always the lowest price,hom the neighbors back here, down here, everybody's dead. >> i would describe the damage that we have seen in the area as catastrophic. >> tornadoes reaching a powerful ef-4 with 170-mile-per-hour winds. the victims involved and the search f those still unaccounted for continues. struck down by a stroke at the young age of 52. actor luke perry gone too soon. but doctors say his condition was not that uncommon. chaos in the capital as the investigations surrounding president trump are getting mork larry the giant gator has returned to strike fear in the hearts of many at a florida retirement community. plus over 220 million

americans will be waking up to face freezing temperatures. is there any relief in sight? buckle up. "early today" starts right now. good morning. i'm marlie hall. >> great being with you. i'm frances rivera. a desperate search for survivors is under way in alabama this morning as a tight-knit community is forced to confront the unimaginable. dozens are still unaccounted for after tornadoes carved a trail of destruction across the south. at the center of the devastation is lee county, where a pair of power. twisters touched down, killing at least 23 people and injures dozens more. nbc's gabe gutierrez in hit town of beauregard. gabe, good morning. >> reporter: frances, the national weather service now says the tornado that ripped through this neighborhood was an ef-4, packing winds of aboutmil. as it sped across eastern alabama, the massive tornado taking out a cell phone tower, going on to splinter trees and

obliterate homes. communities in lee county are sealed off, and an urgent search for survivors is under way after the deadliest tornado outbreak in five years. >> it was awful. i've never seen something like it before in my life. it was bad. >> reporter: tornado warnings were issued less than ten minutes before the terrifying winds whipped through the area. so far at least 23 people are dead. the governor has extended the state of emergency. >> we lost children, mothers, fathers, neighbors, and friends. >> reporter: the national weather service says this tornado cut a path of destruction about a half mile wide. there is damage as far as the eye can see. several people died in this neighborhood, and the devastation is overwhelming. >> everybody in this house is dead. >> reporter: anthony franklin is mourning the loss of his girlfriend of more than 20 years. this is what's left of her home beauregard, alabama. >> maggie is the type of person that's come through this thing once in a lifetime.

>> reporter: the tornado, an ef-4, packed winds of 170 miles an hour, tossing this billboard some 20 miles. a series of twisters sliced through the deep south, also pounding georgia, and south carolina. >> to the community of lee county, we grieve by your side, and we pledge our unwavering support to help you rebuild from the very depths of this horrible tragedy. >> this is where you crowded into? >> this is where my two boys and i crowded into, yes. >> reporter: miles tatum says he huddled with his two sons in a closet while the storm roared through in less than a minute. >> the only reason this part of the barn was here is i'm convinced the lord saved us and my kids. >> reporter: k-9 units aregns oe he once had. rm at least four tornadoes in alabama, and here in lee county, dozens of people are still unaccounted for. frances? >> ga,you. this was the first deadly

tornado outbreak of 2019, killing more people than all of last year's tornadoes combined. but many are alive because they heeded the warnings and leapt into action. nbc's kerry sanders has more on what to do when a tornado strikes. >> reporter: best friends alive because they knew what to do. >> when the sirens went off, that's when we took cover. >> reporter: they heard the thunder, taking cover in a center room with no windows. >> we were down on the ground. there's a pillow right here. we were down right here, and i was like this. >> and her mom was sitting right here. >> reporter: experts recommend having a plan long before a tornado threatens. go to a basement, storm cellar, or interior room away fromlls. in a mobile home, your best bet is to evacuate to a more sturdy building or the weather service or noaa weather radio. >> get in that tornado safe place. >> reporter: safe spaces can include storm shelters, which

