and, you know, i want to thank craig fugate. sometimes, you know, people just think fema, and they don't thank the people behind them. but craig lives and breathes this stuff, making sure that we're providing the help that people so desperately need in these situations. i want to thank all the first responders who have been involved in this process, the linesmen, the firefighters, the folks who were in here, shoveling out people who were supposed to get the hell out and didn't. you know, you've helped to save a lot of lives and a lot of property. and, and one thing you learn in these tragedies is the first responders, keep in mind, their homes are usually underwater too, or their families have been affected in some way, and yet they make those personal sacrifices to help other people. so, we really appreciate them. i'm just going to make a couple of comments. number one, and most important, our hearts go out to the families who have lost loved ones. it's true that because of some good preparation, the loss of life was kept lower

craig fugate was sitting next to the president's side. he admonished his aids at fema who said everything is under control. fugate said don't get smug, don't get overconfident. we don't know what is going to happen. obviously an incredible amount of federal and state resources geared toward what's going to happen on the east coast. >> a lot of moving parts. thanks. it's not too often we hear the words philadelphia and hurricane mixed in the same sentence. hurricane irene moved, big, powerful storms cause just as much destruction inland as they dump huge amounts of water and cause wind damage. the current storm track for hurricane sandy churning in the atlantic has it expecting to make a sharp left turn through the commonwealth of p.a. after it comes ashore tomorrow. this storm could be headed to philadelphia. michael nutter is the mayor of philadelphia. sir, i know that philadelphia has already gone under through your declaration a state of emergency. what does that mean for philly residents. >> the opportunity to talk about philadelphia.

under craig fugate's leadership here at fema, we've had a chance to talk to the region al officials as well, and i had talks with governors of various states as well as other leaders. everyone is confident that the staging process, the pre-positioning of equipment that will be needed to respond to the storm are in place. but as craig has emphasized, this hasn't hit landfall yet, so we don't yet know where it's going to hit, where we're going to see the biggest impacts, and that's exactly why it's so important for us to respond big and respond fast as local information starts coming in. i want to thank all the members of the team for the outstanding work that they're doing, but the other thing that makes this storm unique is we anticipate it will be slow moving. that means that it may take a long time not only to clear but also to get, for example, the power companies back in to clear trees and put things back in place so that folks can start moving back home. so my main message to everybody involved is that we have to take this seriously. the federal government is working effectively w

joining me now is fema director craig few gai craig fugate. into perspective the enormity of the preparations are we have a hurricane, a blizzard, an inland flood threat and a gale into one storm. covering all of the northeastern united states, a lot of preparation, a lot of areas, and particularly today, starting to see more risk from storam surge developing and evacuation required in certain coastal community. >> with regard to fema, where are you positioned with the enormity of the geography of this? >> we started back friday, realizing that this was going to be a potential impact, began moving teams, maybe those teams have arrived. they are staged throughout the region. like everyone else, not exactly sure where the hardest hit areas may be. from the carolinas up to maine and inland, we have teams, equipment, staging, ready to support governors, depending upon the impacts of the storm. >> people always talk about being for days without power. what's the setup you have to be prepared for that? >> that's what we're anticipating. i think toda

the fema director, fugate, did talk with officials.s is what happened in the state of florida when it happened in 2004. they moved polling places and got generators where it was necessary to open precincts. and by the way, the federal government reimbursed the state for those costs. that is why it came up, because state and local officials asked mr. fugate if they could get reimbursed with federal tax dollars and he said that yes, that would be the case. that would be step one, a delay, and next, it is not up to the states, it would be a case by case. >> these early reports where we're getting where we can't get pictures yet out of the area just north of new york city is of some catastrophic damage, trees still down, over the wires, arcing wires, so we're in for a long couple of days. chuck todd in the west wing, of the briefing room at the white house. chuck, thanks. we'll be right back after the break. our coverage will continue right after this. ♪ with a low national plan premium... ♪ ...and copays as low as one dollar... ♪ ...savin

