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CNN Sunday Morning

Hurricane Ivan Bears Down on Cayman Islands; Bombings in Baghdad Leave at Least 20 Dead

Aired September 12, 2004 - 09:00   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.


BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, good morning from CNN global headquarters right here in Atlanta. This is CNN SUNDAY MORNING, September 12. It's 9:00 a.m. in the Key West, Florida, area, 6:00 a.m. in Victorville, California.
Good morning. I'm Betty Nguyen.

COLLINS SPENCER, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Collins Spencer, in this morning for Drew Griffin.

Hurricane Ivan is bearing down on the Cayman Islands. Now just a few miles south of Grand Cayman. Ivan is a dangerous Category 4 hurricane with top winds of 155 miles per hour. It is expected to pass over western Cuba tomorrow afternoon, then churn into the Gulf of Mexico. Rob Marciano is tracking the storm. We'll -- he'll have the predicted path in just a few minutes.

A fresh spasm of violence rocked Baghdad this morning, leaving at least 20 Iraqis dead and 65 wounded. There were at least two suicide car bombings, one rocket attack, and a drive-by shooting. And an intense battle erupted on Baghdad's Haifa Street (ph) between insurgents and Iraqi forces, backed by U.S. troops. That firefight lasted two-and-a-half hours and took 13 lives.

Iran will not abandon uranium enrichment, a vital step toward developing nuclear weapons. The Iranians today rejected a key demand by France, Germany and Britain to do that. But Tehran has said, again, it's nuclear program is entirely peaceful.

And we are keeping you informed. This is CNN Headline -- this is CNN News, the most trusted name in news.

NGUYEN: Now on to what we are working on for you this Sunday morning. Storm-worn folks in Florida are still cleaning up from the last two hurricanes, but the worst may be yet to come. Just ask people in Jamaica. Tourists who went to the tropical paradise for a dream vacation woke up in a nightmare. We'll meet some honeymooners with a great story to tell to grandchildren some day.

And he won the first season of "The Apprentice." Now he is an expert. We'll get tips on getting the job from one of Donald Trump's success stories.

COLLINS: Hurricane Ivan is now barreling toward the Cayman Islands. It is expected to hit the chain this afternoon, with top winds of 155 miles an hour. That's down slightly, making it a Category 4 storm again.

The National Hurricane Center says it could bring a storm surge of 20 to 25 feet. Some islands are already calling it Ivan The Terrible. It has left at least 36 dead across the Caribbean.

The storm is expected to strike western Cuba tomorrow afternoon. And forecasters say it could return to Category 5 by then. President Fidel Castro appeared on TV, urging Cubans to prepare for the storm.

Our Havana bureau chief, Lucia Newman, reports via videophone.

Hi, Lucia.

LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN HAVANA BUREAU CHIEF: Good morning, Collins.

Well, according to Cuban state television, some 400,000 Cubans have already been evacuated from low-lying and mountainous areas in central and eastern Cuba, which isn't even in the direct path of hurricane Ivan. This is because there is torrential rain there already, and there are fears of flooding and mudslides in that part of the country.

Here in Havana, massive evacuations from coastal areas and from unsafe buildings is expected to get under way at any moment. This is the Caribbean's largest and most populated island. So the potential for catastrophic damage here is enormous.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NEWMAN (voice-over): On the Caribbean's largest island, seaside residents like Teresa Gonzales (ph) are packing up. "Our generation has never seen a hurricane like this," she says. "There's been nothing like it since 1944."

Beyonce (ph), who is still reeling from last month's Hurricane Charley, is also going to a hurricane shelter. "I'm not staying here," she says. "My roof was blown off during the last hurricane." Beyonce (ph), who's helping with the neighborhood evacuation effort, says there are instructions to evacuate everyone who lives above the fourth floor.

Havana is particularly vulnerable. Even without a hurricane, buildings here are crumbling, and experts fear higher floors won't resist Ivan's treacherous winds.

"The slower the hurricane moves, the more damage it will cause us says," says Cuba's National Weather Institute chief. These European tourists, who are being transferred to a safer hotel, are overwhelmed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I thought it was going straight to Florida and not passing over Cuba. So you never expect such a thing, of course.

NEWMAN: Cuba is nevertheless well organized to face natural disasters. Thousands have already been taken to shelters in central Cuba. And hundreds of thousands more are expected to be evacuated to higher ground in the coming hours.

Many put their trust in the civil defense authorities. Others, like Elena (ph), in their saints.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWMAN: Collins, it is worth pointing out that, although authorities here do go to extraordinary measures to keep people out of harm's way, there's very little that ordinary citizens can do to really protect property. Unlike in Florida, here there are no hardware stores where people can go and buy plywood and nails and other -- other materials to protect their homes. Even a roll of tape to put on the windows is almost impossible to find here -- Collins.

SPENCER: Thanks, Lucia. Lucia Newman reporting from Havana, Cuba -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Folks in Florida are bracing for Hurricane Ivan, and they're wondering, will they ever get relief from these back-to-back storms, possibly three within a 30-day span? The Sunshine State is still recovering from Charley and Frances, and now it looks as if Ivan is headed that way. The anxiety level is going up.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DENIS CHAVEZ, FLORIDA RESIDENT: We're exhausted. We're just -- I don't -- I just don't -- I just don't want to go through it again. And I don't want to put my kids through it again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Dr. Daniel Armstrong, a psychologist at the University of Miami, is here to talk about the emotional impact of repeated hurricanes.

Good morning to you.

DR. DANIEL ARMSTRONG, PSYCHOLOGIST: Good morning.

NGUYEN: These storms take both a physical and emotional toll on many people. What are some of the signs that folks are suffering emotionally?

ARMSTRONG: Well, I think the way -- when we look at the situation we are facing now, we are talking about people who are dealing with the -- the word of a potential threat, perhaps once again in a short period of time. They're tired. And those two things in combination can increase a lot of distress.

What we see are folks who wind up having disruptions in sleep patterns because they're watching a lot of TV to get information. Tempers may be short as we stand in long lines. Children may be more cranky, beginning to act out in anticipation of a potential -- another hit. And given the folks who have been in the pathway of Charley and Frances, there may be a loss of resiliency, a loss of expectation that they'll be able to cope if another hurricane hits, because they are already so overwhelmed with what they are dealing with.

NGUYEN: So as they prepare for Ivan, what can they do to treat this trauma for both adults and children?

ARMSTRONG: Well, I think that there are some -- some real issues. We are looking at the impact of this storm affecting probably the largest population base of anything that's happened in the United States in years. It's not only Florida, but it's all of the East Coast that have had to deal with the flooding and the aftermath.

People are dealing with reality. And I think there are some things that they can do.

One, is to make sure that we do a little bit of thinking about preparing ourselves to deal both with are our own emotional responses, as well as with the concrete things that we would need to do if another storm came along. Often, the dealing with emotional things goes to the side.

Some very concrete suggestions there are, one, to recognize how do we usually cope under stress? That's likely to be the way that each one of us will cope under the stress of another hurricane.

Share that information with others. We recognize that even in families there are differences in the way that individuals cope. Some withdrawal, some become angry. Some try to control situations.

And under stress those may be incompatible ways of coping. But if we're aware we may cope that way, and can share with others that, and develop in advance some assistance for what happens when our typical coping style comes along, we can at least create a network of support that can be very helpful.

NGUYEN: All right. Dr. Daniel Armstrong, psychologist there at the University of Miami, thanks so much for that insight today.

ARMSTRONG: Thank you very much.

NGUYEN: Collins?

SPENCER: Across America now, in parts of southern California, storms that have nothing to do with Hurricane Ivan. Cleanup crews are facing a muddy mess. Heavy rains and flash floods have blocked roads with dirt and debris. Officials in San Bernardino County had to rescue several people from stalled cars.

In Washington, D.C., police are taking a closer look at what led to the deaths of two young children. They were struck and killed by a car driven by a fleeing drug suspect. There were conflicting reports about whether police were still chasing the suspect when the children were hit.

