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CNN Sunday Morning
Deadly Southern Tornadoes; National Day of Prayer
Aired April 25, 2010 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: From CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It's 8:00 a.m. here where we sit in Atlanta; 7:00 a.m. in Yazoo City, Mississippi. Wherever you may be, glad you're here. I'm T.J. Holmes.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. I'm Brooke Baldwin.
Yazoo City, one of the areas hardest hit by this fatal tornado. Take a look at this. Damaged from really more than one -- a deadly line of tornadoes ripping across several southern states, flattening homes and leveling roofs, leaving dozens of people injured.
HOLMES: And people in Mississippi are hurting right now; Louisiana and Alabama as well, dealing with a lot of destruction. And people are talking about just how rough of a night it was.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I started to see it was spinning. And you could see the debris started spinning around in a circle. I started to hear trees snap and telephone posts snap and --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Ten people dead, among them three children. Rescue crews now searching for possibly more victims and there's a possibility that the death toll could go up this hour. We'll look at the hardest hit areas, including Yazoo City. And Reynolds Wolf is here with the latest on the forecast coming up. It could be some more tough weather.
But some of the headlines we're keeping an eye on right now.
President Obama is going to deliver the eulogy today for the 29 who died in that mine explosion earlier this month in West Virginia. The president and vice president will be there. And they will join the state's governor and first lady at a public service at 3:30 Eastern this afternoon.
BALDWIN: Well, you remember that massive oil rig explosion up the coast of Louisiana. Now, we're hearing that oil may be leaking into the water there. Remember, this is just off in the Gulf of Mexico.
We are hearing 1,000 barrels a day leaking. That's about 42,000 gals. A rig exploded last Tuesday night. The leak is 5,000 feet below the surface. The search for the 11 missing rig workers was suspended Friday and this location, about 50 miles southeast of Venice, Louisiana.
HOLMES: And some potentially embarrassing e-mails have surfaced from Wall Street investment giant, Goldman Sachs. A U.S. Senate committee released the emails which show Goldman executives bragging about making huge sums of money during the global economic downturn. One e-mail, Goldman's CEO touted the company's profit from betting against the U.S. market. Those bets, called shorts, are at the heart of the government lawsuit against Goldman Sachs.
BALDWIN: All right. Let's take it back to the deadly storm system that swept across both Mississippi and Alabama.
Here is what we know: at least 10 people in two Mississippi counties are confirmed dead to one of the most powerful tornadoes to ever hit this region. Now, the tornadoes winds equaling those from a major hurricane -- we are talking 165-200 miles an hour.
You see the damage. Guess what? It's reported in at least 17 counties in Mississippi. Governor is declaring a state of emergency in 17 counties. A tornado leveled homes in northern Alabama, a northern Alabama county.
More pictures coming in this morning from more of this damage here. Let me tell you that while homeowners are taking some time now that the sun is up surveying the damage in Yazoo City, Mississippi -- rescuers, this morning, they talk about being in response mode. They are combing through the debris for possibly more victims. The fear is that the death toll could rise.
Governor Haley Barbour grew up in Yazoo City and was there when the tornado touched down. And he described the scene as utter obliteration.
Among the structures destroyed here, this is Hillcrest Baptist Church. Members of this congregation are said to be already planning to rebuild. And take a look now, damage from a tornado -- this one, another state, we're talking about northern Alabama, a mobile home. Several homes were just totally leveled.
HOLMES: And you heard a lot so far this morning and we'll hear more about Yazoo City. That's the place that was hit -- appears at least was hit the hardest and several deaths in that area as well.
Our Ed Lavandera is on the ground there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: T.J., the cleanup efforts will continue today in Yazoo City and across much of Mississippi that was hit hard by this massive tornado. The stories of survival are absolutely amazing. To get to the damage, we had to hitch a ride on a four-wheeler.
I get the sense from you guys were describing that you right in the middle of it. It was on top of you literally.
ROB SAXTON, TORNADO SURVIVOR: It was. There was glass, debris flying. When I got out of the car thinking she was going to get out behind me. I looked back.
And she wouldn't even get out of the car. She was so scared. And I was standing up against the building and debris was just flying by me and it was hitting my legs and glass was flying. I said, "Debris could kill me." I dove back in the car and told her, "Come on, we got to go, we got to go."
LAVANDERA: Ashley, what was it like for you?
ASHLEY SAXTON, TORNADO SURVIVOR: It was -- it was terrifying. I mean, it scared me to death. I've never been in anything like this before in my life.
LAVANDERA: The road that brings you in the hardest hit part of Yazoo City which is called Old Highway 16 is mostly impassable. Hundreds of these trees snapped along the way, and in the last few hours, they've been able to clear the roadway to a pretty decent extent. But we had to find a couple of guys here who were kind enough to bring us in on four-wheelers to navigate through most of this area and try to see the extent of the damage and to talk to people who survived this.
