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Matthew Slams Florida With 120 MPH Winds; Obama Talks Of Hurricane's Danger; Florida's Governor Says Worst Is Likely To Come; 24 Million Under Watch Or Warning; Over 826,000 Without Power; Major Flooding In Jacksonville A Big Concern. Aired 1-1:30p ET

Aired October 7, 2016 - 13:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Wolf Blitzer. It's 1:00 p.m. here in Washington. Wherever you're watching from around the world, thanks very much for joining us.

BLITZER: We begin with the breaking news. Hurricane Matthew battering the Florida coast with 120 mile-per-hour winds and pounding surf. Take a look at these pictures from a CNN affiliate in St. Augustine, Florida. Adults and children stranded in a bed and breakfast.

The center of the storm 90 miles southeast of Jacksonville, Florida. Utility companies say nearly 827,000 customers in the state are without electricity right now. Forecasters predict the storm surge in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina could reach as high as 11 feet.

At least one death in Florida is blamed on the storm. A woman died overnight of a heart attack after emergency crews were unable to respond to the call.

President Obama was briefed on the hurricane just a little while ago here in Washington, and he warned people still in the storm's path to listen to local officials.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And so, I just want to emphasize to everybody that this is still a really dangerous hurricane, that the potential for storm surge, flooding, loss of life and severe property damage continues to exist. And people continue to need to follow the instructions of their local officials over the course of the next 24, 48, 72 hours.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Florida's Governor Rick Scott says damage assessments are underway. He also echoed the president's warning that the danger is by no means over.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GOV. RICK SCOTT, FLORIDA: While the eye has not made direct landfall, it still time to make a direct hit. And, as we've seen, it's wobbled. We are very concerned about the storm surge and the worst effects are still likely to come.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: We're covering this story like only CNN can. Our Meteorologist Chad Myers is tracking the hurricane's path from the weather center. Correspondent Boris Sanchez is in Daytona Beach, Florida. CNN's Victor Blackwell is in Jacksonville.

Chad, update us on where Matthew is right now and where it's headed.

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It is just now to the east of Daytona Beach, and it's headed to the northwest. Now, the problem is, Wolf, that I see, is that the coast turns quicker than the hurricane may. It's forecast to turn. It is. I get it. But it may continue to go straight. It's that -- a motion will continue until acted upon. Right? That old thing. Well, if this is not acted upon by an upper level push, this will continue to the north of Jacksonville right over St. Augustine and then into Tybee.

This is the problem that I see. We're piling up all of this water here from Savannah all the way down to about Brunswick, Georgia. And as the storm turns to the right, it may mush water into Hilton Head, into Myrtle Beach, into Charleston. A significant storm surge is already happening right now in St. Augustine. This is a big part of the weather we're talking about now. And at least a couple feet of water downtown St. Augustine.

So, this is the story that we're looking at, at this point in time. I'm going to move you now into a local radar. This is the local radar. I'm watching the eye move slightly offshore. That's good news. We need it to move offshore so that it doesn't pile up the water into Tybee Island.

Here's the latest, though. It's still 120 miles per hour. This storm has not slowed down much. I know it's not 140 but that's because the inner part of the eye is not quite put together like it was yesterday. It's still going to be 115 mile-per-hour storm as it gets towards Brunswick. As it gets towards Charleston, probably about a hundred miles per hour and then turning to the right, moving away from land.

But it's all of these marsh areas that have water getting pushed up in them. Like the Savannah area. All of those yacht clubs around Savannah. Likely water coming up six to eight feet and that is over the sea wall in a lot of those towns. Over the sea wall for sure right now in St. Augustine, likely over the sea wall in some other little cities here and bigger cities, even into Charleston. It doesn't take much to flood Charleston on a good day. The rain will do that. And we are going to see an awful lot of rain, Wolf. We could see six to 10 inches of rain.

Look it, this is the future radar. This is what we're expecting to happen. It will continue to rain all day and all night. The water is going to come up in a saltwater surge and it's going to try to come back down in a freshwater flood. And those two things may get together at the wrong time -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Yes, still enormous danger --

MYERS: Yes.

BLITZER: -- out there. Stand by.

Boris is in Daytona Beach which has been taking quite a pounding from Hurricane Matthew. Boris, what are the conditions like right now? Have officials begun to assess the damage?

[13:05:10] BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Wolf, I think it might be too early for that, even though we are in that southwest portion of the storm, the less severe portion of the storm. (INAUDIBLE) west wind and rain. It is still coming down pretty heavily.

I'm not sure if you can hear the wind that we're dealing with right now. Our video capability just went down a few minutes ago, and we've been dealing with that all morning. We've also and dealing with debris, a lot of debris in the streets. I'm standing across the street from what looks like a gift shop here on A1A, the main strip of Daytona Beach.

