good morning. lost at sea. a desperate search for a cargo ship in the path of hurricane joaquin with 33 crew members. the ship issuing a distress call after taking on water. the historic efforts by the coast guard to find the ship. fierce flooding. a dangerous situation brewing along the east coast this weekend. up to a foot of rain expected in parts of the carolinas where residents are warned to stay off the road. dylan is tracking it all. a gunman's fury. details about the man who took nine lives in oregon on thursday. his troubled past, dismissal from the army and chilling note he left behind.

this as we learn more about the victims from stories of heroism. and the new bridget jones. one thing in particular about the photo that has a lot of people talking this morning. i'll tell you what it is, "today" saturday, october 3rd, 2015. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> a lovely day out on the plaza. isn't it? welcome to "today" on saturday. i'm erica hill. >> i'm craig melvin alongside sheinelle jones and dylan dreyer here. our friends along the east are getting hammered. this is greenville, south carolina. this is upstate south carolina. a lot of folks dealing with flooding that is border line biblical. >> this is with joaquin staying far away from the east coast. a totally different set up.

>> which is incredible to think about that. that is the top story this morning. that storm and other things affected by it including the dangerous hunt for a cargo ship that disappeared in hurricane joaquin. 33 crew members on board. 28 are american. kristen dahlgren joins us from jacksonville, florida where the ship set sail. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, erica. at first light, search planes will be back up. they know the ship was taking on water. they know the eye of hurricane joaquin passed close to the ship's last known location. family members are holding out hope that the crew members were able to hold on through the storm. >> we don't know their status. 140-mile-an-hour winds. it could have destroyed other communications. >> reporter: missing at sea, the 735 foot cargo ship with the 33 crew members, including 28 americans, disappeared during

hurricane joaquin as the storm issuing flooding winds and rain and torrential winds to the bahamas. it was expected to reach puerto rico on friday. at 12:30, the coast guard received a distress call saying it had taken on water. >> when you are disabled at sea, you basically are totally vulnerable to the sea. there is between 20 and 30 foot waves. >> reporter: the ship has not been heard from since. the maritime company says its captain has extensive experience and would not take unnecessary risks. >> the captain knew the conditions and communicated back to our headquarters. the conditions were as he saw them then, very favorable. he is very confident. the ship was doing well. >> reporter: all of this doing little to comfort family members

praying for their loved ones safe return. >> we want them home safe and soup sound. >> reporter: you heard from the family members. it is a reminder these are dads and husbands that are missing. most of the families are already here in jacksonville. those who aren't are flown in to get the latest updates on any new search information. we will, of course, keep you updated. erica. >> kristen, thank you. meanwhile, 22 million people under a flood watch this morning with unrelenting rain leading to problems up and down the east coast. it is not stopping soon. let's start off with kerry sanders live in greenville, south carolina for us. kerry, good morning. >> the rain will come at levels we have not seen before.

>> reporter: 5 to 10 to maybe 15 inches of rain could drench the carolinas this weekend. the darkening skies as the storm swept into columbia, south carolina. university of south carolina students captured a city already under water. >> look how crazy this is right now. >> reporter: emergency management is pleading with people not to drive in the lake suddenly popping up where roads should be. >> the phrase turn around, don't drown could not be more important. >> reporter: a state of emergency is in effect in parts of five states, including north carolina, where there is enough deep water to try this dangerous stunt. strong winds damaged property there, too. >> a tree and i realized that may be our car. >> reporter: ocean city may see a tidal crest this weekend. that is not stopping the u.s. mail from getting through.