fugate brings to the job. >> we realized how important it was to coordinate through one agency. i want your reaction. that is something -- i was covering, of course as you were, the democratic party. this is a pretty good speech but not a great speech from the president accepting the nomination for re-election. here's a point where the crowd around me just went wild. i want to you put that in perspective with this, with what is happening right now. here is the president giving his acceptance speech in charlotte. >> i recognize that times have changed since i first spoke to this convention. times have changed and so have i. i'm no longer just a candidate. i'm the president. >> you know, chuck, i wonder when it becomes an advantage of being an incumbent, all of the things that he may have inherited, may not have inherited, which ever way you look at it, this may be an opportunity. who knows. what do you think? because he clearly thinks it might be. >> not only that, the romney campaign believes that it might be. they wouldn't have canceled their events and said, we're going to see

fugate, good morning to you.ing. >> yes, it is. >> i know you're just getting a handle on the scope and magnitude of the damage here, but if you could characterize it, how bad is it? >> it's bad enough that based upon calls with both governors from new york and new jersey, the president took the increasing step of issuing major disaster declarations to improve assistance for those individuals heavily hit. they can call 1-800-261-fema or go to disaster.gov. we're still dealing with a lot of impacts. focus on new jersey and new york, we've got connecticut and pennsylvania and others as far to the west as west virginia dealing with a blizzard so this is very much a response operation. things are still occurring. the storm is not over, but, again, based on this, the president took extraordinary acts to turn on even more assistance in some of the hardest hit areas, and we continue to work with other governors to increase the amount of assistance we're providing. >> there's so much going on here. there's the rain and s

chris fugate was jeb bush's hurricane guy. so, you know, for all this talk of obama being so polarizing he hired jeb bush's hurricane expert as his fema executive. >> i think to richard's point, this bipartisan bologna that mitt romney has been proposing over the last few days, is absolutely nonsensical when you look at his record in massachusetts, but also bear in mind mitt romney called republican governors yesterday. the president didn't. he called governors who are in states that are affected. and that's the big difference between these two men. and i think that that's what the audience, the public, sorry, and your audience, alex, are beginning to get hold of. this man is for the whole of america, the whole. >> that's the benefit presidents have. you can take the national perspective, you look like you're an executive at a time of crisis. you can do things. candidates are less on a stage with a microphone talking about doing things. there is an advantage at this point when for all the challenges that a natural disaster tha

director fugate says. as far as the improvements that will have to be the supplemental appropriation and we'll have to have that be accounted for. but one way or the other, we'll have to have that be done. it is enormous not to improvement. it could have long-term economic consequences. we'll have to see what it is going to be. we'll have a commitment to make sure it is going to be done. >> thank you so much for joining us. >> millions are without power tonight. coming up. we'll ask the guy who runs the east coast utility companies when and how he plans to get that back on the grid. >> sandy, the path of destruction. there are a lot of warning lights and sounds vying for your attention. so we invented a warning you can feel. introducing the all-new cadillac xts. available with a patented safety alert seat. when there's danger you might not see, you're warned by a pulse in the seat. it's technology you won't find in a mercedes e-class. the all-new cadillac xts has arrived, and it's bringing future forward.

fugate, we appreciate your time this morning.ough the areas that have now been affected and where fema's resources are. >> well, we're working the pretty much everything from the carolinas all the way up. the way the storm's going we still have impact. last night after conversations with both governors of new jersey and new york, president obama took the extraordinary action to issue a major disaster declaration based upon the impact that had occurred. what that means is now not only are we providing direct response, but also financial support to state and local governments for response. individuals in these immediate declared areas can start registering for assistance by calling 1-800-621-fema or going to disasterassistance.gov and start the registration process. we know there are people in counties that have not yet been declared. we will be adding on additional counties throughout the day, and probably over the next several days. really are still in response mode. and what people can do to really help right now if you're in th

i thank craig fugate.eople think "fema" and they do not think of the people but craig lives and breathes and makes sure we are providing the help that people so desperately need. i thank altogether the first responders who have been involved in this process, the linesman, the firefighters and the folks in here shoveling people who were supposed to get the hell out and didn't. you helped to save a lot of likes likes and property. what you learn, the first responders, their homes usually are under water too or their families have been affected yet they make those personal sacrifices to help others. we appreciate them. i will make a couple of comments. number one, and most importantly, our hearts go out to the families who is lost loved ones. it is true that because of some good preparation the loss of life was kept lower than it might have been but for those individual families obviously their world has been torn apart. we need to make sure that everyone who has lost a loved one they are in our thoughts and