TONY DAVIS, TORNADO SURVIVOR: We have been here 15 years. My wife and I have been in the house for five years. Believe it or not, it was pretty at one time.
And me and my wife and my daughter was out in the front yard and we set out there and the weather kept getting bad. And I thought I heard something back over here and my wife heard something coming out of the southwest. It sounded like a freight train whistle.
My wife and my daughter and I were down here and we were just balled up and you could be in the house up off the ground, you could just -- the wind was like it was trying to suck you out from under the house.
LAVANDERA: This blue truck you see right here along the road, we're told, was driven by a man whose name is Ricky Shivers (ph). That he was in that car when it flipped and rolled three times. He was able to get out of the car but we understand right now, he's one of the injured in the hospital.
Hundreds of homes damaged by this tornado. Hundreds more left homeless by it as well. Search and rescue effort will continue on this Sunday, making sure that in the rubble, there are no other bodies found and/or survivors. That will continue today as well.
But everywhere you look and people that you talk to, there is that stunned look on their faces as they realize that for many of the survivors, they are lucky to be alive -- T.J.
(END VIDEOTAPE) HOLMES: All right. Thanks to our Ed Lavandera.
Again, the search will continue today. Still the possibility of people stuck under some debris. And, hopefully, they will find some people alive. But still some fear that might -- maybe the death toll will go up.
We're going to get to the phone now. A spokesman for the governor, Governor Barbour, Dan Turner is on the line with us.
Dan, we appreciate you hopping on. Tell us -- if you can -- the update. We knew that -- or got the word that 10 people are dead in your state. Does that number still stand? And, also -- or do you have updated numbers about how many people may be injured there in your state?
DAN TURNER, GOVERNOR HALEY BARBOUR'S SPOKESMAN (via telephone): That number on the death toll has not been confirmed. From what we understand, one of the deaths that was reported yesterday, turns out it was not the case. We generally wait on word from the coroner before we report any confirmed deaths.
But we, you know, there are fatalities. There is a massive amount of damage. If you can imagine a lawnmower three-quarters of a mile wide, that's pretty much what looks like it came over the terrain here.
HOLMES: Sir, do you have, and, again, on the numbers as well, it's certainly hard to get them together. Still, at this early hour, so many hours -- just a few hours after this tornado hit, do you have confirmed reports that there are several people right now unaccounted for?
TURNER: We're still in search and rescue mode right now. We will begin damage assessment probably Monday. But we still have crews out combing through some of the side roads and into the areas deeper into the woods and forest here for some of the homes that are off the beaten trail.
But, so far, it looks like most people have been accounted for, but we're just trying to double-check and make sure that there is nobody out there that we weren't aware of.
HOLMES: Sir, give us an idea of just how concentrated the damage is there in Yazoo City and Yazoo County? If you look at a map, certainly, some of the 17 counties that you all declared disaster areas, there is a cluster there around Yazoo County, kind of that northern, central part of the state. There are a few clusters of counties in the south as well. But just how concentrated -- give us an idea -- is the damage right there in Yazoo City?
TURNER: In Yazoo City -- Yazoo County is the largest county area-wise in the state. And the tornado cut a path from one end of the county all the way across the other, one continuous path. Whether it was one or more tornadoes, we still haven't determined. But it goes from there all the way almost like a line across the state. I know in just a little bit, the governor and I and some other people will be getting into a helicopter and going and surveying the damage in Choctaw County. And we're still putting this thing together.
HOLMES: All right. Last thing, sir, and we know that you called the National Guard out to help in some of the communities. But will you be asking for federal assistance, federal dollars, I believe, maybe that request coming tomorrow?
TURNER: That depends on the amount of damage. Once we get a damage assessment -- and there is a very specific criteria that we have to follow before we would even qualify for federal help. It's kind of one of those things where you almost hope you don't qualify. You hope the damage is not that bad. From the looks of it, it may easily qualify.
HOLMES: All right. Dan Turner, again, spokesman for the governor, Governor Barbour, so we appreciate you taking the time out. I know it's a busy morning. It's going to be a busy time for you, guys, over the next days and weeks and beyond.
But, sir, we appreciate you taking the time. We'll continue to check in with you. Thank you so much.
BALDWIN: That was one of the best analogies hearing him reference this tornado as a mile and a half wide lawnmower. Just to give us some perspective
And, really, as the sun is starting to rise on the gulf coast, emergency officials in both Mississippi and Alabama should be getting -- now getting better idea of really the size, the scope of all the damage.
Reynolds Wolf, I know you've been keeping your eye on where the damage is, all the way, as far north as what, St. Louis?
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Absolutely.
BALDWIN: And people in Mississippi and areas around want to hear you say that this is over.
WOLF: Well, it is going to be over today because the frontal boundary that where you saw a lot of these storms spawned has actually pushed much farther to the east. As it does so, it is losing momentum, which certainly some great news. So, a much better weather day today.
But, yesterday, it was a horrible situation.
