And tonight, this image coming in. The passenger jet flying to new york city right beside the hurricane. Good evening, and its great to have you with us here on a wednesday night, and lets 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. Just 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. Thats 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. Abcs 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 mileanhour 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 islands airport damaged. A dangerous wave sweeping this person right off their feet. We tried to, like, stop the water, but i mean, its flooding. Reporter loren mayo, one of five women on a fitness retreat, trapped in her hotel. Were 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 irmas eye. The Prime Minister saying some 90 of the islands buildings are destroyed. Hurricane hunters inside irma finding its the First Atlantic ocean storm ever to maintain winds of at least 180 miles an hour for this long. Its 10 00 a. M. Here in puerto rico, and Hurricane Irma appears to have arrived. Weve 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 dont know whats going to happen. Its scary. And i pray for everyone thats out there that dont want to leave their homes. And linzie janis joins us from san juan, puerto rico tonight. Linzie, we can see the effects right there 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. Were being told to expect sustained Hurricane Force winds for at least a couple of hours tonight. Theres 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 juan. Stay safe tonight. As we told you here 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. Lets get right to chief 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. By about 50 miles. That center of the eye, which 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. But now as this moves on, with 185mileperhour winds still, the pressure, david, is actually dropping. So we could still see strengthening yet tonight. Thats whats so frightening. Look at the hurricane warnings. Look at turks and caicos, and the southern bahamas, and freeport and nassau into the hurricane watch. Turks and caicos could see a 20foot storm surge. These islands have elevation of a couple of feet. The timing, thursday into friday, and friday into saturday, its 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. With winds. Up to 3, so it stays strong in this, and i want you to Pay Attention to the cone though, because looking at the georgia and South Carolina. Additionally in that cone, also in the scenario. At least 75mileperhour winds, so Hurricane Force winds, and linzie was just talking about t it. Extends 50 miles on each sides. So youre not safe even if you are away from this. The computer models as you said, coming together on the east side of florida. We said west and east side, and we believe its east side. Heres the spaghetti here. Reporter we believe its east side, and that would mean for savannah, and charleston, you could have impact next week, and inland flooding is a major concern of mine up through even asheville. You will be with us through the hurricane. Thank you. In florida tonight, millions of americans are trying to get out of harms way. First, the florida keys of course. Only one way in, and one way out, and they are very concerned, as ginger just mentioned here, about that storm surge. Abcs gio benitez is right there tonight. Reporter tonight, the florida keys under a fullscale 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. Ive been through george, been through andrew, been through wilma but im not staying for irma. No. Not happening. Reporter others, not ready yet. Julie mcgrane, keeping a close eye on weather reports and stocking supplies. Were planning to stay until the friday update, and really see where this thing is going to go. And if its bad, were 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 were 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 youre a tough guy, youre on your own. Dont expect us to come get you. Were 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, dont be fooled by the blue skies there behind gio, because we heard the officials say, dont try to tough this out. The real concern is if there is massive flooding, theres no way to get help in there. Reporter thats right, david. Let me show you why. Because here you have got just one road in and out of the keys. 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 from there in miami tonight, store shelves empty, long lines and the concern there is the fuel. More than a quarter of the gas stations already running out of gas. Abcs 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 miamidade, out of fuel. At grocery stores, even more lines. Water flying off shelves. Its been hard to get. We seem to be having a difficulty finding water. Reporter the governor urging residents to be prepared with a threeday supply of food, warning on gma we can rebuild your home but we cant 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 weathervaning position so when the crane can spin when the wind comes, it wont 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 will have more storm surge than andrew, and it sure looks like its 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. Thats 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 thats 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. Its also air travel. More than 1,000 flights already canceled. Cruise lines forced to make decisions about ships with passengers at sea. Abcs amy robach from the miami airport tonight. Reporter tonight, the scramble to safety on floridas highways. Gridlock on i75 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 dont have a plane ticket, dont plan on getting one now. You drove to the airport hoping you could get a ticket here at the ticket counter . 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. At least eight cruise ships canceling upcoming trips. Another 13 cruise ships changing course to avoid irma. Amy robach with us live, and they are already canceling flights there, and work, to get jets out of the hurricanes path, amy . Reporter its true, david. Its a busy evening here at Miami International airport 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, david. We can see the lines forming behind you. Amy, thank you. Amy, alex, gio, linzie. All of our teams out in the storm. We thank them all. Stay safe, and well 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. Abcs mary bruce on the hill for us. Reporter in the oval office today, that stunning image the president cutting a deal with democrats and blind siding 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 thats ridiculous and disgraceful. Reporter republicans wanted a longterm 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 tonight 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. Didnt sound that way. Reporter no, david. They were not. This is a major blow to republicans. A threemonth 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 tying their hands on one of the president s top priorities. David . Mary on capitol hill for us, our thanks to you again. In the meantime, just hours after the president s attorney general announced end of daca, the program that protects immigrants brought here by their parent paren parents, saying they are illegal aliens taking american jobs. The president then tweeted overnight, congress now has six months to legalize daca. If they cant, i will revisit this issue. Abcs 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 hes 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. Id like to see something where we have good Border Security, and we have a great daca transaction where everybody is happy. Id like to see a permanent deal. Reporter and the president says he thinks that deal is going to happen. So lets get to cecilia vega with us live from the white house. And cecilia, President Trumps 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 two very different tones were hearing here, david. They said legislation to protect these d. R. E. A. M. Ers and Border Security go 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 police vehicle, slipping out of her handcuffs, stealing their suv, and the wild chase to catch her a second time. Also late today, the Country Music star revealing her personal battle, announcing she has to put her tour on hold now. And of course, our coverage of Hurricane Irma 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. They sure did guywhousedtoaskifyoucould hearhimnowwithverizon . Or just paul. Weve been up here for ages. You should switch to sprint like i did. 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Were going to turn next here to that brazen escape attempt in texas. A shoplifting suspect arrested by police, then stealing their vehicle when officers were not looking, crawling through a 12inch opening in the window to get to the front seat. Heres abcs clayton sandell. Reporter normally, handcuffs mean the storys over. But shoplifting suspect Toscha Sponsler is just