>> rain, sleet, snow. got to get it done. >> reporter: shots from the space station show the power of hurricane joaquin. it left a trail of devastation in the bahamas. even if it stays out at sea, it is adding significant moisture to the storm battering the carolinas. >> that was kerry sanders reporting there. the weather such an issue, it was interfering with our ability to communicate with him. kerry is fine. he is in upstate south carolina. >> the same storm system may be to blame for a deadly fishing boat accident here in new york. two were killed when the boat capsized. >> the pounding rain and winds created rough seas with the waves in the area reported to be as high as 15 feet. >> scary stuff. dylan is tracking the stormy weather for us this morning. talk about keeping busy on saturday morning. there's a lot happening. >> even with joaquin staying far out to sea. here it is right now. a category three hurricane.

look at the moisture that is streaming up. this is going to cause the potentially life threatening flooding in carolinas. it is a powerful storm. the good news is it is finally moving away from the bahamas. taking the track that keeps it west of bumuda. we have an area of low pressure developing down here in georgia and south carolina. we have an area of high pressure up in canada. as these get closer together, these lines show the pressure gradient. that indicates how strong the winds will be. a strong easterly wind that is why we have coastal flooding. the moisture from what is hurricane joaquin that is staying out to sea. the moisture get close enough and the onshore flow. a high tide between 12:00 and 1:00. that is when we will see the splashover. a lot of roads close to the

shoreline will flood. we watching at flash flood warnings and watches through carolinas and up through va virginia. we had several inches of rain in this area. with this training rain through charleston, we are looking at more rain to perhaps produce as much as 15 inches of additional rainfall right in the area from charleston over to columbia. that is the biggest concern as we go through the next couple days. we will keep an eye on this for some time. craig. >> dylan, thank you. the details in the mass shoot in the oregon community college. nine lives cut short when the killer opened fire inside the college. this morning, we are learning more about his dark past. nbc's jacob rascon is in roseburg with more. >> reporter: craig, good morning. we know the identities of the victims. ages 18 to 70. the shooter himself a student who arrived on campus in the

first week of the semester determined to commit mass murder. investigators say chris harper mercer, 26, attended a school for emotionally troubled children and kicked out of the army and became a loner blocking about gaining notoriety. he left six guns, including a rifle and document at the scene. according to those, he wrote he would be welcomed in hell and embraced by the devil. local authorities are taking a personal stand. >> let me be very clear. i will not name the shooter. >> reporter: all nine wounded are expected to survive. among the dead are four teenagers. terry mcauliffe and lucas eibel and quinn glen cooper. their lives were shattered. and sarena dawn moore and jason johnson who just completed a rehab program and back on his feet. >> he was proud of himself.

proud of what he was doing. >> reporter: kim dietz was taking classes at the same time as her daughter. and lawrence levine, the only professor killed in the rampage. heartache and now healing as several police agencies investigate why. another mass killing in america and the deadliest school shooting in oregon history. >> i'm very lucky. some people didn't make it out of there. >> reporter: some witnesses reported hearing the shooter ask about his victim' religion. investigators are still searching for a motive, one thing seems clear. the shooter wanted to be infamous. seven additional guns were found at his house, all purchased legally. craig. >> jacob, thank you. good to find more about the victims. this shooting reignited the

debate of guns on the campaign trail. an angry president obama is pushing people to take action. we have nbc's kristen welker at the white house this morning. >> reporter: good morning, erica. hillary clinton and joe biden will speak at the human rights campaign here in washington with the renewed debate about guns will loom large and it comes as washington's inaction on the issue is coming into sharper focus. >> this will not change until the politics change and the behavior of elected officials changes. >> reporter: president obama fed up, but acknowledging the reality friday. he cannot pass stiffer gun laws without congress. >> i'm going to talk about this on a regular basis and i will politicize it. >> reporter: on thursday, the president flashed anger not seen since sandy hook when 20 children were massacred. >> this is a political choice we

make. to law this to happen every few months in america. >> reporter: while less than half of american support stricter gun control laws, 93% want background checks for all gun buyers. there is little appetite for congress. this spilled on the campaign debate on friday where hillary clinton called for action. >> what is wrong with us that we can't stand up to the nra and the gun lobby and the gun manufacturers they represent? >> reporter: in an interview with chuck todd, donald trump struck a different tone. >> you have people that are mentally ill and they will come through the cracks. >> reporter: and jeb bush raised eyebrow was his response. >> stuff happens. there is always a crisis. the impulse is to do something. it is not necessarily the right thing to do. >> i think the american people should hear that and make their own judgments. >> reporter: after the sandy hook massacre, the president and victims' families pushed for expanded background tests.

