bracing for sally's impact the 18th named storm of the season is gaping strength and poised to become a hurricane before slamming into new orleans later tonight. we didn't have a destination. we didn't know where we were going. we just left >> like armageddon the western wildfires send thousands fleeing for their lives. the death toll approaching three dozen, and the size of the damage bigger than connecticut and rhode island combined. ambushed the california police officers targeted by a lone shooter

this morning, the man hunt and massive reward for information the nfl season ticked off with a number of pregame rituals looking different, including the family of george floyd e g wish that made a very sick 3-year-old and his family beyond happy. it is monday, september 14th and "early today" starts right now. >> glad you're with us on this monday i'm frances rivera >> and i'm philip mena dangerous tropical storm sally is churning through the gulf and could hit the u.s. as a category 2 hurricane. forecasters expect the storm to make landfall tomorrow night hurricane and tropical storm warnings are in effect from the florida pan mandzle to louisiana. here's the latest. >> reporter: the first glimpse of tropical storm sally. >> holy -- >> reporter: in the florida keys, torrential rains flooded roads, as high winds batted the

coast. a powerful preview of what could hit louisiana while many are getting ready. >> this is going to be the real deal >> reporter: or getting out. >> i've been through a hurricane before, i don't need to go through another one. >> reporter: the path on a direct line to new orleans, where it is expected to make landfall as a hurricane. outside the city, flood gates installed since hurricane katrina will drop into place does the approach change whether it's a category 1 or a 5 >> no, no it does not. we have our gates that we close for every single storm >> reporter: for those who live here, after dodging recent storms martha and laura, this one feels different. >> you learn that they're unpredictable. never trust the track until the last few hours that's like the final track. and just stack up and pray >> reporter: and here in new orleans, there are systems in place to limit the storm surge from here at lake pontchartrain. because sally is a slow moving storm, there is a growing amount

of attorney it could cause significant flooding >> morgan, thank you turn now to our meteorologist michelle grossman who is tracking sally for us michelle, good morning >> yeah morgan is right, sally is going to come to a halt as it approaches the coast and we'll see massive amounts of rain, up to 24 inches this is a snapshot of the tropics. we are ripe for development, and we're continuing to see it organize and strengthen over the next 24 to 36 hours and we expect it to become a category 1 storm later today. right now a tropical storm at 60 miles per hour, moving west at 12 miles per hour. which doesn't sound that bad, but once we go through the next couple of hours, we have some steering currents in place so it's going to bring it down to a halt. that's pretty much the worst thing that can happen with a hurricane. so later on today, a category 1 storm. we expect it to make landfall as

a category 1 storm and looking at a potential of 24 inches of rain in many spots so flash flooding concerns will be the biggest take away from sally. that's what we'll be talking about over the next five days. when i come back, we'll talk about the impact of the rain and wind and storm surge now to the west coast. at least 35 people have been killed, dozens missing and hundreds of thousands of families displaced by the wildfires. nbc's erin mclaughlin has this report >> reporter: in oregon, devastation and desperation after scenes like this a massive fireball exploding a million acres burned 16 active fires, and entire towns in ruins dogs searching for bodies. thousands evacuated and sheltering in parking lots >> i was just paralyzed. i didn't realize it was happening. >> it feels like armageddon. >> we didn't have a destination,

we didn't know where we were going. we just left >> reporter: a single mother, now staying with her boys at a hotel. their town leveled their home gone. >> the refence was right there. >> i was feeling sad and scared. because i knew that we were going to probably -- most likely lose our home. >> reporter: thousands also lost their homes in california. firefighters recovered three bodies from the north complex fire now more than a quarter contained. conditions have improved and progress has been made, but that can all change and quickly fire crews are hosing down hot spots here by the highway. they're really concerned the winds could pick up tonight. residents far from the frontlines are also feeling the effects. the toxic haze so bad, fears the san francisco 49ers would have to cancel their season opener.

