she's got a long career ahead of her. making news in america this morning, the track of hurricane florence shifting overnight. nearly 2 million people now ordered to evacuate. >> the waves and the wind this storm may bring is nothing like you've ever seen. >> three feet of rain possible. thousands of national guard troops called up this morning. the preparations, the timing and the question, is fema ready? breaking overnight, the abuse scandal rocking the catholic church takes a new turn. the new development concerning a top church leader now headed to the vatican. the 17-year-old student pilot on her first solo flight confronted with an emergency in

the air. >> we're going to get some people out to help you, okay? >> okay. >> this morning, the new interview, how she kept her cool. those stories, plus a republican candidate for congress is nearly stabbed on the campaign trail. a drug company raises the price of a life-saving drug by 400% claiming it has a moral obligation to make more money. and eureka, the real-life gold rush with millions up for grabs. good wednesday morning. i'm kendis gibson. >> i'm stephanie ramos in for diane macedo. one forecaster is saying it best, hurricane florence could be the storm of a lifetime for the carolina coast. >> and overnight the storm's track shifted putting landfall closer to wilmington, north carolina. nearly 2 million people have

been told to get out. >> the big concern is what happens after landfall. the category 4 storm is expected to stall, dumping up to three feet of rain triggering catastrophic floods. abc's emily rau begins our coverage in wrightsville beach, north carolina. emily, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, stephanie and kendis. florence is headed this way and changing in the process but one thing that is still the same, the 140-mile-per-hour winds making her a category 4 hurricane. this morning, millions of people are clearing the path of hurricane florence. >> we have to leave. >> we don't have a choice. >> it gets really scary out here in storms. >> reporter: westbound highway traffic at a crawl as more mandatory evacuations take effect. and overnight, florence shifting her path putting landfall closer to wilmington later into friday and setting up a devastating storm surge potential that could be catastrophic. national weather service officials warning, quote, i can't emphasize enough the

potential for unbelievable damage from wind, storm surge and inland flooding with this storm. the north carolina governor also sounding the alarm. >> the waves and the wind this storm may bring is nothing like you've ever seen. >> reporter: with a message for locals who have weathered storms before and plan to wait this one out. >> we need people to evacuate. they're putting their own lives at risk as well as the lives of first responders. >> reporter: those first responders along with thousands of other disaster response crews preparing for the worst as florence creeps closer. >> this is extremely serious. we have over 3 million volunteers across the nation that can help us. >> good luck to everybody out there in the path of hurricane florence. >> reporter: and here in wrightsville beach, which is east of wilmington, a lot told me they don't plan on going anywhere.

and when i asked about that mandatory evacuation record that goes into effect at 8:00 this morning they said they'll take their chances. kendis, stephanie. >> north carolina should be on the lookout but also so should georgia and south carolina. thank you, emily. with fema warning that power outages could last for weeks, people are scrambling as expected to stock up on supplies. this was the scene at a walmart in durham, north carolina, as crowds rushed to get their hands on water and other goods. >> it looks like a scene from black friday. doesn't it? but not at all. this is a desperation scene there. let's get more now on how the government is preparing. abc's janai norman continues our team coverage from washington. good morning, janai. >> reporter: good morning. president trump says he is staying informed about the hurricane response. fema is working with state governments ahead of the storm that the president says is unlike any we've seen in 25 to 30 years. president trump is promising preparedness as hurricane florence barrels toward the east coast. >> we are totally prepared. we're ready. they haven't seen anything like what's coming at us in 25, 30 years. maybe ever.

it's tremendously big and tremendously wet. >> reporter: but even as he prepares for the coming storm, the president set off a firestorm by touting his administration's response to hurricane maria. the storm devastated puerto rico and was the deadliest hurricane in modern american history but that fact seeming to escape president trump. >> i actually think it was one of the best jobs that's ever been done. >> reporter: from the beginning his response has raised eyebrows and faced backlash as he was captured on camera tossing paper towels like basketballs to hurricane victims and declaring maria's destruction far short of hurricane katrina's. the death toll reaching nearly 3,000 people and one senator telling msnbc documents show the administration transferred $10 million out of this year's fema budget to i.c.e. to go toward detention and deportation programs for immigrants. >> in fact, so $10 million comes

