were done in this report that were unfair and untrue.
And we brought in this panel and they gave us 225 pages of very in-depth look at what occurred there. So, it is our job now, in terms of what we've done with people and the way the process works at CBS News in terms of vetting documents and sources, that we change the process.
And I think, you know, as I said it's not a great day for CBS News, but it's an opportunity to reexamine ourselves and hopefully move on and do better in the future.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Again, Les Moonves, CBS president with Paula Zahn, late yesterday afternoon. The producer of the segment, Mary Mapes, was fired. Three of her bosses were asked to resign. No punishment for the "Evening News" anchor, Dan Rather. He's already announced he's stepping down in the month of March.
Jack is looking at this online. We'll get back to Jack this half hour here on AMERICAN MORNING.
O'BRIEN: Another amazing story of survival from the tsunami disaster. And Indonesian man rescued after set adrift at sea for two weeks. How he survived in his own words.
HEMMER: Also, a U.S. submarine's deadly crash underwater. Could the sub's commander end up paying the price for this one? We'll get to that this morning.
O'BRIEN: And the first presidential inauguration since 9/11 is next week. What's the most likely threat to security? We examine that ahead as AMERICAN MORNING continues, right here. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: A "CNN Security Watch" this morning.
Now the January 20th presidential inauguration, the first since 9/11, happens in nine days from now. In a few hours, outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and the mayor of Washington, briefing reporters on the unprecedented security preparations there in the nation's capitol. Chief Terrance Gainer, the Capitol Police, has been planning this event. He's my guest in D.C.
Chief, nice to see you. Good morning to you.
CHIEF TERRANCE GAINER, U.S. CAPITOL POLICE: Good morning, Bill.
HEMMER: First since 9/11, how much more concern is there now in 2004 when compared to four years ago?
GAINER: Well, everything's changed since four years ago, especially after 9/11. But we've been getting ready for this based on all the events that have taken place since then, like the conventions or the State of the Union Address. This is well organized, a lot of law enforcement agencies working together.
HEMMER: So, if you've done this in the past, how much more has contributed to the event next Thursday? Are you just saying this is a similar run than what you've had in the past several years?
GAINER: Well, there will be a lot more officers involved now than four years ago. But not substantially more than were involved in the last State of the Union Address, or President Reagan's funeral.
There have been technological improvements, intelligence sharing. The work that we've done together over the years really has prepared us for this day.
HEMMER: What is the most likely terrorist threat that you see at this point?
GAINER: Well, the great news is there is no specific threat. I really think the biggest problem is going to be weather and crowd management. But we're always concerned about improvised explosive devices, things like that. But there's enough standoff, enough intelligence, enough officers to minimize any risks to that, or respond to it.
HEMMER: I also imagine there's a lot of technology, too, that you can utilize. Can you share some of that with us, Chief?
GAINER: Well, there is very sophisticated technology, but most what was the people will see is very similar to going through an airport. People will be screened along the parade routes, or on the West Front of the Capitol, where we'll have a couple hundred thousands people sharing the big day. People being patient, crowd management, and there are a lot of prohibited items that people should not bring.
HEMMER: Such as?
GAINER: Well, bags, camera bags will not be allowed, large purses, backpacks all the usual suspects -- any type of weapon. But if people are accustomed of going through security at an airport, that's what they'll see in and around this event. We think it is going to be very good.
HEMMER: Let me get back to the technology story. There's a long article yesterday in "The Washington Post". They talked about gadgets that were used, big plasma screens that can beam camera shots from the capitol building to a central command area. They talked about these gadgets that will determine the direction of a chemical released. What more can you add on what you'll be using?
GAINER: I think that captures that which we want the public to know. But I can tell you there will be a full array of military, secret service, police, technology employed in this. Almost anything the imagination can envision we'll be using.
HEMMER: Did you have a dry run recently? And if so, how did it go?
GAINER: We have had several dry runs. One this past Sunday, there will be another one this coming Sunday. We have had a lot of tabletop exercises. You find out a lot of the small things that need to be tweaked. The arrival, the timing and all that. But my head of dignitary protection, this is his ninth, his ninth inauguration, head of operations, his eighth. We have been at this a long time.
HEMMER: I want to get your reaction to this. From an editorial in "The Post", recently, on the screen for our viewers, "Inauguration next week will turn Washington into a fortress," it reads, "with Pennsylvania Avenue less a true parade ground than locked down, swept clean studio backdrop for a parade. Is that accurate? Is that the way this event's shaping up?