And one thing, Brooke, that we like to tell our viewers, is that one of the issues you have in a place like Yazoo City is that the water table tends to be very high. What I mean by that is that you don't have to dig down deep to run into very moist earth. So, the safest place to be -- follow me here, folks -- the safest place to be during times of a strong, say, tornado is underground. Well, many people in this part of the world don't have basements. They don't have storm cellars. So, it's really hard for them to find shelter.
So, when a storm of this magnitude to come right on through, you heard the gentlemen just moments ago on the phone described it like being a giant lawnmower ripping through the landscape. That is precisely what it's like and you see the results right there, this video from Yazoo City.
The water mains, you see broken in a few spots. Power, you better believe it's out in a lot of spots. Not just in Mississippi, but as Brooke mentioned, in Missouri, across parts of Alabama. It's going to be a huge mess.
Let's take you back in time. You notice right up here, you see this nextrad, you see Saturday. Forget that. Notice that number right there, 10:30, that's the time yesterday. This is a snapshot of what we had in the atmosphere or at least according to radar.
I want you to watch this one cell right near the Mississippi River. That super cell began to drift right to the city and went right past it right at 1:50 and then zipped its way to the northeast. It went by very quickly but it caused all kinds of damage. Again, we believe that it was anywhere from, say, an EF3 or four.
Well, what in the heck does that mean? Well, it means, that is kind of a standard of damages scale that we have that has been set up. And you'll notice all assess by the damage and the type of damage you get from the winds.
And I'm going to step out of the way so you can get a good look at this. The scale goes from an EF, which is still pretty strong, wind speeds of 85 miles an hour. That's already, say, the equivalent of a category 1 hurricane, all the way to, say, EF-3 and four, 165-200 miles an hour, this is how strong they believe that tornado was that moved through Yazoo City.
But keep in, there have been tornadoes, these are the strongest in the planet, stronger than hurricanes. One is actually measured with wind speeds of 318 miles per hour. So, yes, this is just unbelievable, the power of these things.
Now, better news today. Very quickly, let me show what we're looking on today. We do see this system begin to die out. The very line of that storm is now moving along parts of Georgia into the Carolinas. Still, some strong thunderstorms but, at this time, we don't have any tornado warnings. Certainly, some great news.
It looks like it should be a better day as this frontal boundary moves to the east, drier air moving back over parts of the central plains. And in places like Yazoo City, they can expect sunshine today as they clean up all the storm damage. It should be something they're going to be working on for quite some time.
Back to you, guys. BALDWIN: Unreal, Reynolds. Thank you.
WOLF: You bet, guys.
HOLMES: Well, this tornado destroyed a lot of homes, businesses. It also destroyed and, unfortunately, we, for some reason, seem to see this oftentimes when a tornado hits -- a church gets hit. And once again, we're seeing a congregation come together and making the best of a really bad situation.
BALDWIN: Also, more pictures you're sending us, amazing pictures as to what it's like to be inside a tornado when it hits. We will bring you those compelling images after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Well, with all the damage and devastation caused by this fatal tornado that touched in Mississippi, you may be wondering why one guy is giving thanks in Yazoo City. Why? Well, his congregation has been spared. This morning, the congregation of the Hillcrest Baptist Church is already making plans to rebuild.
Now, you see the damage. Yesterday's powerful storm just completely took out that sanctuary there, but not their hope. Hillcrest has survived an arson in the past, now, a tornado. One man says God saved his life again.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DALE THRASHER, SURVIVOR: I went in the sanctuary and got on the pulpit table and the whole building fell around me -- and three little scratches. The Lord blessed. He put me under that table. (INAUDIBLE) right here, it's a kitchen, and I started to go in there and the Lord directed me in that sanctuary.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Just some scratches. Amazingly, no one was hurt when the twister hit that church.
HOLMES: Well, we do have some pictures we've been seeing there, but also, some of the best we are getting are from our iReporters who actually on there -- on the ground there. Some have survived and went through this tornado.
BALDWIN: Yes, Josh Levs, we've been bringing these amazing images all morning. What do you have now?
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I have been going through every which way. All the different pictures that we're getting and the ones that are getting a lot of traffic online as well. I'm going to show some iReports.
But, first, I have some photos that we're going to show you -- a couple from "A.P.," including one of Hillcrest I want you to see.
We're going to start off with this one though. This is interesting. This is out of Tennessee.
And what we're seeing there is a fire that was started, officials believe, by lightning from the storm. They are still working -- looking into it. But this is in east Montgomery. Volunteer firefighters are taking a look there.
Next one is an interesting shot. Grandfather escaping a bedroom where there was damage to a bedroom of a home in Satartia, Mississippi. A woman convinced her 80-year-old grandfather to leave just in time and he got out.
Now, we have a new shot that's coming to us from Hillcrest. Take a look at this picture. I'm going to be showing you some of the damage.
Look at that. Just stop and look at what we were just talking about. That's the church there. Hillcrest Baptist Church. Unbelievable, when you step back that far and we see what happened there.