out of fema when we're facing a hurricane season knowing what happened last year and now we have this hurricane florence bearing down on the carolinas. >> reporter: and we know some people are deciding not to evacuate areas the hurricane is expected to impact. president trump says everybody should get out and listen to their local authorities. stephanie. >> janai, thank you so much. we turn now to the other big story we're following and the new developments overnight. fallout from the sexual abuse scandal in the catholic church. the heavily criticized archbishop of washington, d.c. has announced that he will head to the vatican to discuss a possible resignation. abc's david wright has more. ♪ >> reporter: the embattled archbishop of washington, d.c., cardinal donald wuerl, now says he will travel to rome in the very near future to meet with pope francis about resigning. wuerl is one of the most prominent american leaders of the catholic church, but his reputation was badly tarnished by the recent pennsylvania grand

jury report, which mentioned his name more than 200 times in connection with the alleged cover-up of sexual abuse cases when he was bishop of pittsburgh. >> shame on you. >> at each mass -- 00 >> reporter: there have been regular protests at his masses in recent weeks with one local deacon refusing to say mass with him. pittsburgh's new bishop stripped wuerl's name off a catholic high school and said going forward, buildings will no longer be named after priests and bishops. wuerl has denied any wrongdoing. but in his letter to d.c. priests, he acknowledged the need to bring a new level of healing to survivors who have personally suffered so much. a generation ago after "the boston globe's" spotlight series uncovered the first wave of sexual abuse scandals, cardinal bernard law was forced to redesign as archbishop of boston, but raw remained a cardinal and was given a plum

post at the vatican. the question for pope francis in this new era of accountability, will wuerl's departure from d.c. follow the same pattern? or will he lose the red hat that signifies his rank as a cardinal? david wright, abc news, new york. a patient is in custody after reports of shotting being fired at a hospital near los angeles. the scare forced hundreds of people to evacuate the kaiser medical center. 34-year-old jesus chavez is charged with making criminal threats. police say he pulled a gun after tossing a chair out of a window. it's unclear if the gun was fired. >> it's a business day in the weather department. let's take a look at your forecast. good morning. we have a devastating storm that's tracking straight for the north carolina coast. we're expected to strengthen to a category 5 briefly but then it will soften back to a 4 but will approach the coast as a 4 and will downgrade after it

hits land. look at the impact it will have. looking at historic rainfall and flooding to the extreme level of risk to lives and property and devastating flooding, catastrophic to be more exact. i'm accuweather meteorologist paul williams. coming up, the brand-new way you'll be able to buy christmas trees this year. >> already. can i preorder? >> we can talk about it. yeah. but first it's happened again. the price of a life-saving drug skyrocketing more than 400%. how the drug company is defending the price hike. and later a warning for and later a warning for (boy) grandpa, look what i got! (woman) oh dad, wait 'till you see the bike we got for jake. (narrator) hearing loss happens gradually with age... making it easy to ignore. yet most older americans aren't getting their hearing tested. untreated hearing loss can keep your loved ones from enjoying

what they cherish most. (woman) dad, can you hear me? (narrator) don't let that happen. speak up about hearing loss. you'll be glad you did. we're back with the scene of

what could have been a real disaster.

the jumbotron at george washington university's basketball arena in d.c. came crashing down onto the court during maintenance work. nobody else was nearby, and no one got injured. a california man accused of attacking a republican candidate for congress has now been arrested. candidate rudy peters said he got into a scuffle with the suspect who had made disparaging remarks about president trump. he said the man threatened to kill him, pulled out a switchblade and tried to stab him, but the knife malfunctioned. authorities say a missing hiker in oregon was likely killed by a cougar. search crews found the body of diana bober after she was missing for nearly two weeks. if confirmed by dna testing, it would be oregon's first deadly cougar attack on record. some new trouble for the new jersey couple accused of stealing money they had raised for a homeless veteran. mark d'amico and his girlfriend launched a gofundme page that raised $400,000. well, now d'amico has been

arrested on an unrelated traffic warrant. the couple is already under criminal investigation for allegedly spending the donated cash. a drug company's ceo says he was morally required to raise the price of a prescription medication by 400%. the essential antibiotic made by nostrum pharmaceuticals skyrocketed last month from under $500 to nearly $2,400. the company's founder tells a london newspaper that he's morally required to make money and sell the product for the highest price. amazon is promising a christmas miracle. it's planning to sell and ship full size christmas trees this year. they sell about everything. >> too soon for the music. >> it's just september. well, just imagine finding a seven-foot box on your doorstep. amazon says it will ship douglas firs and norfolk island pines within ten days of being cut down. a seven-foot fir will cost about