GAINER: I don't think so. I think we're prepared to have some -- nearly a million people come and view this parade, and the swearing-in of the president. So there will be a lot of security. I don't think it will be particularly noticed by the people, except for the screening. And I think we'll have a great event. If you stood on Pennsylvania Avenue and looked from the White House down to the Capitol, in these past events, you'll see how tremendous it can be. And the people will enjoy this one.
HEMMER: We'll be there next week. AMERICAN MORNING goes on the road for that, down in the nation's capital.
Chief, thanks. Hope to see you then.
GAINER: Thanks, Bill. HEMMER: Coverage later today, too, of that news conference at 11:30 a.m. Eastern. Tom Ridge will be there. Also, stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
Soledad?
O'BRIEN: Another amazing story of survival from the tsunami disaster. An Indonesian man was rescued on Monday off the coast of Malaysia after being adrift for two weeks in the Indian Ocean. Twenty- one-year old Ari Afrizal described his ordeal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARI AFRIZAL, TSUNAMI SURVIVOR (through translator): The first day, I clung to a piece of wood. The second day, I retrieved a small fishing boat, but it was leaking. I was in the small boat for four days before I managed to get on a raft.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Ari says that he ate coconut pulp that was floating on the ocean's surface in order to survive. Pretty remarkable tale.
HEMMER: As we said yesterday, we just continue to hear these stories just about every day. Again, one today.
In a moment here, video killed the radio star. That's what the song says. Will satellite kill radio itself? Over the air broadcasters find a new way to fight back. Andy has that next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: AM and FM radio taking to the airwaves to try to save itself. Andy Serwer explains, he's "Minding Your Business" this morning.
Good morning.
ANDY SERWER, COLUMNIST, "FORTUNE": Good morning, Soledad.
So far, traditional radio companies have largely dismissed the upstart satellite radio companies. No more. Now, the so-called terrestrial -- I like that -- terrestrial radio companies are fighting back with a new ad campaign featuring a lot of stars, saying hey, radio, you heard it here first. Stars like Ludacris and Avril Lavigne have volunteered, apparently, to help AM and FM radio fight against satellite radio.
This is what Avril Lavigne says basically, "Before I was on the cover of Maxim, and stalked on the Red Carpet" -- remember Avril Lavigne, she's the Canadian rock star.
Jack, remember she said David Bawie (ph), one time. Remember we got into that a little bit.
CAFFERTY: I remember. SERWER: Remember, you talked about her.
Anyway, she goes on and on and says how she got her start there and regular radio is a great thing.
It's interesting, because, you know, regular radio still dominates. The 94 million Americans listen to traditional radio. Only 4 million Americans listen to satellite radio. But the thing is, less and less time is being spent listening to traditional radio. In other words, the number of hours per week is going down.
So, you know, it's still early, but they see satellite radio as a threat.
O'BRIEN: Do you think ads like that, I mean, hearing Avril Lavigne saying she's on radio -- I mean, the girl is 19, for god's sake.
SERWER: Yes.
O'BRIEN: It's not like she's 50 and giving good perspective on radio's role in the world.
SERWER: I never really thought these things make a big difference, but apparently it makes them feel good or something.
O'BRIEN: And maybe it will work, who knows?
HEMMER: Even if satellite radio goes bonkers, there's still going to be a need for local radio. You want your weather reports, you want your school closings.
SERWER: Right. I think that is probably right. Remember, they said that videocassettes would kill the movie business?
HEMMER: Right.
SERWER: Did not.
HEMMER: Thank you, Andy.
SERWER: You're welcome.
HEMMER: Here's Jack in the quad today.
CAFFERTY: Good morning. In the what?
HEMMER: Question of the day, you said that a couple of weeks ago.
CAFFERTY: Oh, quad.
O'BRIEN: I like that.
CAFFERTY: I did?
HEMMER: You don't remember.
CAFFERTY: I'm so old.
(LAUGHTER)
Stop laughing.
SERWER: Peanut gallery.
CAFFERTY: He says, yes, he is. He's ancient.
In the end, it took 224 pages to fully describe how CBS News blew it big-time when it came to the President Bush National Guard story.
Network President Les Moonves called it a black eye for CBS News. Four people lost their jobs. Dan Rather's leaving the anchor chair of the "CBS Evening News". That broadcast rating is already in third place. Fell further as a result of this report.