Two more shots I want you to see. This is a puppy survivor, here, a puppy perking up after surviving a tornado that leveled a home in Franklin, Mississippi. Y'all couldn't hear but (INAUDIBLE).
I mean, the thing is, you got to love moments like this. And fortunately, there are survival stories and, you know, we are always happy to hear any survival stories in a situation like this.
Finally, this is interesting. You see this dead-end sign, "watch for children" sign. Homes along Sea Island Drive, north shore of Eagle Lake in Warren County, that's north of Vicksburg, Mississippi. And you could see behind it, what's happened to the street that is generally a residential road.
Now, we've gotten a couple of iReports as well. Take a look at this video here. We've been looking at this this morning. This comes to us from one of our iReporters who's in Olive Branch, Mississippi, Cameron Scott.
And we'll listen in for a second. You can hear the wind. You can hear the pounding rain. This is the storm as it was coming through that area. Listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm glad I listened to my wife and didn't go out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: So, what you're hearing there is this continuous sound of that pounding rain. He stood inside his garage where he was safe. We always do this with iReports. Just camped out in that garage and was able to get this video of the storm as it was coming through. Ultimately, his street was fine and he made it through and so did everyone else there. But that's just a sampling of what we're getting at iReport.com. And we know from experience, after storm, a lot of you waking up today and sending in your pictures, your videos, your stories right now.
So, keep them coming at iReport.com or we're talking to you at Facebook and Twitter, JoshLevsCNN. We got a lot of tweet pics coming as well.
We will be following this all day long, sharing them. And, obviously, you all out there are helping us tell the story of what Mississippi's governor is calling "utter obliteration" in some areas.
So, Brooke and T.J., tough to see, but that's the story this morning.
BALDWIN: Yes. Josh, thank you.
LEVS: Thanks, guys.
BALDWIN: We're not going too far from this story, but we want to get a quick check of some other stories we're watching for you.
First, the search for survivors of that earthquake in western China, it's now officially over. The focus, they say, now, rebuilding the 15,000 homes destroyed, including 87 Tibetan monasteries. Tibetans have accused Beijing of not doing enough in the immediate aftermath of that magnitude 6.9 quake. By the way, the death toll now at 2,200.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. RAUL GRIJALVA (D), ARIZONA: This is a (INAUDIBLE) national embarrassment for this country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: A rally in Arizona this weekend against what's being called the toughest illegal immigration law in the country. The governor, Jan Brewer, signed that bill into law on Friday. Critics say a section of that bill could lead to racial profiling. Brewer says that section mirrors the laws of the federal government.
BALDWIN: Thousands of people will be gathering on the beautiful National Mall in Washington, D.C. today to rally for climate change. Film director, James Cameron, and the Reverend Jesse Jackson will be among those there, including Sting and John Legend. Also other big names scheduled to perform.
And they will have plenty to rally for. Why? Last night, Congress postponed indefinitely the release of a new climate bill.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: All right. Let's take a look ahead at the top of the hour and see what the lovely Candy Crowley has on today's "STATE OF THE UNION." HOLMES: That's why I'm smiling. I always get giddy when it's time to talk to Candy Crowley in the morning.
BALDWIN: Hi, Candy. Good morning.
HOLMES: Good morning, Candy.
CANDY CROWLEY, HOST, "STATE OF THE UNION": You know, you all are a reason to get up at 3:00 a.m. in the morning.
HOLMES: Oh, stop. Seriously. Well, D.C., the president has plenty on his plate, just got health care, we talk financial reform, a Supreme Court pick, and all of a sudden, now, immigration is back to being a hot topic.
CROWLEY: Yes, that's the sound of a political year that you hear, simply because the Republicans are now looking at a changeup from the Senate Democrats saying -- believing that Democrats have decided to bring immigration reform up on the agenda in place of climate change. It's a way to play to their base, the Hispanic- American voters and it's a way to kind of jam up Republicans who are kind of split on how to approach the idea of illegal immigrants and what to do.
So, it is -- it is not just a policy fight. And we've seen the policy fight play out over years and years and years. It's, also, in a political year, as always, a political fight.
BALDWIN: And what about, Candy, we were just talking about -- it sounds like a pretty cool concert on the National Mall. And they have reason to talk and gather, I guess, because Congress, what, they're postponing this climate bill?
CROWLEY: Well, yes. And it's now -- I will tell you that Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, who is the majority leader and sets the agenda, shot back to Republicans when they complained about the changeover in priorities and said, we can do both. We can do climate change and we can do immigration reform.
I don't know too many people that think that's actually possible. It may be. But this is -- I mean, for every day that goes by, the closer we are to the elections, the harder it is to get something done. And these are two huge bills. And it's difficult to see how Congress, meaning the Senate and the House, could get both done between now and November.
But -- so I can tell you that there are, in addition, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who has been working on climate change with Democrats and independents, is disappointed. So are those who had been pushing very hard for this bill.