And Senator John Edwards goes from the campaign trail to a trail of damage today. The Democratic vice presidential candidate is going back to his home state of North Carolina to visit flood-damaged areas. He will also travel to a labor union gathering in Detroit. NGUYEN: And he got a standing ovation from a key constituency. John Kerry addressed the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington last night. Part of his message, when it comes to hearing ideas from the group, the Bush administration has put up a "do not enter" sign on the White House. Kerry also stressed the importance of this year's election.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Everything is on the line: our jobs, our health care, our role in the world, the character of our country, the Supreme Court of the United States of America. The stakes are high. And I say to you the choice is clear.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Meanwhile, President Bush is keeping a low profile today. Following September 11th anniversary events yesterday, the president went to Camp David. He'll return to the White House later today.

SPENCER: Iraq, the economy, or some other issue? All morning we have been asking, what's the most important election issue facing America? Keep e-mailing your responses to wam@cnn.com. We'll keep reading them during the show.

NGUYEN: As Ivan makes his way to Florida, how is FEMA dealing with the strain of what may be three hurricanes in a row? We'll talk to director Michael Brown ahead.

SPENCER: Plus, two's company, three's a crowd. Ivan joins one couple on their honeymoon in Jamaica. We'll hear the couple's story.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And as Ivan brews, it has become one of the strongest storms in the history of the Atlantic Basin since we've been keeping records. And it's getting bigger. We'll go over that, plus your forecast.

The rest of the country actually looks nice. There is Chicago. There is the shoreline.

It's 60 degrees. You will get up into, well, right around 80. We'll be right back with your complete forecast.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SPENCER: U.S. officials are looking into some potentially troubling events in North Korea. There are reports a huge explosion rocked North Korea days ago near the border with China.

According to a South Korean news agency, the blast produced a cloud more than two miles wide. It's big news on South Korean TV. Government officials there downplayed the possibility of an atomic link.

So does the U.S. Officials here tell CNN the large cloud was "no big deal" and not related to a nuclear explosion. A British delegation now in Pyongyang discussing the north's nuclear program is seeking an explanation for the blast.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN IRVINE, ITN REPORTER: These reports about this explosion, if it indeed did happen, being a nuclear explosion, are highly speculative. We are talking about big "ifs" here.

But of course it is an enormous issue. It's a big issue. It wouldn't just be a slap in the face, if you want to call it that, to the British delegation that's here. It would, of course, be an enormous slap in the face to the Chinese, to the South Koreans and, indeed, to the Americans.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SPENCER: Meanwhile, today's "New York Times" and "Washington Post" both report the Bush administration received intelligence before these developments that could indicate North Korea is preparing its first nuclear weapons test.

Well, be sure to tune in tonight for the rest of this in-depth look at nuclear terror. CNN PRESENTS airs at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, 5:00 p.m. Pacific. Also, check out the special online content at cnn.com/presents.

NGUYEN: Right now, we want to take a look at some of our top stories on this Sunday.

People in the Cayman Islands are bracing for Hurricane Ivan. The storm, packing 155-mile-an-hour winds, is expected to hit there later today. It left behind mudslides and floods in Jamaica.

Now to Baghdad. At least 20 Iraqis have been killed in a fresh round of violence, which included car bombings, rocket attacks and a street battle.

In politics, John Kerry's critics and supporters are gathering in Washington today. One veterans group is rallying against Kerry, saying he lied about his Vietnam service. Another group is pushing for an end to attacks on Kerry's war records.

Gay rights in America. Where do the candidates stand on same-sex marriage? We'll get to know the issue. That's coming up.

SPENCER: And No one knows exactly where Hurricane Ivan will strike the U.S., but everyone knows it will probably be bad. As the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, it is Michael Brown's job to prepare for the worst-case scenario. He joins us this morning from Washington to explain what his agency is doing to get ready for Ivan.

And Michael, I want to thank you for joining us.

MICHAEL BROWN, FEMA DIRECTOR: Good morning, Collins. SPENCER: Well, you are dealing with two past hurricanes, and Ivan may be on the way. What are your biggest needs right now?

BROWN: Well, really, for the Floridians who are -- just been beaten down by these storms, to help us help them. They need to follow the evacuation orders when Governor Bush issues those. They need to listen to local authorities.

They need to prepare themselves to take care of themselves for maybe two or three days while the emergency workers do the things they have to do to save lives and rescue people. That's going to be our top priority after Ivan.

SPENCER: Now, Ivan will mark the third hurricane. Is there a big strain on the agency right now?

BROWN: I'm sorry, I couldn't...

SPENCER: If Ivan is effective, it will be the third hurricane to hit the Florida area. Is there a big strain on the agency right now?

BROWN: I've lost audio.

SPENCER: I'm sorry. It seems like we are having some difficulty with Michael Brown's hearing us right now. We'll try to get back to that as soon as possible -- director of FEMA, Michael Brown.

Right now, we're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SPENCER: Well, it looks like we've cleared up our audio problems. And Michael Brown, the director of FEMA, has graciously stayed around.

And I think we left off, Michael, talking about the agency, whether there's been a big strain on FEMA in regards to the two past hurricanes and then Ivan coming down the road possibly.

BROWN: Well, our people are tired, but they're up to this challenge. This is what FEMA does.

You know, at the same time that we are dealing with two hurricanes in Florida, we have 17 open disasters around the country. It's just unusual to have two, and possibly now three disasters, not only in the same state, but affecting the entire state. But our people are ready for this challenge. They're ready to get back in there and start doing the response and recovery efforts.

SPENCER: Let's -- let's talk about recovery efforts and Hurricane Frances. Is the flooding from Hurricane Frances making it difficult for recovery?

BROWN: It is. And I've always preached about the fact that most deaths comes from inland flooding. And I just want to caution people in Florida, and, for that matter, anywhere in the country when there's floods, not to drive through those intersections, not to go tubing in the streams that seems to be pretty exciting, because it inevitably leads to death. More deaths occur from inland flooding from hurricanes and floods around the country than almost any other kind of disaster.

SPENCER: Now, Congress and the president -- we only have a few seconds left -- approved $2 billion in additional funds for all this. Do you need additional funds?

BROWN: Well, we may need additional funds. And President Bush has assured me that he's ready to go back to Congress and get the additional funds if we need it. So I'm not concerned about the financial aspects of the storms.

SPENCER: OK. Michael Brown, thank you for joining us.

Michael Brown is the director of FEMA.

Good luck.

BROWN: Thank you, Collins. Thanks.

NGUYEN: But we are concerned about where Ivan is right about now. And for that, we want to check in with Rob Marciano to see where Ivan is spinning.

Good morning, Rob.

MARCIANO: Good morning, Betty.

Still spinning off to the west-northwest, now battering Grand Cayman and the Cayman Islands chain. It is about 30 miles south from Grand Cayman itself. And the winds from this thing extend out to about 90 miles north of the center, as far as the hurricane-force winds. And the tropical storm-force winds go out about 175 miles. So it's almost as large as Frances, and it's much, much, much stronger.

Here's the Caribbean. You get an idea how wide this thing is.

It extends from Nicaragua and Honduras, all the way up to Cuba as far as the cloud canopy is concerned. There you go. The Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman, there is the eye.

It was a Category 5 last night. And right now, it stands as the sixth strongest storm that we have seen since we have been keeping records on the Atlantic Basin hurricanes. So it's an amazing storm. And right now, hopefully the eye stays south of Grand Cayman, because they're getting it pretty good here, and they'll continue to do that for the next several hours.

Expect it to increase in intensity as it moves over yet warmer waters over the northwestern Caribbean. Category 5 landfall possible across the western tip of Cuba Monday afternoon. So they are bracing for that from Havana westward. And then into the Gulf of Mexico we begin to widen our margin for error here as far as the track goes, because we're getting farther out in time.

But we do expect it to weaken somewhat in intensity, maybe to a Category 3 status. And anywhere from the mouth of the Mississippi down to Tampa is an area of concern. And right now, the National Hurricane Center forecast brings it somewhere in the Florida Panhandle during the day on Wednesday.

So that is the latest forecast track for you.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MARCIANO: That's the latest from here. Back to you guys in the studio.

NGUYEN: All right. Thank you, Rob.

Well, Secretary of State Colin Powell has made the rounds on the Sunday talk shows, and he just spoke with reporters just minutes ago. The topic: North Korea and the speculation of a possible nuclear explosion there.

Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: The recent intelligence does not suggest that. The recent intelligence suggests there is some activity taking place that is inconclusive with respect to what it means.

