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New Day Saturday

Ferguson Waits for Grand Jury's Decision; First Snow, Now Flood Threat for Buffalo; Obama Signs Executive Action on Immigration; Cosby Fans Pack Theater Despite Controversy; Lawmakers Grill Airbag Company Executive

Aired November 22, 2014 - 07:00   ET

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

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Glad to have your company. I'm Christi Paul.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Victor Blackwell. Seven o'clock here on the East Coast, 4:00 out West. Good to have you with us this morning.

PAUL: Yes, and we are still wait for a decision in Ferguson, Missouri, this morning.

BLACKWELL: Will the grand jury indict Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown? That's the question everybody is waiting to get an answer to, and we expect a decision any day now.

The announcement is expected to trigger a 48-hour waiting period before the outcome is officially announced.

Now, officials hope to stave off the sort of violent protests that erupted after the unarmed teenager was killed. That was in August. And most protests, including more this week, have been peaceful.

PAUL: Still, business owners are boarding up. The FBI is boosting its presence. Local officials, ministers, even President Obama have appealed for peace.

Stephanie Elam is live in Ferguson.

Stephanie, I want to go to you now. As I mentioned the FBI, ATF is there, SWAT is there, the National Guard has been called in, a state of emergency has been established.

Who is in charge of security there today, do you know?

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, if you're talking about in Ferguson, Christi, it's still Ferguson here and really taking the lead is St. Louis County Police Department. As we saw shortly after the first incident happened in August. While there are those other entities here of law enforcement, they may be focused on other things, such as federal buildings. The National Guard is here in the event that things spiral out of control.

So, right now, things still is feel relatively calm here, as you can see. I mean, we're standing on the street. And it is calm here. Feels like a normal night in small town America. That hasn't changed.

But this call for peace has been out there. We've heard these public service announcements coming from many people in the St. Louis area. You've got Mike Brown Sr. who did one, asking people to remain calm, as we finally get to that point where we hear from the grand jury. Jackie Joyner-Kersee, an Olympian, the St. Louis Rams doing one as well. And we also heard from Attorney General Eric Holder asking for peace.

And it went so far, this issue is a such big deal. It is getting so much attention that President Obama telling ABC News that also this is something that needs to be focused on. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is a country that allows everybody to express their views, allows them to peacefully assemble. To protest actions that they think are unjust, but using any event as an excuse for violence is contrary to rule of law, and contrary to who we are.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ELAM: And so, again, everyone calling for peace here in Ferguson. You know, down here on the strip where we are, they do have their Christmas decorations up. Season's greetings signs are up. So, I believe there's a hope that perhaps people will focus on demonstrating on protesting but not on destroying, Christi.

BLACKWELL: All right. Stephanie Elam live in Ferguson, Missouri, for us this morning. Thank you so much.

And we'll continue to monitor the grand jury's decision and we'll bring you the latest as it happens.

Let's talk about another story we're following for you this morning. Buried by nearly seven feet of snow, Buffalo, New York, is facing a new weather threat.

PAUL: Temperatures are expected to warm up, and do so dramatically, folks, which means there could be some dangerous flooding here. And here's -- this is the death toll has risen now this morning to a new number, 13 from this epic snowfall.

CNN's Alexandra Field is until Buffalo for us. We're going to her live for more on this.

But, listen, before we get to you Alexandra, I want to look at CNN's Brian Todd who got a stunning look at snow-covered Buffalo from a helicopter high above the city.

Take a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Flying over some of the hardest hit areas, look at the levels of snow, still up to the windows of many of the houses. More than three days after the snowstorm began, still just massive levels of snow in these neighborhoods south of buffalo.

There's a guy digging snow off the roof. Several people are doing that in the buffalo area because this has been a major problem. Snowdrifts on the top of roofs, overnight Thursday into Friday. About 30 roofs had collapsed in the Buffalo area. Hundreds were being monitored, big danger.

Schools in Buffalo have been closed all week. Here's one reason why, look at those school buses and how much they're still covered.

