was good in the conversation championship games. we'll see what happens in game welcome to "world news tonight." we're tracking a deadly tornado threat. the southeast on high alert. millions in the danger zone. already, more than two dozen reported twisters and at least 16 people killed so far. the states of emergency and the new threat right now. dramatic rescues in the west. high surf pulls two women out to sea. a race to save them. a driver flooded. her lift to safety. and new reports of mud slides come in. trump's truth? as the new president's top aides are sworn in, the back and forth over what is fact and fiction. president trump face to face with fbi director james comey. the consumer warning tonight targeting americans in the dead

of winter. the cold reality to protect you and your family. >> i just got had. good evening. thanks for joining us on this sunday. i'm tom llamas. we begin with a dangerous tornado outbreak tearing across the southeast right now with millions in the threat zone. these stunning photos coming in late today from georgia, homes completely blown away. a state of emergency already declared with 12 people killed there. weather firnls with a rare tornado alert. a pdsa particularly dangerous situation in effect. twisters possible in three states. already at least one tornado reported on the ground this evening. in its path, a trail of destruction. a scene from hattiesburg, mississippi. roofs knocked off and power out. four people killed there. and a storm in the east and weather weather swamps the west. more on that in a moment. we begin with the tornado outbreak in steve osunsami. >> reporter: this will be a

heartbreaking night for a number of families across south georgia, recovering from these tornadoes seen here that tore through this community. in this one mobile home community alone, seven people were killed. brenda griffen got out alive, some of her neighbor's didn't. >> we covered each other and we just laid there and we prayed, "lord, please let it pass over, let it pass over." >> reporter: first responders in cook county had to free people who were trapped under their own walls. jenny bullard had to crawl out from under hers. >> and then i opened up that door of my bedroom and when i opened it up the whole wall just fell in on me. and i crawled out from under it. and our back door then came in and hit me and knocked me down. >> reporter: so far across this state, 12 people have died in this storm. georgia's governor has declared a state of emergency in seven counties. he took a call from the president today, who is sharing his condolences from the east room.

>> tornadoes were vicious and powerful and strong and they suffered greatly. >> reporter: adding insult to terrible injury, the weather service has issued a particularly dangerous situation tornado watch for these same areas tonight. millions need to stay alert. this same storm brought darkness and death to hattiesburg, mississippi. >> when you look at things like this, you realize that life is beyond that. you find out life is precious. >> reporter: this is the difficult moment when one women learned that someone she loves has been killed. >> wayne dead. wayne's dead. >> reporter: our adrienne bankart is there tonight. >> you've got churches and businesses, as well as homes, destroyed on this street. four people killed. we've learned that two of those were relatives -- a grandfather and grandson. here at the mcmorris property, the house decimated, but they

did walk away with their lives. >> reporter: the tornado here had wind speeds of up to 136 miles an hour, and cut a path 15 miles long. >> steve is live with us here. where it started raining. 16 people killed over the weekend in the storms. there is a likely reason why the death toll is so high? >> yes, that reason is because the tornado hit at night when people were sleeping. often sleeping through sirens and then when they do get up, they walk out into the darkness. another problem is these storms come and go so quickly. this rain here now wasn't here just a few moments ago. another reason why more families need to be watching the forecast tonight and watching the skies, tom? >> the rain picking up, steve, thank you. one georgia community particularly hard hit tonight. several casualties after a tornado slammed in georgia. geobenitez is there tonight. >> reporter: we just arrived. this is one of the hard 46 hit areas in southern georgia.

one of the many places we learned that are hard hit. the giants trees toppled over. this is really the only spot we were able to set up the cameras, there is still a search and rescue crew. we have driven through and the homes are just totally leveled. we have learned at least seven people in this area alone have been killed. that number could go higher as soon as the daylight starts to break and we start to see the extent of some of the damage. we could learn there are more deaths here in this area. there are lines of storms moving through florida. we will see what happens in the morning. >> geo, thank you. for more on the storm system, i want to bring in rob marciano. >> the storms are moving at 70 miles per hour. albany, georgia.

skunlt significant damage there. and pds, they are very rare. only 3% are issued. charleston, savannah, jacksonville. orlando, all under the gun as they roll through the southeast and rotate out tonight. when that happens this thing transforms into a coastal storm that will bring rain and wind to the northeast. i-95 corridor, high winds posted and sleet and snow inland could see some of that heavy at times and the winds 60, 70 miles per hour. and the west coast storms this is strong. it will continue tonight and tomorrow morning. mud slides will don't be a threat there in california through tomorrow. >> we will have more on the weather out west in a moment. rob, thanks so much. next to politics and a busy second day in office for president trump. late today, trump greeting fbi director james comey for helping for a safe inauguration. earlier, trump after his top aides were sworn in and what one of the aides said about the controversy in the crowd size is igniting backlash.