It could be that. It could be that they're doing some test preparations. Or it could be that just some maintenance is going on. So it's not -- it's not conclusive, and we continue to examine it and study it on a -- on a regular basis.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Secretary of state Colin Powell speaking with reporters today about North Korea -- Collins.

SPENCER: Thank you, Betty.

Well, anxious residents of Florida and North Carolina and other states hard hit by hurricanes may have questions about home insurance. One of the best at times and the worst places to turn for answers, the Internet, to get your insurance information. Well, here with the dos and don'ts of buying insurance online is Paul Boutin.

And Paul, I want to thank you for joining us.

PAUL BOUTIN, "WIRED" MAGAZINE: Oh, thank you for having me.

SPENCER: Paul, do very few people know about buying insurance online?

BOUTIN: Not as many as there should. I should also point out that buying insurance online is not like buying an airplane ticket. You can get quotes, you can get forms, but you still have to do some paperwork and make some phone calls.

SPENCER: Is it very difficult to buy that insurance online once you find it?

BOUTIN: Not really. In fact, there's a trick that people should know.

Go to Google -- we all know where that is -- and if you are in Florida right now, what you probably want is flood insurance. You search for flood insurance. Don't look at the Web results, look over in the right-hand column at the ads. You'll find...

SPENCER: Paul...

BOUTIN: Yes?

SPENCER: ... while you are talking, let's quickly go through the Web sites also while you are talking.

BOUTIN: Yes, absolutely.

There's some great resources that come up. That's what I was saying.

The first one is floodsmart.gov. That is a government site that will help you learn what sort of coverage you need. And there's a lot of resources there for also how to protect yourself.

There's a site called III.org. That's the Insurance Information Institute. They will help you find insurance companies in your state. For example, in Florida, they will point to home insurance companies, business companies, life insurance, and so forth.

SPENCER: Now, what about netquote.com?

BOUTIN: That's a good one. You can get quotes online. Sometimes in real time.

It varies by state, it varies by company. But I tried it last night, pretending I lived in Florida.

You fill out a form, you tell them what kind of house you've got, does it have a slate roof, how old is the roof, what kind of wiring do you have, copper, aluminum. And eventually, it collects all this information about you and then submits it to dozens of insurance companies.

SPENCER: OK. We also...

BOUTIN: Some of...

SPENCER: I'm sorry, Paul. Just trying to get everything in here.

BOUTIN: Sure.

SPENCER: What about insure.com?

BOUTIN: Insure.com, well, if you are in Florida, it's going to be a mixed bag. They'll get you renters insurance, they'll get you mobile home insurance. But if you own a home or a condo, they can't give you an online quote. They can hook you up with a company that will then possibly e-mail you a quote.

SPENCER: All right. And there are definitely some perks for shopping online. Are there definitely?

BOUTIN: Yes, because you don't have to spend as much time as you do on the phone. You can make sure all the information is right by looking on the screen. So there's no errors, as in a phone call. And you don't have to wait for things to come through the mail to get the process started.

SPENCER: OK. Well, good information. Paul Boutin, I thank you for joining us. He's the contributing editor for "Wired" Magazine.

Thank you again.

BOUTIN: You're welcome.

SPENCER: Betty?

NGUYEN: As we talk about insurance and natural disasters, boy do we have a story for you. Honeymoon horror as two love birds come face to face with Hurricane Ivan. We'll talk to them coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SPENCER: A Cayman Islands caution, here, what Hurricane Ivan has done to Jamaica. Now this Category 4 storm is bearing down on the Caymans.

NGUYEN: Welcome back. First here's what's happening "Now in the News".

Winds of 155 m.p.h. and pouring rain. That's what Hurricane Ivan has in store for the Cayman Islands where it is expected to hit land later today. Ivan dropped a notch to a Category 4 storm this morning, but it is still capable of major damage.

Also there is a cloud of uncertainty over North Korea today. Three days ago satellite pictures showed a large mushroom-shaped cloud over the nation. There has been no official response from the North Korean government. But a U.S. official tells CNN that a forest fire may have caused the cloud, not a nuclear explosion.

In Baghdad this morning, insurgents used rockets, guns and car bombs in a series of attacks. Also U.S. and Iraqi forces battled militants for more than two hours in the center of the capital. The new violence has left at least 20 Iraqis dead and more than 65 have been injured. SPENCER: Yesterday although the eye of the storm passed to its south, roofs were stripped off, mudslides triggered, roads washed away. Jamaica's death toll reached 16. Police made 28 arrests as they battled looters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From earlier this morning, shots were being fired from down there. Earlier we had reports that a lot of...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SPENCER: Two men were shot to death by police when gunfights erupted as officers tried to recover stolen goods.

The locals are not the only ones dealing with the aftermath of Jamaica. There were plenty of vacationers who got caught up in the storm. Paul and Jenny Cantrell got married eight days ago in Rome, Georgia, and thought Jamaica would be the perfect honeymoon get away, but they got a little more than they bargained for from Hurricane Ivan. Paul Cantrell joins us on the phone.

Hello, Paul.

PAUL CANTRELL, HONEYMOONING IN JAMAICA: Good morning.

SPENCER: What a way to start off a new life, together, there.

CANTRELL: Yeah, her father told me it would never be boring if I married her. It has started out that way.

SPENCER: What is happening now outside your hotel window, if you are near it?

CANTRELL: Right now, from where we're sitting, we are starting to see a little sun peek through which we haven't seen since probably early in the day Thursday.

SPENCER: Now, last night was probably the worst night. What was it like?

CANTRELL: What was it like? What is today? Today is Sunday. Friday night was the worst. We didn't know what to expect. So it was just the wind, gradually it began blowing harder, the waves getting higher.

SPENCER: Right. Now where...

(CROSSTALK)

CANTRELL: It was frightening.

SPENCER: Where were you? In the hotel, hiding out or did you seek shelter?

CANTRELL: We stayed -- we're actually in large concrete structures, so we -- they pretty much instructed us to stay in our rooms which is what we did and just tried to stay away from the windows, which were either boarded up or Xed out with masking tape.

SPENCER: How was your wife dealing with all of this?

CANTRELL: She handled it well. I think that it was the time leading up to it when we still had television service and watching the predictions they were making, that was actually probably harder to deal with, than the storm was, itself.

SPENCER: Now, the worst is over, but you are not out of the woods yet. Do you feel comfortable right now?

CANTRELL: We actually do feel pretty comfortable here. We don't have -- we don't have television here, so we can't see what's going on in the rest of Jamaica. But we have gotten some word from some of the staff here who have talked to families that there are some rough situations around the island going on.

So ...

SPENCER: OK. Good luck. And as the old saying goes, will you come back to Jamaica?

CANTRELL: We are planning another trip within the year.

SPENCER: OK. Paul, thank you for joining us. Good luck to you and your wife.

CANTRELL: Thank you very much.

SPENCER: Betty?

NGUYEN: For Floridians it is getting to be a familiar drill. The Florida Keys began evacuating last week. The latest projected path for Ivan is up the Gulf of Mexico to the Florida Panhandle, but hurricanes are notoriously fickle and all Floridians have been warned to be prepared.

Each week at this time we'll take a closer look at important issues facing the country and where the candidates stand; this week, gay rights and same-sex marriage. Here's CNN's Drew Griffin.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Equal rights for gays and lesbians, one of the hot button issues Americans are thinking about as the election gets closer. A recent spotlight on same-sex marriages forced candidates to speak out on where they stand on same- sex marriage.

In a recent CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll, 32 percent of those surveyed say they feel same-sex marriage should be legally recognized, while 62 percent say no. In that same survey, 48 percent of the people favor a constitutional amendment banning marriages between gays and lesbians, 46 percent would oppose that amendment. President Bush supports a constitutional amendment banning same- sex marriage while Senator Kerry is against it, Kerry opposes gay marriage but backs civil unions as well as benefits for gay couples.

On gay adoption, a 2003 Gallup poll found Americans were fairly split on whether or not homosexual couples should have the legal right to adopt. At that time 49 percent in favor, 48 percent opposed.

As for the candidates, President Bush opposes adoption by gay men and lesbians, while Senator Kerry supports it.

On hate crimes, current federal hate crime legislation does not include crimes motivated by the victim's sexual orientation, gender or disability. In the most recent data collected by the FBI, sexual orientation bias represents the third highest category of reported hate crimes.