Media credibility overall has been declining of late and this isn't going to help any. In 1988, 58 percent of people found no bias in political reporting. This is according to the Pew Research Center. Last year, that number had dropped to 38 percent.
Here's the question: How much confidence do you have in the mainstream news media? AM@cnn.com, is the address.
HEMMER: We've taken some hits lately, haven't we?
CAFFERTY: Well, we didn't do that report.
HEMMER: Well, "we", just speaking in terms of the media in general.
CAFFERTY: Let's make sure we keep them over there.
HEMMER: What do you have, a mouse in your pocket?
CAFFERTY: Yes. What's this "we" stuff?
SERWER: It is interesting, the report says it wasn't bias, that it was just competitive juices. They just wanted to beat the other networks on the story?
CAFFERTY: Yeah, right.
HEMMER: A lot in that report is interesting.
CAFFERTY: How does Hayward survive this, the president of the network news division? How is he still there? For 10 days, they describe the defense of this story as Nixonian. You know, it's absolutely true. We'll stand behind these documents 100 percent, yadda-yadda-yadda. The president of the network news division was sitting there watching this happen. Nothing happened to him.
O'BRIEN: What does the report say? Maybe... CAFFERTY: It's 224 page.
(LAUGHTER)
SERWER: He's still getting through.
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: It that's what I was wondering. All right, Jack, thanks.
(CROSS TALK)
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, that massive mudslide that crashed down on that coastal community, crushing almost everything in its path. We'll talk to a man, a hero really, who plucked two lucky survivors from the debris. That story is ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired January 11, 2005 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What can you do, I mean, we're up there with shovels digging.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR, AMERICAN MORNING: Twelve people missing this morning and time is running out to find them.
Elsewhere in the state, the water rising and homes are falling.
And more snow in the California mountains. What's another three feet when you've already had 19 on the ground?
And the desperate moments, a two-month-old baby in that raft. The raft goes over. One incredible rescue on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR, AMERICAN MORNING: Good morning. Welcome, everybody.
Weather is sure a big story this morning. Just an amazing scene in Los Conchita, California. Look at this mountainside just giving way. Then it just literally pours downhill. People killed. Three people killed, their homes utterly obliterated and crushed.
This morning, we'll talk about the search for the missing with a member of the Ventura County sheriff's department. Also, we're going to talk with Chad. He says there is even more rain coming, which of course, the folks there absolutely do not need.
HEMMER: Do not. You are indeed right about that.
Also this morning, the military's investigation into how a nuclear submarine managed to run into an underwater mountain. It happened in the Pacific. A lot of questions surrounding what happened there. Is it possible, though in the end, nobody is to blame? Have a report on that for you this morning, as well.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: McHale's navy going on there? What's that?
(CROSSTALK) (LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: Good morning, Sailor.
CAFFERTY: That CBS -- morning, Sailor.
That CBS News report's out; 224 pages long. Bottom line, is CBS News blew it big time on the report that Dan Rather aired on President Bush's National Guard service. We'll take a look at how much damage that report may do to the credibility of the media at large. Look at that in a few minutes.
O'BRIEN: Look forward to that. Thanks, Jack.
Let's get right to the top stories this morning. Kelly Wallace, at the CNN New York bureau, with a look at the stories making headlines.
Hey, Kelly. Good morning.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NEWS ANCHOR, AMERICAN MORNING: Good morning, Soledad. And good morning, everyone.
"Now in the News", there's been another attack this morning on Iraqi security forces. U.S. military telling CNN, a car bomb went off near a police station in Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit. At least six Iraqi police have been killed. Insurgents have increasingly targeted Iraqi security in the days leading up to the January 30 elections.
President Bush poised to take the lead on Social Security reform. Less than four hours from now the president will head a public discussion on the future of the government-run retirement system. He's touting private accounts so younger workers can invest a portion of their contributions. And aide says the president will not release a detailed plan of his proposal until later this year.
In North Carolina, work is underway this morning to reopen traffic on Interstate 95 in Johnson County. A tanker truck hauling diesel fuel rolled over and burst into flames yesterday, near the town of Smithfield, killing the driver. Southbound traffic has resumed. Workers hope to have the northbound lanes open by this afternoon.
And the 300 people living in the Alaskan village of Caktovek (ph) are waiting for a power boost. The town's power generator quit Sunday during a blizzard with 60-mile per hour winds and sub-zero temperatures. An Air National Guard plane is expected to arrive there today with a crew to help with repairs. So hoping to get power there soon, Soledad. Obviously, a scary situation. Back to you.
