Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Irene's Damage Estimate; Irene's Affect On Gas Prices; Hurricane Irene Devastates Parts of Eastern U.S.; Flooding Shuts Down Transportation Along East Coast; Tea Party Express Kicks off Multi- State Bus Tour; Cut off in Carolina; Inside the Gadhafi Children's Villa
Aired August 29, 2011 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: The wrath of Irene in New England.
I'm Christine Romans.
Flash floods rip through Vermont, threatening to be some of the worst flooding in that state in more than eight decades.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Cut off in Carolina.
I'm Carol Costello.
Thousands who ignored evacuation orders now stranded on the outer banks. Officials scramble to get them out.
ALI VELSHI, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Ali Velshi.
Goodbye, Irene. Hello, Katia? A new tropical depression already forming in the Atlantic.
What forecasters say could be the next big threat -- on this AMERICAN MORNING.
(MUSIC)
ROMANS: Katia, are you kidding me?
Good morning. It's Monday, August 29th. This is a Rob Marciano plot to stay in business, tropical depression number 12. But it's very small.
VELSHI: We're keeping an eye on it.
COSTELLO: We are, as we must.
We begin this morning, though, with the extreme impact of Hurricane Irene. As the storm moves out, millions are waking up without electricity this morning, and record flooding, cutting off communities, some far inland. The storm is no longer a hurricane, of course, or even a tropical storm. It's crossed the Canadian border now. But the danger nowhere near over for people still suffering in its wake.
VELSHI: Irene is being blamed for at least 20 deaths now across eight states, the most in North Carolina, the state that took the first direct hit.
ROMANS: Crews say it could take weeks to restore power to some areas of the East Coast, weeks. At the height of the storm, 4 million people lost power from the Carolinas up to New England. That number right now is about 2.9 million still without power along the East Coast.
And we've been showing you these pictures out of Pompton Lakes, New Jersey. Take a look. That's a house -- and, boy, is it on fire.
We're told firefighters are unable to reach this home because of the floodwaters. According to WABC in New York, everyone got out of that house safely because they knew there was a problem yesterday because the front wall of the house collapsed and ruptured a gas main. The wall blew across the yard in the explosion. The owner reported the gas leak yesterday.
Governor Chris Christie had expressed particular concern about flooding in this town. Boy, was he right, because that house is going to burn to the ground because emergency crews just can't get to it.
VELSHI: Can't get to it, yes.
Airports along the East Coast were deserted all weekend. That's because there were no flights coming or going. Good news to report this morning. Arrivals and departures are once again under way at LaGuardia airport. Arrivals at New York's other major airports, JFK and Newark, are also under way. But departures are not expected to start until noon once the planes get it in.
More than 11,000 flights were canceled nationwide over the weekend.
ROMANS: All right. New York City's subway system is back up and running, service slowly resuming. Just about a couple of hours ago, it started. It was shut down for the first time ever because of a natural disaster. But commuters --
COSTELLO: Look at that.
VELSHI: Wow!
ROMANS: Empty, empty. You know your pockets are not going to get picked. Longer wait time and more crowded trains today.
VELSHI: I would say in an empty train station, my pocket has a better chance have a better chance of getting picked because --
(CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: What is going on? I know. VELSHI: Yes, looking at the signs to see when your train leaves and somebody grabs your wallet.
COSTELLO: If you're riding Amtrak this morning, you're probably on the luck. So, call ahead.
VELSHI: But big story, though, this morning is in Vermont. Raging waters flowing through the streets of Brattleboro.
This picture sent to us by a CNN iReporter capturing what could be some of the worst flooding in the state since 1927.
VELSHI: Another iReporter captured this covered bridge being ripped to shreds. It just breaks your heart. It's being there since 1870. Floodwaters washed away several bridges, some of those historic ones and knocked some homes right off their foundation in the state.
Gary Tuchman is live in Brattleboro, Vermont.
Gary, what's the scene there this morning?
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's a very sad scene, Ali. A lot of destruction, a lot of devastation. The flood waters are receding but the problems are not receding.
This building behind me -- this was an art studio. A three-story art studio that now is in danger of collapsing into what looks like a raging rapids. But yesterday at this time, this was just a brook called the Whetstone Brook. Up until yesterday, children swam in here. It was 10 feet wide.
And now, you can see, with all the water that came down during tropical storm Irene, it is 100-foot wide rapids. And the power from this water, the power from all the rain that went into the creeks and brooks all throughout the state of Vermont have created problems like this. So, the power of the water ended up leaving the building in this precarious shape.
There are several artists who do their work inside here. I just went inside the building to help some of the artists recover their art work, paintings from the walls. We did not go into that part that is leaning over the water. Obviously, it would be too dangerous to do that.
We actually camped out here last night. We got here last night. It's too hard to get in and out. And while we were here in the middle of the night, this is what happened.
This tree was standing when we got here last night. But this gives you an idea of the ground, how eroded it is. And I'm not going to get too close. I don't want to end up in there. But this ground gave way. The tree ended up in the water.
And this is what they're dealing with all throughout the state of Vermont. More than 260 roads were submerged by water. Like I said, as we see in most storms, the water is now receding, but authorities are now dealing with all the cleanup because when the water recedes, the mud remains.