President Bush opposes expanding current federal hate crime laws saying he feels all violent crime is hate crime. Senator Kerry has called for expanding the federal hate crimes legislation to assure what he says is equal justice for all. Here is a side-by-side look at the candidates and their stances on gay rights.

For more on the election and the issues logon to cnn.com/americavotes.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SPENCER: We've been asking you all along, this morning, about your thoughts on e-mail question: What is the most important election issue facing America? And this one is from Kevin.

He says, "As a grieving New York City resident I can't imagine, especially around each September 11th, there could be any more single important issue facing our country and therefore the election, than protecting the USA against terrorism."

NGUYEN: Joe, from Tampa, has a different feel on this one. He says, "Health care should be a major focus and the fact that you can buy the same medicines from Canada or overseas at a fraction of the cost of those in the states should be a crime. Fellow Americans cannot afford to be sick."

As always, we appreciate all of your responses here at CNN. Next week we'll have another question for you.

Hurricane Ivan continues to stir causing worry along the coast. We have an update on the storm. That is just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Donald Trump got a new group of job hunters to pick from this week on "The Apprentice." But we're wondering what have they gotten themselves into? We will ask the winner of last season's show, Bill Rancic. He joins us live from Chicago -- there he is -- where he's working for Donald Trump. That's straight ahead. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Good morning, Denver. You are looking at a live picture of the Mile High City where the Broncos are taking on the Kansas City Chiefs at 8:30 this evening. This is the first weekend of regular season play for the NFL.

Welcome back to CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Betty Nguyen. Here is a look at our headlines this morning.

After pounding Jamaica, Hurricane Ivan is expected to hit the Cayman Islands later today. Right now the eye of the storm is just south of Grand Cayman. Ivan is a powerful Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 155 m.p.h.

Time is running out for US Airways to avoid another bankruptcy. The airline and its pilots union say they are willing to resume talks over a package of cost-saving concessions but so far no new talks are planned.

At least 20 Iraqis have been killed in violence across Baghdad today. That includes a suicide car bomber who blew himself up outside Baghdad's Abu Ghraib Prison.

SPENCER: The anniversary of the 9/11 attacks meant something special for some New Jersey residents who lost loved ones in the World Trade Center attack. They had a chance to give back to a community that helped them through some very difficult times. CNN's Denise Belgrave reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DENISE BELGRADE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): They are called it simply, The Group. For three years they have come together at Trinity Church to grieve. Young widows, widowers, parents and friends of the 53 Hoboken residents killed at the World Trade Center on September 11. Sandy O'Conner, mother of then two-year-old Riana, lost her husband Keith that day.

SANDY O'CONNER, 9/11 WIDOW: It was like we lived in a nightmare and the rest of life was awake. And with that commonality, you can then begin to take your steps and lean on each other.

BELGRAVE: O'Conner says their grieving process was unlike any other.

O'CONNER: Particularly, as time went on it became harder, because as I would be trying to recover, then I would see footage on TV and brought back there.

BELGRADE: Reverend Robert Griner, a grief counselor, who has been with The Group since the beginning, explains their unique pain.

REV. ROBERT GRINER, GRIEF COUNSELOR: They became grief celebrities. At the same time there was like a real strong anger and revulsion about taking on that kind of identity. And so there was a desire to be with people like themselves, who got it.

BELGRAVE: After three years The Group was ready to give something back to a community that had nurtured them through their darkest days. They gave the church a bell. It would fill the empty tower that as far as anybody could remember had been empty.

GRINER: I saw this space. It seemed to be an emblem of the space that had been left in each member's heart from the loss of a loved one.

BELGRAVE: The bell tolled for the first time on September 11, in remembrance. Sandy O'Conner hopes one day soon she'll hear it again.

O'CONNER: You know what I really look forward to? Walking by some day, running errands or whatever, and hearing it ringing for somebody's wedding. I learned after immense sadness there can still be a smile again and laughter again.

BELGRAVE: Denise Belgrave, CNN, Hoboken, New Jersey.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SPENCER: Rays of light, rays of hope. In case you missed this last night, in New York City two powerful beams of light reached up to the sky in honor of those lost in the World Trade Center attacks. The light was seen for miles around and was inspired by the Twin Towers and projected from a lot near ground zero.

Stay with us. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Oh, yeah, we are talking about money today. Meet the new crop of combatants for a job inside Donald Trump's coveted empire. Season 2 of "The Apprentice" opened with solid ratings last week. Millions watched to see Trump utter the words that have now become his trademark.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP: You're fired.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Thirty-two-year-old Texas salesman Rob Flannigan (ph) was the first to let go by The Donald. Trump says Flannigan (ph) was just too laid back for his taste.

But my next guest is the only one from the first season to survive from firing fury. Bill Rancic won last year's "The Apprentice" and now has compiled some business lessons he has learned into a new book. In "You're Hired" Rancic tells us how anyone can become a personal success in business and in life. Rancic joins us from Chicago.

Good morning to you. BILL RANCIC, AUTHOR, "YOU'RE HIRED": Good morning. How are you?

NGUYEN: I'm doing well. How is The Donald treating you these days?

RANCIC: Knock on wood, he's treating me pretty well.

NGUYEN: So far, so good. You talk about these secrets to success in your new book. Give us some insight, do tell, what are some of these secrets?

RANCIC: A lot of it is really common sense and practical tips and practical experience. So many business books out there are filled with theory, business school jargon that most people don't understand what those words mean. So, I wanted to create a book that everyone could understand and they could relate to their lives.

NGUYEN: If there was one major tip, a key tip, what would that be?

RANCIC: The one major tip is that you can't be afraid to fail and you can't be afraid to make a mistake. So many people hold themselves back because they're afraid they will fail or afraid they will make a mistake. They never make any forward progress.

NGUYEN: You actually took a risk leaving your job or not spending as much time with it. You own a multimillion-dollar cigar online business. You left that to be on the show. That was a bit of a risk for you.

RANCIC: Right. I had left cigarsaroundtheworld.com. But I had left that a couple of years prior. It is now being run by Synergy Brands, which is publicly traded. And I was kind of a free agent at the time. I just started to get into real estate. I said this is an opportunity, what the heck, I'll go for it.

NGUYEN: What's next for you? Will you stay with The Donald for a while or go out on your own?

RANCIC: My goal is to learn as much as I can, and then hopefully be doing deals with Donald Trump rather than for him. I would like to have him back me in a real estate deal of my own when this is all over.

NGUYEN: A lot of people watching want to know some insight. What have you learned? What has been really surprising about Donald Trump?

RANCIC: You know what? He is -- it's remarkable how much he has really taken me under his wing. When I first won the show, I thought OK, I'll probably never see Donald Trump again, or at least very rarely will I see him. That's has not been the case at all.

He's really a guy who has a genuine interest in seeing me succeed. He's compassionate, he has fire in his belly. He cares about the people around him. To me that was surprising, because I don't think a lot of people see that side of him on the show. NGUYEN: That is surprising because people view him as a man who views just the bottom line, but he does have personality.

RANCIC: Without a doubt. And I'm very grateful for everything he is doing for me and teach me.

NGUYEN: In the book you talk about the secrets of success. Obviously, this television show has aided in your success. I want to know when do you find the time to write a book? Did you pen this yourself?

RANCIC: As you know I've been very busy. My days start at 5:00 in the morning and end at 10 or 11 o'clock at night. Not only am I working for The Donald building a 90-story high rise, which is just behind me here, but I'm also become the spokesman for the Advanta MasterCard, which is the number one provider of MasterCards to small business owners. And I penned a book.

So my days are very, very long. I work seven days a week. It's Sunday morning, here I am talking to you.

NGUYEN: All right. Any advice for those on the show trying to become the next apprentice? You've been there, you have risen to the success. What do you have to say to them?

RANCIC: I think they have to be agile. That's the key to success, is agility. If you look at the different tasks each week, you need to bring a different perspective and different management style to each task. That's where a lot of people got into trouble last season. They went with the textbook mentality and stuck with it from week to week.

That does not work in the real world. In the real world things come at you, you have to make changes. That will get someone to the finish line here.

NGUYEN: Bill Rancic, a real-world man, thank you for that insight today.

RANCIC: Thank you.

NGUYEN: Collins?

SPENCER: All right. A nice guy, too.