O'BRIEN: No question about that. All right, Kelly, thanks for that update.
Rescuers have resumed their search this morning for as many as a dozen people who are missing after that massive mudslide north of Los Angeles yesterday that killed three people. CNN's Ted Rowlands is live for us in Ventura, California, with the very latest.
Ted, good morning.
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT, AMERICAN MORNING: Good morning, Soledad.
There is still optimism here. Crews have worked overnight and into this morning. They have detected an audible hit inside the debris pile. They are hoping that somebody inside is still alive.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROWLANDS (voice over): More than 160 rescue workers searching and listening for survivors in a massive, 30-foot pile of mud and rubble. At least nine people have been pulled from the rubble. At least three of those were kept alive by pockets of air.
BOB ROPER, VENTURA COUNTY FIRE DEPT. SPOKESMAN: People were in voids, like corners of the home, under a doorway, under some furniture and stuff. So, what it was is the mud and the debris that collapsed the house and they had just this little cubicle they were in. And so the crews were able to go in there, get that off of them.
ROWLANDS: In an instant, a rain-soaked hillside gave way, sending an avalanche of mud and debris into more than a dozen homes below.
BILL HARRISON, GOOD SAMARITAN: Just popped and just came rushing down like a freight train. And just plowed through, probably, over a dozen houses.
ROWLANDS: Crews were in the area at the time of the slide as residents ran for cover. Firefighter tried frantically to rescue survivors. They plan to keep searching, but there is concern about the possibility that there may be another slide.
ROPER: The geologists are concerned that that mud flow may start pushing more of the hill down and as it released part of that hill, the other parts of the hill that are unstable then may also start sliding down.
ROWLANDS: Homeowners were in the process of being evacuated when the hillside gave way. Los Conchita, a seaside community between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara has a history of mudslides. The most significant one until now was in 1995, when nine homes were destroyed.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROWLANDS: Heavy rains overnight forced the suspension in the search efforts. They have resumed, however. And right now, the weather is cooperating. There is optimism, because of these folks that have been able to survive for hours in air pockets. Again, they have heard an audible sound in the debris pile. And, Soledad, they are hoping to pull somebody out alive. They're hoping it's somebody they can get to. It is a very arduous and difficult task. O'BRIEN: No question about that. All right, Ted, thanks. Our fingers are crossed as they try to do that. It would be terrific news to be able to report that.
Ted Rowlands for us this morning. We'll continue to check in with him.
Bill?
HEMMER: As Ted mentioned, rescuers already pulled nine people from the mud there in California. Now, they're searching for others, believed to be buried underneath 30-feet high of mud and debris. And Bob Brooks is with the Ventura County sheriff's department.
Welcome here, good morning, sir. I want to ask you a few more questions about what Ted Rowlands is reporting, about this audible sound. What can you tell us about this audible hit that was hit over the night?
BOB BROOKS, VENTURA COUNTY SHERIFF DEPT.: Well, we have sound sensors placed in the debris. And that's been what's led us to the people that we've recovered from that debris field.
There was a cessation of sound for a while after we made the initial recoveries. About 12:30 this morning, they were able to detect sound again. They started the rescue process. They had to back away, because of the rains, that hillside is still very tenuous and very dangerous to work close to. They've resumed the rescue efforts this morning and we're hopeful that they will find someone.
HEMMER: These sound sensors, what to they detect. Do they detect breathing or tapping, or what underneath the mud?
BROOKS: Usually, it's something like tapping. Usually they're looking for a sound, that someone might make if they were tapping, or down there and trying to attract attention. Breathing, if it was very close, is possible.
HEMMER: Do you know how many people at this point are missing?
BROOKS: Right now, we're probably looking at about 20. We had some people in the area when the slide actually occurred. They said they saw 30 to 40 people that were overtaken by the mudslide. We've had about 22 people reported missing by family or friends.
HEMMER: When do you expect the search to resume today?
BROOKS: It's ongoing now. And we'll continue. Right now, the emphasis is on rescue. We're not worried about recovery at this point. We want to be able to save lives. When we've finished the rescue process, then we'll have to go into recovery.
HEMMER: More rain is expected in the area today. Can you do anything now to make that area more secure?
