CNN "The Lead With Jake Tapper" - Transcript: Interview with Senator Bill Nelson of Florida

Interview

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SEN. BILL NELSON (D), FLORIDA: Just exactly what you've been reporting. It's devastation and as you go east of Panama City, that's where the -- the right side of the hurricane, the most ferocious winds were and Mexico Beach. I imagine when we finally get into the next town which is Port St. Joe, I think you're going to find devastation, particularly Mexico Beach, because there's no barrier island outside of it. So it was getting the full force of the wind and the water.

[16:20:01] Further east, Port St. Joe is a natural harbor with a cape around it, cape sandblast. It would have had some protection, but no doubt it's going to be like not anything we've seen since Hurricane Andrew in 1992 down south of Miami. It's going to be like that over there in those small little populated areas. They will be flattened completely.

TAPPER: And what's your number one concern right now, Senator?

NELSON: Well, that's why I'm here. I'm here to make sure that the federal government is sending all of the resources that it needs, and it's going to need a lot.

TAPPER: Governor Scott says that the top focus right now is search and rescue. Have you heard of any areas where people might be trapped, where there is not an effort being made that needs to be made?

NELSON: In the woods to the west, all along the shore here, I suspect that there are people who decided to hunker down, and we're going to find people hopefully alive back in those dwellings.

TAPPER: What's your message to residents who might say, hey, the storm is over, I'm going to get in my car and check on my home, head back into these hard-hit areas like the one you're in right now?

NELSON: As a matter of fact, a lot of people are doing that. You should have seen -- I had to come all the way on the interstate and then south, and there were cars lined up for miles wanting to get back, and that's what they are doing. They want to get back, clean up.

You can see the weather is great here. That's simply unusual for a hurricane because it's usually range and still blowing. This hurricane moved so fast it's up north Georgia, South Carolina by now.

TAPPER: President Trump has declared a major disaster area in Florida. I know you and Senator Rubio asked for this to happen. Are you getting the support you need from the federal government and the White House?

NELSON: Yes, and we will get it, and Senator Rubio is on his way to join me, and the two of us are going to be here on the ground. We'll make sure that this area gets exactly what it needs.

TAPPER: All right. Senator, if you don't get what you need, if there's more you need from Tallahassee or from Washington, D.C., and you're not getting, it let us know here at CNN, and we'll bring attention to it.

NELSON: Thanks, Jake.

TAPPER: All right. Thank you, Senator.

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