Well, Rob Marciano is here with an update on powerhouse in the Caribbean and the weekend forecast for the rest of the nation when we return.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER FORECAST)

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Aired September 12, 2004 - 09:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, good morning from CNN global headquarters right here in Atlanta. This is CNN SUNDAY MORNING, September 12. It's 9:00 a.m. in the Key West, Florida, area, 6:00 a.m. in Victorville, California.
Good morning. I'm Betty Nguyen.

COLLINS SPENCER, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Collins Spencer, in this morning for Drew Griffin.

Hurricane Ivan is bearing down on the Cayman Islands. Now just a few miles south of Grand Cayman. Ivan is a dangerous Category 4 hurricane with top winds of 155 miles per hour. It is expected to pass over western Cuba tomorrow afternoon, then churn into the Gulf of Mexico. Rob Marciano is tracking the storm. We'll -- he'll have the predicted path in just a few minutes.

A fresh spasm of violence rocked Baghdad this morning, leaving at least 20 Iraqis dead and 65 wounded. There were at least two suicide car bombings, one rocket attack, and a drive-by shooting. And an intense battle erupted on Baghdad's Haifa Street (ph) between insurgents and Iraqi forces, backed by U.S. troops. That firefight lasted two-and-a-half hours and took 13 lives.

Iran will not abandon uranium enrichment, a vital step toward developing nuclear weapons. The Iranians today rejected a key demand by France, Germany and Britain to do that. But Tehran has said, again, it's nuclear program is entirely peaceful.

And we are keeping you informed. This is CNN Headline -- this is CNN News, the most trusted name in news.

NGUYEN: Now on to what we are working on for you this Sunday morning. Storm-worn folks in Florida are still cleaning up from the last two hurricanes, but the worst may be yet to come. Just ask people in Jamaica. Tourists who went to the tropical paradise for a dream vacation woke up in a nightmare. We'll meet some honeymooners with a great story to tell to grandchildren some day.

And he won the first season of "The Apprentice." Now he is an expert. We'll get tips on getting the job from one of Donald Trump's success stories.

COLLINS: Hurricane Ivan is now barreling toward the Cayman Islands. It is expected to hit the chain this afternoon, with top winds of 155 miles an hour. That's down slightly, making it a Category 4 storm again.

The National Hurricane Center says it could bring a storm surge of 20 to 25 feet. Some islands are already calling it Ivan The Terrible. It has left at least 36 dead across the Caribbean.

The storm is expected to strike western Cuba tomorrow afternoon. And forecasters say it could return to Category 5 by then. President Fidel Castro appeared on TV, urging Cubans to prepare for the storm.

Our Havana bureau chief, Lucia Newman, reports via videophone.

Hi, Lucia.

LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN HAVANA BUREAU CHIEF: Good morning, Collins.

Well, according to Cuban state television, some 400,000 Cubans have already been evacuated from low-lying and mountainous areas in central and eastern Cuba, which isn't even in the direct path of hurricane Ivan. This is because there is torrential rain there already, and there are fears of flooding and mudslides in that part of the country.

Here in Havana, massive evacuations from coastal areas and from unsafe buildings is expected to get under way at any moment. This is the Caribbean's largest and most populated island. So the potential for catastrophic damage here is enormous.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NEWMAN (voice-over): On the Caribbean's largest island, seaside residents like Teresa Gonzales (ph) are packing up. "Our generation has never seen a hurricane like this," she says. "There's been nothing like it since 1944."

Beyonce (ph), who is still reeling from last month's Hurricane Charley, is also going to a hurricane shelter. "I'm not staying here," she says. "My roof was blown off during the last hurricane." Beyonce (ph), who's helping with the neighborhood evacuation effort, says there are instructions to evacuate everyone who lives above the fourth floor.

Havana is particularly vulnerable. Even without a hurricane, buildings here are crumbling, and experts fear higher floors won't resist Ivan's treacherous winds.

"The slower the hurricane moves, the more damage it will cause us says," says Cuba's National Weather Institute chief. These European tourists, who are being transferred to a safer hotel, are overwhelmed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I thought it was going straight to Florida and not passing over Cuba. So you never expect such a thing, of course.

NEWMAN: Cuba is nevertheless well organized to face natural disasters. Thousands have already been taken to shelters in central Cuba. And hundreds of thousands more are expected to be evacuated to higher ground in the coming hours.

Many put their trust in the civil defense authorities. Others, like Elena (ph), in their saints.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWMAN: Collins, it is worth pointing out that, although authorities here do go to extraordinary measures to keep people out of harm's way, there's very little that ordinary citizens can do to really protect property. Unlike in Florida, here there are no hardware stores where people can go and buy plywood and nails and other -- other materials to protect their homes. Even a roll of tape to put on the windows is almost impossible to find here -- Collins.

SPENCER: Thanks, Lucia. Lucia Newman reporting from Havana, Cuba -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Folks in Florida are bracing for Hurricane Ivan, and they're wondering, will they ever get relief from these back-to-back storms, possibly three within a 30-day span? The Sunshine State is still recovering from Charley and Frances, and now it looks as if Ivan is headed that way. The anxiety level is going up.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DENIS CHAVEZ, FLORIDA RESIDENT: We're exhausted. We're just -- I don't -- I just don't -- I just don't want to go through it again. And I don't want to put my kids through it again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Dr. Daniel Armstrong, a psychologist at the University of Miami, is here to talk about the emotional impact of repeated hurricanes.

Good morning to you.

DR. DANIEL ARMSTRONG, PSYCHOLOGIST: Good morning.

NGUYEN: These storms take both a physical and emotional toll on many people. What are some of the signs that folks are suffering emotionally?

ARMSTRONG: Well, I think the way -- when we look at the situation we are facing now, we are talking about people who are dealing with the -- the word of a potential threat, perhaps once again in a short period of time. They're tired. And those two things in combination can increase a lot of distress.

What we see are folks who wind up having disruptions in sleep patterns because they're watching a lot of TV to get information. Tempers may be short as we stand in long lines. Children may be more cranky, beginning to act out in anticipation of a potential -- another hit. And given the folks who have been in the pathway of Charley and Frances, there may be a loss of resiliency, a loss of expectation that they'll be able to cope if another hurricane hits, because they are already so overwhelmed with what they are dealing with.

NGUYEN: So as they prepare for Ivan, what can they do to treat this trauma for both adults and children?

ARMSTRONG: Well, I think that there are some -- some real issues. We are looking at the impact of this storm affecting probably the largest population base of anything that's happened in the United States in years. It's not only Florida, but it's all of the East Coast that have had to deal with the flooding and the aftermath.

People are dealing with reality. And I think there are some things that they can do.

One, is to make sure that we do a little bit of thinking about preparing ourselves to deal both with are our own emotional responses, as well as with the concrete things that we would need to do if another storm came along. Often, the dealing with emotional things goes to the side.

Some very concrete suggestions there are, one, to recognize how do we usually cope under stress? That's likely to be the way that each one of us will cope under the stress of another hurricane.

Share that information with others. We recognize that even in families there are differences in the way that individuals cope. Some withdrawal, some become angry. Some try to control situations.

And under stress those may be incompatible ways of coping. But if we're aware we may cope that way, and can share with others that, and develop in advance some assistance for what happens when our typical coping style comes along, we can at least create a network of support that can be very helpful.

NGUYEN: All right. Dr. Daniel Armstrong, psychologist there at the University of Miami, thanks so much for that insight today.

ARMSTRONG: Thank you very much.

NGUYEN: Collins?

SPENCER: Across America now, in parts of southern California, storms that have nothing to do with Hurricane Ivan. Cleanup crews are facing a muddy mess. Heavy rains and flash floods have blocked roads with dirt and debris. Officials in San Bernardino County had to rescue several people from stalled cars.

In Washington, D.C., police are taking a closer look at what led to the deaths of two young children. They were struck and killed by a car driven by a fleeing drug suspect. There were conflicting reports about whether police were still chasing the suspect when the children were hit.

And Senator John Edwards goes from the campaign trail to a trail of damage today. The Democratic vice presidential candidate is going back to his home state of North Carolina to visit flood-damaged areas. He will also travel to a labor union gathering in Detroit. NGUYEN: And he got a standing ovation from a key constituency. John Kerry addressed the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington last night. Part of his message, when it comes to hearing ideas from the group, the Bush administration has put up a "do not enter" sign on the White House. Kerry also stressed the importance of this year's election.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Everything is on the line: our jobs, our health care, our role in the world, the character of our country, the Supreme Court of the United States of America. The stakes are high. And I say to you the choice is clear.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Meanwhile, President Bush is keeping a low profile today. Following September 11th anniversary events yesterday, the president went to Camp David. He'll return to the White House later today.

