tonight, breaking news. hurricane irma, turning deadly. the category 5 storm, 185 miles per hour, headed for florida. new video coming in tonight, slamming into the caribbean right now. tonight the prime minister of one island just reporting at least 90% of the island destroyed, buildings and cars. american tourists huddling in hotels. the new track tonight -- which scenario will play out in florida. ginger zee standing by as several other states brace for impact too. states of emergency in south carolina and now north carolina tonight as well. running on empty. millions of americans heeding the warnings. fuel running out. traffic backed up. airlines canceling flights. and the cruise lines with ships at sea. also breaking tonight, the deal president trump made in the

oval office today with the democrats. many republicans fuming. and tonight, this image coming in. the passenger jet flying to new york city right beside the hurricane. good evening, and it's great to have you with us here on a wednesday night, and let's get right to it. that monster hurricane. the strongest ever on record in the atlantic ocean. slamming into the caribbean already, turning deadly, ravaging islands, and i want to get back to that video. listen to the sound as it slams st. martin. an extremely powerful storm. so many islands getting hammered. many americans who cannot get out in time, trying to ride out this hurricane. this satellite image tonight shows the eye of this category 5 storm fully formed there. at this hour, irma tracking toward florida, but there are several other states now in the possible path, and i want to show you this tonight. this image coming in. that's the eye again, but in the middle there, that is the island of barbuda.

authorities there late this afternoon, reporting at least 90% of the buildings on that island could be gone now. abc's linzie janis is in the middle of it all. she leads us off tonight. >> reporter: tonight, hurricane irma tearing through the caribbean, claiming at least three lives. with ferocious 185 mile-an-hour winds -- irma pummeling the u.s. virgin islands, home to more than 90,000 u.s. citizens. >> it is really ripping right now. >> reporter: on the island of st. martin, streets submerged. this hotel, government buildings, even the island's airport reportedly damaged. a dangerous wave sweeping this person right off their feet. >> we tried to like stop the water, but -- i mean, it's flooding. >> reporter: loren mayo, one of five women on a fitness retreat, trapped in her hotel. >> we're on the sixth floor, so the flooding is kind of amazing because the wind and rain is bringing it through the sliding doors. >> reporter: newlyweds sara and

scott riggins locking themselves in the bathroom. >> we got -- the wind goes about 100 miles per hour. you can really hear it outside shaking the doors. >> reporter: this image showing barbuda right in the center of irma's eye. the prime minister saying some 90% of the island's buildings are destroyed. hurricane hunters inside irma finding it's the first atlantic ocean storm ever to maintain winds of at least 180 miles an hour for this long. it's 10:00 a.m. here in puerto rico, and hurricane irma appears to have arrived. we've got some very powerful winds, rain and surf. san juan, a ghost town. the governor warning people not to go outside under any circumstances, saying the island has never seen a hurricane like this before. more than 1,000 in shelters. >> we don't know what's going to happen. it's scary. and i pray for everyone that's out there that don't want to leave their homes. >> and linzie janis joins us

from san juan, puerto rico tonight. we can see the effects behind you, and more than 500,000 without power there already? >> reporter: yes, david. the head of the power company says it could be between four and six months before power is restored so some of those areas. we're being told to expect sustained hurricane force winds for at least a couple of hours tonight. there's also major concern about storm surge and flash flooding. it will be a long night, david. >> long night indeed. linzie janis and our team in san swan. stay safe tonight. as we told ehere last night in the broadcast, we were looking at two possible scenarios for florida. tonight, a much clearer picture here. the new models are in. also north and south carolina declaring states of emergency. let's get to meteorologist ginger zee tonight. she has been tracking irma with us all day, and where is she right now? >> reporter: irma is northeast of san juan, puerto rico. the eye is about 20 miles across, is moving west, northwest at 16. so san juan, my primary concern

for that part, and puerto rico, the northeast corner, flash flooding. as this moves on, with 185-mile-per-hour winds still, the pressure is actually dropping. we could see strengthening yet tonight. that's what's frightening. look at turks and caicos, and the southernbahamas, and nassau. we could see a 20-foot storm surge. these islands have elevation of a couple of feet. this is thursday into friday, and friday into saturday, it's north of cuba, and saturday into sunday, it moves toward florida, and sunday afternoon, we have a category 4 in this scenario, sitting over miami. storm surge, heavy rains, incredible power. pay attention to the cone, because still looking at georgia and south carolina. additionally in that cone, also in the scenario. at least 75-mile-per-hour winds,

