[Gov. Rick Scott, , Florida:] Remember, Hurricane Andrew is one of the worst storms in the history of Florida. Irma is more devastating on its current path.
[Kate Bolduan, Cnn Anchor:] "The catastrophic storm like the state has ever seen," strong words from Rick Scott, telling people they must evacuate from the coast if they are under evacuation orders. Hurricane Irma is threatening all of south Florida, especially Miami's low-lying coastal areas, with the deadly storm surge. What could it look like? A lot of people want to know. CNN's Meteorologist Chad Myers is digging into this. Chad, people are concerned when it comes to a hurricane about the winds. They are scared of the surge. What could they be up against?
[Chad Myers, Ams Meteorologist:] The low pressure that it is, sucking in water and making a bubble of water higher than normal, higher than sea level, under the eye and slightly to the right of the eye of the path. So, it's what we saw in Katrina that knocked down Base St. Louis, Waveland, Biloxi, Gulfport. It was that 24-foot surge of water. People call it a wall or water. It's not a wall. It's not a wall of water that splashes on shore. It's a surge. Every wave is a foot higher than the last one. Another foot higher, another foot higher. Every time that water pounds you, it knocks things down. Now, we know that the European model is going to bring the hurricane very close to Marathon, the center of the eye. The American model, close to Isle of Mirada. This would be Worldwide Sportsman and the like here and Islander Resort. Here is Vaca Key, Marathon, Marathon Airport right there. It doesn't matter which is right. The storm has wind that does this for a long time before it makes landfall. The surge is from Plantation Key through Key Largo, up to almost Ocean Reef. Then there's nothing "there" there. Then you are back into Key Biscayne. You'll get water in Lake Surprise. You'll get water along the stretch and parts. All of this area here will fill up with the wind just blowing it on shore, plus that bubble of water we talked about that is just here. This is what Miami will look like downtown with a six-foot surge. So, John Berman, right there, he has to get out, clearly. Everyone else should get out. All the water, back into the city, at six feet. Now, there are estimates this could be 10 or 12 feet, which brings it way back here. All of a sudden, we are not only seeing a little storm surge. It's a big storm surge. That could get into the water supply. I'm fearful about this. We get salt in the fresh water, because we don't need that. The aquafer is what we drink down there. You put enough salt in the aquafer and that makes the water undrinkable. Let's not even think about that. People get cut off, can't go anywhere, the power is out, the water is out. It's no place to be after a storm surge.
[Bolduan:] And how quickly they can get things back up and running. It's not just the impact, it's the days after that is a concern. The storm surge, you shouldn't be anywhere near it now. Chad, great to see you. Thanks for laying it out. Appreciate it.
[Myers:] You're welcome.
[Bolduan:] FEMA says Florida has never been hit by a storm like Irma. President Trump says federal officials are ready to handle what is on the way. A short time ago, the president tweeted, "Irma is of epic proportion, perhaps bigger than we have ever seen. Be safe and get out of its way if possible. The federal government is ready." My next guest has been dealing with hurricanes in Florida for years. David Halstead is joining me now. He is the former director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. David, I appreciate you joining me and bringing your perspective. From everything you have seen up to today, is Florida ready?
[David Halstead, Former Director, Florida Division Of Emergency Management:] I will tell you what, I think Florida is ready. I think the message that the governor has, about get out and evacuate, get out now, is critically important. Now, let's talk about after the storm. We are focusing on the storm coming. After the storm, say you stayed in the Keys, what are you going to do? First of all, we can't get to you because, guess what, the storm is coming up the center of the state. No one is going to come help. No one is going to bring you water and food. That's what you are going to hear. We are going to hear the tragic stories of people stuck on the Keys or stuck somewhere that didn't evacuate. That's why it's so critically important. Remember, this storm is going to affect the entire state of Florida.
[Bolduan:] David, Jeb Bush, to your point, the former Florida governor, said most of the deaths, from his perspective, most deaths that occur directly after the storm rather than during it. Why is that?
[Halstead:] Well, I did a study after the '04 storm season. We had four large storms hit us. We had 117 or so confirmed deaths. It went through the coroners reports on those. Most were either drowning or after the storm. Carbon monoxide in the garage because generators were left in closed spaces. People falling off the roofs because they are trying to do temporary roof repair. Trees falling on people, electrocutions. The list goes on and on. Typically, the majority of the people are not going to die from the storm itself. It's going to be drowning, flooding and that terrible storm surge we have been talking about all morning.
[Bolduan:] Looking ahead, as this approaches, there are reports there are thousands of people not heeding the warnings and folks deciding to not evacuate the Keys. They have ridden out the storm in the past. I know you have heard that before, they are not changing, now what now. What do you say to them this time?
[Halstead:] This is a different storm. They have been through Wilma and Hurricane Andrew. This is a bigger storm. This is a catastrophic storm. That can't be emphasized more. We had reports of 30-some-odd thousand people that evacuated the Keys. Well, there's about 80,000 that live there on a normal basis. That means barely not even touched half of the folks to get out of there. The question is, what are they going to do when they are cut off. Say the eye rolls over the center of the Keys and cuts off the causeway and doesn't allow us in or out of the Keys? They could be stuck there weeks without help. Are they prepared to handle weeks without power or weeks without food and drinking water?
[Bolduan:] In terms of the government preparation and government response, I mean, as far as preparations go, they are pleased with how the government, the governor and local officials are preparing. But, emergency management, in terms of preparation, they can only go so far, no matter what. You have to wait to see where the storm hits and what it is going to do.
[Halstead:] Right. It's a four-step approach. First, personal responsibility. You know, if I live at the base of Mt. St. Helens, like Mr. Truman did, and it blows, it's not the government's fault he perished. If I don't evacuate and the storm comes over, I only have myself to blame. However, local government is going to go in as quickly as possible and they'll do what they can. State government will back them up. Remember, the storm is coming through the state. Where do I pre-stage these assets? We've done a little bit of that already, but it's a dangerous chess game because you don't know where the storm is coming. And FEMA is doing the same thing. They will back up the state.
[Bolduan:] What is your biggest a lot of folks are going to say people are hyperventilating. Officials are saying this, they are doing a good job, they are hyperventilating about the storm. This is a cat 4 rather than a 5, like Andrew was, so it's different, it's less. What is the final message to folks? They have hours before this is about to hit the Keys.
[Halstead:] I would say to them, first of all, again, this is a bigger storm than Andrew. Are the wind speeds a little less? A couple miles less. Are you going to quibble about a couple miles an hour? You should leave now. This is probably your last chance this afternoon, if you are in the Keys, to get out. If you don't, your time is about up. You are hoping and praying the storm doesn't cause you great damage and injuries andor death.
[Bolduan:] David, you have the experience. I appreciate you coming in. I appreciate your expertise. Thank you very much.
[Halstead:] Yes, ma'am.
[Bolduan:] Coming up for us, how deadly could the storm be for those who stay on the coast near Miami? We are going to take you there, live. Watching Irma churn over the Bahamas toward the United States as we speak.