can cost more than $5,000. these test videos show they can withstand the equivalent of an ef-5 twister. >> it can protect you against flying debris such as cars, trees, metal. >> reporter: most important, be prepared. >> take action before you see the storm. typically fast-moving storms are common this time of year. if you wait until you see it, it may be too late. >> reporter: the power of these tornadoes everywhere you turn in the impact zone, including this overturned mobile home. as twister season gets under way in this part of the country, knowing what to do, a life saver. >> that was kerry sanders reporting. now to the news that shocked many. the untimely death of actor luke perry. perry, who rose ton the 90s die monday at the age of 52 after suffering a massive stroke last week. in africa when her father fell ill and rushed back to los

angeles before he died. 90210 co-star shannen doherty telling the magazine that perry's biggest accomplishment was his children. quote, they were his heart. nbc's joe fryer has more on the stroke he suffered and the warning signs that everyone should know. ♪ >> reporter: in a show about perhaps the most famous zip code in america, luke perry took up real estate as both the resident bad boy and heartthrob. >> welcome to paradise, man. welcome to your dream come true. >> reporter: his turn as dylan mckay in "beverly hills 90210" launched perry into teen idol stardom. even a simple appearance at a mall could stir up hysteria. >> i want to d hoe is up, i don >> reporter: more recently he played a parent in riverdale, a show that has spauwned a new generation of teen idol. >> even though it's tough, even though it might cost you, you got to do it. >> reporter: fans are surprised to learn he died after suffering a stroke at age 52.

but according to the cdc, 34% of stroke patients are less than 65 years old. >> most people think 65, 70, 80 years old they're going to have strokes. people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s can have strokes just as well. >> reporter: doctors say it's important to know the signs using the acronym fast. face, is it drooping? arms, is there difficulty raising them? speech, is it slurred? and time? if yes, quickly call 911. perry is being remembered by his co-stars, including ian ziering, who writes, god, please give him a seat close to you. er again this morning for possibly violating his gag order imposed last month. the judge overseeing his case has asked his attorney why the release of a new book from roger stone wasn't disclosed during

testimony. his lawyers argue it's just an update of a book he wrote in 2016. meanwhile, special counsel robert mueller has also notified the judge about a new instagram post from stone that says, quote, who framed roger stone? that too may have violated the gag order. president trump's former attorney and fixer isn't finished yet. michael cohen is set to appear before the house intelligence committee tomorrow amid new revelations from the months leading up to his stunning turn against the president. "the wall street journal" reports that a lawyer for cohen approached mr. trump's attorneys about a possible pardon. the paper claims the topic was broached in april after federal gents raided cohen's home, the president's lawyer dismissed the idea of a pardon at the time, but rudy giuliani did leave open the possibility of one down the road. meanwhile, the nhimself from the russia probe despite penning a controversial memo

that questioned the special counsel's investigation. and with robert mueller's report expected within the coming days, house democrats are launching an investigation of their own. nbc's kristen welker has more. >> reporter: president trump vowing to cooperate with the rapidly growing investigation by house democrats. >> i cooperate all the time with everybody. and you know the beautiful thing? no collusion. it's all a hoax. >> reporter: democrats issuing a request for documents from more than 81 people and groups associated with the president, including the president's eldes son-in-law jared kushner, and trump organization cfo allen weisselberg, looking into what they call allegations of corruption, obru abuses of power. but still insisting they're not yet building a case for impeachment. >> we have to do the investigations and get all this. we do not now have the evidence all sorted out and everything to do an impeachment. >> reporter: among the events democrats appear to be target is, that 2016 meeting between trump family meer campaignpaent.

democrats pressing ahead with their investigation even before the report by special counsel robert mueller is turned over. >> there's no collusion. so now they go and morph into, let's inspect every deal he's ever done. we're going to go into his finances. we're going to check his deals. we're going to check -- these people are sick. >> reporter: and another headwind for president trump this morning, the republican-led senate seems poised to block mr. trump's emergency declaration now that four republicans oppose it. but it won't stop funding for a border wall because president trump will veto the legislation. this will likely be decid b cou. frances. >> kristen welker for us, thank you. president trump's emergency declaration is about to hit a wall in the senate. in a new op-ed, senator rand paul announced he will vote with democrats to overturn the emergency order to build a border wall, saying it would, quote, expand the powers of the presidency beyond their

