good morning 6:00 a.m. top stories at this hour we are tracking a massive storm hitting southern california. water flowing in the streets the state of emergency declared in several areas as another storm makes its way and. continuing our live coverage from down south. >> snow spot piling up in the sierra 10-15 ft. could cover the area we will check the forecast of coming up. >> it is rain in this area of more of it to claude got your commute. >> widespread rain right now lucky drive. one of the places seeing heavy downpours getting

heavier rain. we are expected to drive out the afternoon the next big storm moved through christmas day. radar shows us what's going on widespread rain moving through the delta and to the central valley and livermore valley as well. a pocket of heavier rain through the golden gate bridge this morning heavier downpours 1 01 moving through from san rafael all the way down into blocks bird. in the east bay picking up heavier downpours as well. sausalito heavy downpours read along prenup boulevard. taking it to the north bay highway 37 a few sprinkles left over. 80 light showers from fairfield right through vacaville. through livermore valley we are also seeing showers. as we take it through the day we will see a break up and actually taper off. we should dry up by the

afternoon and fact we will have a couple of days with dry weather. not until christmas would bring another storm system into the picture. it could bring as quite a bit of heavier rain. snow as well. the time line of it we can show you by saturday morning we may pick up sprinkles as we head toward the afternoon we will pick up heavier rain through your christmas day by 4:00 a.m. for moderate to heavy downpours expected through a good portion of the bay. we could see several hours with heavy rain. it looks like it's a quick moving storm pushing and to this they're bringing us now. here tahoe for forecast note today snow levels to 5,000 ft. freezing fog on your thursday and friday could actually dry out. we will continue to see a pretty nice condition up there in the sierra more snow to come on saturday. 7 day around the bay shows a break from the wet weather friday. with the

leftover rain we will see some fog developing to the morning hours tomorrow. police sunday for the next couple of days that the to them ho >> we don't have the back up at the bay bridge despite the standing water. they have cancelled the high wind advisory that is one thing in the commutes' favor here. look at how light the traffic is coming and so meter and whites have not yet been activated for this westbound ride. san mateo bridge ride still doing well. still lighter than usual traffic all the volume is definitely up over one hour ago. your ride to the golden gate bridge 1 01 south you seen the conditions at lucky drive here are the conditions on the span. traffic is light enough it's no

problems but we do have reports of flooding in the lanes. i will show you that in a moment. san francisco look at crosstown freeways inbounds central just one car coming in on the connecting ramp. you can see through the headlights a lot of water on the roadway and a lot of spray being kicked up. there is some flooding at berryessa on 680 in the southbound direction chp reports a lot of water in the fast lane. traffic light enough there are no backups but if you are driving their watch out for hydroplaning keep a firm hand on the the wheel and if you notice yourself starting to swerve in a particular direction turn your will in the direction of trouble so when you regain traction you could steer your way out of it. >> tracking the heavy weather in southern california states of emergency in place there radar

over the area heavy rain right now lost angeles and san diego flash flood warnings in effect with a record rainfall in the area. paul live in flint ridge where officials ordered the evacuations because of the conditions. >> good morning mark there rain is just getting to come down harder fairly light all morning long but they are worried about the storm coming through. you can see the sandbags are in place and this foothill community the concern is mud slides this was an area above it was ravaged by the station fire more than a year ago. that fire blew through and a strip the vegetation now that the ground is saturated there's no vegetation the fear it will bring a mud wall down here. here in the foothill communities. >> and did they expect evacuations today?

>> this is an interesting thing they said they were in evacuating but in checking back with the sheriff's office the residents could sign a waiver and from what we understand only one family actually left the room. many people suffer from evacuation to take. they left february, many other times they're told to get out so they have that option of signing the waiver. well there were given the order to evacuate they did not have to. they are staying put. you don't see a lot of cars on the street they took precautions as well. >> think you for the update. >> in nevada they have a state of emergency in parts of that state including mesquite. bad weather created a dangerous situation all of the flooding and they have rescuers out to help people rain has been dredging that area. they have

been asked to voluntarily evacuate reverse falling to dangerous levels and many roads are closed. the homes in the neighborhoods that are inundated. southern route you talked is being evacuated over concerns of p.m. may fail. jury ranch treat them is south of the national park that part has been closed campers and guess have been evacuated. the local sheriff's office says several flooded out roads are closed now one bridge over rain swollen river is already washed away. >> we will be back as the news continues tracking the storm the bay area james lick rain coming down. @