And over here, I'm going to give you a look at some of the houses in this very beautiful rural neighborhood. The homes are covered with mud on the ground. There's mud from the water. And Vermonters can't believe what happened, because this is the worst flooding they've had in over eight decades here in the beautiful Green Mountain State.
And one other thing, Ali, that I want to tell you. The saddest news of all, this person was killed 20 miles west of here in the town of Wilmington, Vermont. In a brook like this that became a rapid, a woman fell in and her body was recovered this morning -- Ali.
VELSHI: Wow.
Yes, it continues. And for those of us who thinks it's passed, where you're standing is a good reminder that that flooding is not going to recede, it continues to be very, very dangerous.
Gary, thanks for that reporting.
I just saw a tweet from Craig Fugate, at FEMA, reminding people that don't drive through your water.
ROMANS: Water is not your friend. And there are more deaths because water and flooding after a hurricane has long passed, and there are some storm itself.
VELSHI: That's right.
COSTELLO: What was nice to see in Vermont -- you saw the neighbors already out, helping each other clean out, and that's what we like to see.
VELSHI: Yes.
ROMANS: In Jersey, the smell of gasoline is in the air, people are revving up their chainsaws and same on the shores of North Carolina. The outer banks were slammed so hard. Some areas are only accessible by chopper right now. Pounding surf washed over dunes, covering roads. Water and sand all in one big mess right now, stranding 2,500 people who didn't leave Hatteras Island. An emergency ferry will be sent to the island to bring in supplies.
But the governor of that state says, quite frankly, it could be 2 1/2 months before a permanent way to get out there.
VELSHI: That's incredible.
ROMANS: And some of those people, every day, commute in by ferry to the mainland. So, it's going to be very difficult going there. And that is closed for the season now.
COSTELLO: The Navy is now sending three U.S. warships to the East Coast to help with the post-Irene effort. One is USS Wasp. This heading toward the North Carolina coast right now to help in the search and rescue effort. Our David Mattingly is live in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina.
What might they be doing there?
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, there's so much right now to do in terms of just assessing all of the damage and try to assist the recovery that's just now beginning here on the outer banks. When we road this storm out, we experienced over 30 hours of rain and almost as many hours of tropical storm winds and hurricane force winds and authorities are just now beginning to see the big picture of all the damage that's been left behind.
(BERGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTINGLY (voice-over): A stunning view of the power of Hurricane Irene. North Carolina's Highway 12 chopped into pieces on Hatteras Island. The estimated 2,500 residents who stayed behind now stranded with no way to drive out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're probably 24 hours away from being able to get there, other than by helicopter.
MATTINGLY: Hit first, North Carolina felt Irene's strongest punch, bringing what is described as epic flooding to water front communities along Albemarle Sound. Houses and roads that weathered storms in the past were swamped like never before.
(on camera): Hurricane Isabel in 2003 was an incredibly destructive storm when it hit here the winds were such that it actually blew this water in the sound away from here. The water level was much lower.
But this time when Irene hit, the exact opposite happened.
(voice-over): Entire neighborhoods were inundated in hours. One resident caught the flood on camera with winds whipping the water on shore. Just hours later, the waters receded, leaving a mess behind and weeks of cleaning up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Part of living in the slice of paradise, you know?
MATTINGLY: People of Virginia now cleaning up as well -- 1.2 million were without power from a full day of damaging winds and up to 10 inches of rain.
Governor Bob McDonnell is asking for patience.
GOV. BOB MCDONNELL (R), VIRGINIA: It's going to be a matter of days or perhaps longer before power is fully restored.
MATTINGLY: It is the second worst power outage in Virginia history. Two states that will remember Irene as a hurricane for the record books.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MATTINGLY: People were warned that if they chose to stay behind and not evacuate when the storm was coming in, that they would need at least three days of supplies of food and water to get through that period before authorities could get to them. The people on Hatteras Island are going to need that 72 hours worth of supplies. But they're working now too get a ferry up and running, an emergency ferry, to re- establish access to that island. That should be up and running today -- Carol.
COSTELLO: I hope so. David Mattingly, reporting live from Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina -- many thanks.
VELSHI: All right. Rob Marciano is here with us in studios.
Rob, I know you got more information on Irene and what's going on and you're talking about Katia.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes. You know what I find interesting, the conversation this morning, everybody kind of their experiences with this storm, not having, you know, these things come up here very often.
VELSHI: Right.
MARCIANO: Everyone has their own way of looking at things. It was interesting, to say the least, you know?
ROMANS: These outer bands came through at my mailbox. I mean, usually, I have to get into the airplane and go to Louisiana bands for the bands, you know? I mean, it was just -- it's not that people don't get these in the Northeast. You grew up, you probably had a couple of them.
MARCIANO: But, you know, every 10, every 20 years. So, it's certainly anomalies to say the least. People I talked to weren't concerned, but I think they were more curious than anything else. And we have that luxury here. Other places are not so lucky.
We had rain, obviously. That's the headline as far as the flooding is concerned. Let's talk about the winds, though. I want to point out a couple of wind gusts that are certainly interesting. Sayville, New York, 91-mile-an-hour wind gusts, Chesapeake Beach, 72-mile-an-hour wind gusts, and in LaGuardia and Fire Island, seeing 67-mile-an-hour wind gusts.