This is Ralph Wilson Stadium where the Buffalo Bills play their home games. Look at that snow accumulation on the field. A big story is whether the Bills will play their home game on Sunday against the New York Jets. It was decided they could not clear the facility from the field on time. The Bills are going to play in Detroit on Monday night.

This is what a completely unplowed street in Buffalo looks like. They're trying to dig out a pickup truck down there. Most of those cars are snow bound. These people will not get out of here anytime soon.

We're actually hitting another snow shower here in Buffalo. This is just an extraordinary snow event. We've talked to Buffalonians who have lived here 50-plus years. They say they've never seen anything like this.

Brian Todd, CNN, in the skies over Buffalo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL: People under roofs like that, that cannot be safe.

BLACKWELL: Seven feet of snow on the roofs and you're 5'9", how do you even start that job?

PAUL: They were doing it.

BLACKWELL: Let's go to Alexandra Field now, joining us live now.

Because we know that rain is on the way. If the temperatures stay above freezing, then we're talking flooding. If they dip below freezing, then we're talking ice. And that weight is unbearable for these homes.

What's the situation like there this morning?

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: People are waking up this morning knowing that they have a lot of work here and very just a short amount of time to do it, because you can see, you are just southeast of Buffalo. Here, you can see where these snow banks are still piled up, five, six feet tall, burying the street signs in some cases.

You know, the streets are beginning to be plowed, but really, you've got two issues that people are concerned about right now. One, you've got the warmer temperatures. State officials have come in and warned that this area could see more flooding than it has seen in a very, very long time. So, while you've got snow remove assets in the area, you also have state assets coming in here that are meant to protect this area in case of a flood.

We're talking about dozens of boats that are being brought in. Hundreds of water pumps. High-axle vehicles, that could go into areas with several feet of water to do rescues if needed.

But the other threat, the more imminent threat, really, is the rain. When you look at all of this snow, you have to imagine the fact that we're standing out here with these huge sponges. If you've got several feet of snow on your roof, that's a major problem. Once that water is absorbed, we could start to see roofs collapse. It's something that homeowners are trying to deal with.

Listen to one homeowner who spoke of the job he has ahead of him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JONATHAN BUNSON, HOME OWNER: Obviously with rain coming up and the temperatures to get warmer, just worry about the snow getting heavier, obviously. So, we've got six feet average across the roof. These roofs going to give out. So, just trying to take precaution.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FIELD: And that's something we're seeing all over town. People getting on the roofs trying to shovel off those rooftops as quickly as they can. And, Christi and Victor, you mentioned that it's hard work, it's dangerous work.

But the snow removal effort has been a top priority in the last day or two. Just in the city of Buffalo, in South Buffalo, one of the hardest-had hit areas, 1,600 dump trucks trying to load up that snow and get it off the streets before these temperatures start to warm up.

PAUL: All righty, Alexandra Field, do stay safe there. Thank you so much.

BLACKWELL: We're just a couple hours away from a news briefing. It's coming up at noon Eastern there in Buffalo, with the latest on the snow crisis and the new flood threat there.

PAUL: Senator Charles Schumer of New York is expected to be at that briefing, by the way.

But Mark Wipperman joins us now on the phone from Chautauqua, New York. He is the undersheriff for Erie County.

Thank you so much, sir, for being with us. What can you tell us about the situation and the fears that you're trying to prepare for?

MARK WIPPERMAN, UNDERSHERIFF FOR ERIE COUNTY (via telephone): Yes, sure. This morning was the first time I drove to the (INAUDIBLE) operation center this morning in Chautauqua, with all the roads plowed down to pavement, that's the main arteries. That's the first time that the patrol vehicle was not in four-wheel drive. All of our main arteries here are open and down to the pavement.

Now, we're focusing on the secondaries and the side streets and getting these roads open and getting people out of their house us and get back to some normal life. As far as the flooding, our emergency services director and fire personnel are already taking a proactive approach. We're bringing in pumps in with equipment and staging it all over the county. We're planning for the worst and just hoping for the best.

