Journal and Project

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News Report 3 Transcript

ANCHOR

Good evening, welcome to VNN. Since Hurricane Hanna made landfall last week, communities all across the region, from the coast to hundreds of miles inland, are struggling to recover. The slow-moving storm brought severe winds and rains and tornadoes, causing catastrophic flooding throughout the region. At least four states reported record rainfall, and most of the fatalities have been due to flooding. Survivors throughout the region still need emergency food and water, as well as ice to preserve food until power is restored. Utility companies are saying they need another week or more to restore power in some neighborhoods. Responders are also working hard to provide temporary roofing to homes and businesses that have damaged roofs, and to provide temporary housing to the thousands who have lost their homes.

The states and FEMA have established locations where residents can get emergency supplies and water, there are points of distribution in many communities where supermarkets and other food stores are still closed or damaged.

The state is warning citizens that the public water supply has been breached by toxic chemicals and sewage from treatment plants. Residents should not use public water for drinking, washing hands or bathing. But some neighborhoods are still flooded and unreachable, so residents are fending for themselves. Some have resorted to looting local businesses for groceries, electronics and more. State and federal environmental cleanup teams are trying to contain the breach to the public water supply.

Local emergency managers are taking a number of steps to inform and protect residents, including reverse 911 calls and even sending officers into the streets with bullhorns.

Hurricane Hanna has devastated communities across the region. We have reports of more than 1,000 fatalities, and 5,000 critical or serious injuries.