So, I mean, over 4 million people at one point without power. So, you got wind over 60 miles an hour, you get that saturated ground. Everything we talked about last week came to fruition with the exception of the fact that this thing came onshore as a category 1 as opposed to a two or three and by the time it got to New York, it was a tropical storm strength.
But the inland damage certainly done. North Carolina seeing almost over 15 inches of rainfall, New Bern, North Carolina, seeing 14.79 inches. And a lot of these rivers across the local country of North Carolina have yet to crest. And when they do crest, it's going to take quite a long time for them to recede unlike the rivers in Upstate New York and parts of Jersey. Some other rainfall total. Speaking of the Northeast, Plum Point, Maryland, seeing over a foot. Tuxedo Park, just outside the city, almost a foot of rain, and Ellendale, Delaware, is seeing 10 inches.
And then Upstate New York, Connecticut and New Hampshire also seeing tremendous amount of rain, including Vermont, which we're showing that video and a couple of towns getting hit really, really hard. Just heartbreaking to see those covered bridges wiped out.
Newland, Virginia seeing 10 inches. Burlington, Connecticut, 8.7. Burlington, Vermont, seeing similar numbers, maybe six or seven inches of rainfall.
All right. Here you go. We still have major flooding under way. Now, I mentioned that North Carolina, the rivers will crest over the next couple of days and then slowly recede. Jersey, Connecticut, Upstate New York, rivers are going to be cresting over the next couple of days and recede a little bit more quickly.
And then places like Vermont, where we've got that rough terrain, steeper mountains, steeper valleys. The rivers rise quickly like they did yesterday, but they will also recede fairly rapidly. Most of those rivers across the Green Mountain State will crest this afternoon.
All right. We are watching tropical depression -- by the way, tropical storm Jose, I forgot about that, is just north of Bermuda now. Not a threat to us. Tropical depression number 12 already just south of Cape Verde Islands.
This will likely become a tropical storm. If it odes, it's name will be Katia. It is thousands of miles away. It will head in our direction but it has plenty of time to make that right-hand turn to become a fish storm. We don't know if that's going to happen for sure yet, but we're certainly hoping for that.
All right. Today, thankfully, a much quieter day across much of the U.S. Here's a look at the forecast, weather map. Obviously, we're going to see travel problems because of the volume. People that are having stuck in the past couple of day, just trying to get to the airports, the train stations. So, that's where you see most of your delays. Once the airports do get operational for us.
And heat, you know, we're almost into September, we're still talking about heat across parts of Texas. Getting into the heat -- the heat. The thick of hurricane season as we get through the next couple of weeks.
COSTELLO: You mean we're not in the thick of it yet?
MARCIANO: Yes, we're not in the thick of it yet.
COSTELLO: Stop it.
MARCIANO: It's been so long since we've had a tropical system or anything across New York City. ROMANS: Is this like the latest hurricane of the season in the long time? Big hurricane.
VELSH: Well, Katrina was today, six years ago.
ROMANS: But the first big storm.
MARCIANO: I'll make one other point. We have never gone six years without having a major hurricane make landfall in the U.S. The last major land fall of a hurricane was Wilma, back in 2005. So, we're due. If we make it through this year -- we didn't get a major one yet, we'll get a cat 3 or higher this year. If we don't, past six years have been relatively quiet.
ROMANS: If you saw the flooding in my town, you'd say this is major.
MARCIANO: Half the fatalities -- one thing we know, is that half the fatalities from all hurricanes result from inland flooding. It's always the biggest story that gets probably the least amount of headlines.
COSTELLO: Dreaded surge.
VELSHI: You know, I'm active on Twitter. I'm hearing people telling that you make tropical storms and hurricanes sound sexy. What's up with the voice?
MARCIANO: Oh, it's my radio voice. Yes. It's an occupational hazard. You stand a record (ph) for two days and --
ROMANS: We (INAUDIBLE).
(LAUGHTER)
MARCIANO: Yes, work tomorrow.
ROMANS: Thanks, Rob.
VELSHI: All right. For a kite serve -- do you think he sounds --
ROMANS: No, I was just laughing. You're saying that.
VELSHI: Bring me sexy. Sort of like (ph). All right. For a kite surfer, it could be the ride of a lifetime. Check this out. They were out off the coast of Maryland as Hurricane Irene approached on Saturday, taking advantage of some of the strongest winds of the year.
ROMANS: Oh, wow. OK. A storm reporter covering Hurricane Irene. She met her match. Check this out, Rob Marciano. She is hit by a wave that's simply too much for her to handle.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get out of here! Get out of here! Grab the mic. Grab --
(CROSSTALK)
VELSHI (voice-over): Listen, she was merely illustrating what to do when the surf comes. Head for higher ground.
ROMANS (voice-over): And drop the microphone immediately.
MARCIANO (voice-over): Feelings that went -- one went right --
(LAUGHTER)
MARCIANO: Never drop the microphone in the water.
VELSHI: Her second hurricane will be a lot better.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO (on-camera): There you go. The number one market, there's a reporter out there.
VELSHI (on-camera): Ouch. Ouch. All right. But, listen, her replacement is training well. This weekend, you probably saw TV reporters riding up the storm live on camera. You probably didn't see this one. She is a five-year-old iReporter. She documented Irene's every move until bedtime.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JANE HAUBRICH, FIVE-YEAR-OLD IREPORTER: I'm Haubrich here reporting from Pennsylvania (ph). The rain is coming down more than it was before. The wind is probably going faster. I think this is just the starting of it. I definitely feel it on my head, just a tiny bit of rain. I'm concerned about the flood, just like my puppy. It's definitely raining more, because it's five o'clock now. Back to you.