BLACKWELL: Yes, as is everyone. You know, we've had on our air, some who were prepared for four days, five days week inside their home. But now that you've got five, six, seven feet in some places. People are in desperate situations.

What's the most frequent emergency call you're getting related to this storm?

WIPPERMAN: OK. The sheriff's personnel and our law enforcement of partners, it's really the medical side of this storm, dialysis patients. We're transporting patients for radiation, cancer treatments, getting them prescriptions, getting them food. All of these hundreds and hundreds of transports back and forth to hospitals, getting doctors and nurses to their locations in nursing facilities in old folks' homes. So, it's that, very time consuming, a lot of manpower dedicated but at the same time, it's rewarding that we're able to get to these people and help them.

BLACKWELL: Wey, guys, can we get this video I'm looking the preview monitor? Can we get a video of this man using the snow blower, this elderly man there? Yes, this man -- I'm looking at some of the people who are out with snow blowers, trying to deal with feet and feet of snow. I mean, I'd imagine that just trying to move the snow is a health hazard on its own, especially for a man of his age.

WIPPERMAN: Absolutely. We had unfortunately 14 deaths up here. The majority of them are from cardiac arrests, because the snow is fairly heavy. We're asking people if possible to stay inside. The temperatures are rising and we're hoping that the snow will start melting in a normal manner, and then eventually go away this late weekend, Sunday to Monday, when the temperature is expected to get in the 60-degree range.

PAUL: All righty. Mark Wipperman, we so appreciate the update. Do take care of yourself and everybody there. And thanks for spending a little time with us to clue us in.

WIPPERMAN: No problem. Everybody is up here is giving their heart and soul of this effort. We'll get to it.

PAUL: Well, we wish you the very best. Thank you.

WIPPERMAN: Thank you.

PAUL: And we'll keep you posted as to what's happening there obviously today.

But we do want to talk about President Obama because he signed an executive order on immigration reform. Republicans, though, say the battle over immigration, that is not even close to being over.

BLACKWELL: Far from over.

Plus, two standing ovations for Bill Cosby in Florida last night, despite all the new allegations of sexual assault. We'll take you inside the theater. We wanted to hear what it was like to be there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: All right. President Obama put the signature on an executive order that clears the way for millions of undocumented immigrants to remain in the U.S. for now.

PAUL: Yes, but the battle over immigration reform, it is not remotely close to being over.

CNN's Erin McPike has more for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Obama campaigning for his bold move on immigration at the same Las Vegas high school where he promised big changes, nearly two years ago.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Las Vegas, I've come back to Del Sol to tell you, I'm not giving up. I will never give up.

(CHEERS)

MCPIKE: He told the crowd of mostly Latino students he'd done all he could to get House Republicans to at least hold a vote.

OBAMA: I told John Boehner, I'll wash your car, I'll walk your dog, whatever you need to do, just call the bill. That's how democracy is supposed to work. If the votes hadn't been there, then we would have to start over. But at least give it a shot. And he didn't do it.

MCPIKE: Some were disappointed his executive actions didn't protect more undocumented immigrants.

OBAMA: I understand. I've heard you. But what I'm saying is, this is just a first step.

MCPIKE: But he quickly turned the focus back on Republicans.

OBAMA: When members of Congress questioned my authority to make our immigration system work better, I have a simple answer: Pass a bill.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

Pass a bill. Pass a bill. Nobody is stopping them from passing a bill. MCPIKE: Speaker Boehner said he warmed the president in a phone call.

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: The president has chosen to deliberately sabotage any chance of an act of bipartisan reform that he claims to seek. As I told the president yesterday, he's damaging the presidency itself.

MCPIKE: But with the GOP divided over just how to respond to Mr. Obama, Boehner gave no specifics.

BOEHNER: The House will, in fact, act.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL: Erin joining us live from the White House.

So, Republicans are not happy obviously with the plan. Now, you know, what exactly are their plans to derail it possibly?