out of chicago coming in and an

early morning fire in a warehouse and a brick wall collapsing on the four firefighters. they pulled too out as their use see they are digging now there are still too fire fighters trapped in this warehouse trust under that wall of bricks. firefighters had the difficult time fighting the blaze because of fire hydrants are frozen. they are desperately digging to rescue two firefighters that are still trapped under the rubble. >> are big story here in the bay area we have team coverage tracking the latest rain storm. to the more news faster let's go to solo reporters jackie cecil is out in marin county at lucky drive. >> the rain continues to come down according. it has led up

quite a bit in 15-20 minutes for anybody loses san rafael or anywhere marin county you can see we have had rain for most of the night. it is rough but you could see some of the standing water. in the northbound raise especially it is closest to us there are probably 3-4 in. of standing water if you have. folks need to slow down lots of people have kicked up a huge amount of spray. i've seen people hit breaks and it's dangerous situation if you're not aware of standing water. >> we have seen a few not on this road but a few standouts this morning. and that's from losing traction and there's not much you can do. >> coming up aunt's the news continues after the break president barack obama scheduled to sign legislation allowed gays to serve openly in the

military. at 640 the annual list reports on the safest cars in america coming out. >> $1 million remic rid sandwich how was walked out of mcdonald's a millionaire. we continue to track the storm across the west heavy rain leaving the bay area sun and california the mud slides and heavier rain continuing.

this just can't live to washington or the president is taking the podium before he signs repealed to the military's don't ask don't tell. >> the deep side of our routine. days entrapped he was as good as dead. one soldier a friend

turned back. with shells landing around him amid smoke and chaos and the screams of wounded men this soldier, this friend, scaled down the slope risking his own life to bring private core when safer ground. for the rest of his years lloyd credited the soldier this friend named in the league with saving his life. knowing he would never have made it out alone. it was a fault for decades after the war, the two men's reunited in the golden years that lloyd learned of the man who saved his life his friend in the was gay. he had no idea. he didn't much care.

(laughter) cloying knew what kept him alive what made it possible to come home and start a family. and lived the rest of his life. it was his friend, lloyd's sun is with us today he knew the valor and sacrifice are no more limited by sexual orientation than they are by gender or race, or by creed, or religion, what made it possible to survive the battlefields of europe is the reason we are here today. (cheering) that's why we are here today (applause). so

this morning i am proud to sign a law that will bring an end to don't ask don't tell. (cheering) (applause). this lock i'm about his side will strengthen our national security. i pulled the ideals that are fighting men and women risk their life to defend. no longer will our country be denied the service of thousands of patriotic americans for who were forced to leave the military regardless of skills or bravery. no matter their years of exemplary performance because they happen to be gay. no longer were tens of thousands of americans in uniform be asked to look alike. or look over their shoulder (applause) in order to

serve the country that they love. (applause) as an admiral mike mullen has said arce people sacrifice a lot for their country including the lives. none of them should have to sacrifice integrity as well. (applause) (cheering). that's why i believe this is the right thing to do for our military and i believe it's the right thing to do. many fought long and hard to reach this i want to thank the democrats and republicans to put conviction ahead of politics to get this done together.

(applause) i one recognize nancy pelosi (applause), and harry reid (applause) (cheering), today we are marking i his store milestone and the combination of two productive years in congress in no small part because of their leadership. we're very grateful to them. (applause) i want to

thank joe lieberman (applause) and susan collins (applause), and i think carl levin's is still working (laughter) but no one had hii want to mention him (applause) i am so proud of susan davis (applause), (cheering). a guy you might know

marty frank (applause) they kept up the fight in the house and i have to a knowledge patrick murphy (inaudible) (cheering) (applause). i also wanted

commend all military leaders. ending don't ask don't tell what the topic in my first meeting with secretary gates at rumble mullin and joint chiefs (applause) we talked about how to amend this policy. we talked about how success in passing in implementing the change depended on working closely with the pentagon that's what we did. two years later am confident history will remember well. the courage, vision, of secretary gates of (applause). of (applause) of admiral who spoke from our heart (cheering) and said he what he believed was right (applause).