This is my last report because it's my bedtime. It is really raining. The wind has picked up. This is the biggest ever has it been. Everybody take care and please stay inside. Otherwise, you might blow away.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(LAUGHTER)
MARCIANO: She's awesome.
VELSHI: Isn't that great?
MARCIANO: I love it.
VELSHI: And she was sticking to the facts, Carol.
MARCIANO: Yes.
VELSHI: I mean, she is sticking to the facts.
MARCIANO: well, she has a lot to learn as far as over-hyping the story.
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
MARCIANO: I'm going to use that line. this is my last report because it's past my bedtime.
ROMANS: Exactly.
VELSHI: When I (INAUDIBLE) I can feel it on my head.
MARCIANO: You're one of the most.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And she wouldn't have been running away from that wave like that.
(CROSSTALK)
VELSHI: She was precious. We're going to see you on TV in about 15 years, kid.
ROMANS: Love that kid.
COSTELLO: Congresswoman Michele Bachmann --
VELSHI: We see on TV a lot.
COSTELLO: Talk about Michele Bachmann, she was joking that someone is trying to send a message from Washington, and it's not coming from the American people. Here's what she told people at a campaign stop in Florida over the weekend.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. MICHELE BACHMANN, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Washington D.C., you'd think by now they get the message. An earthquake, a hurricane, are you listening? The American people have done everything they possibly can. Now, it's time for an act of God, and we're getting it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: She was just joking. Everyone is laughing, right?
VELSHI: And in print, you can't see that she's joking.
ROMANS: I know. You're right, in print.
VELSHI: Looks very serious. When I first saw it, I thought, she didn't say that, did she? The context matters.
COSTELLO: It was funny. In fact, a lot of people have been saying that lately.
ROMANS: It was funny. All right. According to a new poll by the Heritage Foundation, the conservative Heritage Foundation, Bachman is the most conservative Republican presidential contender with a score of 94. Congressman Ron Paul scored a 76.
VELSHI: Where did the other six points go with Michele Bachmann? What six points are not conservative about her?
COSTELLO: I'm not sure. That's a good question --
VELSHI: I'm very curious about that.
(CROSSTALK)
VELSHI: I thought you would have done a full 100 on that.
COSTELLO: Now is your chance to talk back on one of the big stories of the day. The question for you this morning, what will Dick Cheney's legacy be? I ask you that question because Mr. Cheney is on a legacy building book tour. His book is titled "In My Time." Cheney, himself, says heads are going to be exploding all over Washington. Maybe.
In an NBC "Today Show" interview, Vice President Cheney was apologizing for nothing, certainly not the now ban practice of water boarding.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DICK CHENEY, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I would strongly support using it again if circumstances arose where we had a high-valued detainee and that was the only way we could get him to talk.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: According to "The New York Times," the then secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, Cheney writes of her naivete in dealing with North Korea. With Colin Powell, Mr. Cheney says Powell tried to undermine President Bush. That sent Mr. Powell as real cramden (ph) would say, to the moon.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: He says that I went out of my way not to present my positions to the president, but to take them outside of the administration. That's nonsense.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Of George W. Bush, Mr. Cheney called the president an outstanding leader. If you think Mr. Cheney will be bowed by critics, consider this. Back in February, when Ron Paul supporters dared to heckle Cheney at a conservative gathering, Cheney seemed to relish it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHENEY: All right. Sit down and shut up.
(CHANTING) CHENEY: The usual spirited exercise.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So, our talk back question today, what will Dick Cheney's legacy be? Facebook.com/americanmorning. Facebook.com/americanmorning. I'll read your comments later this hour.
VELSHI: All right. The check of the morning markets, plus, how Irene could lead to lower prices at the gas pump. Hmmm. Twenty-one minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELSHI: Twenty-five minutes after the hour. "Minding Your Business" this morning.
Wall Street looking to extend last week's gain. Right now, U.S. stock futures are higher. The big story that will be driving this week's market is jobs. Friday, we get the all-important government jobs report for August.
Early estimates on the damage from Hurricane Irene are starting to come in. The wind damage alone, wind only expected to top a billion dollars. That doesn't include the flood damage, the loss of productivity, the loss of business, also doesn't include the other side of equation, the economic boost like spending before the storm, construction, overtime, things like that.
Irene could cause gas prices to -- wait for it -- drop. According to the latest Lundberg Survey, because folks were hunkered down, flights were canceled, it may have put a big enough dent in demand to cause prices to fall over the next two weeks.
And Hurricane Irene may have put a damper on movie ticket sales, but for the second straight week, "The Help" number one at the box office. One of the best movies I've seen in a long time. It took in a little more than $14 million. Attendance was way down, though, due to theater closures in the northeast.
Still ahead, expect big delays as airlines and trains are just starting to run again. How tough is the commute? We've got a live reporting coming up next. AMERICAN MORNING is back after this break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Good morning, New York City. Take a look at Central Park. Sunny, 61 degrees right now. We're headed for a high of 78 degrees. It's going to be a beautiful, gorgeous day.
VELSHI: And streets seem very clean.