MCPIKE: Well, Christi, attorneys generals in several states are weighing legal challenges but they don't have a lot of time to prepare those challenges because we got word from the Department of Homeland Security that these new policies will take effect on January 5th. Now, in a congressional level, we're hearing a lot of rhetoric for Republicans, but they don't have a solution yet about how they can block this.

PAUL: All righty. Erin McPike, we appreciate it very much this morning. Thank you.

BLACKWELL: Thank you, Erin.

We've got a lot more going on this morning. Let's get to your "Morning Read."

PAUL: New details about the Benghazi terror attack that killed Christopher Stevens, and three other Americans. An investigative report now spearheaded by Republicans concludes there was no intelligence failure prior to the attack. The report also finds there was no stand-down order given to CIA operatives and says, overall, security at the consulate was weak.

BLACKWELL: "The New York Times" is reporting that President Obama has signed a secret order authorizing a more expansive mission for the U.S. military in Afghanistan next year. "The Times" reported that the move will ensure American troops will have a direct role in carrying out missions against militant groups. Now, earlier, the president has said that the U.S. troops would have no combat role in Afghanistan next year.

PAUL: Even though he's facing allegations that he drugged and sexually assaulted numerous women, Bill Cosby, and you see it there for yourself, two standing ovations last night at a show in Melbourne, Florida. Despite several cancelled shows and another one that's been postponed indefinitely in South Carolina, the 77-year-old comedian has live performances scheduled through May. BLACKWELL: Police in Ferguson urging calm, but they're preparing for

more protests. We'll talk with the head of a key national law enforcement group about how officers should be gearing up as the grand jury nears its decision.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: Twenty-two minutes past the hour.

And police in the St. Louis area are calling for calm, but they're preparing for unrest, as we wait for the grand jury's decision here in the police shooting death of Michael Brown.

BLACKWELL: And, of course, that could come at anytime, and, of course, when we get information, we'll give you the very latest. Amid ongoing protests, Missouri's governor has declared a state of emergency and put the National Guard on alert. And now, the FBI is sending more personnel there.

PAUL: So, let's talk to Cedric Alexander, he's president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.

I'm so glad to have you with us, sir. Thank you for being here.

CEDRIC ALEXANDER, PRES. NATL. ORGANIZATION OF BLACK LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVES: Thank you for having me this morning.

PAUL: So, when we talk about the FBI sending more troops, the ATF is there, SWAT teams, National Guard has been called, and a state of emergency has been established, how much authority does the Ferguson police department have? And because they are at the center of what the grand jury is looking at, how do they move forward with possible protests?

ALEXANDER: Well, I think the important thing here to remember is that everyone is awaiting to hear what this decision is going to be. And hopefully, we all will hear sometime soon.

I think all these resources are being called in, or being called in for precautionary measures, those who are going to protest peacefully, they deserve the right to do so. And they will be allowed to do so.

What we're very concerned about, all of us in the law enforcement community, is the -- are those who may not, those who may insert themselves among the peaceful protesters and create problems. Ferguson Police Department itself, and I'm in pretty frequent contact with the chief there, Tom Jackson. They're managing the day-to-day calls for service and operations there in Ferguson. And, of course, you have St. Louis County PD, as I understand, in one of our more recent visits there. They're going to pretty much have the overall command of any unrest that may -- that may occur.

BLACKWELL: There were some who in the immediate days after the shooting of Michael Brown saw that response first from Ferguson police, and then from other law enforcement agencies. And they saw the rifles trained on the crowds as provocative action. What's the line moving forward, as we expect the announcement of either an indictment or no indictment?

How far should the law enforcement go to show, yes, we're serious, but not to provoke those actions?

ALEXANDER: Well, I don't believe you're going to see that again. And that's part of the lessons that have been learned there in that community. And of course, across the country as well, too.

And -- so that type of what has been considered provocation by many there, who were peaceful protesters, I think you're going to see a very different engagement that's going to take place. However, we also have to remember, though, that depending on if there are any threats, the police must be able to respond to that, and be able to protect themselves.

But what has to be really different this time around, guys, is that police in community have to be working together to make sure that that bad element is extracted from those who are trying to have a peaceful protest.