that did not pass congress. defeated by republicans and red state democrats. arguing it could tultimately threaten their right to bear arms. >> and it is difficult for members of congress because people opposed to changes in gun laws are willing to work and donate and do things to defeat members who go the other way. >> reporter: now as for jeb bush's comments, his campaign is pushing back against critics saying quote it is sad and beyond craven that liberal democrats would aid and an bet by some in the national media to dishonestly state this in the nation. and since 2012, congress added more program lawmakers to the ranks. erica. >> kristen, thank you. gun violence in america will be an important topic when we sit down one-on-one for a town hall

meeting with hillary clinton. that of course happens live from new hampshire right here on "today" on monday. if you have a question for secretary clinton, you can post it to facebook, twitter or instagram by posting it t to #hilto #hil to #hillarytoday. and we have sheinelle with more on the latest hospital bombing. >> good morning. a hospital was bombed in kunduz. dozens are wounded and some staff members are unaccounted for. u.s. forces knowledge it may have resulted in collateral damage in a nearby facility. doctors without borders is condemning saying they were informed about the hospital's precise location. terrorists were hiding inside the hospital. and about face from kevin mccarthy on benghazi as the race

for house speaker widens. mccarthy tells fox news is the purpose of the committee is to find the truth and it never had to do with politics. earlier this week, he said the committee is to blame for hillary clinton's dropping poll numbers. the reversal comes as the ap reports that mccarthy may be challenged by republican congress member jason chaffetz of utah. the widow of robin williams has reached a settlement over the estate with her children. the terms of the settlement have not been disclosed, but the lawyer for the widow says she will stay in the home. actor david cassidy is in trouble with the law. he starred in the '70s sitcom "the partridge family," is accused of leaving an accident.

he sideswiped a truck and tried to cover his license plate. he is facing dwi charges in florida and new york previously. and chick-fil-a lovers spent the night in pounding rain in new york to get a southern style breakfast. known for the biscuits opened the first store in manhattan. the first 100 customers got a chance to win free food for a year. for some, it was worth being out in the rain. >> no doubt. it's the best chicken sandwich. >> and it's here. there used to be one here in the union at nyu? >> the worst is when you get excited because you are here a chick-fil-a and it's sunday. >> we have a lot of rain in the south. meanwhile, out west, it is snow. another storm. we are talking about snow. perhaps up to 5 inches in parts of the higher elevations back

through western montana. we have the area of low pressure that is also bringing a lot of rain ahead of it. this is going to move through the area slowly today. then into tomorrow as winds pick up from the northwest. it will get chilly behind the system. of course, we are very much focused on what is going on in south carolina where the rain is going to be relentless today. we could end up with 10 to 20 inches of rain possible when it is all said and done. that is the look at the weather across the country. now here is a peek out your window. and that's your latest forecast. >> dylan, thank you.

this morning, pope francis is in rome preparing for a gathering of church leaders from around the world. the visit to the united states is making headlines as the vatican offers details over the meeting with kentucky clerk kim davis. here is nbc's john yang. >> reporter: intrigue at the vatican days after the visit to the united states. officials revealing this is pope francis's real audience in washington with the former student and his same-sex partner of 19 years. the former student told cnbc, we have been friends for a long time. he knows about me being gay and he has a lot of respect for me being gay and my partner. this amateur video of the meeting surfaced the same day the spokesman tried to distance himself from kim davis. the kentucky clerk refusing to

issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. the vatican says davis was one of many that the pope visited and francis was not fully briefed on the details of her case. his meeting with her should not be considered a form of support in position of all of the particular and complex aspects. >> this pope doesn't fit the left/right categories we use in the united states. that was true for throughout the visit. >> reporter: addressing congress, he was widely praised for uniting at least briefly a bitterly divided nation and now this new twist. a meeting with a long time friend and his same-sex partner. for "today," john yang, nbc news, london. still to come on saturday morning, a look back at the week that was. from planned parenthood on the hot seat on capitol hill to a

major discovery on the red planet. and threes company on a special walk down the aisle. but first this is "today" on nbc.

