American Morning
Paterson, NJ Mayor Jeffery Jones weighs in on city's evacuations
The water is finally receding this morning in Paterson, New Jersey where the Passaic River crested late last night after Hurricane Irene brought massive flooding to the area.
However, thousands of people are still in temporary housing after being evacuated from their flooded homes, including more than three thousand because who were forced out of their high-rise apartments.
Paterson's Mayor, Jeffery Jones, discusses the city's evacuations with Carol Costello today, explaining when people can expect to return to their homes.
Conn. Governor Dannel Malloy: Ron Paul is 'an idiot'
Three days after Hurricane Irene ripped through Connecticut, reports say that about 400,000 people are still without power. Water has just crested this morning from massive flooding that rendered about one thousand roads impassable.
Today on American Morning, Governor Dannel Malloy discusses the damage within the state and the government's relief efforts with Christine Romans. He also responds the political debate over the federal role of disaster response, commenting about Ron Paul's remark that FEMA gets in the way and wastes money.
"I think he's an idiot," Malloys says. "We are spending $900 million a week in wars and he is arguing about whether we should spend some amount of money? FEMA now has currently $900 million budget available to it. This is a ridiculous conversation. I really don't understand what he is talking about and I'm not sure he does."
"Without this system of response, we would not be standing here with as few people who have died in this massive storm," Malloy adds. "For someone in Texas to be talking about FEMA being defunded really does rise to idiocy and hypocrisy. This is pure politics playing out across individuals' misery."
North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue discusses evacuations, state preparation
North Carolina is the first state on the Northeast that could take a direct hit from Hurricane Irene.
The latest hurricane center advisory projects that Irene will make landfall late Saturday afternoon near Ocracoke Island on the Outer Banks. Tropical storm-force winds and rain are expected to begin late Friday and could increase to hurricane-force winds later Saturday.
North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue has declared a state of emergency for counties east of Interstate 95 and beginning this morning, all Hyde County residents and all visitors to Dare County will be evacuated.
Governor Perdue talks with Ali Velshi about the evacuations today on American Morning, explaining what hurricane preparations are underway in the state.
What should you do to get ready for Hurricane Irene? FEMA administrator explains
Hurricane Irene is expected to be upgraded to a category four storm today as it moves over the northwestern Bahamas with sustained winds of 115 mph.
As Irene moves toward the East Coast of the United States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is urging all residents of states along the East Coast to take steps to prepare their families and businesses for the severe weather.
Mandatory evacuation orders for parts of North Carolina's Outer Banks will take effect this morning as state emergency officials prepare for the arrival of of the storm.
Craig Fugate, FEMA administrator, discusses hurricane preparation today with Ali Velshi and weighs in on how prepared the East Coast is to handle a storm of this magnitude.
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