SPENCER: Iraq, the economy, or some other issue? All morning we have been asking, what's the most important election issue facing America? Keep e-mailing your responses to wam@cnn.com. We'll keep reading them during the show.

NGUYEN: As Ivan makes his way to Florida, how is FEMA dealing with the strain of what may be three hurricanes in a row? We'll talk to director Michael Brown ahead.

SPENCER: Plus, two's company, three's a crowd. Ivan joins one couple on their honeymoon in Jamaica. We'll hear the couple's story.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And as Ivan brews, it has become one of the strongest storms in the history of the Atlantic Basin since we've been keeping records. And it's getting bigger. We'll go over that, plus your forecast.

The rest of the country actually looks nice. There is Chicago. There is the shoreline.

It's 60 degrees. You will get up into, well, right around 80. We'll be right back with your complete forecast.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SPENCER: U.S. officials are looking into some potentially troubling events in North Korea. There are reports a huge explosion rocked North Korea days ago near the border with China.

According to a South Korean news agency, the blast produced a cloud more than two miles wide. It's big news on South Korean TV. Government officials there downplayed the possibility of an atomic link.

So does the U.S. Officials here tell CNN the large cloud was "no big deal" and not related to a nuclear explosion. A British delegation now in Pyongyang discussing the north's nuclear program is seeking an explanation for the blast.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN IRVINE, ITN REPORTER: These reports about this explosion, if it indeed did happen, being a nuclear explosion, are highly speculative. We are talking about big "ifs" here.

But of course it is an enormous issue. It's a big issue. It wouldn't just be a slap in the face, if you want to call it that, to the British delegation that's here. It would, of course, be an enormous slap in the face to the Chinese, to the South Koreans and, indeed, to the Americans.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SPENCER: Meanwhile, today's "New York Times" and "Washington Post" both report the Bush administration received intelligence before these developments that could indicate North Korea is preparing its first nuclear weapons test.

Well, be sure to tune in tonight for the rest of this in-depth look at nuclear terror. CNN PRESENTS airs at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, 5:00 p.m. Pacific. Also, check out the special online content at cnn.com/presents.

NGUYEN: Right now, we want to take a look at some of our top stories on this Sunday.

People in the Cayman Islands are bracing for Hurricane Ivan. The storm, packing 155-mile-an-hour winds, is expected to hit there later today. It left behind mudslides and floods in Jamaica.

Now to Baghdad. At least 20 Iraqis have been killed in a fresh round of violence, which included car bombings, rocket attacks and a street battle.

In politics, John Kerry's critics and supporters are gathering in Washington today. One veterans group is rallying against Kerry, saying he lied about his Vietnam service. Another group is pushing for an end to attacks on Kerry's war records.

Gay rights in America. Where do the candidates stand on same-sex marriage? We'll get to know the issue. That's coming up.

SPENCER: And No one knows exactly where Hurricane Ivan will strike the U.S., but everyone knows it will probably be bad. As the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, it is Michael Brown's job to prepare for the worst-case scenario. He joins us this morning from Washington to explain what his agency is doing to get ready for Ivan.

And Michael, I want to thank you for joining us.

MICHAEL BROWN, FEMA DIRECTOR: Good morning, Collins. SPENCER: Well, you are dealing with two past hurricanes, and Ivan may be on the way. What are your biggest needs right now?

BROWN: Well, really, for the Floridians who are -- just been beaten down by these storms, to help us help them. They need to follow the evacuation orders when Governor Bush issues those. They need to listen to local authorities.

They need to prepare themselves to take care of themselves for maybe two or three days while the emergency workers do the things they have to do to save lives and rescue people. That's going to be our top priority after Ivan.

SPENCER: Now, Ivan will mark the third hurricane. Is there a big strain on the agency right now?

BROWN: I'm sorry, I couldn't...

SPENCER: If Ivan is effective, it will be the third hurricane to hit the Florida area. Is there a big strain on the agency right now?

BROWN: I've lost audio.

SPENCER: I'm sorry. It seems like we are having some difficulty with Michael Brown's hearing us right now. We'll try to get back to that as soon as possible -- director of FEMA, Michael Brown.

Right now, we're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SPENCER: Well, it looks like we've cleared up our audio problems. And Michael Brown, the director of FEMA, has graciously stayed around.

And I think we left off, Michael, talking about the agency, whether there's been a big strain on FEMA in regards to the two past hurricanes and then Ivan coming down the road possibly.

BROWN: Well, our people are tired, but they're up to this challenge. This is what FEMA does.

You know, at the same time that we are dealing with two hurricanes in Florida, we have 17 open disasters around the country. It's just unusual to have two, and possibly now three disasters, not only in the same state, but affecting the entire state. But our people are ready for this challenge. They're ready to get back in there and start doing the response and recovery efforts.

SPENCER: Let's -- let's talk about recovery efforts and Hurricane Frances. Is the flooding from Hurricane Frances making it difficult for recovery?

BROWN: It is. And I've always preached about the fact that most deaths comes from inland flooding. And I just want to caution people in Florida, and, for that matter, anywhere in the country when there's floods, not to drive through those intersections, not to go tubing in the streams that seems to be pretty exciting, because it inevitably leads to death. More deaths occur from inland flooding from hurricanes and floods around the country than almost any other kind of disaster.

SPENCER: Now, Congress and the president -- we only have a few seconds left -- approved $2 billion in additional funds for all this. Do you need additional funds?

BROWN: Well, we may need additional funds. And President Bush has assured me that he's ready to go back to Congress and get the additional funds if we need it. So I'm not concerned about the financial aspects of the storms.

SPENCER: OK. Michael Brown, thank you for joining us.

Michael Brown is the director of FEMA.

Good luck.

BROWN: Thank you, Collins. Thanks.

NGUYEN: But we are concerned about where Ivan is right about now. And for that, we want to check in with Rob Marciano to see where Ivan is spinning.

Good morning, Rob.

MARCIANO: Good morning, Betty.

Still spinning off to the west-northwest, now battering Grand Cayman and the Cayman Islands chain. It is about 30 miles south from Grand Cayman itself. And the winds from this thing extend out to about 90 miles north of the center, as far as the hurricane-force winds. And the tropical storm-force winds go out about 175 miles. So it's almost as large as Frances, and it's much, much, much stronger.

Here's the Caribbean. You get an idea how wide this thing is.

It extends from Nicaragua and Honduras, all the way up to Cuba as far as the cloud canopy is concerned. There you go. The Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman, there is the eye.

It was a Category 5 last night. And right now, it stands as the sixth strongest storm that we have seen since we have been keeping records on the Atlantic Basin hurricanes. So it's an amazing storm. And right now, hopefully the eye stays south of Grand Cayman, because they're getting it pretty good here, and they'll continue to do that for the next several hours.

Expect it to increase in intensity as it moves over yet warmer waters over the northwestern Caribbean. Category 5 landfall possible across the western tip of Cuba Monday afternoon. So they are bracing for that from Havana westward. And then into the Gulf of Mexico we begin to widen our margin for error here as far as the track goes, because we're getting farther out in time.

But we do expect it to weaken somewhat in intensity, maybe to a Category 3 status. And anywhere from the mouth of the Mississippi down to Tampa is an area of concern. And right now, the National Hurricane Center forecast brings it somewhere in the Florida Panhandle during the day on Wednesday.

So that is the latest forecast track for you.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MARCIANO: That's the latest from here. Back to you guys in the studio.

NGUYEN: All right. Thank you, Rob.

Well, Secretary of State Colin Powell has made the rounds on the Sunday talk shows, and he just spoke with reporters just minutes ago. The topic: North Korea and the speculation of a possible nuclear explosion there.

Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: The recent intelligence does not suggest that. The recent intelligence suggests there is some activity taking place that is inconclusive with respect to what it means.

It could be that. It could be that they're doing some test preparations. Or it could be that just some maintenance is going on. So it's not -- it's not conclusive, and we continue to examine it and study it on a -- on a regular basis.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Secretary of state Colin Powell speaking with reporters today about North Korea -- Collins.