COSTELLO: Because no one is here yet.
VELSHI: And after being scrubbed by all that rain. ROMANS: This is true. New York got a little bit of microdermabrasion.
VELSHI: That's right.
ROMANS: Torment of Hurricane Irene isn't over yet. Commuters in the northeast will be dealing with slower service. In New York City, mass transit just now getting back to normal, back on track. New Jersey commuters are worse off. Most transit service there in New Jersey is still shut down. Jason Carroll live at Penn Station where Amtrak is experiencing some delays and cancellations. People, then, Jason, quite frankly, e-mailing us all morning saying, I'm not going anywhere, and I know it.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. And I can tell because you can tell people aren't going anywhere, because if you look here at Penn Station, this is a major hub here in New York City. This is rush hour. And you guys know what it normally looks like out here. It's packed with people. Take a look at it right now. Pretty empty. Looks more like a weekend.
Amtrak, just one of the situations here that seems to be having somewhat of a problem, depending upon where you're going, but let's start with the subway service in New York City. Early this morning at 6:00 am, subway service in New York City resumed. Fewer trains out there than normal. So, you should expect some delays if you're taking the subways here in the city, but at least, they are back on track.
Let's review some of the other transit situations that we've got going on. New Jersey transit, the trains have been suspended. So if you're trying to get in from New Jersey, you'll have a problem there. You'll have to try to find another means of transportation. Long Island railroad, it's hit or miss on that. Service is suspended in some sections.
All the area airports are open, so that's good news for travelers. But you should check with your carriers. I heard from my colleague, Debbie Feyerick, who's trying to come in from overseas, and she's still having some issues and some delays. So definitely check with your carrier as you're heading out to the airports.
All the bridges and tunnels are open. We had some minor flooding on the Holland Tunnel earlier this weekend, but the situation there has cleared up.
So really, the major snag we're seeing in terms of transportation, as you say, is Amtrak. I spoke to one commuter, who was trying to get to Washington, D.C. from New York. He said it was a no go for him. When we checked downstairs and saw a lot of cancellations up on the board. So Amtrak, still operating in the northeast, but definitely still some residual delays as a result of the hurricane. Back to you.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Are there any workers there? Penn Station is empty.
ALI VELSHI, CNN ANCHOR: That's just not a scene you normally see with nobody around Jason there. Normally there are people around Jason anyway, bbut at Penn station there'd be even more.
COSTELLO: Even inside is empty. Is anyone even working there?
CARROLL: Yes. There are definitely more workers than there are commuters. I think everybody basically decided to take a three-day weekend in anticipation of some of the delays that they were hearing about. But, yes, there are workers down here. You can come on down. But if you're going to take Amtrak, as I said, I strongly urge you to get online and check and see if the train is actually running.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: They're doing conference calls today. Everyone is working, doing conference calls.
VELSHI: I have got tweets from Amtrak says Acela is all canceled from Washington to Boston and their Philly to Boston routes are still canceled. So if you're looking for Acela -- now I did also see tweets that say New Jersey transit seems to be running some of its service. But everybody is warning that it will be slow in reduced service. But clearly --
COSTELLO: I was checking the transit trains on the board, canceled, canceled, canceled. The reason for that is there's debris on the track. That's why they're canceling service today. Don't hate Amtrak too much.
Let's check in with Rob Marciano.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: You know that because of the times you spent on the rails back in the day?
VELSHI: Boxcar Carol.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: That's right, with my little hat on and my little whatever.
MARCIANO: That is quite the image. I actually haven't seen this but that I'm told it's really cute. Let's roll that beautiful kiddy in the front loader.
COSTELLO: What?
MARCIANO: That's right. Get the kids out of the house and evacuate. Back up the front loader and load them up.
VELSHI: That is going to be a great memory. That will be great video for those kids for the rest of their lives.
MARCIANO: I smell lawsuit.
COSTELLO: Yes.
VELSHI: Got the kids out.
MARCIANO: That's a great ride. I never had that much fun as a kid. No seatbelts, but it looks like everyone got through it unscathed. Inland flooding, that's been the big story with this, and it's always the big story with tropical systems, especially when they traverse across the northeast.
This is rainfall estimates last 48 hours from Doppler radar. You just kind of flip a switch to see how much rain fell. Obviously North Carolina seeing quite a bit of it, the tide water area, eastern Virginia, the Delmarva, Chesapeake, Jersey. Some pink, brighter colors across upstate New York. That's why we saw the tremendous amount of flooding around the Catskills and Vermont, and Massachusetts as well.
What does this translate to as far as actual numbers are concerned? Some of the higher amounts across Maryland seeing to over a foot. A lot of this rainfall came between 12 and 18 hours, coming down in a tremendously short amount of time.
We still have major flooding ongoing, especially across parts of Vermont, New Hampshire. Although they got the worst, they'll get rid of it the quickest. Obviously they're going to have a tremendous amount of cleanup to do, but because the mountainous area is so rough, the waters rise quickly and also fall quickly. New Jersey also seeing a decent amount of flooding. And that will be a little slower to recede.
If you are traveling today, once the airports open up -- actually they're open now, but with the sheer volume of trying to get the people, the planes in and out, you'll likely see delays across the New York metros, Newark. San Francisco will see weather-related delays and Miami and Denver will also see weather related to a lesser extent.