just president and administrator fugate. they got on marine one which was brought up here and that's what they're doing now and just the three of them along with jack law the chief of staff on one helicopter and they're doing that tour as you know yesterday it was after governor christie did his first tell conference tour of the shore he was a different guy in the press briefing. clearly shaken him up. so then the pictures we have been seeing today, obviously, with going up in the -- it's just what you're seeing today and what people are seeing today you now understand the emotional response that governor christie had and others from new jersey had as they have seen the devastation up close so that's what they're doing now and you're right. you know, it is a picture and at the same time this is the best politics in a situation like this. >> and we actually heard from one of the congressman from the area, steve israel was on a short time ago talking about the aid that's still needed. chuck, as the president lands on the groun

i want to give him kudos on one thing, which is the administrative of fema, craig fugate, is a man who here in florida in charge of emergency management services in florida, well-known to floridians, he's now -- he worked under jeb bush in florida as a real pro. i think president obama deserves points for having chosen somebody that is a professional instead of a political crony. but it is very important. it can make or break careers. there are points where politics and hurricanes meet and it can help or they can collide. and they can break careers. we all remember governor blanco in louisiana, what a disaster that was. >> yeah. we remember all of that. so, listen, a republican praising the president, a democrat, it happened here on cnn. lz, let's stick with the ground game here. because we are talking about the imaginary scenarios for after disaster happens. what happens after, can people get to the polls? will the power be out? will there be blockage in the road? all of this. we don't know as it is pretty far to forecast out seven, eight, nine days from now to election day, but this

fema administrator fugate, they're doing their job.es directly from the president, that's a serious -- that's a serious directive. >> jennifer: so in cities and in states, there are emergency operation centers that coordinate. for those watching the program who are not familiar with how that coordination goes, can you give me a brief description of how that goes in philadelphia? >> yeah. in philadelphia, we have an emergency operation center. we have a director. her name is samantha phillips. she's basically in charge of and coordinates a whole operation across the entire government and with the number of other agencies. we all take direction at that point. those forces, combined with our state agencies and fema at the federal level you get a complete synergy among all of those entities and we fight the storms whether it is a hurricane, whether it's a heavy snowstorm or any other event. we fight them with everything that we have and again we were fortunate in philadelphia. i know some other locales had their challenges. but it is a com

run elections. >> yes. >> congress mandates when the press election is, what i was told that greg fugatewhatever you have to do, you can get reimbursed for that. >> that was the first thing they needed to know. everything else is -- >> they want to know who pays for it. if it's paid, fine. >> particularly in states like new york and new jersey that have had such a high level of devastation, they're going to reconfigure their precinct areas where they send their voters. the key thing is to get the word out to the voters that you're not going go here, now you're going to go over there. >> you recall a time in arkansas where stuff had to be done and moved. >> you're right. the key for those county clerks they want to know who's paying for it. >> the other thing is whether you're rural or whether you're in inner city areas is the transportation. the transportation in new york is going to be very difficult, at best, i think, and with the metro and the other issues. >> i felt two things. lots of provisional ballots. perhaps longer poll open and closing times, flexibility there, that's my guess

thing is keep people alive, keep people safe and rescue those in danger. >> you just heard craig fugate mention west virginia, this is the view there. more than a foot of snow has fallen and higher elevations are seeing two feet and blizzard warnings are in effect until tomorrow. >>> let's take a look at ground zero, new york city last night. water everywhere where there is still a construction site there. new york was one of the hardest hit places and that's where we start with ann thompson live in battery park and how are things looking in the light of day, ann? >> reporter: just take a look at this. this is what people in battery park woke up to. this is a tree that was just ripped out of the ground by hurricane sandy last night. it was absolutely brutal down here. i can tell you the storm surge which hit a new record high almost 14 feet came up over the sea wall and flooded into lower manhattan. we got done about 9:00 here. we could not leave battery park because there was no way out. every street was a river, and it took about three hours for that water to subside. before the storm