i'm there's no place like it in the world. come fall, i like to get a taste of everything the state has to offer. like this famous winery nestled in the hudson valley. or the award-winning vineyards of long island. this cooperstown brewery belongs in every beer lover's hall of fame.

you can even try new york's exceptional cider and spirits. this fall, drink in the beauty of new york state. plan your trip at iloveny.com. there's something for everyone. back now at 22 past the hour with "the download." >> these are some of the stories that had us talking and smiling and thinking. another fatal shooting. >> somebody is outside one of the doors shooting through the door. >> ten killed at umpqua community college in oregon, including the gunman, chris harper mercer. >> the 41st school shooting this year. >> the reporting is routine. my response ends up being routine. the conversation and aftermath of it. we've become numb to this. extreme weather battered the east coast with historic rain and wind this week. >> one person killed. another rescued when this road

washed away. >> i cannot stress enough we are talking about the real possibility of deadly flooding. u.s./russia relations are icy, but president obama and vladimir putin held the first meeting in two years. both said it was constructive, but it is still strained. >> putin argued to keep syria's president assad. obama said assad massacred his own people with barrel bombs is the problem. not the solution. on capitol hill, planned parenthood's president cecile richards faced five hours of confrontational questioning. >> will the chairman yield? >> no, i won't. >> republicans want to strip federal funding after the undercover edited videos made by an anti-abortion activist. and hackers tried to access

hillary clinton's private e-mail account while secretary of state. >> she knowledacknowledged it ig a toll. >> and on the republican front. >> the author of "art of the deal" is making a new sales pitch. vowing to cut income taxes for millions of americans across the board. >> it would expand the deficit by a lot and disproportionately benefit wealthy americans. news from the mysteriously red planet. >> liquid water has been found on mars. >> for years, scientists have known there was water on mars, but frozen solid in polar ice caps. these streaks now suggest liquid water. it is not always easy part of a blended family. watch this. an ohio father before he walks his daughter down the aisle. grabbed the hand of her stepfather.

>> i got weak in the knees. and a little mad science took over "today". >> this is sulpher hexide. >> that's what's going on in your neck of the woods. >> i love to love you, mama, but i love your mama better. i'm going to do barry white. performing at the velvet room. >> i love the blended family. >> i know i come from a blended family. we can relate to that. sure there is drama. it doesn't have to be that way. that is beautiful. still ahead here. dr. oz is making a house call. raising awareness on an issue that affects someone you know and love, but hardly anyone

talks about. a big development in a story we have been following. the murder of the popular dallas this is nbc 10 news first alert weather. it is a first alert weather day in coastal areas because of win, rain, and flooding. you are taking a live look down the shore at cape may where rain is still coming down along the jersey shore. flooding is expected to peak again at high tide today. let's get right to first alert meteorologist brittney shipp. what can we expect? >> well, it is a combination of high tide and persistent onshore flow with gusts closer to 50-55 miles per hour as we go into the rest of today and into tonight, so that's the main concern. here's a live look outside right now, low hanging clouds, light rainfall moving through, coastal flood warnings in effect through 6:00 p.m. on sunday so that's

the entire weekend. expires sooner than that in kent county and also new castle county and delaware county seeing expirations earlier. our radar shows light showers in atlantic city, parts of of delaware up through the poconos, the philadelphia area, and more moisture on the way, but we'll start to see mostly cloudy skies headed into tomorrow, and so one more day with the light rain, winds are strong today and tomorrow, and temperatures katy. >> it's a messy weekend. before you leave the house, check our app, live interactive radar so you know what to expect in your area. delaware is under a limited state of emergency because of the weather just for sussex county, though. state offices remain open, and many camp sites are closed today

and tomorrow. back to the "today" show. we'll see you in 25 minutes for another update.