HOLMES: All right. We're going to let you go here, but I want to make sure I have your guest rundown, right? You got Senators Menendez and Saxby Chambliss. Also an interview with Governor Granholm, who some would think is the next Supreme Court justice, if some would have their way. But I'm sure you all talked about that as well.
CROWLEY: We did. You got it exactly right. Thanks.
HOLMES: All right. Candy, like we say, we're always the warm-up act here for Candy Crowley and "STATE OF THE UNION" which starts in about 32 minutes, 9:00 Eastern Time, 6:00 a.m. Pacific, right here on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: And everybody and welcome back to the CNN SUNDAY MORNING, I'm T.J. Holmes.
BALDWIN: And I'm Brooke Baldwin. Good Sunday morning to you.
HOLMES: And a quick look now at that deadly storm system that swept across the southeast yesterday in particular in Mississippi and Alabama hit hard. Right now, we believe at least nine people killed in this -- in a couple of Mississippi counties their confirmed dead now from one of the most powerful tornadoes to ever hit that region.
A spokesman for the governor told us minutes ago that one person that had been reported dead yesterday actually did survive the tornado. Tornado's winds equaling, those from a major hurricane, so anywhere between 165-200 miles an hour. Damage reported in at least 17 counties in Mississippi. The tornado also leveled homes in one northern Alabama County.
BALDWIN: Speaking of Alabama, for a better idea on the situation on the ground there in the northern part of the state, we want to check in with Robert Reeves. He is good enough to be with us this morning with our affiliate, WHNT. And he's joining me from Geraldine.
And Robert, good morning to you. I am sure that tiny town has seen better days. Do me a favor and just walk around and show me what you see there and how bad the damage is.
ROBERT REEVES, REPORTER, WHNT: Well, let me show you something right off the top, Brooke.
BALDWIN: Sure.
REEVES: Take a look. I am standing in front of an oak free or what used to be an oak tree. And I'm going to reach up and I still can't reach the top of the -- this is the roots of this oak tree --
BALDWIN: Wow.
REEVES: -- which was taken down by that wind. Now, just bear with me. And I'm going to stomp through this ditch rather we usually go across. And we'll do a little walking for you.
Back down this way, just about 400 yards is Geraldine High School. Now, you can only see the top of it. The power lines are down in that area. We can't even go back there. But we have been told by the superintendent that a lot of trees are down around there. The school, itself, didn't get much damage. That's good news. But there's a lot of damage all around that. The big problem is the power lines.
BALDWIN: Sure.
REEVES: So there's no power in this area whatsoever. Across the street from us, there is damage to the trees. In fact, everywhere in this part of Geraldine, which is a small community, we're on County Road 227. There are damaged houses, sheds, obviously, you can see the trees and things, churches.
This tornado moved through here and it traveled in a northeasterly section. It went up to Pine Ridge, which is also in Dekalb County.
BALDWIN: Sure.
REEVES: And I know you've heard of Fort Payne, the home of Group Alabama, well, just above that is Pine Ridge. And they got hit pretty hard as well, a lot of trees down and power down over there as well -- Brooke.
BALDWIN: All right, well, Robert Reeves, I know you have been working in that market for 30 years and I have a feeling that's one of the worst tornadoes you ever saw. Robert, thank you -- thank you for that demonstration.
REEVES: You're welcome. Thank you.
HOLMES: And our Richard Lui isn't far from where that guy is there in Northern Alabama, our Richard Lui on the line for us. Richard, I know you drove over to the area. So just give us an idea of what you were able to see on the way and what you are seeing now where you are?
RICHARD LUI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Well, T.J., at this moment, it's a great, very calm morning, as is typical after a storm like this. And what we're seeing at right now is damage that in some cases completely eviscerated stone, concrete places and foundations gone. In other cases we see homes that are standing in the middle completely fine.
But what is very consistent across what I'm seeing here is that trees and vegetation down. Some second floors of some of the homes completely gone. What many of the residents are telling me at this moment, since I have been talking to them for the last half an hour, is that they got the warning around 10:30. They were able to get down into their basements. They've heard a wind come from the east, go west.
And at the moment right now, they're just getting up. It's a sunny morning. We are taking a look at the damage right now. And for the most part, what they are concerned about, as we were just hearing from the last report, is concern about electricity, and number two, they've also got the issue of the sewage plant which is right down the way here from the high school where we are at, which they are concerned about in terms of how long the power can sustain the sewage system there.
HOLMES: All right, Richard Lui, who again hit the road in the middle of the night, made it over to Alabama. We are going to be seeing his report more throughout the day. Richard, we appreciate you and so will be checking in with you again.
BALDWIN: We have been showing you destructions from both Alabama and Mississippi. But that's not all. Those aren't the only places that got slammed by storms. Take a look at this.
This is suburban, Atlanta, you see the tree, yes right smack dab in the middle of that roof there. Fortunately, two children who were upstairs at the time are just fine.