Speaking of weather across the country, if you don't live on the east coast, northeast, what about me? Don't ignore me. Heat continues across parts of Texas. I know we'll eventually cool off in October and November. Not across the southeast. It's sunny and some scattered showers across the inner mountain west. Kids, if they're not in school, they're getting ready to go back to school. I think in Texas they're probably in school at this point.
VELSHI: Dallas gets cold in the winter, it gets snow in the --
MARCIANO: It's like Minneapolis. Gets pretty harsh winds in winter.
VELSHI: What did you think of that kid, by the way, the reporter? And the seasoned meteorologist.
MARCIANO: I wish I had that down at that age. It would have taken me a shorter amount of time to get where I am.
(LAUGHTER)
MARCIANO: She was very, very good and cute. And do you think mom and dad push her into beauty contests as well? Because I sense there was coaching --
VELSHI: I was thinking that even if she was coached, though, she had such a natural flow to her. We're going to bring her on.
MARCIANO: Are you really?
VELSHI: Yes.
MARCIANO: Outstanding.
VELSHI: She can do the weather report with you.
MARCIANO: I'll just watch her, you know. Kick back in a La-Z Boy and let her do it.
(LAUGHTER)
VELSHI: OK, Rob. Thank you.
ROMANS: All right, today's morning opinion, hurricane Irene landing in the editorial pages of the papers. Two editorials in "USA Today." The first question is whether government leaders overreacted in prepping the public for the storm, quote, "Does that means that the mandatory evacuations from North Carolina to Connecticut, the closed subways in New York, thousands of canceled flights, a darkened Broadway, and wall-to-wall television coverage were overdone?" The piece goes on to say that historically hurricanes that they're not as severe in other parts of the country but that in the end is' best to be safe than sorry. There you go.
The second editorial says the next time the topic of government cuts comes up, remember this week's natural disasters and Americans expect federal agencies to help them, keep them safe and informed, quote, "A week that featured both an earthquake and a hurricane in the nation's most populous regions serves as a reminder of the gap between what Americans expect of their government and what they're willing to pay for it." Another term for that gap is the deficit.
VELSHI: That's very interesting.
COSTELLO: We're going to hear a little bit more about that, because coming up next the Tea Party Express takes its show on the road, launching a 29-city bus tour. So who is on board and what's their message? What do they think about FEMA and its role in this weekend's storm? It's 37 minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It is now 40 minutes past the hour. What a beautiful day it's shaping up to be in Washington, D.C. Take a look at the White House, partly cloudy now, 71 degrees. They're expected to reach a high there of 79. Good morning, my Washington friends.
As the Republican campaign for the White House takes shape, the Tea Party Express is trying to rally its base, the group kicking off a cross-country bus tour this weekend in California. It will eventually take them to Florida just in time for the CNN Tea Party Express GOP presidential debate. So joining us now to talk about the bus tour, Lloyd Marcus, who is a performer on the Tea Party Express tour, and Darcy van Orten, a Utah Tea Party organizer. Thank you folks for being here.
LLOYD MARCUS, PERFORMER AT TEA PARTY EVENTS: Good morning, Carol.
DARCY VAN ORDEN, TEA PARTY ORGANIZER: Good morning.
COSTELLO: Good morning. I appreciate you getting up early with us.
Darcy, let's start with you, because I was wondering, you're a proponent of small government. How do you think the federal government performed during the hurricane?
VAN ORDEN: You know, I guess I'm curious about, you know, how bad the storm was to be. But they did do an excellent job, I guess, it seems like getting things prepared for it. I guess I'm still waiting to see what all the fuss is about. I guess we'll see where it goes.
COSTELLO: What do you mean what all the fuss is about?
VAN ORDEN: I', just wondering how bad the storm was really going to be.
COSTELLO: So you think the federal government, perhaps, overreacted?
VAN ORDEN: Well, no. I'm glad that they were prepared. So I'm just hoping everything continues to go well, and we'll go from there.
COSTELLO: Got you. I ask you that, because Ron Paul came out over the weekend. He's a libertarian. And he called FEMA deeply flawed and wasteful. But we've heard from several governors across the country, or actually along the northeast coast, who said FEMA did a great job. I was wondering if you had any newfound respect for FEMA, or do you agree with Ron Paul?
VAN ORDEN: Well, Ron Paul gets it right most of the time. So, I'm a big fan of Ron Paul, and I appreciate everything he does and will continue to do for this nation.
COSTELLO: Well, as far as his FEMA remarks?
VAN ORDEN: I guess we'll have to see where it goes. In large part, all of government is extremely wasteful. So I think it's a pretty accurate statement that like most government, FEMA is pretty wasteful.
COSTELLO: OK, Lloyd, let me ask you this question, because you perform at these Tea Party tours to the delight of the crowd. And I just wondered, you're used to support at those Tea Party rallies. But this tour is coming at a time when Tea Party support isn't so strong. Only 31 percent have a favorable opinion of the Tea Party, according to the latest CNN/ORC poll while 51 percent have unfavorable opinions of the Tea Party movement. Are you bothered at all by these numbers?
MARCUS: Well, I think I am basically bothered by being racist thing. This movement is not racist. COSTELLO: I don't think that's what the poll is about.
MARCUS: Oh, yes, it is.
COSTELLO: No, it isn't. It really isn't. That may be part of it, but certainly not all of it.
