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CNN Saturday Morning News

President Bush Arrives in Enterprise, Alabama, to Tour Tornado Damage; Interstate Tragedy for Baseball Team far From Home

Aired March 03, 2007 - 09:30   ET

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

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Looking at live pictures now, the president is set to arrive any minute as we're watching the skies in Enterprise, Alabama, the site of all that tornado damage on Thursday. Where eight students were killed in a high school there in Enterprise. He'll be touring the damage, of course, but he's also going to meet with many of the families there. Families that lost just about everything, unfortunately, including their children in this storm that tore across the southeast. Not only hitting Alabama and Georgia but also hitting other areas, including Missouri, for a total of 20 people killed in this storm that blew through on Thursday.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And he's arriving here first, this is Enterprise. And, of course, Enterprise has been the focus of a lot of this coverage because it was a site of a lot of the devastation. Even though Alabama didn't have the most deaths, it still had eight deaths at a high school. And as you know, any community at any time, children like this are affected, it certainly -- it affects people in a different kind of way. And Enterprise High School there, eight students were killed, and certainly that community has a long, long way to go to recover not just structurally, but certainly emotionally from what has happened, and to those young people and to the whole community.

Our Miles O'Brien is there in Enterprise, Alabama.

Can you see -- I guess from where you are, I guess you're seeing as well what we're seeing here, these pictures. It look like the president is about to arrive, Miles.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, T.J., we're watching as the Marine One flight, initially five helicopters, now three Chinook helicopters in support and protection have peeled off. And then as is the custom, there are always two of the so-called white-tops which provide security and decoy. One of them contains the president. One of them does not. And they will be landing here very shortly in the field, down from where I'm standing right now.

I took a very similar flight here yesterday, and I know what the president is seeing right now, and what's most striking to me, T.J., is how isolated the damage is.

You've got about a 200-yard-wide swathe that stretches about four miles. And then anywhere beyond that, it's as if nothing happened because, frankly, nothing did happen.

This tornado came down, it struck, took out a significant swathe. But beyond that, did not cause much damage.

It's very striking coming this, as opposed to, say, the aftermath of a hurricane, where the damage just goes on for mile and mile -- mile after mile. In this case, what you get is that kind of pin prick of damage, but just does not in any way diminish the tragedy that people are feeling right here in this community of Enterprise, eight students who were huddled in that interior hallway as that storm came in. A powerful storm with winds in the 135 to 160-mile-an-hour range.

The president still continuing his aerial tour there, and we expect he will land here shortly. He will be briefed by local leaders. He will meet with some of the family members as well who have lost loved ones here, offer consolation. And frankly, what they need here is they need some money.

This is about a $60 million project just to begin thinking about rebuilding this school. This is a high school of 2,000 students in a city of 20,000. So that's a big hit to the budget. It's something that is going to require some help and some federal assistance. It's going to have to be in the mix in order to help them out.

The state will help out, too, but federal help is no doubt going to be on the way, and that's what the president will be talking about -- T.J.

HOLMES: All right, Miles. And as we watch these pictures -- and see if you can see these live pictures as well. But we're watching President Bush arrive there in Enterprise, Alabama.

Like you said, he was circling there, probably taking a good peek at some of that damage down there. But, Miles, we've been focusing so much on the high school, and rightly so with the devastation and the tragedy there with eight students being killed, but being there, are there certainly many other people, many other families around who have lost everything as well?

You talked a bit about the damage there, and so much is focused on that high school. But are there certainly other spots, other areas, homes and whatnot that appeared to be wiped out as well?

O'BRIEN: Yes. Just beyond where I stand, T.J., just over that, the hill behind there, there's a little valley. And in that valley, there's tremendous damage and devastation. Some houses completely raked clean as a result of this tornado as it came through. And then houses right nearby which -- which came out unscathed.

There was another death in the city of Enterprise, and this gives you an idea of how things were so chaotic the other afternoon, Thursday afternoon, when this happened. The other death in this city was an 83-year-old woman who was in her home not too far from here, and the storm came through and broke a glass window and cut her leg.

They couldn't get help to her in time. She couldn't get help, couldn't get through. And unfortunately, she bled to death.

So, yes, there -- as you say, we have focused so much on this high school and the deaths. There were 120 people injured here, at least. Some of them in very serious condition. There's still someone in intensive care at the medical center about a half mile from here. Others have been transferred to trauma centers with head injuries. So, yes, there is a -- there is a deeper, long-lasting tragedy here that I think people are just now appreciating all the dimensions of today.

We've just started to see people begin to clean up because, really, they've been in that shocked mode in the wake of this storm -- T.J.