for them, this has been a two-year trauma. >> it's terrible >> reporter: in 2018, the couple lost their home to the paradise fire they've been homeless ever since. four days ago, their catmp grounds were evacuated >> we absolutely need help >> reporter: firefighters are bracing for winds of 15 miles per hour through monday. fire officials tell us they have prepared for it and they're ready. >> erin, thank you to zasacramento today to thank h crews on the frontlines of the wildfires. last night, the president flouted coronavirus safety guidelines to hold a rally in nevada tracy potts joins us now good morning the president violated the state's social distancing rules. >> reporter: that's right. this rally violated nevada's

rule that you can't have more than 50 people gathered at once. this was a large indoor rally with not a lot of social distancing and -- the president ignoring criticism from the state's governor and vadane health expert it was his first indoor rally since tulsa in june. during the speech last night, which lasted just over an hour, the president delivered a standard stump speech, most of it ignoring the pandemic, and he took aim at his predecessor, garnering a familiar refrain from his supporters. >> it was a made up statement and they put it up in the form of an ad in the third rate magazine whose best friend is obama. [ crowd booing ] and by the way, who i caught spying on my campaign. >> lock him up

lock him up! >> reporter: so the state's governor said that the president was reckless and selfish hold thing rally. he shameful, dangerous, and irresponsible, putting countless lives in danger now, not just president trump on the campaign trail vice presidential nominee kamala harris out there, heading to california this evening, as well and joe biden is going to be focusing on climate change, delivering remarks on the fires in oregon and california, and he and his wife jill, they will vote today, kicking off early voting in delaware back to you. >> two months out. tracy, thank you two los angeles county deputies are recovering in a hospital after being shot in the line of duty officials say the officers were shot by a lone gunman over the weekend in abambush style

attack and authorities have launched a man hunt for the suspect, with a $100,000 reward leading to his arrest and conviction. here's nbc's gadi schwartz >> reporter: deputies are expected to survive, after being shot at nearly point blank range and the video you're about to see is graphic your bus administration in compton, california, what's being called a cowardly ambush, a man opening fire into a parked patrol vehicle, shooting two deputies near point blank range and then running away. >> he acted as if he was going to walk past the car and made a left car toward the car, raised a pistol and fired several rounds inside of the vehicle, striking both deputies >> reporter: incredibly, one deputy staggers out and calls for help >> they're both critically injured, multiple gunshot wounds >> reporter: one deputy, shot in the face the other, a 24-year-old man,

shot several times both just over a year on the job. >> i swore them into office just 14 months ago. seeing somebody just walk up and shoot on them, it's -- it pisses me off >> reporter: at the hospital, heightened security after a group of anti-police protesters gathered and blocked the entrance to the hospital's emergency room a bishop pleaing for peace >> we all need to work for peace. peace doesn't just happen, we have to create it. and the environment we're living in is very hostile to one another. and our sheriffs and our police officers are part of the community. >> reporter: so far investigators have not released a motive in this case. they have not said if it's any way related to some of the i feel unrest that we have seen down here in los angeles over the last few weeks but we know that the county of los angeles is offering a $100,000 reward for any information leading to the

arrest of the suspect. francis, back to you >> thank you before the first game of the nfl season, the minnesota vikings paid tribute to george floyd. >> the family of the late george floyd joined both teams in a moment of unity in recognition of silenced voices today, the vikings silenced their horn for the first time. >> the vikings said that the gellar horn did not sound in honor of those who no longer have a voice due to racism across the league, players and coaches kneeled during the national anthem in protest of racial inequality. six teams, the packers, eagles, jaguars, bills, jets anthem. the first game here worked out pretty well for the rams two touchdown runs from malcolm brown and late-game defensive stops helped hold back the

cowboys 20-17 on sunday night football and in new orleans, tom brady started off his tampa career with a rushing touchdown but he also threw a pair of interceptions and the saints got the win 34-23. and cam newton rushed for 75 yards and two touchdowns, lifting the patriots over miami 21-11. and in jacksonville, the jaguars pounced on philip rivers and the colts late, winning 27-20. indy has now lost their last seven season openers >> let's check back in with michelle grossman who is busy tracking sally there along the gulf good morning again >> good morning, guys. yeah, we'll be busy over the next five days immediately we are looking at the concern for today becoming a category 1 storm we have hurricane watchings and warnings along the gulf.

the biggest number one threat will be the rainfall we could locally see up to 24 inches of rain remember that flooding is the number one cause for weather relate states. as we look towards the southwest, temperatures in the 100s 103 in phoenix so a hot, dry day there. all right. guys, we'll talk more about sally, the impact, the storm surge, and look at the fire threat still continue information the pacific northwest. >> michelle, thank you so much in today's quick hits, governor cuomo announced that the mta in new york will issue $50 fines to passengers who refuse to wear a mask. the new rule goes into effect today. for the first time since