PAUL: And are you getting a sense that that is happening?

ALEXANDER: They have been working towards that over the last several months. So we'll see. Should there be any unrest. But quite frankly, we're all hoping for the best, in terms of whatever the decision is, people are hoping for the best, that that community will be the model for the rest of the nation in terms of how it responds to whenever the decision may happen to be. Hopefully, the work they've done there will bear some fruit.

PAUL: Will show itself.

BLACKWELL: All right. Cedric Alexander, thank you for being with us this morning.

ALEXANDER: Thank you for having me.

BLACKWELL: We want you to stick around if there is a development, we want you to come back and be able to have that conversation with you. Thank you so much.

PAUL: Thank you, sir.

ALEXANDER: Thanks a lot.

BLACKWELL: Of course, we're keeping an eye on the grand jury decision and we'll bring you that as soon as it happens.

Plus, no matter what the decision is, the fallout could be far from over. That part of the story is still ahead.

Let's talk about Bill Cosby as well because he is, yes, facing these mounting rape allegations. But if you listen to the applause here, still getting love from fans. This is a show in Florida.

PAUL: Just last night. BLACKWELL: Yes.

PAUL: After 39 years behind bars, two Cleveland men wrongly convicted of murder are free, 39 years. Why the judge finally threw out their convictions. And their emotional release. You're going to see it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: Bottom of the hour right now. We're so glad for your company. I'm Christi Paul.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Victor Blackwell. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(CHEERSD AND APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: So, that's Bill Cosby standing there. Uh-huh. Two standing ovations for him just last night who was performing stand-up in Melbourne, Florida.

BLACKWELL: Now, of course, you know he's facing the mounting allegations that he drugged and sexually assaulted many women. Fans packed the theater and shouted messages of love and support for the comedian anyway.

CNN's Alina Machado has details for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALINA MACHADO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Victor and Christi, it was a packed house for Bill Cosby's 90-minute performance. Despite the controversy, he actually got two standing ovations, one in the beginning and one in the end.

The 77-year-old made no mention of the sexual assault allegations during the show.

Listen to what some people had to say about the performance.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He went right into his skit and, you know, it's funny. Just like old Bill Cosby, didn't think of anything going on currently. He's back to his old stuff. It was good.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I grew up watching the Cosby show. I was glad that I bought the tickets considering it was sold out and the show went on.

MACHADO: There were no anti-Cosby disruptions during the show.

We did see three protesters peacefully holding signs near the venue. They did not get inside. They did not disrupt the show. So far, though, at least six shows have been cancelled -- Victor and Christi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: All right. Alina Machado, thank you so much.

We've got a new statement from the attorney of Bill Cosby and he called the numerous allegations absurd. These brand new claims about alleged decades old events are becoming increasingly ridiculous and it is completely illogical that so many people would have said nothing, done nothing and made no reports to law enforcement or asserted civil claims if they thought they had been assaulted over a span of so much years.

PAUL: We'll obviously continue to follow this for you.

But we do have to get to some other things that you need to know this morning. Number one, after four decades behind bars, two Cleveland men wrongly convicted of murder are free. Yesterday, a judge threw out the convictions against Ricky Jackson and Ronnie Bridgman. The pair was convicted back in 1975 after the main witness, a 12-year-old boy, said he saw the crime. That witness recently came forward and said, you know what, he fabricated his story.

BLACKWELL: Number two, a window washer fortunate to be alive this morning. He fell 11 stories on to a moving car in San Francisco. The fire department officials say that he's hospitalized but in critical condition, stable condition as well. He was still conscious when responders arrived. And people who were there, of course, they rushed over there to help him. The driver, though, was not injured.

PAUL: That is something. Also, number three here, the gunman who wounded three people at Florida State University mailed 10 packages before that shooting. Officials say the packages sent by Myron May have all been collected by investigators. The contents of the packages are not hazardous, but they are being sent to the FBI for additional analysis.