NGUYEN: Miles, this is Betty.

You talk about that shock mode as we're watching live pictures of Marine One land there in Enterprise. You know, when a president comes to tour damage like this, especially for people who have lost it all, does it provide a sense of hope? Does it provide a sense that they will be able to pick up the pieces, without sounding so cliched, and move on from this?

O'BRIEN: Well, yes. I mean, I think I've talked to many people who have endured similar tragedies and have had the experience of -- of -- you know, there's a lot of symbolism in his presence, obviously, but he also carries the power of a checkbook as well. And that also gives a community a sense of -- that they're not alone in this.

You know, the really tricky part, though, and the thing to watch in these communities -- and we've seen it time and again -- is after the president leaves and after we go, and then the grind begins, the rebuilding and the emotional healing that goes along with something like this. And there's -- there's less of an overt sense of support. And a lot of times communities can get the feeling that they're abandoned almost, that they're in it alone, and that's the thing you have to watch out for.

I mean, look at -- look at the folks who dealt with Hurricane Katrina. You know, 18 months later, they're still coming back. And in many respects, you know, certainly the level of attention that they receive on a day-to-day basis from the media is not what it was certainly after the storm.

There you see Marine One at the Enterprise airport, not far from where we stand. And that's just a couple of mile drive from where we are. So he should be here pretty quickly.

Of course, the president doesn't have to worry about traffic or stop lights. So we should see him here fairly quickly -- Betty.

NGUYEN: And as far as the town goes today, obviously the president's going to be speaking with families. But is it just a matter of assessing the damage? And are you seeing everyone out there rolling up their sleeves and trying to get to work to get all of this cleaned up and their lives put back together?

O'BRIEN: Yes. That's -- you know, we saw the first evidence of that this morning. Really didn't see much cleanup yesterday. Yesterday was a day of just wide-eyed shock, I'd put it, as people just tried to assess what happened. This morning we saw some heavy equipment moving.

You know, a lot of that is logistics, just getting the gear together, FEMA coming in to try to provide some assistance where they can do it, getting the equipment you need, the tarps, whatever you need to get yourself and your life back together. So, you know, it's sort of a natural progression, trying to take stock of where you are and then beginning that whole process of getting your life back together.

That's beginning today. But bear in mind, this is a community where the feelings are still very new and very raw, and there are eight young men and women who are gone, and whose families now are preparing funerals. And that will obviously be a very difficult time for this community.

HOLMES: All right, Miles. And you just talked a minute ago -- Betty asking you about -- I guess a lot of the symbolism, and the president making a trip like this and the power of the checkbook, you said he has. But have you seen over the years -- certainly we all remember Hurricane Katrina and remember some of the criticism that the president got to not paying attention, not being on top of that enough, not moving quickly enough to show that attention. And here we are just immediately after this disaster, and the president's there almost immediately after, just certainly in the day or so after.

So, have you seen in disasters we've seen since Katrina that the president and the White House certainly paying more attention to be on top of it and certainly -- certainly appearing to be interested and certainly to lend a hand as quickly as possible?

O'BRIEN: Yes. I don't think there's any doubt that what you're seeing here is a White House that has learned the lessons of Katrina.

The president here quickly -- you'll recall after Katrina the president did that famous fly-over in Air Force One in New Orleans. A lot of criticism after that.

Subsequent to all that, as the criticism built and as the problems of FEMA became evident, the president has now been to New Orleans, I think, or the Gulf region, anyhow, I think 14 times. And so, yes, this response is all a part of the lessons learned category.

We talked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency yesterday and their team that came here very quickly with a lot of brand new shiny gear, a lot of expensive communications equipment. It serving a practical need on the one level, but also, frankly, those white trucks with those federal government license plates rolling through town, also a bit of symbolism. The federal government is here, is here for you, and is going to help out. So, the question is, and the thing that we have to, you know, watch in our job, is to make sure that this symbolism is followed through, there's follow-through and these people get the help that they deserve.

On the same day that the president visited New Orleans, for his 14th trip, we talked to a woman who lives in the Upper Ninth Ward of New Orleans. She actually had the president visit her on one of the trips. She saw him on a second trip, actually considers the president her friend, and yet she still hasn't gotten a dime in relief assistance from the state on their Road Home program.

And so it's -- it's important that that follow-through is something we all track collectively, we in the media and we as a country.

NGUYEN: We're watching now, Miles, as the president is meeting with those on the ground, as he has just landed.

We talk a lot about the symbolism, not only by the president, but, as you mentioned, by FEMA as well. And you showed us a little bit earlier all of the new technology they've brought to the ground there in Enterprise.

