Major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by moving our economy for 160 years. Bnsf, the engine that connects us. Supporting social entrepreneurs and their solutions to the worlds most pressing problems skollfoundation. Org. The lemelson foundation. Committed to improving lives through invention, in the u. S. And developing countries. On the web at lemelson. Org. Supported by the john d. And catherine t. Macarthur foundation. Committed to building a more just, verdant and peaceful world. More information at macfound. Org and with the ongoing support of these institutions this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. And by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. Thank you. Sreenivasan Hurricane Irma is punishing puerto rico tonight, as it takes aim at the u. S. Mainland. Sustained winds are still blowing at a record 185 miles an hour, with gusts up to 225 miles an hour. One forecaster watching the assault today, said this thing is a buzz saw. The monster storm came in the night to the outermost islands of the northeastern caribbean. Heavy rain and howling wind slammed antigua and barbuda, cutting off communications and doing untold damage. Officials confirmed one death. The hurricane raced on to the French Island of saint martin, ripping the roofs off homes and triggering heavy flooding. By midafternoon, hurricane trackers found the eye of the storm roaring over the u. S. Virgin islands, as we reached the territorys lieutenant governor, osbert potter, by phone. The light posts, power posts, they are swaying. The trees what branches have not broken, what trees have not fallen, are being stressed a whole lot. Cars in the parking lot are literally shaking. Sreenivasan puerto rico stood next in line. Heavy rain and wind built through the day, and residents there scrambled to prepare for an allout disaster. And, the people of haiti hoped to be spared the worst, after Hurricane Matthew devastated the island nation last year. translated i have no place to go, i have to stay here. I will live or die depending on how this storm hits us. If god wants to help us, he will, but we have no place to go. Sreenivasan after passing haiti, the National HurricaneCenter Projects irma to continue tracking northwest hitting eastern cuba by saturday morning. At the same time, the storm will be turning more to the north, and could strike at miami, with 150 mileanhour winds, by early sunday. Irmas approach resurfaced memories of the devastating andrew that struck south florida 25 years ago. Governor rick scott said he plans to activate 7,000 National Guard members by friday. The storm is bigger, faster and stronger than hurricane andrew. Do not ignore evacuation orders. Remember, we can rebuild your home, but we cannot rebuild your life. Sreenivasan Miamidade County mayor Carlos Gimenez joined the appeal to heed the warnings, and soon. We dont want you to be caught in a hurricane in your car. Thats the worst thing you can do, so if youre planning to do so and leave by car, please do so as soon as you can. Sreenivasan stores and homes in the florida keys boarded up, as people left under mandatory evacuation orders. Ive been through george, been through andrew, been through wilma, but im not staying for irma. No, not happening. Sreenivasan and heavy traffic was already slowing highways along Floridas Atlantic coast, with stores struggling to keep shelves stocked. They only let you get two waters, and the line is around the block. This is the third place i came to today. This is the first i got any water at. Sreenivasan meanwhile, two more storms are forming. Katia, in the gulf of mexico, could strike veracruz this week. And, jose, in the open atlantic, is tracking far behind irma. Neither of those storms poses an immediate risk to the u. S. Mainland. Irma, on the other hand, has taken dangerous aim at florida, but exactly where it lands, and how bad, is uncertain. Meteorologists are tracking its path closely, in an already recordbreaking hurricane season. We check in again tonight with ed rappaport, the acting director of the National Hurricane center. Hes in miami. Ed, we had you on the program last night. You have more information now than you did then. Where do we go from here . What do we know about where the storm is headed . Last night, we talked about how the hur cambridge was moving into the caribbean, and then in the longer range, was going to be taking aim at the florida peninsula, and thats still the forecast. Were just one day closer to whatever we have for wil will eventuality. The center is forecast to move by saturday to just north of cuba and then turn towards the north. Where that turn occurs is whats really critical because florida is along one of those lines right up the we get a hurricanee strength that were forecasting, category 4, for irma coming along this track, then we will have impacts that will be perhaps the most significant, certainly for florida, since hurricane andrew. Sreenivasan speaking of going back in history, this almost seems like the same conditions back 11 years ago when we had katrina, rita, and wilma all in a row. Whats happening in this ocean thats making this possible . Were right at the peak of hurricane season, so we do see often hurricanes this time of year, even multiple storms. Whats unfortunate this year, these last couple of hurricanes have been not only very strong but theyve taken trackses that brought them to land. Often they stay offshore, but in this case, thats not occurring. Sreenivasan why that happening this time around . Is there a difference in the weather patterns on why its coming closer to the eastern seaboard . Thats right. The storms that form out over the eastern atlantic all tend to move towards the westnorthwest. But at some point in their lifetime they typically turn to the north. Many of them do that way off the u. S. East coast. Some of them make it all the way into the gulf of mexico as did harvey. In this case, weve got something in between. And it just depends on when these storms