BLACKWELL: Number four, a similar story to what we heard earlier this year. Now, the father of a 15-month-old boy who died after being left in a hot car this summer pleaded not guilty to a charge of criminally negligent homicide. Officials say Kyle Seitz was supposed to drop his son off at day care but left his son in the car when the car when he went to work. This Connecticut death came a month after a similar incident in Georgia grabbed national headlines.

PAUL: And number five, leave it to Beyonce to make the web go wild. New video posted to YouTube called "7/11". She sings, dances in her underwear. Some girlfriends make an appearance there. This video released yesterday. Already, nearly 2 million hits. Good timing considering her new album comes out, of course, on Monday. She knows what she's doing.

BLACKWELL: She's great at marketing.

PAUL: She's pretty good (ph).

BLACKWELL: Let's talk about this grand jury, we are following this very closely this week, waiting to find out if they'll decide if the white officer who killed an unarmed black teenager will be indicted. We'll ask our legal expert what that decision might look like.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: Thirty-year fixed mortgage rates held steady this week. Have a look.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: We return to our coverage of Ferguson.

Listen, the city is on edge as it waits, as the country waits for a grand jury to decide whether the white officer who killed an unarmed black teen will be indicted.

Now, here's what could happen: Officer Darren Wilson could be charged with murder or manslaughter.

PAUL: If he's not indicted, though, he could be freed of all state criminal charges that there maybe possible federal charges brought against him.

I want to bring in CNN commentator and legal analyst Mel Robbins.

So, Mel, based on everything that you know, what do you think is the most likely scenario for the grand jury?

MEL ROBBINS, CNN COMMENTATOR AND LEGAL ANALYST: Well, Christi, Victor, good morning.

Of course, we're all on edge, me personally after this grand jury has heard dozens and dozens of witnesses and seen months' worth of evidence, and they live in the community and they clearly know of the stakes, I'm leaning toward thinking that there will be an indictment for involuntary manslaughter.

One of the reasons why I believe that is because, first of all, the standard's really low. You do not have to find the burden of proof that you would at a trial which is beyond a reasonable doubt. You simply have to find probable cause which means more likely than not. On the charge of involuntary manslaughter under Missouri law, you just have to find that the officer acted recklessly under the circumstances and that there's enough facts to proceed with the trial on that cause.

Now, keep in mind, you guys, there are four potential crimes that the jury will be instructed on under this fact scenario so I think we're still days away from hearing a any decision at all, Victor and Christi.

BLACKWELL: So, you say days away, I wonder with 700 hours or so, as we've been advised, of the testimony and all the evidence, why we expect, or at least, you expect, even it will come in a few days? Why couldn't this stretch into December? Is there any indication that this will be a quick decision?

ROBBINS: You know, I -- Victor, that's an excellent question, you're right. It could actually stretch into December, because keep in mind, in addition to all the evidence, they're also going to be instructed on the law. And the law in Missouri, particularly on the charge of justification, is kind of complicated.

And when I was talking earlier about the fact that they're going to be charged on four different crimes, the first one is first degree murder which means there had to be deliberation. The second one is second degree murder which means that he had to knowingly kill Michael Brown. And if there was justification which is yet another thing they'd be instructed on, that then mitigates second degree murder.

Then you have voluntary manslaughter which under Missouri law means that the killing happened in a moment of passion. And then you have involuntary manslaughter which comes down to whether or not the officer acted recklessly. And all of this is going to come down to the credibility of all these witnesses, you guys, and the state of mind of Officer Wilson.

PAUL: OK. So if there are no federal charges brought, let's say, against Wilson.

ROBBINS: Yes.

PAUL: Yet, a civil suit is brought in. How likely is that to succeed?

ROBBINS: I think it's extremely likely. It's extremely likely, maybe not on the wrongful death, but certainly on the negligent infliction of emotional distress. When you're talking about the fact that Michael Brown's body was lying in that street uncovered for four hours. And that the police have already admitted that there were mistakes that were made.

Now, is it likely that you'll see an actual civil trial happen? Probably not. What you're going to see is you're going to see a series of events happen. First of all, if there's an indictment, that certainly makes the civil case a lot stronger, excuse me.