$115. >> interesting. all right. coming up, a famous face from "the bachelor" under arrest. also ahead, why the woman who kidnapped elizabeth smart is being freed from prison years earlier than expected. and the 17-year-old student pilot faced with an emergency during her first solo flight. she tells us how she was able to keep her cool. she tells us how she was able to keep her cool. >> teacher: let's turn in your science papers. >> tech vo: this teacher always puts her students first. >> student: i did mine on volcanoes. >> teacher: you did?! oh, i can't wait to read it. >> tech vo: so when she had auto glass damage... she chose safelite. with safelite, she could see exactly when we'd be there. >> teacher: you must be pascal. >> tech: yes ma'am. >> tech vo: saving her time... [honk, honk] >> kids: bye! >> tech vo: ...so she can save the science project. >> kids: whoa! >> kids vo: ♪ safelite repair, safelite replace ♪ but he has plans today. so he took aleve this morning.

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elizabeth smart. she is speaking out after learning the woman who helped kidnap her and hold her hostage for nine months will be released years earlier than expected. >> yeah, so the woman convicted in the case is being set free because of what's called a recalculation of her sentence. abc's danya bacchus explains. >> reporter: wanda barzee will soon be a free woman. the surprise release coming five years earlier than expected. barzee was convicted of helping brian david mitchell kidnap then 14-year-old elizabeth smart in 2002 and keeping her captive for nine months before she was found and rescued. smart now 30 calling barzee's release incomprehensible. the utah board of pardons and parole reversing its original decision for barzee to be released in january 2024 determining it had miscalculated the time she previously served in federal custody. smart releasing this statement about her former kidnapper, saying she is surprised and disappointed and that she's

trying to understand how and why this is happening and exploring possible options. smart's 2002 abduction from her bedroom triggered waves of fear across the country. for nine months she endured daily sexual assaults and was forced to take drugs and drink alcohol. brian david mitchell telling her he'd kill her if she tried to escape. mitchell is now serving a life sentence for kidnapping and raping smart. smart saying this after his conviction. >> today is the ending of a very long chapter and the beginning of a very beautiful chapter for me. >> reporter: smart says she is working to address barzee's release so the same thing doesn't happen again. barzee will be under federal supervision for five years. stephanie and kendis. >> danya, thank you. a frightening case in las vegas is raising an alarm for anyone using ride share apps like uber. elizabeth suarez got into what she thought was her uber.

she later realized there was a problem when her real driver called wondering where she was. she didn't call 911 but she posted messages on social media asking for help, then she made her dramatic escape. >> i take a side profile picture of him. my flash goes off, startles him and that's when he starts cursing, give my your wallet. give me your phone. give me everything you have. once he did rob me, he continued to drive away with me. i only got out because i jumped out. >> suarez broke her wrist and ankle. safety experts say if you're in a situation like that, call 911. if you can't speak, the open line could signal to police that something is wrong. a cleveland man's ordeal inside his locked and very hot car may now lead to a lawsuit. peter pyros passed out and thought he might die inside his cadillac roadster. he says he was trapped for 14 hours after the engine and electrical system failed.

a neighbor finally found him and called firefighters. he says the car needs more safety backups. in sports the red sox are the first team to clinch a spot in the major league playoffs after they beat the blue jays last night. boston has the best record in baseball at 99-46. well, after the controversy surrounding serena williams' loss in the u.s. open, some tennis umpires are now reportedly considering a boycott of serena's future matches. she accused the umpire of sexism after he handed down a series of code violations. the drama continues. >> yes, it does. up next a real-life gold rush. also, the story behind vladimir putin and the president of china making pancakes together. and next the devices apple will be revealing today. that's coming up. ina making pancakes together. tremfya® is for adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. i'm ready. with tremfya®, you can get clearer. and stay clearer. in fact, most patients who saw 90% clearer skin

