Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
TO PEKT THAT NUMBER TO RISE
SIGNIFICANTLY.
IT'S BEEN SIX DAYS SINCE THE
CATASTROPHIC LANDSLIDE, BUT
AUTHORITIES STILL DON'T HAVE A
FIRM GRASP ON THE NUMBER OF
THOSE MISSING OR THE ACTUAL
FATALITIES.
PEOPLE ARE EMPATHETIC GIVEN THE
ENORMITY OF THE TASK.
>> IT'S DEFINITELY FRUSTRATING
NOT KNOWING.
I REALLY FEEL THEY'RE DOING THE
BEST THEY CAN DO.
>> Reporter: DEFENDING THE
SLOW-MOVING PROCESS IN RELEASING
NUMBER OF THOSE WHO DIED, THE
OFFICIAL TALLY NEEDS TO COME
FROM THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S
OFFICE.
AS FOR THE SCENE AND PILES OF
MUD AND DEBRIS, EVEN EXPERIENCED
FIRST RESPONDERS ARE STILL IN
DISBELIEF OVER THE VOLUME OF
DEVASTATION.
>> SOME OF THE HOUSES ARE OUT
HERE IN BETTER TACK THAN OTHERS.
SOME LOOK LIKE THEY'VE BEEN PUT
IN A BLENDER AND DROPPED ON THE
GROUND.
>> Reporter: NOT JUST THE
OFFICIALS AT WORK.
GORDON STRKSORRO IS AMONG THOSE
DIGGING IN THE MUD.
WHEN YOU SAY YOU'RE DIGGING BY
HAND, LITERALLY USING YOUR
HANDS.
>> GARDEN TOOLS AND YOU TRY TO
USE BIGGER TOOLS TO MOVE THE
DEBRIS AND MUD OUT OF THE WAY
BUT YOU'RE DOWN ON ALL FOURS AND
LITERALLY HANDFUL OF DIRT AT A
TIME.
>> Reporter: ONE FEDERAL
EMERGENCY OFFICIAL GOING TO FAR
AS TO SAY THERE ARE SLATER SIMIS
TO THE 9/11 SCENE AND HURRICANE
KATRINA.
>> SIZE-WISE NOT AS MUCH BUT
COMPLEXITY WISE IT IS EVERY BIT
AS COMPLEX AS ALL OF THOSE.
IT HAS SAME ISSUES AND THE
NUMBER OF MISSING PEOPLE IS
QUITE HIGH.
>> Reporter: GETTING AN EXACT
HANDLE ON THE TOTAL NUMBER OF
MISSING MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE.
EVEN IF BODIES ARE NEVER
RECOVERED GORD ON STOROE SAYS
HE'D LIKE TO FIND ANYTHING THAT
MIGHT GIVE A FAMILY SOME PEACE.