The question is, though, with all of that, are you seeing the shelters go up? Are you seeing the immediate needs being met by FEMA.

O'BRIEN: Yes, I haven't -- you know, of course the Red Cross is -- kind of takes the vanguard position on the sheltering. And they've told us this morning that they're sheltering on the order -- something on the order of a hundred people.

You know, it's interesting -- OK, let's listen to the president as he's briefed.

MAYOR KENNETH BOSWELL, ENTERPRISE, ALABAMA: We've got a total of 716 that was affected with 161 that was totaled, 202 that was major damage, 215 was minor, 139 that was affected, for a total of 716.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You know, Mayor, I told the people yesterday that I come down with a heavy heart. And I will try to the best of my ability to comfort those who lost lives and property. I know that you and the council and the citizens here have done this as well.

I hope it helps for the citizens here to hear that we've declared your county a major disaster area which will provide some relief. You can never heal a heart, but you can provide comfort knowing that the federal government will provide -- will help for those whose houses were destroyed or automobiles were destroyed. And I would strongly urge the citizens here to -- if you've got a question, call 1-800-621- FEMA, and there will be somebody answering your call, and will give you a chance to find out whether or not you will qualify for the relief under the major disaster declaration.

Secondly, I was talking to the governor, and he has said that there have been some funds set up to help the people who suffered. And my call to people here in Alabama and around the United States is, if you feel the generosity in your heart to help people affected by this terrible tornado, I would ask you to contribute.

One such fund is the Red Cross. There will be others. We will make sure that the USA Freedom Corps will have posted on it a place for people to contribute money. Some people are going to need your help. There have been some poor citizens who may or may not qualify for federal help, but they're going to need the help of our fellow citizens. And I would ask you to, out of the generosity of your heart, to help the folks down here.

This storm is a tough storm. It went eight miles and affected a lot of lives. And this country is a prayerful country. There's a lot of people praying for you.

BOSWELL: There's no doubt. We have a strong city. The governor had mentioned in his conference yesterday, our city has never pulled together like we have.

Neighbors helping neighbors. Strangers helping neighbors. It's just unbelievable, incredible the calls that we've had throughout the United States (INAUDIBLE) the National Guard, Homeland Security, FEMA, I mean, it's like a whole well-oiled machine.

And we are recovering, and we just absolutely appreciate (INAUDIBLE).

BUSH: All right. We're going to go over...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President, just let me make one comment. I want to thank you, and I want to thank (INAUDIBLE) and everyone for making this declaration as quickly as you have. That's going to help a lot of people (INAUDIBLE) on a lot of assets out there.

So I appreciate you guys expediting that.

Thank you, Mr. President.

BUSH: All right.

All right, guys.

HOLMES: All right. We're seeing the president there getting a briefing, a quick look, a quick idea of the damage there from local officials and what's happening in the efforts there. They're flanked by the -- a couple of senators from Alabama, also by the governor, Governor Bob Riley there.

But the news the president just telling us about, that, in fact, the county there where Enterprise is has been declared a federal disaster area. So they will be able to get some -- some financial help from the -- from the federal government, and also letting people know that, hey, give money.

Asking people around the country to, by all means, give money to the Red Cross. Donate money to help people out.

And also folks who are affected, we have flashed up on our screen that phone number, 1-800-621-FEMA. But if you need help, if you think you do qualify, by all means call that number, and they can let you know whether or not you do qualify.

NGUYEN: Again, there it is, 1-800-621-FEMA. Write that down. Of course we'll have it on our Web site as well, at CNN.com.

Want to bring in Miles O'Brien again, because he is on the ground there in Enterprise.

And as we talk about the president meeting with folks today, obviously meeting with the families is going to be very important.

O'BRIEN: Yes. I think that's going to be, you know, an important moment for the president to see them, to embrace them, to offer them some words of consolation.

And as a parent, I just can only imagine what they are going through today. To have sent their 16 or 17-year-old off to school and not have them come home is something that is difficult to fathom. But, you know, any sort of support in a time like this is good, and particularly coming from the president, because it represents a larger constituency, obviously. And to have him come and say his words of consolation, I'm sure, will help some.

But this is not the kind of thing that heals easily, is it, Betty?

NGUYEN: No, not at all. And as you talk about those young lives lost in that school, do you imagine there's going to be a lot of talk about the decision to keep those students inside the school instead of letting them go home right before the tornado struck?

O'BRIEN: Yes. And I've been asking about that ever since I got here, because that's a question.

You know, first of all, where were they in the school? Were they in the right place?

