CNN "CNN Newsroom" - Transcript: Interview With North Carolina Congressman David Rouzer
Interview
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BALDWIN: Florence could become the strongest hurricane to hit Carolina since Hurricane Hugo back in 1989.
So with me now from Wilmington, North Carolina, Congressman David Rouzer, who represents the area.
And, Congressman, good to see you, sir.
Looks can be deceiving with those beautiful blue skies overhead. I mean, when you look at all these different models, our weather experts are tracking all these models, and it looks like Wilmington is a prime target, no matter which model you're looking at.
[15:10:10]
So you tell me, sir, why isn't Wilmington under mandatory evacuation?
REP. DAVID ROUZER (R), NORTH CAROLINA: Well, the coastal towns are under a mandatory evacuation. New Hanover County, that which is a little further inland, is not.
But the local officials here are all encouraging folks to evacuate, particularly if they have a place where they can go. There are shelters that are being made available outside of this area, one in particular up in Raleigh, North Carolina.
We don't want anybody to take this for chance. In fact, if you go back and look through hurricane history, Hurricane Hazel hit this area in 1954, and its destruction is legendary.
This is a very similar type of storm. And everybody that I know is certainly taking this very seriously. I have got some friends that are saying, but many others that are on their way out of town, as they should be.
And just hope that folks will heed that warning.
BALDWIN: And to your friends that are staying, you say what, Congressman?
(LAUGHTER)
ROUZER: Well, they're adults, and they can make their own decision.
But there's a reason why a mandatory evacuation or an evacuation has been encouraged, even if it's not mandatory. And so I would encourage them to do so. But that that's their choice, obviously.
BALDWIN: Sure. Sure.
(CROSSTALK) ROUZER: I want to say, too, I just left the Wilmington EMS -- I just left -- can you hear me?
BALDWIN: No, go ahead. Yes, yes, yes, go ahead, Wilmington EMS.
ROUZER: I just left the Wilmington EMS.
They're doing tremendous work there. The director stood up and told his folks, he said, we have been preparing for this type of storm for five years. Now let's go and execute.
And so I just commend them for all their great work. And, again, to all the residents here, please heed the advice of the local officials and evacuate, if you can.
BALDWIN: One last one for you, Congressman.
Of course, we know the White House is in touch with various governors, FEMA. We know Trump is actually in a FEMA briefing right now. I mean, you're there on the ground. You just walked out of Wilmington EMS.
You have an ear to the ground. What would you want this president to know as the storm approaches your home, your home districts?
ROUZER: Well, we had a call this morning with the administration, Brock Long, who's administrator of -- the administrator of...
BALDWIN: FEMA.
ROUZER: Administrator of FEMA.
The administration is well aware of the scenario here. All hands are on deck. The federal government is going to have all resources available to us. And I know -- I know the president has been well briefed by Brock and others in the administration.
So I have no concern about that whatsoever. And I just hope that folks will heed the warning to evacuate. The flooding could be significant. And that's what concerns me the most. You could have anywhere from 15 to 30 inches of rain, not just here, but much further inland. That's a real concern for all of us as well.
BALDWIN: That's what our meteorologist was just saying. If you're going to leave town, don't just leave the coastal area. Make sure you get really far inland, because they will still see potentially two feet of rain, all those floodwaters.
Congressman Rouzer, thank you.
ROUZER: Great to be with you.
BALDWIN: Thank you.
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