. >> in casual attire, he will be seen and the picture right there -- >> craig fugate, head of fema, and being greeted -- >> by governor christie. >> this is not a moment, within a week, the president of the united states and governor christie arm in arm on the job together, working hand and glove here to help the people of new jersey, a day after this outspoken critic of president obama has now effusively praised his leadership and that of the entire federal government in an hour of such incredible need for the residents of his state and now they will -- they will go together to survey the damage on marine one. pictures all the campaign wants here from president obama. >> that picture is just rema remarkable because i mean he was the keynoter and now some criticize the keynote address about not being effusive enough about mitt romney but he was the keynoter and boarding marine one. we'll all be watching your coverage, "meet the press," and your major role on election night on nbc and everything else that you're doing. thank you. >> thank you. >> and next we are live in hoboken new j

fugate, who had an experience with this on his own when he was running emergency operationings in thetate of florida in 2004 when the state of florida didn't move a primary but had issues, primary being held, congressional primary being held right after a major hurricane had hit the area, and that any cost associated with moving or merging voting stations, power generators to have power for these voting precincts was covered by federal dollars and that was the question that was going on. so that's your most likely scenario here. you'll have states and looks like new jersey and new york will be in particular the ones that will have the biggest issues here. it is -- if they want to -- they run their election. you know, they can't -- if they postpone it on the presidential, that takes an act of congress. could they extend voting hours? could they expand, move precincts, expand the voting hours, increase the amount of provisional ballots, allow people to vote in voting precincts that is not their home precinct to deal with things? all of those issues will be dealt with in the next week. >

craig fugate, if you're listening, get your guys up to delaware city. >> there you go.hat's up on twit summer. >> a couple of things i wanted to point out. please please be careful of your sources on twitter. twitter is great. we love twitter. lots of people putting out things that either are not true, things that they heard that they thought are true and also people who are just trying to be funny and pranksters and having people buy into it. at one point last night several outlets reporting that the new york stock exchange had three feet of water on the floor. that was not true. but just please be careful. >> bill: they are closed again today. >> they are, in fact, closed. this is the first time that it's been closed for two days in a row due to a weather event since the 1800s. that's how long it's been. chris christie just spoke to new jersey. said he talked to obama at midnight. chris christie said "the president has been excellent through this situation." the latest is 13 states plus the district of columbia anywhere between nine million and six and a half million

fugate for being here and helping our operation even better and we will move on from here.t i said yesterday i really mean. there has got to be sorrow and you see that and the president's seen that today, in the eyes and the faces of a lot of the folks he's met and that sorrow is appropriate. we've suffered some loss. luckily we haven't suffered that much loss of life and we thank god for that but we have suffered losses and this is the worst storm that i've seen in my lifetime in this state, but we cannot permit that sorrow to replace the resilience i know all new jerseyians have so we will get up and we'll get this thing rebuilt and we'll put things back together, because that's what this state is all about and always has been all about, and so for all of you who are here and i met a bunch of you today at brigantine who d disregarded my admonition to get the hell out of here. you are forgiven this time but not for much longer. we have to make sure when all of you see all this destruction that's fine but you know what? all that stuff can be replaced. you look to your right

this morning fema director craig fugate said preparations are in place to respond to the storm. >> we've been getting ready for the last couple days. i guess the biggest question with sandy is exactly where and how much damages are we going to see. we've got teams basically all the way from down in north carolina where it was earlier impacting the outer banks all the way to maine. we have teams in states as far inland as west virginia. we've been moving generators. we've been moving basic supplies that we would need after the storm. so it's a large response area, but we also have a lot of good teams with the states. >> the storm is also a test for mayors and governors up and down the eastern seaboard who are warning those in evacuation areas not to wait. >> we have a plan to keep you and new yorkers safe. if you follow that plan, we'll get through this storm just fine. if you don't, people's lives are in danger. >> stay on the barrier islands for 36 hours of hurricane-force winds of 75 miles an hour or more sustained, not gusting, is stupid. so don't be stupid. get out. >> so what's the

i want to thank craig fugate.etimes people just think fema and they don't think of the people behind them but craig lives and breathes this stuff, making sure that we're providing the help people so desperately need in these situations. i want to thank the first-responders who have been involved in this process. lines men, the firefighters, the folks who are in here shuttling out people who were supposed to get the hell out and didn't. you know, you've helped to save a lot of lives and a lot of property and you know, one of the things that you learn in these tragedies is the first-responders, keep in mind, their homes are usually you know water too or, their families have been affected in some, some way and yet they make those personal sacrifices to help other people. so we really appreciate them. i'm just going to make a couple of comments. number one, and, most importantly, our hearts go out to the families who have lost loved ones. it is true because of some good preparation the loss of life was kept lower than