MARCUS: Oh, no, no, no. No, no, no. We have so many people on the opposite side despicably trying to make this thing about race. This has nothing to do with race. These are people who are hard-working Americans and they are simply saying no to socialism. That's it.
I have been to well over 200 Tea Parties around this country and the American people are absolutely wonderful folks, but they are saying no to socialism. And more and more people are joining our ranks. So I don't know what that poll is all about because more folks are seeing the light.
COSTELLO: Darcy, let me ask you that same question. Why do you think more people across the country, those who do not belong to the Tea Party, why are they growing more disenfranchised with the movement?
VAN ORDEN: I guess I would have to look at your polling data to answer that question. You can pretty much poll to get whatever response you want. I disagree. I think in large part, I think people from all walks of life, from both sides of the aisle have come to the realization, yes, government is wasteful. Absolutely government is spending out of control. We had an opportunity with the raising of the debt ceiling to do something about it. We were hopeful with the brand new Congress that we'd usher these new freshman in and they would keep to their promises and rhetoric that they would actually cut the spending. We cut $43 billion, that's like a couple of days.
COSTELLO: Well, let me -- let me ask you this way Darcy because --
(CROSSTALK)
MARCUS: And disenfranchised?
COSTELLO: I think -- I think excuse me.
MARCUS: Disenfranchised.
COSTELLO: Excuse me. Let me pose this question to Darcy. I think that most people, in response to that poll, are disenfranchised more and more of the Tea Party because of the debt ceiling debate and because of the Tea Party's unwillingness to compromise on anything.
MARCUS: Thank God.
VAN ORDEN: Well, I would argue that the debt ceiling debate was -- unfortunately, it was lathered with a lot of misinformation by the media. Because truthfully -- just because you don't raise the debt ceiling doesn't mean we automatically default as a nation.
And so unfortunately, there was a lot of misinformation out there that people kind of gave in to and that was disturbing to watch. We had an opportunity to stop kicking the can down the road, do the right thing and not -- not continue to service our children and our children's children with debt of spending we do today.
MARCUS: Amen, sister. Yes, right on.
VAN ORDEN: And it's unfortunate that they chose not to do the right thing and deal and stop the spending. We're just going to continue the course. We'll raise the debt ceiling again in 2013.
(CROSSTALK)
MARCUS: I mean we talk about saving five cents basically. Come on.
COSTELLO: Hold on -- hold on. Let me ask another question. As far as default in the debt ceiling, if we didn't raise the debt ceiling, by and large, the majority of the economists and our business minds right here said the country certainly would have gone into default. So I just want to clear that --
(CROSSTALK)
MARCUS: No, that's not true. That is not true. I don't care who says that, that's not true.
VAN ORDEN: They have to prioritize spending. And that's the key, we were going to force our government to finally prioritize spending and stop the out-of-control spending. And all we did was kick the can down the road.
MARCUS: Most people know that. We are not stupid. And that's the Tea Party. We're not stupid. Wow.
VELSHI: Wow is right.
COSTELLO: Ok so -- so we're going to wrap this up. And thanks to both of you and good luck on your tour, Lloyd Marcus for the Tea Party Express.
And also Darcy Van Orden, organizer for the Utah Tea Party Express. Thank you so much.
VAN ORDEN: Thank you.
COSTELLO: I just want to go to --
(CROSSTALK)
VELSHI: I thought there was nothing -- I thought there was nothing to agree on. But you know what I agree with them on the "wow" at the end. Wow is all I have to say about those two. I'm not even going to relive that debate. I mean everybody has been through this one already. Those two want to go around and think what they're thinking about prioritizing spending not meaning defaulting on something, knock yourselves out on your 29-city bus tour. The facts are the facts. Opinions are opinions. The two don't get to mix. COSTELLO: All right, by the way, CNN, along with the Tea Party, will co-host a Republican debate. That's coming your way Monday, September 12th at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. Ali Velshi will be live in Tampa. And boy, will those Tea Party people be talking to you after that, baby.
VELSHI: And I have to do much work with all the debates I'm going to be having with them about putting the facts out there.
COSTELLO: Morning headlines is coming your way next. It's 47 minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: It's 49 minutes after the hour. Here are your morning headlines.
The remnants of Hurricane Irene now moving into Canada but the danger not going away for days for millions here in the U.S. Irene is being blamed for at least 21 deaths now across nine states. The most recent a woman who fell into raging floodwaters in Vermont. The most in North Carolina, the state that took the first direct hit.
Irene, triggering unprecedented flash floods in Vermont. Officials telling hundreds to leave their homes now, it's the worst flooding there in generations.
2,500 people who ignored evacuation orders are stuck now on North Carolina's Outer Banks. The main highway washed out in many places. Right now a U.S. Navy war ship is headed to the Carolina coast to help in the search and rescue effort.
It could be the next threat to the east coast, yes, tropical depression 12 forming off the coast of Africa it could become tropical storm Katia later today.
Markets open in 45 minutes. Right now, U.S. stock futures are trading higher after the government reports consumer spending rebounded in July to its biggest increase now in five months.
And it's official. Beyonce and hubby Jay-Z are expecting their first baby. The pop star showed off her pregnant belly at last night's VMA. Beyonce and Jay-Z of course married in April of 2008. She turns 30 this year. Congratulations.
