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CNN Saturday Morning News
Chemical Weapons Furor: Burning begins today in Anniston, Alabama
Aired August 09, 2003 - 07:12 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The Army starts burning chemical weapons today on a limited basis, and many residents of Anniston, Alabama, are not happy about it. Federal judge has now cleared the way for burning 2,200 tons of chemical weapons at the Anniston Army Depot. Opponents of the incineration project claim that safety measures are not complete, but they have no immediate plans for any more legal action.
Let's talk more about those safety measures now. The Army has mapped out evacuation routes and installed warning sirens. Thousands of residents are being offered protective hoods, air filters, shelter kits, and tone radios, just in case something goes wrong.
Chris Tatum of WBMA visited some Anniston residents who have those special radios.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS TATUM, REPORTER, WBMA (voice-over): With the startup of the Army's chemical weapons incinerator possibly only hours away, Sandra Beck of Calhoun County is glad to be getting her tone alert radio.
SANDRA BECK: But you can't hear the sirens, you know, down the road from here. You can't really hear it in here. I think this would help.
TATUM: Beck's one of almost 31,000 people to have these free radios installed. They're free to people living within an 11-mile radius of what's called the center of the chemical-limited area. That means where the chemicals are stored.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's going to be the alternating high-low, then it's going to break in also, and it's going to tell you what to do.
TATUM: Getting these tone alert radios in homes is the job of Warning Systems Incorporated. They're still installing about 60 radios a day. If there's an emergency at the depot, the Army will alert EMA, and these tone alarms will go off.
Sandra Beck hopes the early warning will add another layer of protection for her family.
BECK: Because I got four disabled grandkids (UNINTELLIGIBLE), and, I don't know, it just bothers me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And that report from Chris Tatum of CNN affiliate WBMA.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Alabama>
Aired August 9, 2003 - 07:12 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The Army starts burning chemical weapons today on a limited basis, and many residents of Anniston, Alabama, are not happy about it. Federal judge has now cleared the way for burning 2,200 tons of chemical weapons at the Anniston Army Depot. Opponents of the incineration project claim that safety measures are not complete, but they have no immediate plans for any more legal action.
Let's talk more about those safety measures now. The Army has mapped out evacuation routes and installed warning sirens. Thousands of residents are being offered protective hoods, air filters, shelter kits, and tone radios, just in case something goes wrong.
Chris Tatum of WBMA visited some Anniston residents who have those special radios.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS TATUM, REPORTER, WBMA (voice-over): With the startup of the Army's chemical weapons incinerator possibly only hours away, Sandra Beck of Calhoun County is glad to be getting her tone alert radio.
SANDRA BECK: But you can't hear the sirens, you know, down the road from here. You can't really hear it in here. I think this would help.
TATUM: Beck's one of almost 31,000 people to have these free radios installed. They're free to people living within an 11-mile radius of what's called the center of the chemical-limited area. That means where the chemicals are stored.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's going to be the alternating high-low, then it's going to break in also, and it's going to tell you what to do.
TATUM: Getting these tone alert radios in homes is the job of Warning Systems Incorporated. They're still installing about 60 radios a day. If there's an emergency at the depot, the Army will alert EMA, and these tone alarms will go off.
Sandra Beck hopes the early warning will add another layer of protection for her family.
BECK: Because I got four disabled grandkids (UNINTELLIGIBLE), and, I don't know, it just bothers me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And that report from Chris Tatum of CNN affiliate WBMA.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Alabama>