And we've watched all morning as the roof has come apart in this gift shop. There are pieces of the roof blocking the intersection in front of us right now. And pieces of the roof of our own hotel where we are in have come off and fallen in the street as well. As a matter of fact, a of couple hours ago, we were standing in an awning that loops (ph) the front of the hotel and the lobby. And a huge chunk of window, at least 500 pounds, fell (INAUDIBLE.)

As we moved inside, the glass started breaking through the awning. So, we quickly rushed out of there. We're in a much safer location right now. But we did get, a few moments ago, a look at the other side of the hotel on the coast. And we got a look at the storm surge and it was very, very intense. The water coming over a wall that separated the beach and the yard in the hotel.

And right now, an official with the hotel security manager told me that they have about two feet of water on the first level of our hotel. He said, we're toast. As I mentioned before, the roof, pieces of it have come off. There are windows that are -- they're fearful that they could break (INAUDIBLE) water pounding on the side of the building right now.

There are guest rooms inundated as well. Fortunately, it doesn't appear that anyone is hurt where we are now. Though, one other concern is that the lights may go out at any moment. We've been watching power lines just flailing in the wind. At any moment, they might snap and that is a (INAUDIBLE) hundred plus room hotel that is, I would say, at least a third packed with people and employees.

So, you know, the concern is far from over. Even though we're supposed to be in the less severe part of the storm, things still feel very severe where I'm standing right now -- Wolf.

BLITZER: It sounds like it, too. All right, Boris, be careful over there.

Victor, forecasters are predicting a storm surge. We've been telling our viewers as high as 11 feet. So, what's the potential impact on Jacksonville where you are?

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Well, there, just a few moments ago, Wolf, was a flash flood warning that came out from the National Weather Service here in Jacksonville for warning people to get to higher ground. Move to higher ground, with an exclamation point. A flash flood warning now here until 6:15 p.m. from the National Weather Service.

And that storm surge, this is the hour that the city is most concerned about, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. We spoke with the mayor's office and they say this is the hour where they fear that that storm surge will impact people most. Even before the eye of this hurricane gets closer to the north coast here, the first coast of Florida.

They say that areas like San Marco, where we are right now, across the St. John's River, in Riverside, areas including Avondale, could see that flooding.

We've also seen, in the last few moments, a pickup in the wind here. You'll see over my shoulder, this is the Main Street Bridge, and we have seen the occasional car drive across, although that is against the guidance of local officials.

We know also that the wind here has caused an increase in the power outages. Just a few moments ago, it was at 36,000 outages. Now, almost 50,000 people are without power across Jacksonville.

So, we are seeing an increase of the wind. We're seeing an increase in the rain and this is the hour the worst the city expects of that storm surge as we get closer to when the really intense winds will hit this city - Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, we'll stay in close touch with you as well. Be careful, Victor.

I want to bring in the mayor of Jacksonville right now. Lenny Curry is joining us. Mayor, thanks so much for joining us. I know you've got a lot going on. What's your biggest concern, Mayor, right now?

LENNY CURRY, MAYOR, JACKSONVILLW, FLORIDA (via telephone): The lives of our people. The lives of the people of Jacksonville. We have been monitoring this for over a week, our emergency op center. We began -- I ordered an evacuation in the beaches, cities and low-lying areas two days ago. Added additional evacuations onto that early yesterday because of storm surge primarily.

Obviously, there's a wind concerns with trees falling and whatnot, but the storm is a big danger, with storm surge expected up to nine feet along the coastal and beaches community. That was expected to be 12 feet yesterday. It dropped to nine. It is still incredibly dangerous. Anything over three feet is life threatening.

[13:10:01] BLITZER: Have the residents of Jacksonville heeded calls to evacuate?

CURRY: So, we evacuated close to half of the residents under my order. There are some that chose to stay. And while that's disappointing, we're in the storm now. There's no -- there's no value in passing any judgment. When we get through the back end of this, we will be here for all of our people.

BLITZER: At what point, Mayor, do you close the city's bridges? And we know you've got quite a few.

CURRY: Yes, sustained winds of 40 miles per hour. In fact, it's been, gosh, an hour or two. All of the bridges leading in and to and from the beaches' cities closed. So, all access is cut off to the public there recently. Any bridge that has sustained 40 miles per hour, we closed them. Very dangerous conditions and it's going to get worse here in the afternoon, and it's going to be pretty bad up through the evening.

There's also a concern, we don't want people to be complacent. When this thing's moved - when this thing moves out of here or appears to move out of here, there can still be bands and squalls, danger for trees falls, power lines falling, et cetera.

