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CNN SATURDAY MORNING NEWS

After Isabel: Interview with Mayor Gordon Helsel

Aired September 20, 2003 - 07:04   ET

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

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: We want to turn things over now to Kris Osborne, standing by in Poquoson, Virginia. Hi, Kris.
KRIS OSBORNE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, good morning to you, Heidi.

Well, leading up to, and, of course, during Isabel, you likely, and many likely heard terms like "low-lying area," "flood plain." It describes almost precisely where I'm standing now. It is in Poquoson, Virginia. It is a peninsula area surrounded by water. And, as you might expect, there is a lot of work to be done.

We can start by giving you a look up here at these damaged power lines. Emergency officials tell us this morning, as of 6:00 a.m. Eastern, that Dominion Power is reporting as many as 1.5 million homes are still without power. In addition to that, trees across the road, of course many homes with trees fallen on them.

And for some perspective on this, we are joined by Mayor Helsel. He is the mayor of Poquoson.

Thanks for your time.

MAYOR GORDON HELSEL, POQUOSON, VIRGINIA: Good morning, (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Thank you.

OSBORNE: So how is the community holding up?

HELSEL: Community altogether is doing very well. Neighbors are pulling together and helping each other. Trees are getting cut away from homes. Certainly our forces are out in force all day, all night, each and every day since the storm.

The area behind me, of course, is a common scene in the city of Poquoson today. It's devastation here.

OSBORNE: Without question. Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor.

HELSEL: Thank you, sir.

OSBORNE: Out in force, as you heard from the mayor of Poquoson. Also assessment teams will be fanning out throughout the state of Virginia to make formal assessments, if you will, as to just how bad a lot of the flooding, a lot of the power circumstances actually are, Heidi.

COLLINS: All right, Kris Osborne in Virginia for us. Thanks so much, Kris.

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