if you live anywhere along the east coast this morning, you might want to stay inside. from times square here in new york city to greenville, south carolina. it is nasty. tens of millions under a flood watch on this saturday morning, the 3rd day of october, 2015. >> that is one of the stories making headlines at this hour. more than 20 million people in the storm's path. heavy rains expected to continue through the weekend. dylan will have much more on that for us in the next few minutes. the coast guard is looking for a missing cargo ship with 33 people on board, including 28 americans. it disappeared during hurricane joaquin after a distress call

was received. and doctors without borders say at least nine members killed overnight in a u.s. air strike in afghanistan. many others seriously wounded. the u.s. admits a strike may have resulted in collateral damage. let's start this half hour with a popular dentist this dallas shot and killed in a parking garage. sheinelle. >> one man is in custody charged with murder. investigators are still on the hunt for another woman who may have hired kendra's killer. today, 31-year-old christopher love is behind bars. accused of shooting kendra hatcher in the parking garage in the apartment complex last month. >> it was a murder for hire. >> reporter: this woman, brenda

delgado hired him to kill hatcher. >> she is a fugitive. >> reporter: according to police documents, delgado ended a two-year relationship with hatcher's boyfriend. authorities say she admitted being the getaway driver in what was supposed to be a robbery in exchange for $500. her attorney told nbc news that his client did not expect it to escalate to more violence. documents reveal that cortes said delgado tracked the victim through the cell phone before the murder. the dentist's brother, neil hatcher says this brings him closer to closure. >> it's nice. it is good to have something tangible to hold on to. >> christopher love is being held on $2.5 million bond. authorities say he was found with the weapon believed to have

been used to kill hatcher. sheinelle, thank you. >> dylan has been tracking the flooding issues along the east coast. a lot to track. >> unfortunately, there is the storm moving out to sea. that is joaquin. you would think that things would improve now it is heading eastward. the moisture streaming in from the system. we have the area of low pressure that developed off the coast of carolina. we will see more and more rain down through south carolina before it lifts into north carolina as we go into sunday and monday. it will train over the same area. that means if you could basically set up a row of train tracks here, the rain will continue to flow into the same area. that is why we are looking for rainfall totals up to 10 to 20 inches in some of the areas. especially, unfortunately, in the higher elevations of western south carolina out near columbia. an area dealing with rain for the last week. once you have 15 to 20 inches of rain, you can create the

mudslides as the ground is unstable and they will have gusty winds as well. it is a combination that could lead to dangerous flash flooding. up and down east coast, the threat of coastal flooding, especially around noon, high tide. and as all of that water gets pushed on shore, astronomical high tides.

and that's the latest forecast. >> thank you, dylan. >> still to come on "today," have mercy. the reunion john stamos is planning on his show. and dr. oz is in the house with some stats about a problem with some stats about a problem affecting 1 in 3 american to the couple who set aside with some stats about a problem affecting 1 in 3 american the whole day to sell their old car and buy a new one... oops. nana's got the kids til 9... but it's only 2. guess you'll just have to see a movie... ...then get some dinner. what a pity. on top of your health?ay ahh... ahh... cigna customers have plan choices and tools to take control. so they're more engaged, with fewer high health risks and lower medical costs. take control of your health

at cigna dot com slash take control. brandois heaven in a jar. that's because our ingredients come from... farmers committed to responsibly sourced oils... blended with ingredients like cage-free eggs. mmm. heaven. real ingredients. that's how we're working to bring out the best. oh, she looks upset. should i say something? or should i just keep looking at my phone? gracias. kleenex. someone needs one. gracias. the citi double cash® card comes in very handy with cash back twice on purchases. earn once when you buy, and again as you pay. that's cash back now, and cash back again later.

it's cash back déjà vu. the citi double cash card. the only card that lets you earn cash back twice on every purchase with 1% when you buy and 1% as you pay. with two ways to earn, it makes a lot of other cards seem one sided. two words: it heals.e different? how? with heat. unlike creams and rubs that mask the pain, thermacare has patented heat cells that penetrate deep to increase circulation and accelerate healing. let's review: heat, plus relief, plus healing, equals thermacare. the proof that it heals is you. when is your flu shot more than a flu shot? when it helps give a lifesaving vaccine to a child in need in a developing country.

