A. M. Pacific. Im Ana Cabrera reporting from new york. We begin with Breaking News. The president set to speak from the White House this hour, about the devastation in the aftermath of helene. The destruction is really unbelievable, stretching all across the southeast. The Death Toll currently standing at 99. The number is set to climb, still, with Search And Rescue efforts continuing this morning. A third of the deaths in north carolina, where the historic city of asheville saw the worst of it. At this hour, authorities are still searching for the missing. And the community is just struggling to cope without water. Without food, power, Gasoline Or Cell service in so many of those areas. Joining us now, nbcs George Solis is in asheville and Nbcs Gabe Gutierrez is standing by. George, the aerial images from that shot is really breathtaking. What is the situation this morning . Rare, good morning, ana, the situation is really heartbreaking. Some areas have become passable after the waters have started to recede. This is the arts section, yesterday, where im standing would have completely covered my head. Now were looking at the aftermath, the businesses here. The businesses starting to assess their businesses, their lifelines here, really, everything. Its hard to watch. Look at the cars toppled behind me here. Ust a snapshot. As you mentioned, the Death Toll is climbing. Yes, there is some Cell Service in this region but its still not enough. And theres no Time Line on when water will be restored and thats a huge deal for so many in this community. This morning, the devastating effects of helene, reaching far and wide as residents come to terms with a tragic reality. I dont think we can rebuild. Reporter floodwaters, downing bridges, and submerging entire times like chimney rock, north carolina, now destroyed. And large swaths of communities like asheville, north carolina, still under water. From above the city, heartbreaking views. Ive never seen anything like this. I mean, there are buildings fully submerged. My mother lives in a nursing home. We tried to get there today. We just cant. Reporter some people kayaking to safety. We were there when water rescues got under way. And the storm also devastating floridas gulf coast, dangerous Surf Flooding homes and streets. Helene with 100mileperhour winds ripping out storms. Throughout the south and beyond, cars that survived the storm. The lines are moving very slow. Reporter at a standstill, waiting for hours to fill up at the pump. While in north carolina, many roads are impassible, making rescues even more difficult. And the meaning of the true Scope And Damage and loss is still unknown. What Mother Nature can do and the damage, its just incredible. Reporter yeah. And i can tell you, frustration here growing that there appears to be that lack of federal response here. At least some kind of footprint to really start helping the community. One of the bright spots, silver lining, so many here have actually banded together to share the resources while they last. We do know the president is expected to visit helenes impacted regions, as long as they dont impact with those, as you mentioned, ongoing Search And Recovery efforts, ana. That region is so impacted across the board. We see that standing water and Brown Murkiness behind you. Thank you for reporting. Gabe, speaking of response, what can we expect to hear from the president this morning . Reporter hi, ana, the President And Biden administration and White House certainly facing the questions about a federal response. To address some of them, we expect the president to speak here within the next hour. Now, yesterday, the president put out a statement saying that there are more than 3300 federal personnel who are responding to the region. The president has signed declarations for several states, georgia, west virginia, alabama and virginia. Vice president harris put out a statement and has cut short her west Coast Swing heading back here to washington to get a briefing here this afternoon at fema headquarters. The People Administrator was also in florida over the weekend. And President Biden was asked whether the federal government had given all the resources it could. Or whether they could do more. The president saying, no, we preplanned and gave a significant amount of it even though they havent asked for it yet. As you just heard from george on the ground there are questions whether the federal government can do more. We expect to hear from President Biden here at the White House in a few moments, ana. Gabe gutierrez, Thank You. Joining us now, two asheville business owners who are just beginning to see the extent of their damage, Drew Wallace owns the bull and Beggar Restaurant in asheville. And the saloon studio. Thank you for joining us. I know its a difficult time for both of you, weve seen the pictures of the restaurant, the salon, all look so devastating. Erin, how are you holding up, whats top of mind for you this morning . Were doing okay. Thankfully, all of our family is safe. Weve done all that we can in the salon to take out all of the things that are salvageable. And really its just waiting until we can rebuild. Thankfully, all of our community has come together really well to help take Care And Support each other. But i know there are people still that need help, food and waters. We were just looking at the pictures inside your salon, we could see how high the water was before receding, and just how so much damage there. Drew were you in asheville when this all hit. Youre now staying elsewhere. You shared images from inside of your restaurant. And we have those as well. Whats your sense of the damage youre facing, and the biggest concern this morning . In terms of bull and beggar, we entered it yesterday, its like a big area of sludge. Right now, without water, theres nothing to be done in that area. Were making sure most of our team is safe. I ended up having to go to columbia, south carolina, with my family, so im conflicted to not be there and help out as soon as we can. Were ready to turn it back around as soon as we can get work. Drew, were you inside the restaurant when this was happening . And what was going through your mind, what kind of efforts did you make in those moments of, i would assume, panic . Wel, we i left the house and was standing on the bridge watching watching the River Kind of crest with our community. And it was great to see everybody. And we all talked about how it wouldnt go over the Loading Dock in front of the restaurant the bull and beg are, from since the 1916 flood in that parking lot. Within 15 minutes of standing on that bridge, it was apparent the water was coming. I got to higher ground and salvaged what i could. Erin, at what point, did you realize helene was not going to be like normal storms . Take us through that moment for you. Well, we went down there to look at the salon friday. The river was already so much bigger than wed ever seen before. And the water was still coming up the back point. So thats the point that we really realized that things were going to get out of hand. Whats left for your