constitutional limits. he would likely be the deciding vote on the resolution, which has already made it through the house. if it passes, president trump has vowed to veto the measure. part two of some incredible video we showed you yesterday. drivers captured this avalanche in florida, but check out this perspective. it happened sunday along i-70 between copper mountain and frisco. the driver's car was swept all the way into the median, but he was okay. thankfully, there were no injuries. wow, that's amazing when you're watching something like that and recording. let's check in now with meteorologist michelle grossman. today we've got millions, i think 220, waking up with frigid temperature. >> 226 million waking up to these freezing temperatur. it's going to stick around fr a few days. we are unseasonably cool by 15 to 30 degrees in many spots. we're looking at windchills well below zero in many spots. today we're seeing temperatures again 15 to 30 below what is typical for this time of year. wednesday, same story. 27 in chicago. memphis, 44. that's a lookt the big a temper

below normal there as well. you got to go down to miami for some warm weather. i think we mentioned this yesterday. we're going to head to miami. i mean it's a two-hour flight. we can get there by noon. >> we mean. >> thanks, michelle. how would you like to fly for free for a year? jetblue will give three lucky winners a year of free flights. but you have to delete all your photos on instagram first. the all you can jet sweepstakes offers unlimited flights with free companion tickets until march 2020. to enter, wipe your instagram page clean, then post a custom image using a template of jetblue's website and include the hashtag, all you can jet sweepstakes before friday. still ahead, wile volvo is pumping the brakes on its top

speed. and the latest fallout from the michael jackson doc. ents a minu. if your mouth's used to a manual clean, treat it to microbubbles that feel great in between. if your amazing mouth does more than its share, give it philips sonicare. next level clean, next level care. there's ways a way to make life better. philips sonicare. do you want ready to wear clothing without all the hassle? you can, with bounce dryer sheets. we dried one shirt without bounce, and an identical shirt using bounce. the bounce shirt has fewer wrinkles, less static, and more softness and freshness. bounce out wrinkles, bounce out static. so we improved everything.g. we used 50% fewer ingredients. added one-handed pumps. and beat the top safety standards. johnson's® choose gentle.

are confusing quilted northern for robes. they're both cushiony, comforting, and add elegance to your home. but quilted northern is not a robe. it's just really nice toilet paper. esev with wipes and spray cleaners? try mr. clean magic eraser. just add water, ez on burnt-on food in the kitchen. it's perfect for cleang even on glass. and it even removes four times more permanent marker per swipe. try mr. clean magic eraser, for your impossible kitchen and bathroom messes.

leading the news, explosive allegations in that new docu-series, "leaving neverland," which aired over the past two days on hbo. it tells the account of two men who say they were abused by michael jackson. nbc's miguel almaguer has the story, but first a warning. the allegations are disturbing. >> every night that i was with him, there was abuse. >> reporter: sharing stories of alleged childhood abuse in graphic detail,ja wson as a sex >> so not getting caught was a big like justin if anybody found out, his lif over. >> reporter: in the explosive new docu-series, "leaving neverland," now airing on hbo, safechuck and robson chronicle alleged abuse years in the making. >> i'm the most happiest when i'm onstage and when i'm with jimmy safechuck. >> the tour was the start of the

sexual like couple relationship. >> reporter: it started, they say, with sleepovers often at neverland ranch. >> taking showers together and, you know, fondling and kissing. >> reporter: jackson's estate hbo. they point out both men testified on behalf of the singer when he was accused of sexual abuse in separate cases years ago. jackson was never convicted. >> michael would never do that. >> reporter: while michael jackson is gone, his legacy is under attack. miguel almaguer, nbc news. still ahead, we'll go behind the scenes of one of the country's top hospitals. and the gargantuan alligator with an even bigger following while fans are champing at the bit to see larry. that's next. and he said ♪ ♪ girl, you take care of me ♪ ♪ you are my thera♪y ♪ the better half of me ♪ say it again ♪ ♪ if you love me, love me, love me ♪