By all accounts, the administrators and the teachers had put them where they were instructed to put them, in an interior hallway. So, at first, there was some confusion as to whether they might have been in an auditorium. Not so. So that's number one.

Secondly, the question that comes up is, why weren't they sent home earlier, when the tough weather was rolling in? Why didn't they just get them out of school, get them home where they'd be safe there?

The problem is that -- and I can see where they were coming from on this. There were no less than three separate warnings issued that day. And each time they were sort of poised to send them home early, another warning would come up.

And the last time, as a matter of fact, they were -- they had dismissed the kids. It was about 1:00 in the afternoon, and were extending them to the buses, sending them on their way, and some kids had left who had their own means, or whatever. But in the midst of that came this final warning, and the administrators said, get back in the school, the safest place to be is to be inside these interior hallways.

And that's what they did. Was that the right move? You know, in talking to everybody up and down the line here, I can't think of anybody who can come up with what they did wrong as far as the plan.

Now, should there -- should there be places in schools that are safe areas, that are reinforced better, that are built better, that aren't just cinderblock walls that might be susceptible to this? I think that's an important question that a lot of schools should answer.

We talked yesterday with a severe weather expert in Oklahoma -- Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma, of course, right in the middle of Tornado Alley. And schools there have these safe rooms that are reinforced with steel and concrete and are a place that students can go and endure even the most powerful of storms.

So, these are -- these are questions perhaps all school systems should ask in places where tornadoes are a possibility. Is there really a safe place to go? Is that interior hallway as safe as you think it might be? Should there be some structural analysis of these schools and a real analysis of really where is the safe place for them to go?

All of these are, you know, 20/20 hindsight questions, but in the end, the decision to keep them here, it's difficult to look back on that and say they made the wrong decision -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Yes, because a lot of times schools are considered a safe area in times of storms, and especially they were in an interior wall, where we're all told to go when we're under a tornado situation. So, Miles, you're right. Maybe this is a wake-up call to schools across the nation as they try to answer that very question.

Thank you, Miles O'Brien, on the ground there in Enterprise, Alabama, where the president is touring the damage and speaking with families at this hour.

HOLMES: And we're going to continue to follow the president as he tours the tornado damage in both Alabama and Georgia.

NGUYEN: Our other top story, an interstate tragedy for a baseball team far from home. What happened on this exit?

We're going to look at that ahead on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Some puzzling questions persist this morning concerning the charter bus crash in Atlanta that killed four members of an Ohio university baseball team, the driver, and the driver's wife. Atlanta police don't think driver fatigue was a factor, but they still don't know exactly why the bus plunged off an overpass early yesterday morning.

Federal investigators are expected to get their first look at the bus this morning. They'll be searching for clues in the bus' computer system. Still, the question on everybody's mind, and certainly the one investigators are looking at, exactly how could this have happened, a bus plunging off an overpass? Police actually say the bus driver may have been a bit confused by how the lanes are divided.

Our Chad Myers breaks this down for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: This is a Google Earth Map of I-75 southbound, I-75 northbound. We have HOV lanes here in Atlanta, high occupancy vehicles. The bus was in the HOV lane. It should have stayed on the road surface, but instead took the exit.

This is the first exit to the left at all in the HOV lanes for Atlanta. All the other exits are off to the right. So the driver was in the left exit lane and didn't even know he was there, continued up the exit ramp to the stop sign, and then had no time to turn right or left or, for that matter, to stop in time before going off the bridge.

This exit, in fact, is notorious for, well, one other accident that we know of. Back in 1991, a driver trying to get into the northbound HOV direction -- here's the lane he wanted to take -- stayed left of the barrier and went the wrong way on I-75 southbound. He was going northbound the wrong direction. About nine or 10 miles later, caused a big crash, killing the father of a family heading to Disney World.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: It's a kind of a confusing spot there if you're not familiar with the roads here in Atlanta. And again, Atlanta police say they do not believe that fatigue was a factor at all in this crash.

NGUYEN: Well, there is a little information now about Bluffton University.

That university is a small liberal arts school affiliated with the Mennonite Church USA. The campus is 60 miles south of Toledo, Ohio.

1,155 students are enrolled this academic year. More than 95 percent receive some sort of financial aid. And the school's baseball team plays in the Heartland Conference. That team had been scheduled to play today.

Disbelief and grief following that tragic bus crash in Atlanta. These are pictures from a vigil in Sarasota, Florida, last night. The baseball team from Bluffton University was scheduled to play its first spring training game in Sarasota, as I mentioned, today.

HOLMES: And just imagine that horror in those hallways. First the screaming, then the halls went black. Tornado terror at an Alabama high school. That story ahead on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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