community right now . Well, i lot of our community, the ririver, our district is ha been impacted. Within days it wiped away hundreds of years of history and community. Its going to be a long road for rebuilding. But i know that a lot of us are obviously wanting to rebuild and try to bring it back together. Drew, your family has been uprooted. What is that like for you right now . And what do you need most . I dont you know, actually, erin is a good friend of mine, so its nice to see a friendly Face And Community member. I get my Hair Cut at balm salon. When i was on the bridge, i realized how tightknit asheville was. Its seems kind of celebratory to see all of the people we knew, but, obviously, it turned pretty dark after that. But its conflicting to be here. But having to get my family out, hopefully, we can start Working On the Restaurant Family and rebuilding the restaurant. Im so happy that both of you are safe. Erin, the president will speak in just a few minutes. What do you want to hear from President Biden . I would love to hear that, you know, more support is coming. So, asheville, i have seen get something support. I know surrounding areas are in need. Blackrock, marshall and chimney rock, i know they were completely devastated. I know that things there would likely become ugly there quicker. So i would love to see support coming further outside of asheville as well. Erin and drew, we wish the best until your recovery. Its just getting going. Thank you so much for joining us. Now to some Breaking News overnight in the middle east, israel launching Air Strikes in Central Beirut. Its deepest strikes on Lebanons Capital in 18 years. And it comes after israel expanded its attacks on hezbollah and other iranianbacked groups killing the leader necessary r asrallah. And more attacks against the humanthys another aligned group. All of this while the Ground Invasion of idf in lebanon appears to be imminent. As you can see there, Secretary Of StateAntony Blinken spoke this morning urging diplomacy, while addressing doubt. Hassan nasrallah was a brutal terrorist, whose many victims included americans, israeli, civilians in lebanon, civilians in syria and many others as well. Lebanon, the region, the world are safer without him. Lets go to the region. Nbcs Matt Bradley is live for us in beirut. Matt, these latest strikes were in a much more central part of beirut. How significant is that . Reporter well, its only a matter, anaana, compared to wha weve been seeing from the israelis which shows the israelis are willing to strike outside of the areas which will theyve been concentrating all of their fire for the past several weeks. This is part of the uptick that israelis are coordinating in the country. In the east, in the southern part of lebanon, a shiite, lebanon hold. And we saw that strike in the Suburb South of beirut. So, this is the first time weve seen strikes, again in Central Beirut since 2006. And now, were getting ready for another first since 2006, the potential for an israeli Ground Invasion into lebanon. That would be the first time we see israeli boots on the ground since 2006, except for, and we now have confirmation of this to Nbc News, there has been some isolated infiltration of israeli troops into Southern Lebanon over the last weeks. And cautioned to the Nbc News and outlets it doesnt necessarily mean that a Ground Invasion is imminent, but that is increasingly what were hearing. Yolav golent indicated the uptick for a potential for the israeli attack. And all of this is happening as the israelis seem to be going methodically and taking out palestinian and arab leaders of groups in lebanon. We just saw pflp, Peoples Front in lebanon, and a Hamas Leader and his family were killed. Over the past 24 hours, it looked as though the israelis are certainly not finished and not confining their attacks to hezbollah. Ana. What kind of retaliation might we see for the killing of nasrallah . Reporter well, we heard from the Deputy Head of hezbollah, The Man Second In Command to hassan nasrallah, he spoke. This is the first time weve heard from any leaders since friday. He said that hezbollah has been holding its kind of main weapons in reserve. At least he implied that. He said theyd been doing the minimum. And he said they are ready for an invasion Ground Invasion. So were continuing to see Hezbollah Firing over into israel. But this is a group that is badly maimed. A very powerful military force, powerful in the world that is very much in the back foot. And their girding for an israeli Ground Invasion. If there is retaliation it will most likely be defensive and on the ground in their own territory. Theres so much to track right now, Matt Bradley, Thank You. Well have more on Helenes Devastation and a potential one two punch as folks in florida are looking to rebuild. Plus, new polling showing the smallest edge for democrats in one key Voting Group in four president ial cycles the voters at stake and is it too late. And ill talk to a member of the Harris Walz about the intelligence. But first, a man charged with the assassination of Donald Trump set to be arraigned in the next hour. Well be back in 90 seconds. 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Stay tuned. In just over an hour, the suspect in the second apparent Assassination Attempt of Donald Trump will be back in Federal Court where Hell Face additional charges including attempted assassination of a president ial candidate. Nbcs Jesse Kirsch joins us outside the courthouse in west palm beach. So, jesse, tell us more about the new charges and whats happening in court this morning. Reporter yeah, so, ana, briefly, routh, a convicted felon had been facing just two weapons charges. And there was some questions about the former president s campaign about if the federal prosecutors were pushing tough enough charges, effectively, against mr. Routh. And after that, we did see what was expected which were further charges including that Assassination Charge brought out. Five charges, attempted assassination of a president ial candidate, possessing a firearm in a crime of violence. Assault a federal officer, that is a reference to the fact that he allegedly was pointing a rifle at a secret service agent. Hes also charged with being a felon in possession of a Firearm And Ammunition and being in possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Hes facing those charges, and as you mentioned, in just about an hour and 20 minutes. Were looking for a plea from him, guilty or not guilty, to see how this proceeds. Jesse kirsch, we know you will keep us posted. Up next on Ana Cabrera reports, a midwest Mano Y Mano when tim Walz And Jd vance debate. Ill talk to a member about the stakes as well as another faceoff between the past president and Vice President. And another round of insults including cognitive function. When the sawdust settles and the engine finally roars the thing you care about most is a job well done. But when you get your tools from Harbor Freight Something about the job feels a little different your wallet. 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