form relative to whats going on elsewhere in the atmosphere. Sreenivasan how much does the warmer temperature of the water factor in to how much strength these hurricanes have . The hurricanes draw their intensity, draw their strength from the warm waters, and, again, were at the peak of hurricane season, and what that also means is were at the peak in terms of how warm the waters get during the season. And it just so happens that the hurricane is passing over what is nearly the warmest waters available to it. And thats why were seeing these record, to nearrecord intensities. Sreenivasan finally, just looking at that map behind you there, it almost seems that the worst thing that could happen to cuba is best thing that could happen to florida. I mean, storms still wiggle back and forth. Is there a chance this could hit land somewhere else than the United States . There is a chance that it could move over the north coast of cuba, and if it did, youre right, it would be very destructive for cuba. It may well then weaken the storm a bit, at least temporarily. But still, it would be a major hurricane approaching the United States, and thats what were most concerned about now. Sreenivasan all right, ed rappaport, thanks so much. Thank you. Sreeniva sreenivasan irma is about to hit, less than two weeks since harvey struck texas. Fema, the federal Emergency Management agency, is leading the federal response and working with states. I spoke with the acting deputy administrator, kathleen fox, this afternoon and began by asking if fema can mobilize enough resources again so quickly. We have a number of resources in place. Weve got about 700 personnel on the ground in the u. S. Virgin islands, in puerto rico, and in florida. And then personnel all along the eastern seaboard to be prepared to respond to any event that may occur. Sreenivasan is that enough people, considering that governor rick scott has already mobilized all the National Guard he can in the state . It fendz on what happens. I mean, you know, as a federal government this is what we plan for and what we prepare for. So were prepared to mobilize more folks, should we need them. Sreenivasan and what kind of resources in terms of housing or relocation or shelters . I know youre working with the people that are already in these states. But what can the people of the u. S. Virgin islands or puerto rico expect, considering the storm is going right through them, right now . Yeah, the damages could be certainly severe in those places. And so we are mobilityizing searchandrescue assets, and working with the commonwealth, the territories, and the states to support them in whatever they need. So weve set out mass care work with the American Red Cross and, again, searchandrescue assets food, water, other commodities, sort of the basic essentials. And then well be there to provide recovery support, should they need it, as well. Sreenivasan what are you worried most about this storm . In the case of harvey, it was the rain that lasted days and days after the fact. This seems to be incredible winds like we havent experienced before. This is an incredibly powerful storm. I mean, the National Weather service has been calling it it potentially catastrophic, so one of the most powerful storms in the atlantic. So the you know, the results could be really devastating for folks. What were asking people to do is take a few steps to get ready. You can go to ready. Gov for information about how to prepare. You know, having three days of food, water, emergency . Riez like medicines or other things that you and your pets may need. And, also, if you download the fema app, we have got checklists there, and then that gives you access to alerts from the National Weather service, as well as other emergency information, such as where shelters might end up being located in your area. Sreenivasan unfortunately, this is not the only crisis that youre having to deal with. Youve also got harvey. How are the Recovery Efforts there going . The Recovery Efforts are going well. I mean, were providing tremendous support. Weve got thousands of people on the ground in support of the state of texas, working to make sure that we get the folks in texas, the survivors of harvey, what they need. So that operation is certainly continuing, as we prepare for irma and anything else that may follow. Sreenivasan so, how long until people in the houston area or in texas can get relief . I mean, is there any sort of a guideline or thumbnail that they should know, okay, this is how long the process takes from the application to when i hear back . I mean, we ask folks to go to disasterassistance. Gov, and to register, and if they have flood insurance, to file their claim. Were providing expedited assistance for flood insurance, and also for transitional housing. So putting, you know, thousands and thousands of people into hotels in the short term. Weve got, you know, working with the red cross in the state of texas on the shelters that they have there. And then were also weve begun a huge effort to do planning for longterm housing. What i would say is that, you know, the federal government and the state have some resources to provide immediate relief. But, you know, given the def station that they faced in texas, the recovery from the storm that will likely take years. Sreenivasan finally, miss fox, does fema have enough money to be able to do both of these things at the same time . The administration, you know, working with the congress to make sure that we are sufficiently funded, but that is not standing in the way of lifesustaining, lifesafety needs at this point. Sreenivasan all right, kathleen fox, thanks so much for joining us. Thank you. Sreenivasan as we mentioned earlier, the florida keys could be at serious risk from the hurricane. Residents there are being told to evacuate. I spoke with the mayor of key west, craig cates, this afternoon about how preparations are going. Sir, do you have all the resources you need to deal with whats coming your way . Yes. Obviously, if