BLITZER: Jacksonville is a major city. Good luck, Mayor. Good luck to you. Good luck to all the people in your beautiful city. We'll stay in close touch.

CURRY: Thank you.

BLITZER: Let's head down the coast a little bit, the Florida coast. The mayor of Melbourne, Florida, Kathy Meehan, is joining us on the line. Mayor, thanks so much for joining us. So, what have you been experiencing over the past few hours?

KATHY MEEHAN, MAYOR, MELBOURNE, FLORIDA: In the past few hours, we've been assessing the situation in the city of Melbourne. As far as I know, the bridges are still closed. They're saying that there -- you know, there's power lines down and some flooding issues. So, right now, we're -- we want our people to have electric, so we're, right now, getting our electric back up.

Now, where I'm staying right now, at my daughter's house, we still don't have electric yet.

BLITZER: It could take a few days to regain power in some of these areas that have been hit so hard, right?

MEEHAN: Yes, it could, that's right. And the wind, it's still windy here. We have gusts and it's just unbelievable. But we -- I'm real pleased on the outcome because we really dodged a bullet here.

BLITZER: Did most of the people in Melbourne evacuate? MEEHAN: I don't know how many went into the shelters. But the

residents in the beach side community, some of them did. (INAUDIBLE) ordered to evacuate but I still had some that stayed. I have real great concerns for them.

BLITZER: What is your biggest concern right now?

MEEHAN: Getting the streets cleared. And, also, you know, just having the electric on.

BLITZER: And what advice do you have, residents who are still there in Melbourne, what should they be doing as we speak?

MEEHAN: Well, right now, it's real windy. I haven't got a report yet. We have staff out there assessing's the streets and I was out there earlier. But, you know, we still have traffic lights that need to be fixed and, you know, just for their safety. So, we're waiting word on the official, yes, you can go out there and -- on the streets.

BLITZER: And start the cleanup but that hasn't happened yet.

MEEHAN: Yes.

BLITZER: Kathy Meehan, --

MEEHAN: Yes.

BLITZER: -- the mayor of Melbourne. Thanks so much for joining us. Good luck.

MEEHAN: All right. Thank you so much. All right, bye-bye.

BLITZER: As Matthew pounds the Florida coast, Georgia and South Carolina, they're bracing for its fury. Just ahead, we'll go live to our reporters in both states. We're going to find out how Savannah and Charleston are preparing for this storm.

And this is what Florida residents are fleeing, a powerful storm capable of causing widespread damage and flooding. These are live pictures.

[13:14:09]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:17:59] WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Look at these live pictures coming in from Tybee Island in Georgia. Coastal areas of that state and South Carolina, they are now bracing for the impact from Hurricane Matthew. The hurricane's outer bands are already whipping up Georgia's coast and it's expected to batter South Carolina by tomorrow morning. Both President Obama and Governor Nikki Haley are issuing dire warnings.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Those of you who live in Georgia, I think, should be paying attention.

GOV. NIKKI HALEY, SOUTH CAROLINA: There is nothing safe about what's getting ready to happen. This is the last time you will hear my voice when I'm asking you to evacuate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Let's go straight to CNN's Sara Ganim in Georgia, Brian Todd in South Carolina.

Sara, what's the situation there? Are people evacuating? Are they ready?

SARA GANIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, just moments ago, the last of these buses with people on them evacuating Savannah, Georgia, rolled out of this parking lot, the Civic Center here in Savannah. Officials telling us more than 2,000 residents in the area did come here yesterday and today to get on those buses, to get out of the zone where officials believe that in some areas a storm surge could be up to 11 feet. Those people headed to Augusta, Georgia, to safety, but there are many people who are left behind. I talked to many residents who were in tears as they were leaving, knowing that their neighbors, elderly residents who they were friendly with, people who have kids were staying behind.

And I talked to one family who was leaving behind their own elderly parents, who just simply refused to evacuate despite the orders from officials. Take a listen to what this family was going through as they got on these buses with their one-year-old child.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KRYSTAL COOPER, EVACUATING SAVANNAH WITH HER HUSBAND AND CHILD: We're deciding to leave because it's just getting a little too serious. I mean we was going stay, go to the missions, but now the missions are evacuating. And we heard it's supposed to be a category four, and that's just too much. Savannah can't even handle a category two, you know what I'm saying? And it's just in the best interest of our child. If it wasn't for our child, we probably would try to ride it out. But, you know, we have - we have our little one. We can't just think about us. We have to think about our family as a whole

[13:20:10] GANIM: What about other members of your family?