so linzie was talking about it, extends 50 miles on each sides. the muddles coming together on the east side of florida. >> we said west and east side, and we believe it's east side. >> reporter: we believe it's east side, and that would mean for savannah, and charleston, you could have impact next week, and inland flooding is a major concern up through even asheville. >> you will be with us through the urk had. thank you. in florida tonight, millions of americans are trying to get out of harm's way. first, the keys of course, only one way in, and one way out. they are very concerned as ginger just mentioned here, about that storm surge. abc's gio benitez is right there tonight. >> reporter: tonight, the florida keys under a full-scale evacuation. >> the track now has it forecasted to directly impact the florida keys on sunday as a devastating major hurricane. >> reporter: some 80,000 residents live here full time, and many, including elizabeth prieto, are heeding that warning. >> i've been through george, been through andrew, been through wilma but i'm not staying for irma.

no. not happening. >> reporter: others, not ready yet. >> julie mcgrane, keeping a close eye on weather reports and stocking supplies. >> we're planning to stay until the friday update, and really see where this thing is going to go. and if it's bad, we're going to get out of here. >> reporter: tourists already ordered to leave, and with time to get out running out, drivers rushing to fill their tanks facing long lines, and shortages. this is what we're seeing all over the florida keys -- out of service. and just look. chair after chair blocking these gas pumps. they just ran out. but with only one road in and out of the keys, authorities say it could be dangerous to wait. >> if you stay, and you think you're a tough guy, you're on your own. don't expect us to come get you. we're not going to put ourselves at risk. >> this is very different. i have never seen people take a hurricane so seriously. >> and gio benitez joins us live from key west tonight, and we should warn everyone at home, don't be fooled by the blue skies because we heard the

officials say, don't try to tough this out. the real concern is if there is massive flooding, there's no way to get help in there. >> reporter: that's right, david. let me show you why. because here you have got just one road in and out of the chis. take a look at this. you have the water right next ott road. the average key is just 6 feet above sea level. this is a lot less, so flooding is just a major concern here, david. >> really encouraging because you were telling us many are heeding the call to get out. gio, thank you. and further north in miami, store shelves empty, long lines and the concern there is the fuel. more than a quarter of the gas stations running out of gas. abc's alex perez from miami. >> reporter: tonight, a rush on gas across florida. >> well, the gas lines are crazy. >> reporter: bumper to bumper lines, desperate residents waiting to fill up. >> i have to get what they have. nothing you can do. >> reporter: pumps drying up. more than 25% of gas stations in miami dade, out of fuel.

at grocery stores, even more lines. water flying off shelves. >> it's been hard to get. sg sgld. >> we seem to be having a difficulty finding water. >> reporter: the governor urging residents to be prepared with a three-day supply of food, warning on "gma" -- >> we can rebuild your home but we can't rebuild your life. >> reporter: fearing inevitable flooding, floridians also stocking up on sandbags. another big concern here in miami -- you see them all over the skyline, these massive construction cranes, up high in the sky. crews are now working to secure them. those crews actually secure the cranes by allowing them to spin. >> we get ready, then we put the crane into a weather-vaning position so when the crane can spin when the wind comes, it won't take it out of balance. >> reporter: but city officials warning those who live near cranes to leave their homes. the utter devastation that hurricane andrew brought to the state 25 years ago etched in memory for so many. >> this is bigger than andrew. it'll have a bigger storm surge than andrew, and it sure looks like it's going to barrel right down in the middle of the state of florida. >> reporter: the president today