But even if there isn't an indictment in this case, you still have a very substantial civil claim. But I suspect, given the national focus on this and the publicity, that they'll look to settle that out of court.

BLACKWELL: All right. Mel Robbins with us this morning, helping us to understand what is really a difficult in Missouri and something that's pretty very complicated for a lot of people to and where their mind around. Mel, thank you so much.

ROBBINS: You, too.

PAUL: We have got to talk about this epic snowstorm in Buffalo.

BLACKWELL: Oh, yes.

PAUL: It's not over. Doesn't mean their troubles are going away just because we don't see any snow today. Warmer temperatures is the problem now, which could mean major flooding for areas that have already been pounded. Take a look.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: Good morning, Buffalo. God love you.

I mean, that's so much going on there this morning. And rain is on the way.

PAUL: Now, there's a live picture of what's happening there right now. So, people are out trying to, you know, remove some of that snow. They're clearing the streets a bit. They just don't have anyplace to put all of it.

BLACKWELL: Yes. I mean, the guy operating the front loader, he's just piling it up on the side. I'm sure, hopefully, it's a side street or driveway. Folks are trying to get out but the rain is on the way. We'll take a look at what that means for folks.

PAUL: Yes, look at that picture and think about if it starts raining and all of that snow turns to water. This is already a serious situation. Officials say at least 13 people have been killed because of this storm.

BLACKWELL: In some areas, the people who live there, they were pounded with seven feet of snow. Forcing roofs to collapse. This morning, there are new fears that the people could be hit with a major rainstorm. So, there's flooding to consider as the temperatures begin to warm up and melt all of that snow.

PAUL: Let's go to CNN meteorologist Jennifer Gray. She's been studying this whole thing.

How quickly is it going to get warm there, Jen?

JENNIFER GRAY, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, it's going to gradually get warmer. It's not going to hit 60 today or tomorrow. We could get close to 60 by Monday.

Well, you know, while we were there, temperatures were just a few degrees below freezing but the sun was out. So, we were already seeing a little bit of melting before we left Buffalo. But, today, 41 degrees, rain expected later today, through tonight. It could get a little bit of a break on Sunday, and then more rain expected on Monday.

So, the fear is when this rain starts to fall, it's just going to add a lot of weight to those roofs that are all right maxed out with all of the snow on top. Then you have the warmer temperatures so you're going to have rapid melting.

So, there's a lot of different things going on here. It's not just one thing. And so, today, as we go through today and through tomorrow, you can see the rain moves in. By Monday, early morning, we're looking at the overnight hours on Monday and then pushing out.

Looks like a lot of rain. But how much are we really talking? We're talking about probably about an inch or maybe not even an inch. That flood watch is in effect, though, not only because of the rain. The rain is just one part of it. It's because of the warmer air, the snow melt as well.

So, we're looking at that as we go through the next couple days. Less than an inch around Buffalo, maybe a little bit more in some isolated location. So, something we're really going to be watching guys.

Also this weekend, quickly mission, severe weather threat in the South Texas, South Louisiana, more storms possible tomorrow even from New Orleans all the way to the Florida Panhandle.

BLACKWELL: All right. Jennifer Gray, watching it all for us. Thank you, Jennifer.

PAUL: Thanks, Jennifer.

So, as we said, officials this morning, they are really concerned about those homes and businesses because the weight of that snow on roofs. We know it's already collapsed some roofs, but you know, we see this -- look at the guy standing on his roof trying to clean his roof off.

BLACKWELL: Feet of snow. And it weighs much more than you think.

CNN's Tom Foreman has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Here is the rule of thumb, one foot of snow equals about one inch of water. So a cubic foot about five pounds, and a five-foot column of this, like they have in some parts of Buffalo would way about 25 pounds. That on top of a modest size home if you spread it out over the surface would amount to somewhere around 19,000 pounds of weight up there.