SPENCER: Thank you, Betty.

Well, anxious residents of Florida and North Carolina and other states hard hit by hurricanes may have questions about home insurance. One of the best at times and the worst places to turn for answers, the Internet, to get your insurance information. Well, here with the dos and don'ts of buying insurance online is Paul Boutin.

And Paul, I want to thank you for joining us.

PAUL BOUTIN, "WIRED" MAGAZINE: Oh, thank you for having me.

SPENCER: Paul, do very few people know about buying insurance online?

BOUTIN: Not as many as there should. I should also point out that buying insurance online is not like buying an airplane ticket. You can get quotes, you can get forms, but you still have to do some paperwork and make some phone calls.

SPENCER: Is it very difficult to buy that insurance online once you find it?

BOUTIN: Not really. In fact, there's a trick that people should know.

Go to Google -- we all know where that is -- and if you are in Florida right now, what you probably want is flood insurance. You search for flood insurance. Don't look at the Web results, look over in the right-hand column at the ads. You'll find...

SPENCER: Paul...

BOUTIN: Yes?

SPENCER: ... while you are talking, let's quickly go through the Web sites also while you are talking.

BOUTIN: Yes, absolutely.

There's some great resources that come up. That's what I was saying.

The first one is floodsmart.gov. That is a government site that will help you learn what sort of coverage you need. And there's a lot of resources there for also how to protect yourself.

There's a site called III.org. That's the Insurance Information Institute. They will help you find insurance companies in your state. For example, in Florida, they will point to home insurance companies, business companies, life insurance, and so forth.

SPENCER: Now, what about netquote.com?

BOUTIN: That's a good one. You can get quotes online. Sometimes in real time.

It varies by state, it varies by company. But I tried it last night, pretending I lived in Florida.

You fill out a form, you tell them what kind of house you've got, does it have a slate roof, how old is the roof, what kind of wiring do you have, copper, aluminum. And eventually, it collects all this information about you and then submits it to dozens of insurance companies.

SPENCER: OK. We also...

BOUTIN: Some of...

SPENCER: I'm sorry, Paul. Just trying to get everything in here.

BOUTIN: Sure.

SPENCER: What about insure.com?

BOUTIN: Insure.com, well, if you are in Florida, it's going to be a mixed bag. They'll get you renters insurance, they'll get you mobile home insurance. But if you own a home or a condo, they can't give you an online quote. They can hook you up with a company that will then possibly e-mail you a quote.

SPENCER: All right. And there are definitely some perks for shopping online. Are there definitely?

BOUTIN: Yes, because you don't have to spend as much time as you do on the phone. You can make sure all the information is right by looking on the screen. So there's no errors, as in a phone call. And you don't have to wait for things to come through the mail to get the process started.

SPENCER: OK. Well, good information. Paul Boutin, I thank you for joining us. He's the contributing editor for "Wired" Magazine.

Thank you again.

BOUTIN: You're welcome.

SPENCER: Betty?

NGUYEN: As we talk about insurance and natural disasters, boy do we have a story for you. Honeymoon horror as two love birds come face to face with Hurricane Ivan. We'll talk to them coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SPENCER: A Cayman Islands caution, here, what Hurricane Ivan has done to Jamaica. Now this Category 4 storm is bearing down on the Caymans.

NGUYEN: Welcome back. First here's what's happening "Now in the News".

Winds of 155 m.p.h. and pouring rain. That's what Hurricane Ivan has in store for the Cayman Islands where it is expected to hit land later today. Ivan dropped a notch to a Category 4 storm this morning, but it is still capable of major damage.

Also there is a cloud of uncertainty over North Korea today. Three days ago satellite pictures showed a large mushroom-shaped cloud over the nation. There has been no official response from the North Korean government. But a U.S. official tells CNN that a forest fire may have caused the cloud, not a nuclear explosion.

In Baghdad this morning, insurgents used rockets, guns and car bombs in a series of attacks. Also U.S. and Iraqi forces battled militants for more than two hours in the center of the capital. The new violence has left at least 20 Iraqis dead and more than 65 have been injured. SPENCER: Yesterday although the eye of the storm passed to its south, roofs were stripped off, mudslides triggered, roads washed away. Jamaica's death toll reached 16. Police made 28 arrests as they battled looters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From earlier this morning, shots were being fired from down there. Earlier we had reports that a lot of...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SPENCER: Two men were shot to death by police when gunfights erupted as officers tried to recover stolen goods.

The locals are not the only ones dealing with the aftermath of Jamaica. There were plenty of vacationers who got caught up in the storm. Paul and Jenny Cantrell got married eight days ago in Rome, Georgia, and thought Jamaica would be the perfect honeymoon get away, but they got a little more than they bargained for from Hurricane Ivan. Paul Cantrell joins us on the phone.

Hello, Paul.

PAUL CANTRELL, HONEYMOONING IN JAMAICA: Good morning.

SPENCER: What a way to start off a new life, together, there.

CANTRELL: Yeah, her father told me it would never be boring if I married her. It has started out that way.

SPENCER: What is happening now outside your hotel window, if you are near it?

CANTRELL: Right now, from where we're sitting, we are starting to see a little sun peek through which we haven't seen since probably early in the day Thursday.

SPENCER: Now, last night was probably the worst night. What was it like?

CANTRELL: What was it like? What is today? Today is Sunday. Friday night was the worst. We didn't know what to expect. So it was just the wind, gradually it began blowing harder, the waves getting higher.

SPENCER: Right. Now where...

(CROSSTALK)

CANTRELL: It was frightening.

SPENCER: Where were you? In the hotel, hiding out or did you seek shelter?

CANTRELL: We stayed -- we're actually in large concrete structures, so we -- they pretty much instructed us to stay in our rooms which is what we did and just tried to stay away from the windows, which were either boarded up or Xed out with masking tape.

SPENCER: How was your wife dealing with all of this?

CANTRELL: She handled it well. I think that it was the time leading up to it when we still had television service and watching the predictions they were making, that was actually probably harder to deal with, than the storm was, itself.

SPENCER: Now, the worst is over, but you are not out of the woods yet. Do you feel comfortable right now?

CANTRELL: We actually do feel pretty comfortable here. We don't have -- we don't have television here, so we can't see what's going on in the rest of Jamaica. But we have gotten some word from some of the staff here who have talked to families that there are some rough situations around the island going on.

So ...

SPENCER: OK. Good luck. And as the old saying goes, will you come back to Jamaica?

CANTRELL: We are planning another trip within the year.

SPENCER: OK. Paul, thank you for joining us. Good luck to you and your wife.

CANTRELL: Thank you very much.

SPENCER: Betty?

NGUYEN: For Floridians it is getting to be a familiar drill. The Florida Keys began evacuating last week. The latest projected path for Ivan is up the Gulf of Mexico to the Florida Panhandle, but hurricanes are notoriously fickle and all Floridians have been warned to be prepared.

Each week at this time we'll take a closer look at important issues facing the country and where the candidates stand; this week, gay rights and same-sex marriage. Here's CNN's Drew Griffin.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Equal rights for gays and lesbians, one of the hot button issues Americans are thinking about as the election gets closer. A recent spotlight on same-sex marriages forced candidates to speak out on where they stand on same- sex marriage.

In a recent CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll, 32 percent of those surveyed say they feel same-sex marriage should be legally recognized, while 62 percent say no. In that same survey, 48 percent of the people favor a constitutional amendment banning marriages between gays and lesbians, 46 percent would oppose that amendment. President Bush supports a constitutional amendment banning same- sex marriage while Senator Kerry is against it, Kerry opposes gay marriage but backs civil unions as well as benefits for gay couples.

On gay adoption, a 2003 Gallup poll found Americans were fairly split on whether or not homosexual couples should have the legal right to adopt. At that time 49 percent in favor, 48 percent opposed.

As for the candidates, President Bush opposes adoption by gay men and lesbians, while Senator Kerry supports it.

On hate crimes, current federal hate crime legislation does not include crimes motivated by the victim's sexual orientation, gender or disability. In the most recent data collected by the FBI, sexual orientation bias represents the third highest category of reported hate crimes.