also concerned. >> it looks like it could be something that will be not good. believe me, not good. >> alex perez with us live tonight from miami. just stunning there, alex. what you reported about the cranes that they let them spin. that's the safer avenue when a hurricane hits. but back to the gas. more than a quarter of gas stations there without fuel? the governor telling abc more fuel is on the way? >> reporter: that's right, david. the governor insists more gas is coming, and says there is no shortage. the issue is the increased demand and being able to deliver it quickly enough. this gas station was supposed to get a delivery this morning, but that has been pushed back to at least tomorrow, david. >> alex perez. our thanks to you again tonight. you have seen the images of traffic. it's also air travel. cruise lines forced to make decisions about ships with passengers at sea. abc's amy robach from the miami airport tonight. >> reporter: tonight, the scramble to safety on florida's highways. gridlock on i-75 south from

tampa. >> this is what interstate 75 looks like right now. >> reporter: to sarasota -- all cars heading in one direction. and these cars stopped one woman trying to get to orlando. >> orlando is the only airport with flights available. >> reporter: at the ft. lauderdale airport, the mad crush to get out. so far, more than 1,000 flights canceled. american airlines canceling all flights to and from miami this weekend. here in miami, if you don't have a plane ticket, don't plan on getting one now. you drove here hoping you could get a ticket? what did they tell you? >> they told me all the flights are full. >> reporter: all major u.s. carriers now offering travel waivers for passengers in the region. airports taking precautions, too, after these images taken after irma hit saint maarten. the airport sustaining devastating damage. at least eight cruise lines cancelling upcoming trips. another 13 cruise ships changing course to avoid irma. >> amy robach with us live, and they are working on getting jets out of the hurricane's path, amy?

>> reporter: it's true, david. it's a busy afternoon here, where flights are canceled for today and tomorrow. airlines are trying to reposition their planes here in south florida out of south florida as hurricane irma approaches and that means those cancellations will continue to rise, dad. >> we can see the lines forming behind you. amy, thank you. all of our teams out in the storm. we thank them all. stay safe, and we'll have much more for you first thing in the morning on "good morning america." in the meantime, we turn to the other major news, president trump and a deal made today in the oval office. a deal with the democrats. many republicans tonight are not happy. abc's mary bruce on the hill for us. >> reporter: in the oval office today, that stunning image -- the president cutting a deal with democrats and blindsiding his own party. just an hour earlier, the speaker of the house blasted the democrats' proposal to raise the debt ceiling and fund the government for only three months. >> i think that's a ridiculous and disgraceful -- >> reporter: republicans wanted

a long-term solution to avoid another bruising fight in december. but in the oval office, sitting down with leaders of both parties, the president sided with the democrats, a surprise snap decision that left republicans reeling. the meeting grew even more tense when ivanka trump walked in. sources say the conversation veered off topic, as gop leaders grew visibly annoyed. afterwards, back at the capitol, senate majority leader mitch mcconnell frustrated, but resigned. >> the president agreed with senator schumer and congresswoman pelosi. >> reporter: democrats gleeful. >> today was a good day in a generally, very partisan town. >> reporter: and the president also painting a rosy picture. >> we walked out and everybody was happy. not too happy. because you can never be too happy, but they were happy enough. >> all right. the president says they left that oval office happy. mary bruce joins us tonight from capitol hill. mary, were they happy? you talked to republican leaders. didn't sound that way. >> reporter: no, david. they were not. this is a major blow to

republicans. a three-month extension sets up a big battle in december and gives democrats leverage, just as republicans are hoping to seal a deal on tax reform. potentially typing their hands on one of the president's top priorities. david? >> thank you. in the meantime, just hours ago, the attorney general announced the end of daca. brought here by their parents. saying they are illegal aliens taking american jobs. the president then tweeted overnight, congress now has six months to legalize daca. if they can't, i will revisit this issue. abc's senior white house correspondent, cecilia vega, asking the president today, did he suddenly change his mind? >> reporter: in the oval office today, we asked president trump if he's having a change of heart. mr. president, are you having second thoughts on daca based on your tweets? >> no second thoughts. >> reporter: but within hours of ending protections for d.r.e.a.m.ers, that tweet -- the president saying he could revisit the decision. on air force one today, he says

he is not sending mixed signals. >> no mixed signal at all. i'd like to see something where we have good border security, and we have a great daca transaction where everybody is happy. i'd like to see a permanent deal. >> reporter: and the president says he thinks that deal is going to happen. >> so let's get to cecilia vega with us live from the white house. and cecilia, president trump's own attorney general, jeff sessions, called the d.r.e.a.m.ers illegal aliens taking those american jobs, but now the president wants a permanent deal to protect them. >> reporter: they said legislation to protect these d.r.e.a.m.ers and border security g hand in hand. the question this white house is not yet answering, is whether the president would support protection for daca, if this legislation does not contain funding for his border wall, david. >> cecilia vega asking the questions at the white house today. thank you. there is much more ahead on "world news tonight" this wednesday. the handcuffed suspect escaping police. you will see how she does this.