Most homes in Buffalo are designed to bear that, but what they may not be able to bear is this. When that snow has time to compact and to drift, you could have all of that weight from a 5-foot column in a single square foot of, snow and then you put more squares on top of it of the same weight, now you have a whole different equation.

If you cover with five foot deep of this, suddenly that number could jump up to 95,000 96,000 pounds, and that's very hard for any house to withstand.

Now, granted, the structure is meant to disperse that weight, all the decking, all of the trusses, all the studs in the wall are meant to make sure that none of that weight bears down on just one part of the house. But if it sits there a long time and especially if rain gets into it, it gets so heavy it has to do damage.

So, how can you check? A few simple things you can do if you live in an area like this. First of all, take a look in the attic if you can. If you see obvious buckling of the trusses up there, that is a warning sign. If you hear a lot of really unusual popping or groaning noises from the wood, that's another warning.

And if you try to open interior doors and you find they are sticking, that could also be a sign there is a lot of weight on top of the house and you may need to get that roof cleaned off.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL: All righty. Tom, thank you so much. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: Anger and frustration as the top executive from airbag company Takata takes center stage on Capitol Hill.

Now, the hearing was held this week after some Takata made airbags exploded prompting a recall of 8 million vehicles.

PAUL: At least five deaths have been linked to the airbags. And now, some want the recall to extend to every state in the country.

CNN's aviation and government regulation correspondent Rene Marsh has more for us.

Good morning, Rene.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RENE MARSH, CNN AVIATION AND GOVERNMENT REGULATION CORRESPONDENT: Christi, Victor, the airbag manufacturer acknowledged and apologized for the deaths and multiple injuries caused by the very device intended to save lives. The hearing in a word: heated.

One issue, whether faulty airbag recall should extend to every state and not be limited to more Southern, hot and humid states. The airbag manufacturer believes humidity triggers the defect and appears poised for a fight.

That could mean weeks, even months before cars with the potentially dangerous airbags, are recalled.

SEN. BILL NELSON (D), FLORIDA: We now have a new problem -- a live hand grenade in front of a driver and a passenger.

MARSH (voice-over): For nearly three hours, senators grilled an executive from airbag manufacturer Takata, auto execs, and safety regulators about defective airbags linked to five deaths.

SEN. DEAN HELLER (R), NEVADA: Do you take full responsibility for those tragic deaths? Does Takata take responsibility?

HIROSHI SHIMIZU, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, TAKATA CORPORATION: We recognize three victims' case but my understanding, two others are still under investigation.

MARSH: When the faulty Takata airbags deployed, the inflator, which is encased in metal can rupture, sending shrapnel flying. Lieutenant Stephanie Erdman is one of the many surviving victims,

metal pierced through the airbag of her 2002 Honda after a minor crash.

LT. STEPHANIE ERDMAN, VICTIM: There was a metallic foreign object which had punctured and fractured my right nasal bone and the tip of the shrapnel -- and the tip of the shrapnel had imbedded in my right sinus.

MARSH: Just this week, federal regulators demanded a recall of affected cars move nationwide, a move the airbag manufacturer is resisting.

SEN. ED MARKEY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Do you agree or disagree with NHTSA's call for a nationwide recall, Mr. Shimizu?

SHIMIZU: Senator, it's hard for me to answer yes or no. So, if you allow me --

MARKEY: It is not hard for you to answer yes or no.

MARSH: The issue remained, what did the companies know about the problems with the air bags and when did they know it?

Takata's vice president of quality assurance surrounded by cameras after, but says nothing.

Victims like Stephanie Erdman hope the start of today's Senate probe means being one step closer to getting all vehicles with potentially deadly airbags off the road.

ERDMAN: My vision will never be the same. I will never be the same.

MARSH (on camera): This Monday, Honda must hand over critical documents and answer questions under oath as a part of federal safety regulators' own investigation. Takata will have to do the same next month -- Christi, Victor.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL: All righty. Rene Marsh, we appreciate it. Thank you.

BLACKWELL: All right. Stay with us. This is a busy morning, a lot going on.

PAUL: Yes, and next hour of your NEW DAY starts now.

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