BROOKS: There's absolutely nothing you can do. The ledge above it is a couple feet high. It's been badly eroded. There's a crevice that goes all along the face. The geologist is saying it's very dangerous at this point. The rains make it more so.
HEMMER: That is my understanding, there's a retaining wall in place, has been in place for years there, but did little to prevent this mud from slipping off the hill.
Is there anything, then, when we look at this wall of mud coming down from Southern California, is there any way to get better prepared for these moments?
BROOKS: Well, the retaining wall that's there is very inefficient. It's a small portion of the debris field itself. When you look at the volume, I think in '95 when they had the last slide, they were talking about 600,000 tons of sand and mud coming down. There's really nothing that can stop something of that magnitude. It's almost a completely sheer cliff. That's why it's so dangerous for the rescue workers at this point.
HEMMER: Listen, my best to you. Stay safe out there and good luck in the night hours again. About 4 o'clock local time in Southern California. Bob Brooks there, Ventura, California.
Twenty people missing, but as Ted Rowlands now reports, an audible sound has been detected. Hope for the best out there. We'll keep you posted when we get more.
At the half hour here on AMERICAN MORNING we'll talk to one of the men who helped pull victims buried in the mud to safety. That is coming up.
Soledad?
O'BRIEN: Amid California's wild weather, one family is counting its blessings this morning after flooding stranded them in their cabin in the Angeles National Forest. An attempted rescue took a sudden turn for the worst.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN (voice over): Dramatic moments in Southern California. A two-month-old baby rescued from raging flood waters, not once, but twice. It happened in San Dimas. All seemed to be going well in the first rescue attempt, but watch.
The inflatable raft carrying the rescuer, the mother, and her baby suddenly overturned throwing all three into the water. Luckily, another rescuer rushed in and was able to reach them. He grabbed the baby, fighting through knee-deep water to get back to dry land.
CAPT. SAM MCDONALD, U.S. FOREST SERVICE: Her and the baby were again taken under. And I was trying to yell at her as she was moving downstream, hold the baby up, hold the baby up. Every time I'd say that, she'd actually listen she would try to get the baby up, but it was quite hard for her. O'BRIEN: Officials sate infant's body temperature dropped to 90 degrees. He was quickly put into warm clothing and taken to a hospital, where he's expected to make a full recovery.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: The LA County Fire Department says it's logged more than 500 flood- or water-related incidents since just last Friday.
HEMMER: Check of the weather now, Soledad. We mentioned more rain in Southern California. To Chad Myers, what are you seeing on the radar map there?
(WEATHER FORECAST)
HEMMER: We'll keep an a close eye on Southern California with the audible sound now detected, hoping for the best for rescuers working right now around the clock.
On a different story today, there's a black eye for CBS once again today. And some high-level employees are now without jobs. CBS News President Les Moonves talked with Paula Zahn about the report.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LES MOONVES, CBS NEWS PRESIDENT: Clearly, this is a bit of a black mark against CBS news. And clearly, things were done in this report that were unfair and untrue.
And we brought in this panel and they gave us 225 pages of very in-depth look at what occurred there. So, it is our job now, in terms of what we've done with people and the way the process works at CBS News in terms of vetting documents and sources, that we change the process.
And I think, you know, as I said it's not a great day for CBS News, but it's an opportunity to reexamine ourselves and hopefully move on and do better in the future.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Again, Les Moonves, CBS president with Paula Zahn, late yesterday afternoon. The producer of the segment, Mary Mapes, was fired. Three of her bosses were asked to resign. No punishment for the "Evening News" anchor, Dan Rather. He's already announced he's stepping down in the month of March.
Jack is looking at this online. We'll get back to Jack this half hour here on AMERICAN MORNING.
O'BRIEN: Another amazing story of survival from the tsunami disaster. And Indonesian man rescued after set adrift at sea for two weeks. How he survived in his own words.
HEMMER: Also, a U.S. submarine's deadly crash underwater. Could the sub's commander end up paying the price for this one? We'll get to that this morning.
O'BRIEN: And the first presidential inauguration since 9/11 is next week. What's the most likely threat to security? We examine that ahead as AMERICAN MORNING continues, right here. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: A "CNN Security Watch" this morning.
Now the January 20th presidential inauguration, the first since 9/11, happens in nine days from now. In a few hours, outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and the mayor of Washington, briefing reporters on the unprecedented security preparations there in the nation's capitol. Chief Terrance Gainer, the Capitol Police, has been planning this event. He's my guest in D.C.