the woman in the backseat of a vehicle, slipping out of the handcuffs, stealinger her suv, and the wild chase to catch her a second time. also, the country music star revealing her personal battle, and saying she has to put her tour on hold now. and our hurricane coverage continues. look at the circle. that is a plane. a passenger jet flying to new york city right beside the hurricane. a lot more news ahead. e whole f. they sure did! guy-who-used-to-ask-if-you-could -hear-him-now-with-verizon? ...or just paul. we've been up here for ages. you should switch to sprint like i did. nowadays, every network is great! but with sprint, you're not paying a ton for unlimited or overages. thanks, paul. works for me! daddy, can we switch to sprint? i don't feel too good. don't get hooked by verizon and let a 1% difference in network reliability cost you twice as much. switch to sprint unlimited $22.50 per month per line for four lines. for people with hearing loss, visit sprintrelay.com but prevagen helps your brain with an ingredient originally discovered... in jellyfish.

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chase saturday through lufkin, texas, pushing 100 miles per hour. officers coming head-on swerve out of the way. [ sirens ] sponsler swerves, too, avoiding these spike strips -- -- but finally knocked off the road. guns drawn. police smash the window to get her out. the opening between the front and back seat is about 12 inches and even so, the lufkin police are making a change. releasing this video, installing new barriers and showing a sense of humor. #foolmeonce. clayton sandell, abc news, denver. >> thank you. when we come back tonight, the well known nfl star accusing police of excessive force saying they did not know who he was as they had him on the ground. and the recalled popular piece of furniture sold at many walmarts. and the news from a beloved

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to the index of other news tonight, the nfl star accusing police of excessive force. seattle seahawks defensive end, michael bennett, says an officer held a gun to his head and he was on the ground as police responded to an incident outside a las vegas nightclub. he claims he tried to identify himself telling officers he was not involved, and he called it a traumatic experience saying he believes it was racially motivated and police are investigating. a major headline from facebook. the social media giant revealing $100,000 in ads were bought in fake accounts from russia during the election. 3,000 ads purchased over a two-year period, and they were displayed on accounts in the u.s. during the election. there is an internal investigation to u.s. authorities. a safety recall tonight. recalling 4 million dressers for concerns they may tip over and fall on children. the chest of drawers sold by several retailers, including

walmart. the company providing a free kit tonight to anchor the dresser. we have much more on our website for you. and a country star revealing something. jody messina saying she has been diagnosed with cancer. we wish her well in that night. when we come back here, a powerful image. a passage on its way to new york city, traveling right beside the hurricane right after the break.

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finally tonight here, one more image of hurricane irma we saw today. this flight trying to get back to new york city from san juan. this delta jet flying between the bands of the storm. it landed safely in new york, and at this hour, the path of the storm touching puerto rico. heading toward florida, and states of emergency all the way up to south carolina and now north carolina as well. spaghetti models showing the track shifting east ward now, but a possible direct hit on miami, and then several states right up the coast. we will stay on this with you. i'm david muir. i hope to see you right back here tomorrow night. until then, stay safe and we'll see you here tomorrow. good night. we sip, we peel, -and we slide! -whoo! nah. like this.

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this is the "jeopardy!" teachers tournament. here is our third group of semi-finalists -- a high school chemistry teacher from klein, texas... a high school spanish teacher from chicago, illinois... and a high school french and english teacher from rogers, arkansas... and now here is the host of "jeopardy!" -- alex trebek! thanks, johnny. thank you, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome. i hope you folks at home agree with me in that the quality of play in this year's teachers tournament had been exceptional, much better than any tournament i can recall in recent memory. and i can only assume that today's match will reflect that point of view as well. good luck. here we go. now the categories...