Also, St. Louis, take a look. You know the area; we're talking about Webster Grove. They got a thrashing as well from the storm there. The town's fire department reports a bunch of downed trees and lightning is suspected of igniting a house fire.
Reynolds Wolf has more on the story here. The severe weather to much of the southeast and Reynolds, we don't often see damage quite like this?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, I mean, you know, well, a lot of times, you are right. When we think about tornadoes, many people have that concept, that idea that it's going to happen in a place like, say, well, Oklahoma, maybe Texas, somewhere in the central plains where you can just see forever and the horizon just stretches off all the way off to -- up to the blue.
In Alabama, you know, you don't think that they're going to have a lot of tornadoes there. But Alabama is no stranger to tornadoes. In fact 16 years ago, back on Palm Sunday of 1994, there is a tornado outbreak in northeast Alabama.
Moments ago we were speaking with Richard Lui. He's one of our CNN correspondent, who is actually traveling near (INAUDIBLE) Alabama. That's not far from Guntersville where back in '94 there were 103 homes that were damaged by several tornadoes that are moving to that area.
There was also 22 people that are killed, in Goshian (ph) United Methodist Church near Piedmont, Alabama; 22 children, including six children, one of them was the pastor's daughter. So again, there is -- unfortunately a dark history in terms of tornadoes in the southeast.
One thing that is good though is that things are going to get better for today. In fact, if you look behind me, you can see, well, defined and kind of hard to miss that line of storms. This was a storm system that was well over 1,000 miles long. And it's still a big storm system but it has weakened considerably and it's not going to the same (INAUDIBLE) that we had just over the last couple of days in terms of the unstable atmosphere, the jet stream kicking in.
What we have is that you have frontal boundary. You'll lose a few of the watches that are getting smaller and smaller and as the atmosphere gets a little bit easier to deal with the lack of daytime heating, we're going to see some of these scattered showers continue to drive their way to the coast within. The opportunity for these things to really build more strength, possibly rotate, become super cells, just give us a chance of tornado, it's not going to happen.
So that's certainly some great news.
And farther back to the west in places like Alabama and of course back in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi. They'll be able to clean up today.
Very quickly, what we're going to be seeing for the rest of your forecast, again, rain moving over the coast, farther back out to the Central Plains and certainly out to the west, a better conditions in the high Rockies possibly some snowfall. West Coast, picture perfect conditions for you with high temperatures warming up, in the '60s and '70s, it's 61 in Salt Lake City, 57 in Chicago, 81 in Atlanta and 83 in Tampa.
That is the look at your forecast, great weather for some, bad for others. Oh, what a rough time certainly in parts of the southeast. Let's wrap it up and send it back to you guys.
BALDWIN: Reynolds, thank you. Yes, you don't often think of Alabama, do you?
WOLF: No, not yet.
BALDWIN: All right, well a major event that is set to take place in just days is now under intense criticism this morning. One judge calling the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional. So what's the President saying about this? We are digging deeper in this morning's "Faces of Faith". Stay here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right, there's a major controversy going on right now about a National Day of Prayer, which is supposed to come up early next month. But now, a judge in Wisconsin has actually struck the law down that establishes the National Day of Prayer.
The President getting involved as well. He actually sent out a tweet on this particular topic. I think we have it up on our screen. Though, we can't put it up and show it you. Guys, could we get that up?
But the president is essentially saying that even though the law was struck down, he is still going to recognize it. And he certainly wants to appeal what this judge is doing by striking down this law.
Now, I want to bring in two people to talk about this topic. Representative Randy Forbes in Virginia Beach; he is certainly in favor of this National Day of Prayer. He wants to see it continue. And also, Annie Gaylor, is president of The Freedom from Religion Foundation in Madison, Wisconsin.
To both of you, thank you so much for being here. It's something that a lot of people are interested in and fascinated by so thank you both for being here.
Representative, I want to start with you. By the simple fact, should the government be encouraging people to pray?
REP. RANDY FORBES (R), VIRGINIA: Well, let me tell you how absurd this ruling was. I have been watching your stories today and focused on Mississippi because my son, my granddaughter and my daughter-in-law live in Mississippi. And you're focused on a church there and the fact about trying to give the people there hope.
Imagine how foolish it would be if Governor Barbour came out today or the Mississippi state legislature and simply asked people to be encouraged and to think about and consider praying for the people of Mississippi and some judge came in and declared what they did to be unconstitutional.
HOLMES: Well, well, sir --
FORBES: And that's essentially what's happened.
HOLMES: Well, certainly and Miss Gaylor, I'll get you in here in a second but Representative it's one thing for a governor to step out and encourage people to do something. It's another thing to establish a federal law encouraging to do it. You see the difference?
FORBES: No, because they are both actions from the legislature. And in fact, 135 proclamations of prayer have been given across the United States. This judge essentially came down and said that it didn't matter what the people who wrote the Constitution said or did, it did matter what Congresses have done since the time Constitutions were in effect. It didn't matter that 50 state legislatures had passed similar proclamations. It didn't matter that virtually every president has done it. It was her interpretation that she thought should prevail.