like you say ♪ ♪ darling tell me all the ways ♪ tell me all the ways ♪ now, we're bringing you all the ways to get what you need. target run and done. just between us, you know what's better than mopping? anything! at the end of a long day, and its awesome. it's an all-in-one so it's ready to go when i am. the cleaning solution actually breaks down dirt and grime. in so, it prevents streaks and haze better than my old mop. plus, it's safe to use on all my floors, even wood. glad i got that off my chest and gave one prego traditional and one ragu traditional.

this is what happened. that's because even ragu users prefer the taste of prego traditional two-to-one. how'ok 1yohour mucinex and sent it far away. hey buddy, have you seen a nice woman with a cough? is raised with no allantibiotics ever. chicken, [ music winding down ] they're a great decision for snacktime. allowing the band to practice at your house... not a great decision. keep it real. keep it tyson any'tizers.

so probably your first thought when you see an alligator is to probably freak out, but that is certainly not the case at one florida retirement community where thatk page. reporter michelle meredith has .ore. the retirement community is now known for two things, its leisurely living -- >> that is huge. >> reporter: and larry the alligator. larry lives in a lake by a golf course, and when he gets bored, larry gives his human neighbors a thrill and makes his gargantuan presence known, which he did this weekend. >> how long do you think he is? >> reporter: mark scherr's son shot this video of larry strutting his stuff across a golf cart path. needless to say, traffic stopped both ways.

>> first scared out of my pants because he was so large. at first i didn't believe what i was seeing. it was like looking at a prehistoric monster, and i had one foot on my accelerator on my golf carton case he made a move. >> reporter: larry is not jus . people stop and stare at him. he has a plaque with his name on it. heck, he even has his own facebook page. w gator, and sometimes he's here. sometimes he's not. >> reporter: we were assigned this story, we were told find larry, and we did. we caught a glimpse of him taking a sun bath way across the lake. people here know the rules. don't feed him. keep your children and pets away. keep your distance. but he is a source of entertainment because here in the villages, there's something about larry. >> maybe larry's retired and h s wants a cool place to hang out. >> well, he certainly walks slow

enough. >> that was meredith. just ahead, we'll go inside one of the nation's top-ranked medical centers. plus why volvo plans topeed. you're watching "early today." with neulasta onpro patients get their day back... to be with family, or just to sleep in. in a key study neulasta reduced the risk of infection from 17% to 1%, a 94% decrease. neulasta onpro is designed to deliver neulasta the day after chemo and is used by most patients today. neulasta is for certain cancer patients receiving strong chemotherapy. do not take neulasta if you're allergic to it or neupogen (filgrastim). an incomplete dose could increase infection risk. ruptured spleen, sometimes fatal as well as serious lung problems, allergic reactions, kidney injuries and capillary leak syndrome have occurred. report abdominal or shoulder tip pain, trouble breathing or allergic reactions to your doctor right away.

in patients with sickle cell disorders, serious, sometimes fatal crises can occur. the most common side effect is bone and muscle ache. ask your doctor about neulasta onpro. pay no more than $5 per dose with copay card. i can breathe again! ahhhh i can breathe again! ughh.. vicks sinex, breathe on for a bouncy castle. they're both durable, flexible and nice to have at parties. but quilted northern is not a bouncy castle. it's just really nice toilet paper. so we improved everything.g. we used 50% fewer ingredients. added one-handed pumps. and beat the top safety standards. johnson's® choose gentle. think only specialty stores have what's new? olay has the hottest debut. new olay clay stick masks, hydrating facial mist,

and brightening eye cream. that's what progress feels like. to arms, i'll barely thatbe able to lift.to works so feed it with the protein, iron and b-vitamins in special k. feed your progress. feed your power. feed your change. special k. welcome back to "early today." happy tuesday to you. that cold air in place is going to produce some lake-effect snow for parts of new york and syracuse, rochester, also buffalo, water toin seeing some lake-effect snow as well. otherwise it's just a cold day for many of us. 44 in dallas. 22 in chicago. 15 days until spring. >> dlight saving next weekend. same directi.ert ways.