thanks to customers like you, walgreens "get a shot. give a shot." program has helped provide seven million vaccines. make your flu shot make a world of difference. walgreens. at the corner of happy and healthy. we are back on a saturday morning with a sobering

statistic. 22 million americans struggle with addiction and 23 million more are in recovery. tomorrow in washington, d.c., more than 600 organizations will gather in solidarity to raise awareness with the unite to face addiction rally. dr. mehmet oz will be there. you have been focusing on addiction this week on your show. >> we have. it is part of the happy mind movement that americans are interested in getting into. we live in a stressful environment. addiction is a bigger problem. i'm optimistic. we will talk about that in a second. four times increase in heroin overdose in americans in the last four years. the number one cause of accidental death in our country. you mentioned over 20 million people addicted. it probably affects 1 in 3 households. tomorrow in washington, with the weather passing, hang in there, the march is on. the leaders from the drug czar

and congress members and sheryl crow and steven tyler. the recovery is real. as bad as the numbers i gave you, here best number. over 20 million are in recovery. recovery is real. >> it is the problem is as worst as it has been, what is the impetus? >> a lot of it is prescription medication. opiods. it is not a problem you have had all your life or a construction worker at 35 years of age and hurts their back and gets a prescription medication. they realize heroin is one-third the price and they are addicted. almost everybody in the country knows someone affected by drugs and the mental illness has been a crisis. >> if someone is watching and listening, if they have a loved

one struggling, what can they do? >> so, instead of finger wagging at them. lead with love. that is critical. they have to appreciate you do care for them. rally the troops. folks around you and loved ones to realize along with you that you need to do something to intervene. call in the calvary. get the pros involved. there is a solution for your loved one. most people don't believe it is true. it is there. part of the reason we are going to washington besides of the iconic march on the mall. if you cannot get to washington, we will stream it on dr.oz.com. you can see the important stories. al the end of the day, you have the ability to make the changes. our leadership has been active and doing the right thing. we have rules on the books that mandate that you get the care that you deserve for mental illness and recovery from addiction. it is your right to get it. >> i want to get your take on something else. you know oregon became the third state to legalize recreational

marijuana use. what do we know about the correlation between recreational pot use and addiction? >> the biggest issue i see with substance is it happens before the age of 20. the pre-frontal cotex doesn't come into its own until the late 20s. that is not how it usually happens, as a gateway drug. i don't want you to rely on a substance to get through your lives. >> that rally will happen tomorrow in washington and also catch it on today.com. and up next, why this man started weeping after opening up his dudes... you know... been a couple of a plus roommates. i hate to do this because you guys have been cool with everything. you were cool with my band.

you were cool with that english accent phase. remember that? that theater troupe. hey, could you give me a second please. but state farm's helping me be really smart with my money and i've got my own pad now. oh, no big deal. mom, dad, my new place doesn't allow pets. dylan's gonna have to stay here. one love pops. start out right in life. with everything from renters insurance to your first bank account, state farm is there. "how to save energy." wow. insulating the house made our heating bill really small. how small? tiny. now get 20% off select roll insulation at lowe's.

this proteins in your skin. watch it react to direct contact with ordinary soap. soap weakens the proteins. dove is different. with < moisturizing cream and mild cleansers dove helps skin maintain its natural moisture. with their airline credit card miles. sometimes those seats cost a ridiculous number of miles... or there's a fee to use them.

i know. it's so frustrating. they'd be a lot happier with the capital one venture card. and you would, too! why? it's so easy with venture. you earn unlimited double miles on every purchase, every day. just book any flight you want then use your miles to cover the cost. now, that's more like it. what's in your wallet? make tonight white dchicken chili night!? start with bush's white chili beans, simmered in our flavorful chili sauce. then add rotisserie chicken... punch it up with a little heat... and a few ingredients from your pantry. it's easy to make the perfect pot of chili every time. make your chili better with bush's® white chili beans. for this and more great chili recipes, visit bushbeans.com.

back now on a saturday morning with a really sweet surprise for one man. his wife cooked up something special. >> yes, she did. sheinelle is in the orange room with the video. >> that is for sure. they said this is a long time coming. dana and her husband arkel have been trying to have a baby for 17 years. after several miscarriages, they decided to let go of the dream of getting pregnant five years ago. imagine her surprise when she said she was five months pregnant and she surprised him by putting buns in the oven. >> you're pregnant. you're pregnant?