HOLMES: All right and I'm going to get you to stand by for one second.
Deirdre, what I want to do is go to a quick commercial break. I'm going to continue this conversation on the other side. Having a technical issue and I'm not able to hear so well over here.
So we will continue this conversation. A quick break; we will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: We want to return now to our debate we were just having with Annie Gaylor, the president of Freedom from Religion Foundation in Massa, Wisconsin; also Representative Randy Forbes about this issue of a judge now striking down the federal law that establishes the National Day of Prayer.
And Miss Gaylor, I want to give you a chance to respond to some of the things -- I know you are itching to get in there -- but some of the things the Representative was saying about how frankly absurd this is to try to keep the federal government and a member of the government from encouraging people to say a prayer.
ANNIE LAURIE GAYLOR, FREEDOM FROM RELIGION FOUNDATION: Well, I would like to correct the record. Many people came to this nation. We founded this nation in part by people who wanted to get away from religious tyranny in government, from their government telling them what religious ritual they had to engage in and what church they had to go to, who they had the ties to.
It is a fundamental principle that we have freedom of conscience in this country. That has been deeply abrogated by Congress in passing a National Day of Prayer ordering the President to issue a proclamation which enjoins all Americans to set aside an entire to pray, to gather together in groups and churches to pray.
What about those of us who are not religious? It is totally against freedom of conscience. We are interposing a National Day of Prayer for Clergy, we're calling. It is unconstitutional for the President and for Congress to set aside a day for prayer.
HOLMES: Well, on that point, the law specifically says that people may turn to God in prayer and meditation -- and it said -- at churches, in groups and as individuals. It doesn't necessarily say, "Hey people, everybody, you have to pray to God. You have to go to church." So it is a little vague. Is there a little wiggle room -- if you will -- in that law?
GAYLOR: Not really, because it is a mandated, National Day of Prayer. Every single president has issued a proclamation urging all Americans to pray. And in fact every proclamation has told us what to pray about, which I think shows a lot of temerity.
There are many people who are religious who understand that it is beyond the purview of government to tell them to pray or what to pray about. And --
HOLMES: Well, Representative -- I'm sorry there, forgive me for interjecting here -- but Representative, do you agree to some degree there? But the law mandates that the President shall designate a day of prayer but he doesn't have to designate that you have to pray. It isn't necessarily -- would you agree, Representative that it's making everybody pray.
REP. RANDY FORBES (R), VIRGINIA: That is exactly right. In fact, if you look, Miss Gaylor has even tried to stop the Pledge of Allegiance from the flag from being in the National Visitor's Center because it contained the word "God". She thought that was offensive.
One of the things you're absolutely correct on is this is something that says "may". And the founders of the constitution and founders of our country realized that the first amendment was never designed to be a break or restrictor on ideas going into the marketplace of ideas but rather a throttle.
We believe truly that the marketplace of ideas truthfully went out. But what Mrs. Gaylor wants to do is put a no-trespassing sign when it comes to faith and religion and keep those ideas out. We just think that is wrong.
HOLMES: Well, Miss Gaylor, I'll let you let you respond there. It's a direct accusation that what you want to do is keep a no- trespassing sign is kind of the way he said it. I will let you respond.
GAYLOR: Governments should not be in the business of religion. That is supposed to be up to individuals and churches. What the judge said was that if you can have a National Day of Prayer, you could also have a national day where you could set aside a month to fast for Ramadan or you could tell citizens that they have to go to an Indian sweat lodge or they have engage in Indian magic.
This is beyond the scope of government. It is an intrusion into individual conscience and everyone should object to it. Everyone can pray privately or have private prayer days but the government should not be calling one.
We are a theocracy. We were predicated on a separation between religion and government. And that has what made sure that we all have religious liberty.
HOLMES: Well, Miss Gaylor, is there an issue as well? I know it's not the law but the President had a dinner recognizing Ramadan. He's had a couple of Seders at the White House as well. And I know those don't go as far as establishing federal law but are you as uncomfortable with the President making those moves as well, still establishing and also recognizing certain religions?
GAYLOR: The difference is that the National Day of Prayer law is calling upon citizens to take action. It is setting aside an entire day and telling citizens that you are to observe a National Day of Prayer and every proclamation has said that all Americans are to unite in prayer. That's the difference.
HOLMES: Well, Representative, on that issue at least -- and again -- I know on the law for people not that familiar with it, it does say "may turn to God in prayer". It doesn't require people to pray.
But Representative, at the same time, this is a law that serves as some religious or constitutional scholars would say serves no other purpose but to encourage people to engage in a religious exercise. That's it. And that is something that a judge who issued this ruling said as well.
So, should the government be in the business of doing that? There's no other purpose of this law but to encourage people to engage in a religious exercise.