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♪ your wednesday "pulse" starting with new gadgets from apple. >> the company is expected to unveil three new iphones today. the website 9to5mac reports you can expect to see a new iphone xs. the website posted that leaked image of the phone, the larger xs expected to have a 6.5-inch screen. >> here's a look at the new watch. it features a larger display and apparently has a second microphone. >> very cool. well, two stoic world leaders are proving that they're not all work and no play. >> yeah, vladimir putin and chinese president xi jinping went from politics to pancakes. they sported aprons and showed off their cooking skills on the sidelines of an economic summit in russia. they topped off the russian pancakes with caviar and washed them down with some vodka. wow. those guys are getting to know each other. . now a real-life gold rush in the

meantime. a mine owner struck gold and perhaps history in southwest australia. >> yeah, these workers found what may be two of the biggest gold nuggets ever. one weighs 198 pounds and is valued at $2.6 million. >> yeah, the second biggest piece weighs 132 pounds and is worth nearly $2 million. >> all right. there was an unexpected touch of symbolism at a 9/11 memorial in minnesota. >> here it is. a bald eagle landed on top of this fire truck as the ceremony was just getting under way. >> and this powerful image was taken over new york. that's one world trade center standing tall above the clouds. mage taken from a plane over new york. that's one world trade. it's easy to trust geico! thank you todd. it's not just easy. it's-being-a-master-of-hypnotism easy. hey, i got your text- sleep! doug, when i snap my fingers you're going to clean my gutters. ooh i should clean your gutters! great idea.

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hi. good morning. it's wednesday, september 12th. natasha is off this morning. >> glad you're with us. 4:27. seven minutes away from the accuweather temperatures. >> temperature 49 in santa rosa. brent wood, 65. most of us in the mid to upper 50s. high clouds and sunshine to start the day. high clouds and sunshine throughout the day. breezes keeping us in the 60s and 70s for the high today. >> pretty typical right now, mike. no major incidents to talk about. we're looking at the typical slow spots. 26 miles per hour. down to 20 miles per hour on westbound 580. other than that, we're starting off nice and quiet.

hurricane florence a category 4 storm continues to barrel towards the carolinas. the forecast shifting overnight. >> national weather service saying it could be the storm of the century emily is in wrightsville beach with the latest there. emily? >> reporter: good morning, jessica and reggie. a beautiful, quiet morning here on the beach. rain just started to fall in the last 10 minutes or so. we know of course, though, hurricane florence is headed this way. it did shift and change some overnight. but one thing remains the same. it is a category 4 storm. this morning, millions of people are clearing the path of hurricane florence. >> we have to leave. we don't have a choice. >> it gets really scary out here in storms. >> reporter: more mandatory evacuations take effect. overnight, florence shifting her

path, putting landfall closer to wilmington friday, and setting up a storm surge that could be catastrophic. national weather service quote, can't emphasize enough the potential for unbelievable damage for wind storm. >> the waves and the wind this storm may bring is nothing like you've ever seen. >> reporter: with a message for locals who plan to wait this one out. >> we need people to evacuate. they're putting their own lives at risk, as well as the lives of first responders. >> those first respond issers, along with thousands of other disaster response crews, preparing for the worst as florence creeps closer. >> this is extremely serious. we have 3 million volunteers across the nation that can help us. >> i can't imagine what is about to happen.

>> reporter: here in wrightsville beach, a lot of people told me they don't plan to go anywhere. when i asked about the mandatory evacuation order, they said they will take their chances. oh, boy, wish them luck. that is a scary prospect. >> yeah, that is. so many people in harm's way if they don't move out of there. it is 4:30. another update on weather and traffic. let's start with mike. mike, everyone looking at the storm right now. >> on the east coast, all eyes pointing towards florence. 130-mile-per-hour winds. it is fluctuating between 130 and 140. category 4, heading south 50 miles to wilmington. if you take the cone of probability, pretty close to where it was yesterday. it is slowing down, which means a heightened likelihood of flooding causing even more