COOPER: Well, my mom, I tried to contact her. And if she's out there, mama, I really, really, really, really, want you to come here. I really, really want you to leave. I don't know what's going on, but I really, really want you to leave just to make sure you're safe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GANIM: Just moments ago, Wolf, officials told me they actually sent a bus out to Tybee Island, where we were yesterday. It's an island most of the homes are at sea level. And they sent a bus out there for the - the last of the residents that were trying to stick it out and stay behind at home. Nobody got on the bus, I'm told. So those people in the next 24 hours could see a storm surge 11 to 15 feet. When I was out there yesterday, you could tell that they were - those homes were in danger. And emergency officials here are getting off the streets as well. So those people who have decided to stay behind overnight will be on their own for the most part.

Wolf.

BLITZER: Yes, these are all heartbreaking stories. People obviously reluctant to leave their homes, their possessions, but it's, obviously, also very, very dangerous in the process.

Stand by, Sara.

Brian, you're there in South Carolina. They're bracing for a disaster there as well. Are you seeing people on the streets? Are they listening to the governor's warnings to evacuate?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Some of them are listening, Wolf, and some of them are staying put. And that really is upsetting state officials at this hour because we were told by them that right at this hour, in the 1:00 Eastern Time hour, that's when they expect tropical force winds to start to hit here. We've already felt it in one other area just south of where we are right now. We are just a little bit north of Charleston right now. And what they are really genuinely worried about is storm surge.

Here's why. Take a look at this low-lying marsh right next to me here. This is the Ashley River. It gets flooded very quickly during routine rainstorms. It gets higher than normal. And these streets over here experience washout. They really expect the storm surge to be about - between eight to 11 feet. That is going to cause wash-over from here on to these streets that you can - as you can see here, are at sea level and, in some places, they're below sea level. In the town of Beaufort, South Carolina, that's below sea level.

So officials saying, as of now, 310,000 people have evacuated, Wolf. Not enough. That's about half of those who they've asked to get out. And they're saying people out on these barrier islands, just east and south of Charleston, are really in danger at this hour.

Here's another thing I'm going to show you. This is the James Island connector. Our photojournalist Eddie Grose (ph) is going to shift left here. That's the James Island Connector Bridge. All the bridges, and there are many of them like that, that are 65 feet above the water or higher, when the winds get to 40 miles an hour and above, they're going to shut down. So if people try to leave at those points, and that's not far too far from now, by the way, timewise, they're going to be out of luck. They're going to be stranded.

So, Wolf, you know, again, storm surge is a huge issue here because it is such low country. The marsh, the rivers and the tip of the peninsula at the harbor are just right at sea - right at street level. These streets are going to get flooded in the coming hours. Storm surge, a huge worry right now.

BLITZER: I understand completely. All right, Brian, thank you very much. Bracing for the worst there in South Carolina.

Officials in Florida, they pleaded with residents to evacuate areas in jeopardy from Hurricane Matthew. Many of them listened. Just ahead, we're going to go live to Orlando. That's about 50 miles from the Florida coast, where many residents fled to find shelter from the hurricane. I'll speak to the Florida senator, Bill Nelson, about how his state is handling this disaster.

We're showing you some live pictures now coming in from Daytona Beach in Florida.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:28:19] BLITZER: Updating the breaking news this hour. Hurricane Matthew is pounding the eastern coast of Florida right now. Take a look at some live pictures coming in from Jacksonville, Florida. President Obama and local official are warning that the danger from this monstrous storm is by no means over.

Here are the latest developments involving Hurricane Matthew. It's located right now about 90 miles southeast of Jacksonville with maximum sustained winds of 120 mile-per-hour. Forecasters say the storm surge along the Florida, Georgia and South Carolina coast could reach nine to 11 feet. That's a major concern of low-lying areas of Jacksonville and the historic cities of Savannah and Jacksonville.

Utility crews in Florida are working to restore electricity to almost 827,000 customers who are without power right now. Millions of people involved. Many of the people have heeded the warnings to simply evacuate, to get out.

CNN's Alison Kosik is in central Florida, in Orlando, for us right now, where many on the eastern coast have fled to.

Alison, are people still arriving where you are?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They are. You know, Orlando is 70 miles west of the coast. So what a lot of Floridians do who live along the coast's areas, those barrier islands, they head west. And many times they come to Orlando because it offers so many hotels. This is the land of Disneyworld. So, yes, a lot of people we found did evacuate, and they're still hanging around because a lot of the roads that lead to their homes are not opened yet. So they - they're stuck here for a while, at least that's what they're feeling like. So they're riding out the tide with all their friends and family at the hotels in and around the Disney properties.

[13:30:03] Speaking of Disney, the most magical place on earth, behind me is one of the quietest places on earth today, because it is closed for the only fourth time in its 45-year history.