car right the joint chiefs and deputy secretary william lyon who his here (applause) the authors of the review who did an outstanding and a (cheering) to do is work (applause). all of

those who laid the groundwork for this transition. finally i want to express my gratitude to the men and women in this room who have worn the uniform of the united states armed services (applause) (cheering) i want to thank all the patriots who are here today all of them who were forced to hang up uniforms as a result of don't ask don't tell. and never stop fighting for this country and who rallied in march, and fought for change. i want to thank everyone who stood with them in that fight. because of these efforts in the coming days we will begin the process

laid out by this law. the old policy remains in effect until recertified the military's red readiness to implement the appeal. it's important for service members remember that. i have spoken to every one of the service chiefs and they are all committed to implementing this change swiftly and efficiently. (applause) we will not drag our feet to get this done. (applause) with any change there is apprehension. -natural as commander-in-chief i am certain we can affect this transition in a way that only strengthens our readiness. the people will look

back on this moment and wonder why was it ever a source of controversy in the first place. (laughter) i have every confidence of the service members just as they have adopted and growing stronger with each of the other changes i know they will do so again. i know secretary gates and rumble in as well as service members share this view. they share based on their own experiences. including serving with dedicated to down service members who are also gay. as one special operations said during the review one of my favorites. it echoes experience. we have a gay guy in the army. he's big, he is mean, he kills lots of bad guys. (laughter) nobody cared he was

gay (laughter) i think that sums up perfectly this a (laughter) tuition (applause) (cheeringsit) (cheering) i want a speak directly to the gay men and women currently serving. for longtime your services demanded a particular kind of sacrifice. you've been asked to carry the added burden of secrecy, isolation, all the while putting your life on the line for freedoms and privileges of citizenship that are not fully granted to you. you're not the first to carry this burden. for today marks the end of a struggle that has lasted almost two decades. this is a moment for that two centuries in the making. there will never be a

full accounting of the terrorism demonstrated by gay americans in service to this country. it has been secured in history and lost to prejudice who has waned in our lifetimes. and have returned an average crossroad in our past we know, gay americans fought just as hard gave just as much, to protect this nation and the ideas for which it stands. there can be little doubt there were gay soldiers who fought fought for independence, consecrated the grounding gettysburg, manned the trenches along the western france, storm the beaches, their names are etched in the walls of the memorials. their headstones dot the grounds at arlington. so the first generation to serve openly

in our armed forces you will stand for all of those who came before you. you will serve as role models to all the come after you. i know you will fulfil this responsibility with integrity, honor, just as you have every other mission for which you have been charged. you need to look no further than the servicemen and women in this room. distinguished officers like navy cmdr. (applause) koreans like eric one of the first american's (inaudible) (applause) leaders like

jonathan hopkins who led a platoon into iraq during the invasion. earning a bronze star with valor. (applause) he was (applause) it was discharged to receive e-mail to letters from his soldiers sang the new news gail long (laughter) and thought he was the best commander they ever had (applause) there are a lot of stories like these. stores only underscore the importance of enlisting the service of all who are willing to fight for the country. that's why i hope those soldiers, sailors coast guards

who have been discharged under this policy will seek to realist once it is implemented (applause). (cheering). that's why i say to all americans gate or straight we want nothing to do defend this country your country needs you and watch you we will be honored to welcome you into the finest military the world has ever known. (applause) some of you remember i visited afghanistan a few weeks ago. while i was walking along there's a big crowd of

3000. a young woman in uniform was shaking my hand other people were grabbing and taking pictures. she pulled me into hog and whispered in my ear. get don't ask don't tell done. (laughter) i said to her i promise you i will. (applause) for we are not a nation that says don't ask don't tell. we are a nation that says that of many we are one. (applause) we are a nation that welcomes the service of every patriot (applause) a nation that believes all men and women are created equal (applause) those are the ideals of generations fought for (applause) those are the ideals we uphold today (applause) it is my honor to sign this bill into law (cheering) (applause)

>> with the stroke of a pen at ending a 17 year policy that allowed gay men and women to serve as long as they didn't reveal they were day. now with the signing of this bill the pentagon will slowly work on its implementation to take away the done ask don't tell policy and allow gay men and women to serve openly in the military. >> we continued team coverage of the big story in the bay area which is the weather on a left- hand side live in san francisco on the right you can see the commute from the east bay into the city right now the bay

bridge of wet commute not a lot of traffic out there because it's a holiday. we are seeing the rain moves out it was a fast punch. >> it was the overnight hours as we head towards the afternoon we should change it. it is see the bulk of a moving toward the central valley up into the sierra. showing you where we are picking up rain drops this morning 3 san rafael also richmond san rafael bridge taking a closer look along 101 from san rafael all the way to salicylate up. as we take it to richmond, berkeley if you rain drops nothing significant. we are continuing to see it taper out. up in the sierra some snowfall in fact some of lower snow levels of looks like getting down below 5,000 ft. possibly along i 80. snow fall along 50 as well continuing to sees no threat today is the moisture continues to funnel through. so there is a winter

