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CNN Live Sunday

Tropical Storm Barry Moves Toward the Gulf Coast

Aired August 05, 2001 - 17:33   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.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: The weather system we are watching at this hour, Tropical Storm Barry, the storm is just under hurricane strength, which is winds of 74 miles an hour. Barry is at about 70 now and making its move toward the Gulf Coast finally, where hurricane warning have been issued for several areas. Heavy rain and even isolated tornadoes are expected.

CNN meteorologist Chad Meyers has the latest on Barry now from the weather center. Chad, hello again.

CHAD MEYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hello, Stephen, and what we are talking about strengthening is not so much the core, not so much the eye getting stronger, but the storm is getting larger, it's gathering moisture, it's getting out of the Gulf of Mexico, it's getting out of the Atlantic Ocean and now spreading its scope all the way from Georgia, to Mississippi, Louisiana and down to Florida.

So, yes now, this storm probably is not going to be a category three or category five storm, but that's not going to be the problem. The problem with this storm is going to be the extensive flooding possible, as this storm, which is right there, moves onshore later tonight and tomorrow morning. I'll have more coming up in the next half hour.

FRAZIER: See you then, Chad, thank you very much.

As we just heard from Chad Meyers, the storm is barreling toward the Florida Panhandle now, picking up some speed and some strength. Folks there are bracing for what is to come, and CNN's Ed Lavandera is there with them, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Ed, how is it looking now?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Stephen, the rain has stopped, it's just a slight drizzle here. The winds have been steady most of the day, but the rain comes and goes. The red danger flags have been strung up here on the beach in Fort Walton Beach, but that hasn't kept several hundred people from coming out here to the shores. We have seen dozens of surfers enjoying the last couple of hours of safety here, and -- actually it's not terribly incredible safe, but the surfers have been taking their chances anyway.

And someone who knows quite a lot about water sports is Marlon Miller. He owns a parasailing company here along the beach. Are you ready for this storm? MARLON MILLER, FORT WALTON BEACH PARASAIL COMPANY OWNER: Yeah, we're pretty much set up. We have relocated all of our parasail boats out in the back bays and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) also. I think we are ready for it.

LAVANDERA: Are people taking this storm seriously around here?

MILLER: Yeah, they've got a lot of experience. We have been hit pretty good over the last few years, and I don't think they overreact, but I take precautions. We are pretty happy that it's going to be coming in at low tide, so that will help us out a lot, I think.

LAVANDERA: Marlon also mentioned that the days after the hurricanes create some of the nicest weather on the beaches, and obviously that's good for his business. He said yesterday there were hundreds of people out here on the beach, and quite a difference a day makes here.

Again, all the people here in Fort Walton Beach getting ready for the storm, and a lot of people anticipating that it will arrive about midnight or into the early Monday morning hours -- Stephen.

FRAZIER: We'll be talking to you later, Ed. Thanks very much. Ed Lavandera, reporting from Fort Walton Beach.

Yesterday, you recall, parts of Louisiana seemed to be the target of Barry, and tourists on Grand Isle were asked to leave. We're going to go back there now. Grand Isle Mayor David Camardelle joins us on the telephone to tell us what's happening now.

Mr. Mayor, thank you for joining us once again. What do you do once you pulled the trigger, and it looks like you can have people come back. Do you invite them back, or do you want them to stay out for a little while longer?

MAYOR DAVID CAMARDELLE, GRAND ISLE, LOUISIANA: No, we are ready for them to come back, Stephen. Looking at the National Weather Service, we had a meeting at 10:00 this morning, and it looked like they were going to take the warnings -- warning flags off of Grand Isle, move toward Florida, so everything is trying to get back to normal. The winds are about five to 10 right now. We are expecting a little higher gust, but the weather is really nice in Grand Isle, and the Gulf is kind of calm because of the north winds.

FRAZIER: Can you, in fact, rest easy, or is there still a chance that the storm could hook left and slam into you guys anyway?

CAMARDELLE: Well, we are watching it as the night goes by. We are standing by. And we are -- you know, we just going to watch it, and see what;s happening. I really feel sorry for our friends to the east. I'm sure it had to go somewheres.

FRAZIER: And what about the folks who did leave? You lost a lot of tourist revenue in one of those critical weekends when people are wrapping up summer breaks? CAMARDELLE: Yes, sir. When I made the call, it was tough. You know, I didn't want to see three or 4,000 people getting off of our island, but, you know, I had to make a decision where, you know -- it was really, really tough on me, you know, but I have to save the lives. You know, and that was the thing I had to do.

At the time, we -- they expected it to come toward the mouth of the river and toward Grand Isle. And like I said, Stephen, they've got to make Friday night and most of the day Saturday, and about 12 noon yesterday I asked tourists to get out of dodge.

FRAZIER: You have got a responsibility there to your citizens as well as your guests. Mr. Mayor, thanks very much for joining us again. Mayor David Camardelle of Grand Isle, Louisiana.

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