Check out what happened to the fastest man on the planet at the world championship. Usain Bolt of Jamaica was getting set to run the hundred meter. He jumped the gun and was disqualified. Darn. He still holds the world's record, though in the 100.
That's the news you need to start your day.
AMERICAN MORNING back right after this break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELSHI: Moammar Gadhafi is still a major threat; that's according to Libya' National Transitional Council. And the rebels are giving the loyalist troops until later today to disarm or, in their words, face liberation. They're advancing on the leader's hometown of Sirte. Meantime, witnesses say Gadhafi's troops killed nearly 150 civilian hostages. Their charred bodies were discovered in a warehouse yesterday.
COSTELLO: Now, to a CNN exclusive, our cameras went into a home belonging to Gadhafi's children. This is Hannibal Gadhafi's beach front villa. Now, it's being ransacked by rebel fighters. But inside, evidence of a luxurious lifestyle and unspeakable brutality.
CNN spoke with a woman who claimed to be a nanny to Hannibal Gadhafi's children. Her face is covered in scars. She says Hannibal's wife poured boiling water on her after she refused to punish a child for crying.
ROMANS: The Scottish government is defending its decision to release the Lockerbie bomber back to Libya comes only one day after the NTC -- that's the acting government there -- announced it will not extradite Adel Basset al Megrahi.
CNN found al Megrahi comatose, hooked up to an IV and an oxygen tank. Our Nic Robertson reports that his family says the cancer is getting worst and he is on his death bed. Al Megrahi was convicted of the 1988 PanAm 103 bombing that killed 270 people.
COSTELLO: Coming your way, next, our "Talk Back" question of the day: What will Dick Cheney's legacy be? We'll read your responses.
It's 53 minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: We asked you to "Talk Bank" on one of the big stories of the day. We asked you this question this morning. Will Dick Cheney's -- what will Dick Cheney's legacy be? He's on this big book tour.
So here are some of your responses.
This from Rob, "He will be remembered as a man who helped fuel an endless war that's doing nothing but draining our economy."
This from Brian, "He had to play the very hard hand he was handed but in the end I think he helped make this country a bit safer."
And this from John, "Dick Cheney will, in the end, just be a joke. He seems more like a conspiracy theorist or a jaded ex-employee than a former vice president. I keep waiting for him to respond with I know you are, but what am I? Hopefully he'll fade away and we won't have to be bothered with him any longer?
I must say that most of our responses this morning were anti-Dick Cheney. But we did have a few good ones.
ROMANS: And a few, Carol, were unreadable? VELSHI: Yes.
COSTELLO: Yes.
VELSHI: Not in the morning when there might be kids watching.
COSTELLO: That's true. But thank you for your responses. We do appreciate it.
Facebook.com/Americanmorning if you want to continue the conversation.
VELSHI: Now, finally this morning, we want to show you one special TV reporter braving Irene's fury. He literally got a taste of the storm.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The waves are crashing up against the sea wall. It's developing this foam that is riding over the top and starting to stick to all the hotels and buildings right along the boardwalk here. Excuse me. It's in my face as well, as you can imagine. It doesn't taste great.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELSHI: That's D.C. reporter Tucker Barnes in Ocean City Maryland, you can see him covered in sea foam. Turns out that the organic matter was mostly the effects of raw sewage pouring into the water during the storm.
COSTELLO: And he stood there.
VELSHI: Yes. The "It doesn't taste very good" was quite something.
COSTELLO: It's not worth it.
ROMANS: Ok. I've got a better one. I've got a better one. This one will make you all smile with your Cheerios. Let's show everyone that amazing 5-year-old iReporter one more time.
VELSHI: She's great.
ROMANS: She documented Irene's every move. She wouldn't rest until it was bedtime.
JEAN HAUBRICK (PH), CNN IREPORTER: Jean Haubrick here reporting from Doylestown, Pennsylvania. The rain is coming down more than it was before. The wind is probably going faster. I think this is just the starting of it. I definitely feel it on my head, just a tiny bit of rain.
I'm concerned about the flood, just like my puppy. It's definitely raining more.
Because it's 5:00 now. Back to you.
This is my last report, because it's my bedtime. It is really raining. The wind has picked up. This is the biggest ever has it been. Everybody take care. And please stay inside. Otherwise, you might blow away.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: That about covers it.
VELSHI: She's right. Is she great or what?
ROMANS: In the beginning, her left hand was punctuating what she was saying like a pro. Very cute.
VELSHI: Right. She was very good.
ROMANS: She was punctuation -- very cute. We love that little girl.
VELSHI: We're going to bring here in tomorrow morning. We're going to talk to her here on --
ROMANS: We invited her to take one of our jobs.
But, really, she's coming in the morning.
(CROSSTALK)
VELSHI: The executives are going to make a decision a little later as to which one of us won't be here tomorrow morning.
ROMANS: No, she's coming and we're really excited to have here and her family. So make sure you tune in tomorrow at this time. (INAUDIBLE)
VELSHI: And she doesn't get subject to all the criticism about media hype. She was just telling it like it was, right.
COSTELLO: Hey, the rain was falling on her head and you might blow away in the wind. Pretty to the point.
VELSHI: That is it for us. We are going to be back tomorrow at the same time.
Kyra Phillips takes it over right now in the newsroom -- Kyra.