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try febreze small spaces. just press firmly and it continuously eliminates odors in the air and on soft surfaces. for 45 days. leading the news, police are investigating a shooting that left two dead and six injured at a house party near rutgers university according to the party organizer, the shooting may have happened after an argument over the entry fee to what they call the post covid party authorities are still searching for the suspect. the prosecutor's office says the shooting is not affiliated with the university or students coronavirus cases in the u.s. are continuing to surge >> there are now more 6.5 million cases across the nation, with more than 195,000 covid related deaths >> but cases are growing globally, as well. on sunday, the world health organization reported a record one-day increase in global cases. according to the agency's

website, the number of new infections rose by over 307,000 in a 24-hour period. the agency says the biggest increases were from india, brazil, and the united states. a new report from the cdc has found that adults who tested positive for the coronavirus were about twice as likely to have dined at a restaurant within a two-week period prior to becoming sick the study looked at over 300 adults who had symptoms of covid-19 >> the new data comes as stage three trials for astrazeneca has resumed again in the uk. mike bloomberg is putting his money where his mouth is, planning to send at least $100 million in florida to help joe biden beat president trump in that swing state a spokeswoman says that money will go toward television and digital ads, with a focus on hispanic voters across the state. albert pujols slugs his way

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that he's dealt with -- oh, man. get foul high fly ball, deep left field and albert pujols has put the angels in front 4-3, with his 660th career home run, tying the

immortal willie mays >> some history made in sports over the weekend albert pujols tied willie mays for fifth all time in career homers with number 660 >> and chicago's alec mills pitched the ml b's no-hitter of this season. he's the first cub to toss one since 016. and dominic thiem won the u.s. open after losing the first two sets the first man in 71 years to win the title by staging a three-set comeback also, a big congratulations to naomi osaka, who did the same thing on the women's side over the weekend. up next, we'll check back in with michelle grossman for the forecast and a little boy's dreams come true with a little help from his neighborhood garbagemen there are thoughts that are hard to control

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the make a wish foundation made it possible for a 3-year-old to ride along with some-his heroes. what leo wanted to do was suit up to become a garbage man for a idaho with this report >> say your name and how i would you are. leo >> how old are you >> 3 >> reporter: this is little leo martin today, his wish is coming true >> it was pretty humbling. i think about kids and what they can wish for and to want to be a garbage man

for a day was awesome. >> reporter: yes, you heard right. make a wish idaho is granting leo's wish to be a garbage man you see, this 3-year-old has big love for garbage trucks. >> he's always enjoyed dump trucks when he was really little we would take our dog for a walk and we would be out when the garbage trucks were doing their routes so he loved watching them. and when he got sick, our friends send him a model garbage truck with bins and prongs and the whole 9 yards and really took off >> what is your favorite part? >> the dumping >> can you show them how it works? that's right >> reporter: leo was diagnosed with a brain tumor a year ago at the age of 2 it was a heartbreaking blow for

his parents, brian and shannon but this kid, he is a fighter. on this special day, little leo got to do all the garbage man things they made stops all over town. he's been practicing bef on his gloves and uniform. his mom and dad to see their little warrior having so much fun, after fighting cancer for so long. >> i just think it's -- like it's such a special -- just such a special thing for him to get to do. thank you for republic services and thank you to make a wish >> leo, what was your favorite part >> getting to dump the bins. >> there you go. >> adorable there. thanks t for their report after his latest treatment, his mri came back negative

so there is no tumor, which is the best news out of everything. >> he's on to something. garbage trucks are school. thanks for watching "early today. before we go, we want to remind you, coming up on the "today" show, the first live

almost three dozen dead. thousands forced to flee from their homes over 100 wildfires burning and neighborhoods destroyed. is relief on the way >> astronomer sally is churning off the gulf coast right now forecasters expect it to make landfall as a hurricane today. >> $100,000 reward for the gunman accused of ambushing two police officers. >> ignoring coronavirus guidelines president trump held an indoor rally on sunday night at a factory in nevada as the death toll i