Chief, nice to see you. Good morning to you.
CHIEF TERRANCE GAINER, U.S. CAPITOL POLICE: Good morning, Bill.
HEMMER: First since 9/11, how much more concern is there now in 2004 when compared to four years ago?
GAINER: Well, everything's changed since four years ago, especially after 9/11. But we've been getting ready for this based on all the events that have taken place since then, like the conventions or the State of the Union Address. This is well organized, a lot of law enforcement agencies working together.
HEMMER: So, if you've done this in the past, how much more has contributed to the event next Thursday? Are you just saying this is a similar run than what you've had in the past several years?
GAINER: Well, there will be a lot more officers involved now than four years ago. But not substantially more than were involved in the last State of the Union Address, or President Reagan's funeral.
There have been technological improvements, intelligence sharing. The work that we've done together over the years really has prepared us for this day.
HEMMER: What is the most likely terrorist threat that you see at this point?
GAINER: Well, the great news is there is no specific threat. I really think the biggest problem is going to be weather and crowd management. But we're always concerned about improvised explosive devices, things like that. But there's enough standoff, enough intelligence, enough officers to minimize any risks to that, or respond to it.
HEMMER: I also imagine there's a lot of technology, too, that you can utilize. Can you share some of that with us, Chief?
GAINER: Well, there is very sophisticated technology, but most what was the people will see is very similar to going through an airport. People will be screened along the parade routes, or on the West Front of the Capitol, where we'll have a couple hundred thousands people sharing the big day. People being patient, crowd management, and there are a lot of prohibited items that people should not bring.
HEMMER: Such as?
GAINER: Well, bags, camera bags will not be allowed, large purses, backpacks all the usual suspects -- any type of weapon. But if people are accustomed of going through security at an airport, that's what they'll see in and around this event. We think it is going to be very good.
HEMMER: Let me get back to the technology story. There's a long article yesterday in "The Washington Post". They talked about gadgets that were used, big plasma screens that can beam camera shots from the capitol building to a central command area. They talked about these gadgets that will determine the direction of a chemical released. What more can you add on what you'll be using?
GAINER: I think that captures that which we want the public to know. But I can tell you there will be a full array of military, secret service, police, technology employed in this. Almost anything the imagination can envision we'll be using.
HEMMER: Did you have a dry run recently? And if so, how did it go?
GAINER: We have had several dry runs. One this past Sunday, there will be another one this coming Sunday. We have had a lot of tabletop exercises. You find out a lot of the small things that need to be tweaked. The arrival, the timing and all that. But my head of dignitary protection, this is his ninth, his ninth inauguration, head of operations, his eighth. We have been at this a long time.
HEMMER: I want to get your reaction to this. From an editorial in "The Post", recently, on the screen for our viewers, "Inauguration next week will turn Washington into a fortress," it reads, "with Pennsylvania Avenue less a true parade ground than locked down, swept clean studio backdrop for a parade. Is that accurate? Is that the way this event's shaping up?
GAINER: I don't think so. I think we're prepared to have some -- nearly a million people come and view this parade, and the swearing-in of the president. So there will be a lot of security. I don't think it will be particularly noticed by the people, except for the screening. And I think we'll have a great event. If you stood on Pennsylvania Avenue and looked from the White House down to the Capitol, in these past events, you'll see how tremendous it can be. And the people will enjoy this one.
HEMMER: We'll be there next week. AMERICAN MORNING goes on the road for that, down in the nation's capital.
Chief, thanks. Hope to see you then.
GAINER: Thanks, Bill. HEMMER: Coverage later today, too, of that news conference at 11:30 a.m. Eastern. Tom Ridge will be there. Also, stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
Soledad?
O'BRIEN: Another amazing story of survival from the tsunami disaster. An Indonesian man was rescued on Monday off the coast of Malaysia after being adrift for two weeks in the Indian Ocean. Twenty- one-year old Ari Afrizal described his ordeal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARI AFRIZAL, TSUNAMI SURVIVOR (through translator): The first day, I clung to a piece of wood. The second day, I retrieved a small fishing boat, but it was leaking. I was in the small boat for four days before I managed to get on a raft.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Ari says that he ate coconut pulp that was floating on the ocean's surface in order to survive. Pretty remarkable tale.
HEMMER: As we said yesterday, we just continue to hear these stories just about every day. Again, one today.