mary bruce at the white house. >> reporter: today, trumpb with praise for james comey. a pat on the back who is the public face in the investigation of hillary clinton's e-mail. trump today swearing in his new staff at the white house. >> we are going do some great things over the next eight years. >> reporter: and he's been speaking with foreign leaders including israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu. but the white house order of business is to double down on a fight. >> i have a running war with the media. >> reporter: speaking with the cia, trump falsely accused the media of creating the feud with the intelligence community. >> it's exactly the opposite. exactly. >> reporter: then taking issue with coverage of the crowds of his inaugural address. >> it looked like a million and a half people.

whatever it was, it was. it went all the way back to the washington monument. and i turn on -- by mistake, i get this network. and it showed an empty field. and it said, we drew 250,000 people. now that's not bad. but it's a lie. so we caught them and we caught them in a beauty. >> hours later, in his first appearance, the white house press secretary ripped in the press corps for what he called false reporting. and refused to take questions. >> this is the largest audience to witness an inauguration period. both in person and around the globe. >> reporter: but the proof is in the pictures. this is the crowd as obama gave his first inaugural address and this is the crowd friday as trump delivered his remarks. both photos taken from the washington monument. 30.6 million people tuned in to

watch trump take the oath of office. that is more than four years ago. fewer viewers than 2009 when 37.8 million watched obama. today, the white house defended their denial of the facts. >> we saw crowds as far as the eye can see. they are giving sean spicer alternative facts. >> they are not alternative facts, they are not facts. they are false hoods. >> reporter: senate action is expected on two of his nominees, mike pompeo for cia director and secretary of state for tillerson. tillerson today getting the backing from senator john mccain, despite how he will deal with russia. >> this wasn't an easy call. but i also believe that when there's doubt, the president, the incoming president gets the benefit of the doubt. >> reporter: mccain says he has the utmost kchs in it was in trump's security team. what about the man in charge. >> do you have utmost confidence in president trump? >> i do not know, george. i do not know. because he made so many comments

that are contradictory. >> a stunning statement from one of the most respected republicans in congress. mary bruce live from the white house. for months, trump promised to release his taxes and today, a statement whether or not that will happen. >> the word is in and it is no. the white house will not be releasing his taxes. they say the issue was litigated through the election and people didn't care because they voted for trump any way. tom? >> thank you very much. president trump reacting today to saturday's women's rights marches across the country. this is the scene in the nation's capital. millions joined in major cities and small towns both here and around the world. the president with two tweets and very different tones. here is abc's gloria riviera. >> reporter: tonight, president donald trump responding to those demonstrations, tweeting -- "watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election!

why didn't these people vote? but later adding -- "i recognize the rights of people to express their views." the presidential motorcade passing right by this view saturday afternoon. protesters not far from trump himself. >> hey hey! ho ho! donald trump has got to go! >> reporter: millions marching worldwide in opposition to president trump and in solidarity for women's rights. >> it's a once in a lifetime opportunity to speak up and be part of such a massive national movement. >> reporter: in more than 600 different locations, as far away as australia and antarctica. tonight, the data pouring in. 11.5 million #womensmarch tweets sent around the world. officials say more than 400,000 turned up new york city.

and even more estimated at the largest march, in washington, d.c., where the subway had its second busiest day on record. we met this family who traveled more than 200 miles. 7-year-old max making her own sign, girls are people too. >> it's three generations and fortunately i've been given the tools and the strength to be able to teach her how to keep moving, because it's a tough thing. >> reporter: so many marchers telling me this is just the beginning, a call to action. president trump saying the marchers want to delegitimatize his administration. tom? >> thank you. several killed when a train derailed in india. cars toppling off the tracks in southern india killing at least 32 and injuring 50. crews dig through the cars looking for trapped passengers. in november, 146 people were killed in another india train derailment. breaking headline tonight from texas tonight. police responding to a deadly shooting inside the rolling oaks mall in san antonio. one person was killed after a jewelry store robbery went wrong.

abc's eva pilgrim with the details. >> reporter: tonight, a san antonio mall on lockdown. >> we have a male and female that were shot. they're inside. >> reporter: police searching for one shooter, another gunman shot now in to custody. officials confirming one person killed, five injured. >> we searched the mall. we feel the suspect is not in there. >> reporter: police asking people to stay away from the mall. >> people are locked up stamps. >> reporter: shoppers hiding, sheltering in place. uniformed officers going store by store evacuating those inside. they say it started as a robbery at a jewelry store inside the mall. the person killed tried to stop one of the gunmen. tom? >> thank you. next to the urgent consumer warning. the heads up for homeowners. demands for big bucks to keep your heats on and your lights. here is more. >> reporter: tonight, a scam sending a chill through thousands of homes and