President Bush opposes expanding current federal hate crime laws saying he feels all violent crime is hate crime. Senator Kerry has called for expanding the federal hate crimes legislation to assure what he says is equal justice for all. Here is a side-by-side look at the candidates and their stances on gay rights.

For more on the election and the issues logon to cnn.com/americavotes.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SPENCER: We've been asking you all along, this morning, about your thoughts on e-mail question: What is the most important election issue facing America? And this one is from Kevin.

He says, "As a grieving New York City resident I can't imagine, especially around each September 11th, there could be any more single important issue facing our country and therefore the election, than protecting the USA against terrorism."

NGUYEN: Joe, from Tampa, has a different feel on this one. He says, "Health care should be a major focus and the fact that you can buy the same medicines from Canada or overseas at a fraction of the cost of those in the states should be a crime. Fellow Americans cannot afford to be sick."

As always, we appreciate all of your responses here at CNN. Next week we'll have another question for you.

Hurricane Ivan continues to stir causing worry along the coast. We have an update on the storm. That is just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Donald Trump got a new group of job hunters to pick from this week on "The Apprentice." But we're wondering what have they gotten themselves into? We will ask the winner of last season's show, Bill Rancic. He joins us live from Chicago -- there he is -- where he's working for Donald Trump. That's straight ahead. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Good morning, Denver. You are looking at a live picture of the Mile High City where the Broncos are taking on the Kansas City Chiefs at 8:30 this evening. This is the first weekend of regular season play for the NFL.

Welcome back to CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Betty Nguyen. Here is a look at our headlines this morning.

After pounding Jamaica, Hurricane Ivan is expected to hit the Cayman Islands later today. Right now the eye of the storm is just south of Grand Cayman. Ivan is a powerful Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 155 m.p.h.

Time is running out for US Airways to avoid another bankruptcy. The airline and its pilots union say they are willing to resume talks over a package of cost-saving concessions but so far no new talks are planned.

At least 20 Iraqis have been killed in violence across Baghdad today. That includes a suicide car bomber who blew himself up outside Baghdad's Abu Ghraib Prison.

SPENCER: The anniversary of the 9/11 attacks meant something special for some New Jersey residents who lost loved ones in the World Trade Center attack. They had a chance to give back to a community that helped them through some very difficult times. CNN's Denise Belgrave reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DENISE BELGRADE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): They are called it simply, The Group. For three years they have come together at Trinity Church to grieve. Young widows, widowers, parents and friends of the 53 Hoboken residents killed at the World Trade Center on September 11. Sandy O'Conner, mother of then two-year-old Riana, lost her husband Keith that day.

SANDY O'CONNER, 9/11 WIDOW: It was like we lived in a nightmare and the rest of life was awake. And with that commonality, you can then begin to take your steps and lean on each other.

BELGRAVE: O'Conner says their grieving process was unlike any other.

O'CONNER: Particularly, as time went on it became harder, because as I would be trying to recover, then I would see footage on TV and brought back there.

BELGRADE: Reverend Robert Griner, a grief counselor, who has been with The Group since the beginning, explains their unique pain.

REV. ROBERT GRINER, GRIEF COUNSELOR: They became grief celebrities. At the same time there was like a real strong anger and revulsion about taking on that kind of identity. And so there was a desire to be with people like themselves, who got it.

BELGRAVE: After three years The Group was ready to give something back to a community that had nurtured them through their darkest days. They gave the church a bell. It would fill the empty tower that as far as anybody could remember had been empty.

GRINER: I saw this space. It seemed to be an emblem of the space that had been left in each member's heart from the loss of a loved one.

BELGRAVE: The bell tolled for the first time on September 11, in remembrance. Sandy O'Conner hopes one day soon she'll hear it again.

O'CONNER: You know what I really look forward to? Walking by some day, running errands or whatever, and hearing it ringing for somebody's wedding. I learned after immense sadness there can still be a smile again and laughter again.

BELGRAVE: Denise Belgrave, CNN, Hoboken, New Jersey.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SPENCER: Rays of light, rays of hope. In case you missed this last night, in New York City two powerful beams of light reached up to the sky in honor of those lost in the World Trade Center attacks. The light was seen for miles around and was inspired by the Twin Towers and projected from a lot near ground zero.

Stay with us. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Oh, yeah, we are talking about money today. Meet the new crop of combatants for a job inside Donald Trump's coveted empire. Season 2 of "The Apprentice" opened with solid ratings last week. Millions watched to see Trump utter the words that have now become his trademark.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP: You're fired.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Thirty-two-year-old Texas salesman Rob Flannigan (ph) was the first to let go by The Donald. Trump says Flannigan (ph) was just too laid back for his taste.

But my next guest is the only one from the first season to survive from firing fury. Bill Rancic won last year's "The Apprentice" and now has compiled some business lessons he has learned into a new book. In "You're Hired" Rancic tells us how anyone can become a personal success in business and in life. Rancic joins us from Chicago.

Good morning to you. BILL RANCIC, AUTHOR, "YOU'RE HIRED": Good morning. How are you?

NGUYEN: I'm doing well. How is The Donald treating you these days?

RANCIC: Knock on wood, he's treating me pretty well.

NGUYEN: So far, so good. You talk about these secrets to success in your new book. Give us some insight, do tell, what are some of these secrets?

RANCIC: A lot of it is really common sense and practical tips and practical experience. So many business books out there are filled with theory, business school jargon that most people don't understand what those words mean. So, I wanted to create a book that everyone could understand and they could relate to their lives.

NGUYEN: If there was one major tip, a key tip, what would that be?

RANCIC: The one major tip is that you can't be afraid to fail and you can't be afraid to make a mistake. So many people hold themselves back because they're afraid they will fail or afraid they will make a mistake. They never make any forward progress.

NGUYEN: You actually took a risk leaving your job or not spending as much time with it. You own a multimillion-dollar cigar online business. You left that to be on the show. That was a bit of a risk for you.

RANCIC: Right. I had left cigarsaroundtheworld.com. But I had left that a couple of years prior. It is now being run by Synergy Brands, which is publicly traded. And I was kind of a free agent at the time. I just started to get into real estate. I said this is an opportunity, what the heck, I'll go for it.

NGUYEN: What's next for you? Will you stay with The Donald for a while or go out on your own?

RANCIC: My goal is to learn as much as I can, and then hopefully be doing deals with Donald Trump rather than for him. I would like to have him back me in a real estate deal of my own when this is all over.

NGUYEN: A lot of people watching want to know some insight. What have you learned? What has been really surprising about Donald Trump?

RANCIC: You know what? He is -- it's remarkable how much he has really taken me under his wing. When I first won the show, I thought OK, I'll probably never see Donald Trump again, or at least very rarely will I see him. That's has not been the case at all.

He's really a guy who has a genuine interest in seeing me succeed. He's compassionate, he has fire in his belly. He cares about the people around him. To me that was surprising, because I don't think a lot of people see that side of him on the show. NGUYEN: That is surprising because people view him as a man who views just the bottom line, but he does have personality.

RANCIC: Without a doubt. And I'm very grateful for everything he is doing for me and teach me.

NGUYEN: In the book you talk about the secrets of success. Obviously, this television show has aided in your success. I want to know when do you find the time to write a book? Did you pen this yourself?

RANCIC: As you know I've been very busy. My days start at 5:00 in the morning and end at 10 or 11 o'clock at night. Not only am I working for The Donald building a 90-story high rise, which is just behind me here, but I'm also become the spokesman for the Advanta MasterCard, which is the number one provider of MasterCards to small business owners. And I penned a book.

So my days are very, very long. I work seven days a week. It's Sunday morning, here I am talking to you.

NGUYEN: All right. Any advice for those on the show trying to become the next apprentice? You've been there, you have risen to the success. What do you have to say to them?

RANCIC: I think they have to be agile. That's the key to success, is agility. If you look at the different tasks each week, you need to bring a different perspective and different management style to each task. That's where a lot of people got into trouble last season. They went with the textbook mentality and stuck with it from week to week.

That does not work in the real world. In the real world things come at you, you have to make changes. That will get someone to the finish line here.

NGUYEN: Bill Rancic, a real-world man, thank you for that insight today.

RANCIC: Thank you.

NGUYEN: Collins?

SPENCER: All right. A nice guy, too.

Well, Rob Marciano is here with an update on powerhouse in the Caribbean and the weekend forecast for the rest of the nation when we return.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER FORECAST)

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