weather advisory in effect for the sierra until 4:00 p.m. we are expecting snow levels to get to 4,500 ft., it could create some blowing snow 4-8 in. above 5,000 ft. and it could get up to his foot of snow above 7,500 ft.. a look your 7 day around the bay which shows the wet weather is lasting today and then to more drying out. starting off with morning fog it especially after all the leftover moisture. partly sunny for sadder story for thursday and friday and then saturday brings than all whole bunch of wet weather. >> your tahoe forecast still levels sitting at 5,000 ft. freezing fog is to wake up best that to spike in temperatures for friday and taking a look at chain requirements as you drive up. interstate 80 highway 88 as

well, but currently no change control on 50. tamarin now 6:37 a.m. we will be right back after the break.

this just an to kron 4 following a storm we are attracting traffic george. asks >> the it services, they are between the stations that part is trying to thwart run at reduced speeds because the water on a track. as is almost out of the way the water will dissipate it will probably pick back up. it might mean out towards daly city trains could be 10-15 minutes behind schedule this morning. the ride on highway 80

the bay bridge westbound still no backup or delayed last checked meter lights have not been activated and about an hour call an early morning highs wind advisory for the bay bridge was canceled. the right to san mateo bridge good commute here we are starting to see better traffic volumes as you can see in the westbound direction a lot more to lights. still smooth across the span marin county still problem freak in sonoma county a fatal accident san rosa northbound has rightly shutdown between our roads to. that is likely to be out there for another hour no impact on the southbound side of the freeway. the right 880 the nimitz freeway you can see the ride coming up from the coliseum. the headlights and northbound no delays perhaps more important if you're headed south towards the

airport no delays from downtown oakland leading up to the off ramp. >> a their stories on die volkswagen lead annual list of the safest new vehicles. 66 vehicles were recognized 2011 model year the most ever awarded by the group. more than double the 27 vehicles selected last year. there receive the most greek words by 9, volkswagen and already had nine. general motors 8, 48 and took out a headache. >> we will be back with more of a couple of minutes.

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breaking news getting a live feed on of chicago firefighters trapped underneath their rubble from a collapsed where house the fire now is out but for the last

45 minutes now officers have been digging under the reebok tried to rescue the firefighters for the amtrak two of them have been rescued there could be two more trapped underneath all of this rubble. we'll bring you the latest pictures and information as they search for two of their own. >> big story in the bay area tracking the storm and it's all hitting california. here is live shots on the left from los angeles on the right from here at the approach to the bay bridge. than major flooding in their streets. we have paddling as the rain from the first armored move some it was mostly bad overnight. >> starting to peter out of bed but the cold front really backing a bunch of specially in southern california you conceal lit up and around los angeles flash flood watches and the fact flood warnings and flooding is a

concern in southern california. our area tapering out we did see showers heavy pressure on the peninsula. it is letting up a few isolated rain drops left over this morning along richmond san rafael bridge. as we head out to the central valley much of the activity is there. also in to the sierra as well snow along highway 80. also along highway 50 this morning. there is winter with it weather advisory until about 4:00 p.m. snow level could get down to 4,500 ft.. we could get up to a foot of snow about 7500. the net storm system pushing through by saturday. the next couple of days we will get a break from the wet weather and the store mobster. will take you through the time line early in the morning we might get some sprinkles relieve the afternoon brings us a better chance of heavier rain. heavy rain for several hours in fact. even by

9:00 a.m. sorry 9:00 p.m. moderate to heavy downpours persisting around the bay. right through the evening showers continuing on your sunday as well. saturday could be a light day for christmas and the weekend will continue to bring showers in to the beginning of next week. darya. >> let's set a look at flooding and loss pegasus they have done so much more rain than we have. video from 6:00 a.m./flood warnings in effect in many parts of nevada. >> when you're down on your block a trip through the drive in might be all you can afford but for one man it was more than he imagined. he went through mcdonald's drive-through few weeks ago to get a snack appealed the monopoly piece off of his drink and found he 1 $1 million. the former construction worker was unemployed for a year-and-a-half living with his parents. now he's the only million-dollar winner in

monopoly game history. heading think anybody could win that. >> i thought did he quit his job because he won them all. now he has a lot of money. 6:65 a.m. back with more a couple of minutes are big story of the weather as we go into another storm to hit this christmas day. we are trying to get through the end of this one might be affecting yoke here we have a live look of this san mateo bridge in looks a bit better than the bay bridge. the golden gate was stopping this morning is trying to dry out as well.