we get a direct hit, wed need a lot more resources. But as it stand now, were in very good shape. Sreenivasan how are the mandatory evacuations going . We started this morning with the tourists, and thats been going very well. And we started this afternoon with the residents. Sreenivasan what are the Lessons Learned here . You guys see these storms a lot more frequently than the rest of the country does. What can you do differently . Weve been very fortunate. We havent been hit by a hurricane in 11 years. We had a couple of close calls the last few years, but before that, i think we were hit three times in one year. So, yeah, were definitely prepared for it. We know the size of this hurricane and the strength of this hurricane is kind of unprecedented for anybody here in the United States. So were taking it very seriously. And the residents have taken it very serious and they are evacuating. Sreenivasan theres a good chance nothing is going to withstand 180mileperhour winds. The old homes were built very strok and withstood many hurricanes. Thats what we call the old part of key west. The newer homes, built in the late 50s, they are much lower. They have a tendency to flood in storms like this. But there are not a lot of homes in key west still right on the water. Very fortunate about that. Anything on the water thats been damage over the years has been rebuilt with much stronger homes and hotels and stuff. So we dont have as much damage from the wind. Its the water that comes up in certain areas that, you know, dont total out the properties but definitely does flood damage to them, which takes quite a bit of money to repair. Sreenivasan how many people are still left in key west and the other areas . I was out riding around today. Obviously, we have no way to count exactly how many. But this is the least amount i have ever seen that state, or hurricane. They took this very serious. We have been preaching to them, telling them how bad it is. And i think coming off of houston and seeing the impact that was done over there and seeing all the issues that theyre having, i think people paid a lot closer attention to this, and are definitely evacuate. Woodruff the other thing that concerns me is where do they evacuate to . If they go to south florida, thats where the hurricane could land. Youre absolutely right. And we have concern overs that. We were going to start running buses tomorrow to our shelter, which is in miami at the Florida International university. And thats where our shelter is. But the hurricane may hit there. So were looking at that very closely, and the ones that havent left, or left with a car, they can go wherever they want. They can move on to whatever area is safe. But if were going to bus these residentresidents to a certain w are they going to get out of there if they have to be evacuated . Thats something well be discussing tonight and definitely through tomorrow at the e. O. C. Sreenivasan whats the absolute deadline, where you arent going to be out there trying to help someone who has chosen to stay . You dont want to put your First Responders at risk, either . Were supposed to start getting stormforce winds very early saturday morning. Its moved back a little bit as the hurricane has slowed down some, and its turned up some. So we are it looks like were not going to get a direct hit like was possible before. Were going to be on the better side of the storm, but were still going to get a lot very strong winds and water. So that being said, starting thursday saturday morning, there will be no more evacuations because the upper part of keys will actually be closer to the storm than we are. So that being said, youd be getting driving into worse weather. So whoever is there then will have to stay, and well have to deal with it. Sreenivasan mayor craig cates, thanks for joining us. Okay, guys, thanks for having us. Sreenivasan in the days other news, President Trump cut a deal with democrats to raise the National Debt ceiling for three months. Thats far less than Republican Leaders had wanted. The deal combines the extension with Hurricane Harvey relief money. It came as the death toll from harvey rose to at least 70. Well have a full report, after the news summary. 15 states and the District Of Columbia filed suit today over the president s decision to end the daca program. It shields thousands of young, undocumented immigrants from deportation. The states argue the decision violates due process and is racially motivated. Washington states democratic governor jay inslee went further, at a News Conference in seattle it is a dark pall of cruelty and inhumanity which has covered this land as a result of this president s willful, malicious bigotry, which has attempted to stifle the dreams of some of the strongest, most ambitious, most vibrant, most brilliant people in our blessed community. Sreenivasan mr. Trump said today he has no second thoughts about dismantling daca. He also predicted democrats and republicans will work out a solution in the next six months. On north korea, the president spoke by phone with his chinese counterpart, xi jinping, and urged him again to put more pressure on pyongyang. He spoke as he left the white house for a flight to north dakota, and he said, it was a very good phone call. President xi would like to do something. Well see whether or not he can do it. But we will not be putting up with whats happening in north korea. I believe that president xi agrees with me, 100 . He doesnt want to see whats happening there, either. Sreenivasan the president said military action is not his first choice, but he left open the possibility. Chinese state tv said xi insisted the crisis must be defused with diplomacy. A u. N. Commission reports it has strong evidence that syrias government carried out a deadly sarin gas attack in april. The attack killed 83 people, and sparked a u. S. Air raid in reprisal, but the syrians denied responsibility. The u. N. Report relies on satellite images, video and interviews. The report also accuses the S