In a moment here, video killed the radio star. That's what the song says. Will satellite kill radio itself? Over the air broadcasters find a new way to fight back. Andy has that next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: AM and FM radio taking to the airwaves to try to save itself. Andy Serwer explains, he's "Minding Your Business" this morning.
Good morning.
ANDY SERWER, COLUMNIST, "FORTUNE": Good morning, Soledad.
So far, traditional radio companies have largely dismissed the upstart satellite radio companies. No more. Now, the so-called terrestrial -- I like that -- terrestrial radio companies are fighting back with a new ad campaign featuring a lot of stars, saying hey, radio, you heard it here first. Stars like Ludacris and Avril Lavigne have volunteered, apparently, to help AM and FM radio fight against satellite radio.
This is what Avril Lavigne says basically, "Before I was on the cover of Maxim, and stalked on the Red Carpet" -- remember Avril Lavigne, she's the Canadian rock star.
Jack, remember she said David Bawie (ph), one time. Remember we got into that a little bit.
CAFFERTY: I remember. SERWER: Remember, you talked about her.
Anyway, she goes on and on and says how she got her start there and regular radio is a great thing.
It's interesting, because, you know, regular radio still dominates. The 94 million Americans listen to traditional radio. Only 4 million Americans listen to satellite radio. But the thing is, less and less time is being spent listening to traditional radio. In other words, the number of hours per week is going down.
So, you know, it's still early, but they see satellite radio as a threat.
O'BRIEN: Do you think ads like that, I mean, hearing Avril Lavigne saying she's on radio -- I mean, the girl is 19, for god's sake.
SERWER: Yes.
O'BRIEN: It's not like she's 50 and giving good perspective on radio's role in the world.
SERWER: I never really thought these things make a big difference, but apparently it makes them feel good or something.
O'BRIEN: And maybe it will work, who knows?
HEMMER: Even if satellite radio goes bonkers, there's still going to be a need for local radio. You want your weather reports, you want your school closings.
SERWER: Right. I think that is probably right. Remember, they said that videocassettes would kill the movie business?
HEMMER: Right.
SERWER: Did not.
HEMMER: Thank you, Andy.
SERWER: You're welcome.
HEMMER: Here's Jack in the quad today.
CAFFERTY: Good morning. In the what?
HEMMER: Question of the day, you said that a couple of weeks ago.
CAFFERTY: Oh, quad.
O'BRIEN: I like that.
CAFFERTY: I did?
HEMMER: You don't remember.
CAFFERTY: I'm so old.
(LAUGHTER)
Stop laughing.
SERWER: Peanut gallery.
CAFFERTY: He says, yes, he is. He's ancient.
In the end, it took 224 pages to fully describe how CBS News blew it big-time when it came to the President Bush National Guard story.
Network President Les Moonves called it a black eye for CBS News. Four people lost their jobs. Dan Rather's leaving the anchor chair of the "CBS Evening News". That broadcast rating is already in third place. Fell further as a result of this report.
Media credibility overall has been declining of late and this isn't going to help any. In 1988, 58 percent of people found no bias in political reporting. This is according to the Pew Research Center. Last year, that number had dropped to 38 percent.
Here's the question: How much confidence do you have in the mainstream news media? AM@cnn.com, is the address.
HEMMER: We've taken some hits lately, haven't we?
CAFFERTY: Well, we didn't do that report.
HEMMER: Well, "we", just speaking in terms of the media in general.
CAFFERTY: Let's make sure we keep them over there.
HEMMER: What do you have, a mouse in your pocket?
CAFFERTY: Yes. What's this "we" stuff?
SERWER: It is interesting, the report says it wasn't bias, that it was just competitive juices. They just wanted to beat the other networks on the story?
CAFFERTY: Yeah, right.
HEMMER: A lot in that report is interesting.
CAFFERTY: How does Hayward survive this, the president of the network news division? How is he still there? For 10 days, they describe the defense of this story as Nixonian. You know, it's absolutely true. We'll stand behind these documents 100 percent, yadda-yadda-yadda. The president of the network news division was sitting there watching this happen. Nothing happened to him.
O'BRIEN: What does the report say? Maybe... CAFFERTY: It's 224 page.
(LAUGHTER)
SERWER: He's still getting through.
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: It that's what I was wondering. All right, Jack, thanks.
(CROSS TALK)
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, that massive mudslide that crashed down on that coastal community, crushing almost everything in its path. We'll talk to a man, a hero really, who plucked two lucky survivors from the debris. That story is ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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