and pampers gives all of them our driest, best-fitting diaper. pampers cruisers with 3 way fit. they adapt at the waist, legs and bottom. with up to 12 hours of protection. for all of the freedom to move their way. in pampers cruisers. only pampers diapers are the number one choice of hospitals, nurses, and parents. if your mouth is made to amaze, let philips sonicare give its care a raise. if your teeth chew beyond their limit, then they've earned 62,000 movements a minute. if your mouth's used to a manual clean, treat it to microbubbles that feel great in between. if your amazing mouth does more than its share, give it philips sonicare. next level clean, next level care. there's always a way to make life better. philips sonicare.

in today's quick hits, volvo says it plans to impose a speed limit on its own cars in an effort to reduce traffic fatalities. beginning in 2020, all new models will be limited to a top speed of 112 miles per hour. authorities have discovered this. more than 1,500 live turtles duct taped and stuffed in four pieces of unclaimed luggage at manila's airport in the philippines. the turtles arrived on a flight from hong kong and were turned over to wildlife officials. and it's the latest viral internet challenge. throwing cheese at babies. well, videos with the #cheese, that's the challenge. it's racking up thousands of views online, and it's pretty

darn funny. >> wouldn't necessa >> or a chunk of cheese. >> that would be dangerous. for the past three years in a row, "u.s. news & world report" has hanpital in the u.s. but what puts it at the top of the field? nbc's tracie potts went behind the scenes to find out. tracie, you spent a whole week there getting a crash course. >> reporter: i did. frances and marlie, it was really interesting to see how doctors learn to do what they do. so you go to medical school, but that learning is not over. take a look. inside the mayo clinic, thisas the florida campus. they have what they call the simulation center. and, yeah, that's me delivers a baby, not a real one, but real enough. i will say that. this is an area, it's a high-tech area where doctors learn and nurses and other medical professionals learn to practice their craft. so there victoria got her baby. everything turned out fine. but sometimes they change the scenario so a patient may have a

heart attack, for example, in the middle of delivery. and there's me again trying to save a guy, unfortunately not quite as successful this time around. but it was interesting to see because we learned that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the united states. so keeping doctors on the job is very important, and that's part of what they do here. and then aside from the medicine that you see, there's what's going on behind the scenes. those are simulated nano-particles. this is some of the science going on in the labs at the mayo clinic, where they're doing things like making these nano-particles to get cancer drugs to tumors faster. we learned all kinds of medical advances that are going on with alzheimer's, heart disease, cancer. so it's interesting to get this behind the scenes look at how both doctors and scientists are learning to do their jobs better. >> nice. very fascinating. also a refreshing course on that

cpr. great to see, tracie. thank you. we thank you for waking up with us. i'm frances rivera. >> and i'm marlie hall. the news continues right here on nbc and our nbc stations. have a great tuesday. to simone, i leave the van gogh. to harrison, the wine collection. grace, you get the beach house, just don't leave the lights on, okay? to mateo, my favorite chair. to chris, the family recipes. to craig, this rock. to jamie, well, let's just say, enjoy the ride. the redwoods to the redheads. the rainbows to the proud. the almonds to walter. the beaches to the bums. and the fog to, who else, karl. i leave these things to my heirs, all 39 million of you, on one condition.

to preserve and protect them. with love, california. incoming storm. and a good morning to you on this tuesday. 4:30 for you right now. the bay area is bracing for an incoming storm, we have a microclimate alert for you this tuesday. here's a live look inside san francisco and san jose. you can see the radar working for it, moving over the central coast right now. thanks so much for starting your morning with i'm marcus washington. >> and i'm in for krisai