businesses in the coldest months of the year. >> you will need to bring a total amount of $874.92 for the payment in cash. >> i'll do that right now then. >> reporter: perpetrators posing as utility workers -- threatening to immediately cut off electricity if you don't pay. >> they sounded just like edison, i totally freaked out. i imagine them turning off the electricity. >> reporter: trent jones lost nearly $2,000. when the phony power company called back, he was recording. >> now sir, if you wish to avoid disconnection, you will need to make a payment today, sir. >> i called the police, they said yes, it's happening. but there ice nothing we can do about it. basically i just got had. >> reporter: tonight, power companies across the country sending out warnings saying these scams are spreading. the federal trade commission says if you receive a call that seems suspicious, hang up and contact your provider. and remember that your electric company will never ask you to load money on to a pre-paid

card. >> good tips tonight. thank you. there is more still ahead. the american ashls flight forced to turn back due to a mechanical problem. what doctors are telling barbara bush tonight and what she told them. and two women nearly swept away by giant waves. the remarkable rescue when we come back. before i had the shooting, burning of diabetic nerve pain, these feet kicked off a lot of high school games... built a life for my family... and liked to help others in need. but i couldn't bear my diabetic nerve pain any longer. so i talked to my doctor and he prescribed lyrica. nerve damage from diabetes causes diabetic nerve pain. lyrica is fda-approved to treat this pain. lyrica may cause serious allergic reactions or suicidal thoughts or actions. tell your doctor right away if you have these, new or worsening depression, or unusual changes in mood or behavior. or swelling, trouble breathing, rash, hives, blisters, muscle pain with fever, tired feeling or blurry vision.

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>> reporter: moments later, lifeguards are in the choppy water. but in the dark, it takes them nearly 40 minutes to find the second woman. the current so strong from recent storms it took four of them to pull her to shore. >> that was probably one of the most challenging things i've probably seen in my 23-year career. >> reporter: those same storms triggering flash floods, trapping this woman inside her car in arizona. >> they have raging water all around them. >> reporter: police executing a careful mission. rescuers hoisting her into a helicopter. those relentless storms triggering dangerous mudslides in southern california. and now the neighborhoods digging out are in the danger zone again. >> i'm concerned, i'm not going to lie. in all the years i've been here this is way worse than anything i've seen. >> reporter: sandbags and concrete barriers, their last line of defense. tom, the rain really coming down right now. we're already beginning to sigh mud flow into this neighborhood and even when the rain stops tomorrow, the threat of mud slides will continue because this ground is just so saturated. tom?

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finally tonight, you never know what comes from a chance encounter. tonight how a ride in a uber turned into an america strong story. here is john donvan. >> reporter: first, know this about luis tamarez -- this 4-year-old with an infectious smile. >> he is full of energy and he's a great kid. >> reporter: he gets around fine, with the help of these wheels. but for a short time the other day, he got to try a different approach to travel. and that's because a substitute teacher who knows him -- this is yorel browne -- happens also to work as an uber driver. and because of one random passenger, jim burke, who happens to have a big heart. riding to atlantic city, yorel told jim all about luis, this fantastic kid with cerebral palsy. and a fundraiser to buy an upsee, which sells for $500 and lets kids like luis experience walking. >> and i just thought it would be wonderful for this child to

have and i said, "you don't need to have a fundraiser." >> reporter: and so the day came. the upsee went on. and in a place where luis has always been celebrated just as he is, they cheered to see him travel this way. >> isn't that great? >> i cried a lot. it was, you know something amazing. >> i was happy. >> you were happy? >> yup. >> reporter: as for jim burke, his reward, he got to meet luis. >> this is luis. >> i just want him to know that he's my hero for giving me that smile. >> reporter: and that's the best there is. john donvan, abc news. >> we absolute salute jim and luis for being strong. we will see you here tomorrow. have a great evening.

tonight as 6:00, an urgent search as a woman crash into a creek. what's slowing down rescue cruise. showers through the evening, and we're getting details of an airliner outage that could affect your travel plans. abc 7 news at 6:00 starts now. a sovereign effort has been closed of a pounding waves of a normally docile creek. it shows the rough conditions as they look for a woman who may have been killed in a crash. good evening, i'm eric thomas. thanks so much for joining us. right now conditions are too dangerous for crews to search the water. s investigators say she lost control at niles canyon and slid

into the creek in castro valley. sergio has more about the effort tonight. sergio? >> reporter: an al media county sheriff's crews basically staged about two miles up niles canyon road. that's because, as you can see, the rapids here in the creek are actually -- they're pretty powerful here, but even more powerful up where this vehicle likely is, so it's too dangerous for emergency have i crews to try to even get to the swart. the swiftwater rescue teams estimate class 4 rapids where the car is currently under water. in addition to the speed of the water, the concerned for rescue teams is the debris that's in the water. branches and other items could be deadly if they collide into divers. a photographer with our media partners the bay area news group shot these pictures of the crews tracking the car from the banks. the alameda county sheriff's department has teams staged in the can down,