FORBES: Well, first of all, that's what the judge says. But I think one of the things that is very important to recognize is that when you have a day like this, it also encourages people to go back to the Declaration of Independence to appreciate our rights. Remember, in the Declaration of Independence, we are told our rights came from the creator, from God. If you look at the interpretation of this judge, he would declare that document to be unconstitutional were it written today.
The other thing I would just suggest --
GAYLOR: That's ridiculous.
FORBES: -- if you go to Miss Gaylor's -- if you go on her Web site, she says specifically that one of their purposes is to educate people in the non-existence of God. She has the right to do that and compete in the marketplace of ideas. She just shouldn't exclude people of faith and religion from also competing in that marketplace of ideas.
(CROSSTALK)
FORBES: She has just lost her argument.
HOLMES: Miss Gaylor, I have to go but again you have the right to respond to what he just said.
GAYLOR: Well, many, many Americans, 15 percent of Americans are nonreligious. And we are Americans too. We are made political outsiders when this law is passed telling us we have to observe a National Day of Prayer.
Just keep religion and government separate. Religion and prayer flourishes in our country. There is no country where we have greater religious liberty. But we are very concerned about the religious encroachment in our laws and government. And that's where we want the separation.
HOLMES: Well, Representative Forbes and Annie Gaylor, I appreciate you both being here --
FORBES: Thank you for having me.
HOLMES: It certainly something that happens so much in our community, religious and nonreligious. But thank you both for being here and for the debate. You all enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Quick break here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING. We are right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Welcome back to CNN SUNDAY.
I'm Reynolds Wolf. And this is a look at your weather forecast.
I want to show you what's going on out here. You'll notice right behind and you see something that's getting a little bit smaller. What I'm referring to is this right here. That is your tornado watch, the last one that is in effect here in the U.S. but there's certainly some good news after the rough weekend we've had weather-wise. We deserve a little bit of a break.
Thankfully, the scattered showers that are going to be raining along much of the coast can be very welcome. They could certainly use the rain in this part of the world. And then right behind it, they could certainly use a break in parts of Alabama, in Mississippi and Louisiana, even in parts of Missouri where they have had some storm damage.
Now what we're going to be seeing today is that frontal boundary continuing to mark its way along the coast as it does. So what it is going to bring is some scattered showers. But behind it, much dryer and more stable air: like 76 degrees, the expected high in Memphis; 79 in Dallas; 61 in Salt Lake City; 58 in Denver.
But even though it is going to be around 58 degrees in Denver, farther back out into parts of the central Rockies, the highest elevation, you are going to be seeing something different. You're going to be seeing some snowfall, possibly heavy when you get up in the northern Rockies. Just moderate snow showers in the central Rockies, out by Steamboat.
Still, very dry for you in the Great Basin. Same deal in Texas, had some heavy rain in parts of Texas, even some tornadoes late Friday night. But today, no such luck for you; pretty nice day for you in Austin, southward into places like San Antonio and then into Houston.
Again heavy rain along much of the Eastern Seaboard. Florida is going to be kind of a half and half proposition for you. You can make it dry and safe along 95, when you get to drive started this morning in Jacksonville maybe near (INAUDIBLE), you are going to have some rain showers but when you head farther south into Miami, drier conditions for you all the way down to Key West.
So pretty nice day for you all things considered.
But for much of the Great Lakes, Chicago and then back in Detroit, you can expect those scattered showers.
Folks, that's a quick snapshot of what's going on around the nation. For more, stay tuned.
You are watching CNN SUNDAY.
See you in a few.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: All right.
HOLMES: All right. This is it.
BALDWIN: This is it.
HOLMES: This is where we say good-bye. We want to thank you as always for coming to play with us in the weekend.
BALDWIN: Thanks for having me.
HOLMES: So you're the only one to actually come back.
BALDWIN: Am I nuts?
HOLMES: Yes, I think maybe.
BALDWIN: No. Thank you.
HOLMES: Always good to have you here. So thank you very much.
BALDWIN: Thank you.
HOLMES: We are going to hand this thing over to "STATE OF THE UNION" and Candy Crowley, coming up in just about one minute.
But of course, we want to give you a check of some of the stories that were making headlines over night.
These scenes of destruction we have been showing and seeing this morning -- you're going to see more across Mississippi, Alabama as well. This is the work of a killer tornado that was nearly a mile wide. Ten people reportedly dead, including three children, officials fear the death toll could climb. The twister also leveling homes in neighboring Louisiana and Alabama; the next stop, Georgia where a tornado watch is in effect for some 21 counties right now.
President Obama also today going to be delivering the eulogy for 29 miners who died in that mine explosion earlier this month in West Virginia. The President, along with the vice president, Joe Biden, going to attend a public service to remember the dead at 3:30.
Also a controversy over that tough immigration law, still pretty intense out there. A couple hundred people rallied Saturday, expect to see more protests in the coming days and weeks.
But like we say, as always, time for us to hand it over to Candy Crowley and "STATE OF THE UNION" which starts right now.