>> guess how far along? >> how long? >> 19 weeks. almost five months. >> come here. >> and it's a boy. >> oh, dana said she thought something was up when she started exercising with a group of friends and she was gaining weight. the couple is shocked by the reaction of the video which has been viewed 5 million times. she sent the original to eight people. it is one of the things where people liked it and it is now all over the country. >> i lose it when i see a grown man cry. >> for a good reason like that. tears of happiness and joy. >> 17 years. what a blessing. keep us posted. >> we look forward to the baby video. still to come, "saturday night live" is back with one very special guest expected tonight. we'll tell you who it is.

i'm making my debut. but first this is "today" on nbc.

the faithful. we'll head outside in a bit. >> you know, bring us a pillow. this serves no purpose. bring us a blanket. >> anyway. >> "saturday night live" kicks off the 41st season. the host and musical guests miley cyrus. snl. something you have been waiting for all summer long. political season kicks into high gear. a lot of people wonder how snl will cover the side show of politics in the country. >> they have so much material to work with. there is a lot of buzz.

hillary clinton will make a surprise appearance on tonight's show. not to mention a surprise. she is expected to do a scene with kate mckennon. she appeared on snl during the 2008 season alongside amy poehler. where can you catch the action? where else but nbc. snl at 11:30. >> will do a recap tomorrow morning. it is always a treat. i tell you my favorite part. seeing the people lined up. >> in the cold and rain. they were out there at 4:00 a.m. >> very dedicated. >> or they are waiting for dylan dreyer. >> i was so funny with my pillow. >> you said it is forecast. you do the schtick well. bear versus kayak. a lesson and reminder you should not mess with a bear.

#commonsense. and is this the curse of taylor swift? why the blue jays may across america, people like basketball hall of famer dominique wilkins... ...are taking charge of their type 2 diabetes... ...with non-insulin victoza®. for a while, i took a pill to lower my blood sugar. but it didn't get me to my goal. so i asked my doctor about victoza®. he said victoza® works differently than pills. and comes in a pen. victoza® is proven to lower blood sugar and a1c. it's taken once a day, any time. victoza® is not for weight loss, but it may help you lose some weight. victoza® is an injectable prescription medicine that may improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes when used with diet and exercise. it is not recommended as the first medication to treat diabetes... ...and should not be used in people with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. victoza® has not been studied with mealtime insulin. victoza® is not insulin. do not take victoza® if you have a personal or family history

of medullary thyroid cancer... ...multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or if you are allergic to... ...victoza® or any of its ingredients. symptoms of a serious allergic reaction... ...may include itching, rash, or difficulty breathing. tell your doctor... ...if you get a lump or swelling in your neck. serious side effects may happen in people who take victoza®... ...including inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). stop taking victoza®... ...and call your doctor right away if you have signs of pancreatitis such as severe pain that will not go away in your abdomen or from your abdomen to your back... ...with or without vomiting. tell your doctor about all the medicines you take... ...and if you have any medical conditions. taking victoza® with a sulfonylurea or... ...insulin may cause low blood sugar. the most common side effects are headache, nausea... ...diarrhea, and vomiting. side effects can lead to dehydration... ...which may cause kidney problems. if your pill isn't giving you... ...the control you need...

...ask your doctor about non-insulin victoza®. it's covered by most health plans. bill's got a very tough 13lie here...... looks like we have some sort of sea monster in the water hazard here. i believe that's a "kraken", bruce. it looks like he's going to go with a nine iron. that may not be enough club... well he's definitely going to lose a stroke on this hole. if you're a golf commentator, you whisper. it's what you do.