certainly when i traveled with craig fugate doing national services, the earthquake last year, they get it during an exercise environment, but how is that going to differ from reality? but it's permeating down to the local level now. and the next challenge is how do we cross that bridge to truly having community resiliency? how do we leverage faith-based and nongovernmental organizations to carry that message for local, state, and federal leaders? so, i think that's the next challenge going forward. but the messages being delivered from the top down, i think the next piece is how do you now move it horizontally across the community level. >> and in closing, i'm going to go down the panel and ask if there's any closing comments or points that you haven't had the opportunity to make. i think, you know, people are anxious to hear your thoughts on this particular program and on this mission because it is going to take all of us if the big one happens. so, if i can start with you, vice admiral beaman, if there is anything you'd like to impart, sir. >> actually, i have 37 things i'd like to t

fugate.you a put teams in place and commodities in place, but in terms of the mutt response, what are the things that worry you? >> people that did not evacuate and coast guard having to go out to rescue them. and also, the overall impacts of the storm surge, particularly in the more populated areas. a monitoring very closely new york city in the subway system and the overall impacts for the power system and how widespread that is. >> thank you. >> congressional quarterly, your line is open. >> question for the administrator. i was hoping to look collaborate on whether you're been able to send out more alerts and any successes? >> with these types of storms, you get a lot of this that will be carried out through the traditional media. using a lot more traditional media and facebook and twitter. there is a higher degree of awareness for what the impact will be. the real success would be after words if we would see a change in the outcome. did more people he the official evacuation orders and p

fugate said the disaster fund at fema has a billion dollars in t more or less. is that enough for this kind of response that will be necessary? >> probably at the end of the day the expenses will be more than that. but yes, it's enough for now. what the president has done, the president has done a prelandfall declaration of all of the states up the east coast. so that allows the administrator to move supplies in now, move people in now, rescue teams in, and to get ready, work with those emergency managers to make sure the states are ready and femaed is ready to respond. >> tom: clearly rescue efforts initially will be focused on humanity, on rescuing folks that are stranded, trapped or in danger. but quickly you move to recovery effort. what is necessary for fema in order to make that recovery effort begin when it needs to? >> first of all, fema can't do it all. it takes a combination of private business. they've got to get heavily involved in it because they have all the resources. working with the states, and focus on those areas with the most damage. we need

craig fugate is the head of fema.ate your time this morning because i know you're really busy. first of all, tell me a little bit about the relief supplies that you have staggered. i know normally you sort of position them and then you move them in to where they're needed. but as mr. nba just pointed out to us and rob marciano before it's such a wide storm, is that compromising your ability to get close to where you might need to some emergency supplies? >> well, what we did was we sent stuff throughout the region. we began moving generators and water and all kinds of supplies back and friday, saturday, getting them in yesterday, so we're moving stuff. we've also got to remember the private sector is not idle either. they're doing everything to get their stores back open. we have been moving things from outside the area, basically from the carolinas all the way up into the new england states. and as inland as, you know, the west virginia with the blizzard there. pennsylvania, from flooding. so we've been moving stuff.

unfortunately, it did happen. >> craig fugate thank you. earlier, we heard from jim axelrod, that new york university medical center had to evacuate patients last night, losing power and emergency generators failed. dr. jon lapook was there. god good morning. >> god morningod morning, charlie. i got there late last night. the lobby was filled with doctors, nurses firemen, police trying to get people out of the hospital. they've gotten all but 50 out. that included kids neonatal icu kids. four of them were intubated. when i got there, they were being brought out, bagged manually. one was a 29-week-old premature baby, swaddled with a small face mask. >> this nurse was carrying this premature baby and doing some of the -- >> absolutely. >> how could this happen in a hospital like this one of new york's premiere hospitals, that generators fail? >> i found out, and i think this is really news. there were two generators. there was a primary backup generator that was on the roof. then there was a secondary backup generator that was at a lower leve