Lava Inches from Homes in Hawaii
CUOMO: Welcome back to NEW DAY. I don't know if you've been following the situation in Hawaii with the lava, but you should be. They now have to evacuate a town. You have to remember: This is molten rock, and we have no way to stop it. These people are all helpless to what the natural course of events are here. So right now we have CNN's Martin Savidge, who is following this situation. But literally, people are just watching and waiting right now. Here's what we know so far.</s>MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This has been a slow-motion disaster. Officials have actually had months to prepare for it. But they admit, now that it's here, it's a whole different emotional chapter. (voice-over): The day residents have been fearing is finally here. The town of Pahoa is burning. A 2,000-degree river of molten lava that's been approaching for months is now searing the town, and it's just the beginning. Overnight, the first official evacuation notices went out.</s>DARRYL OLIVERA, HAWAII COUNTY CIVIL DEFENSE CONTRACTOR: Face to face, knock on the door, by a public safety official.</s>SAVIDGE: The lava is moving at about 30 feet an hour. And at its current speed, it will cut the town's main street in less than two days. In a helicopter, I could follow the trail of destruction from the slopes of the Kilauea volcano to the edge of town. (on camera): There it is. That's the lava field, and most of the lava is moving underground. You can see how it transforms the landscape. It just wipes out the vegetation. (voice-over): On its way, the lava invaded a local cemetery, surrounding the white tombstones. (on camera): There's nothing that can be done. In other words, if you're thinking why don't they divert it or why don't they try to dig a channel to go around the town? Hawaii has tried all that in the past. It's never been effective. (voice-over): On the ground, crews race to construct new roads around the lava, to keep an evacuation route open and businesses connected to the nearby city of Hilo.</s>CHARLENE EWING, LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS: Hopefully, we'll be able to always stay open. Hopefully, Pahoa will still be viable.</s>SAVIDGE: Even as the danger creeps ever closer, some residents say they will stay, if only to watch their homes burn.</s>OLIVERA: When the lava flow comes through their subdivision or through their area, there will be an opportunity for them to remain on site, provided it's safe to do so.</s>SAVIDGE (on camera): Later today, members of the Hawaii National Guard are expected to show up, bolstering the security forces that are already here. They will patrol the streets, even as parts of the town burn. Back to you.</s>CUOMO: it's good to have Martin there. But boy, it really does give you some perspective of the helplessness there. And remember, the entire island is, you know, cooled-off molten lava.</s>CAMEROTA: Lava, right. And to hear him say there's nothing that can be done. That's not in our vocabulary, usually.</s>CUOMO: Imagine that: sitting around just to watch your house burn.</s>CAMEROTA: Right.</s>CUOMO: Let's get over to meteorologist Indra Petersons, keeping track of the latest forecast. Got some hot and cold play here, as well.</s>INDRA PETERSONS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It's been hot for a while, and we all are loving this, but we know -- just take a look at the map -- how quickly this weather is going to change. As long as you're ahead of the cold front, temperatures feel very nice. You're talking about 78 degrees out towards Raleigh today. But look just behind the front, and you know exactly what is coming your way. And you probably don't like it. More and more of that cool air and even some rain showers today, really all of the entire Eastern Seaboard. Now, this is the best it's going to be over the next several days. Why? Because we're going to be talking about those temperatures dipping even further. You're talking about temperatures that felt like they were in the 80s just a day or so ago going down to the 50s. But that's not even the big story. I mean, so what, 50s, right, this time of year? It is maybe this factor: snow and, by the way, Halloween coming on Friday. No one wants their first snowfall. But Thursday, Friday, Saturday, here we go. Many of you will be seeing those first flurries as early as this weekend. So what is going on? Here comes the first thing we're talking about" some lake-effect snow, tiny flurries in the Midwest and also out towards the Ohio valley. Then that low continues to develop, make its way up the coastline so the northeast could be talking about some flurries overnight Saturday night in through Sunday. So Halloween, I'm sorry, the kiddies definitely need extra layers, because you're talking about these overnight hours, temperatures finally dipping back down to the 30s. I was really hoping it was going to stay. Right? Seventies, like a day or two ago?</s>CAMEROTA: Why not?</s>PEREIRA: I remember every year as a kid. Like, you had this great elaborate costume and then having to opt for face paint and a parka.</s>CAMEROTA: You were in Canada as a kid. Right?</s>PEREIRA: I remember that. So depressing.</s>CAMEROTA: For real snow.</s>CUOMO: Saskatchewan. The real deal.</s>PEREIRA: Exactly.</s>CAMEROTA: Thanks, Indra.</s>CUOMO: I just got that. That was good.</s>CAMEROTA: All right. Wait till you see this. It is a massive fireball moments after takeoff. An unmanned rocket explodes seconds after takeoff. It was on its way to resupply the International Space Station. What went wrong?