if you want to save fifteen percent or more on car insurance, you switch to geico. it's what you do. this golf course is electric... johnson's believes that bath time is more than cleansing and moisturizing, it's a time for development. your loving touch stimulates his senses and nurtures his growing mind. the scent, the lather, even the tiny bubbles in a johnson's bath help to enhance the experience. so why just clean your baby, when you can give him so much more? johnson's. so much more™

good morning. it is 7:56, i'm katy zachry, a first alert weather day in coastal areas because of the wind, rain, and the flooding. this was the soggy scene last night along the coast. winds took water from the bays in the ocean and dump it into backyards and streets in north wildwood, ocean city, and in other shoreline communities. let's get to our first alert meteorologist, brittney shipp. what do we expect today, same? >> the coastal flood warning in effect until 6:00 p.m. sunday, and so we have that persistent onshore flow with gusts closer to 40-45 miles per hour down the shore, and 30 inland, and in the city. our current temperatures at 41

degrees in the oconos, 46 in allentown, and 56 in philadelphia. a cold start to the morning, cold throughout the day, warming between 54-57 degrees. here's a closer look at the radar. expect soggy conditions again, and not the heavy rain from yesterday, but wet conditions and coastal flood advisory affecting our shore and beach communities until sunday at 6:00 p.m. katy? >> and thanks. it's a messy weekend as you laid out, but before you leave the house today, check the forecast on the nbc 10 news app for live interactive radar so you know what to expect in your neighborhood. happening this weekend, despite the rain, the susan g.kg.k g. race walk did not stop them yesterday or today. the three day walk heads through valley and penn wynn today, incoming survivors and their supporters. we'll be back in 30 minutes

for a full hour of news and weather. be sure to join us then. for now, back to "today."

♪ ♪

good morning. 8:00. here are some of the stories we are watching. lost at sea. 28 americans are missing after a cargo ship disappeared in the atlantic as it was sailing from jacksonville to puerto rico. the ship put out a distress call as hurricane joaquin battered it. the coast guard resumes the search for the ship today. fierce flooding. tens of thousands under a storm watch right now. heavy rains are not showing any signs of letting up soon as tit will not end soon. and gunman's fury. the shooter left behind a note and several guns in oregon.

we will talk to one survivor and how she was able to stay alive. today, saturday, october 3rd, 2015. >> good morning. welcome back to "today." brave souls on the plaza. >> hardy. >> it has been raining nonstop. >> we are absolutely going outside. >> good to see you back. i'm craig melvin. >> i'm erica hill alongside sheinelle jones and dylan dreyer. it is cold and windy and keeping you busy. >> up and down the entire east coast. >> we will get to the forecast in a minute. we start this half hour with the southeast under water and under a state of emergency this morning as a dangerous storm dumps historic rainfall on the region. nbc's kerry sanders is in greenville, south carolina. kerry, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, craig. it is coming down and as you

know, it will continue to come down. you are looking over my shoulder here at the river. it is holding just fine. the real concern is what will happen going forward here for the next 24 to 36 hours and beyond. already in some of the low lying areas, we are beginning to see flooding. you see cars are stalled in the water. the national weather service warns folks if you see standing water, don't drive your car through it. in two feet or as little as one foot of water, you can lose control of your car. the problem is not just here in south carolina. it is to the south down into georgia and all the way up into new jersey. as you take a look at areas of virginia where we have flooding. also in maryland. again, problems will continue throughout the day. bottom line is you need to recognize because there is so much water, it's not simply going to be a flooding problem. it will saturate the ground. that means tree roots could become fragile. in a gust of wind and the national weather service says there could be gusts up to 35

miles an hour. trees could topple over. the emergency managers in the various states along the east coast are recommending people if they don't need to go out, to hunker down at home and wait this out. it will be as much rain in south carolina in three days as they normally get in three months. that would be a record rainfall. they have been keeping records for about 150 years. for those who are wondering about college football, the clemson/notre dame game. an outdoor stadium. it will be in the rain. it's natural turf. maybe by the end of the game, because it will be so muddy, we will probably not go which player is on which team. we will have to watch and figure it all out. >> a doozy in death valley. kerry, thank you. >> a straight up mud bowl. dylan is tracking this for us. what can we expect? hurricane joaquin is a category three hurricane. it should stay to the west of

bermuda. look at this area that has been hard hit. the rain is not wobbling west or east. it is stuck over the same area. that will lead to the potential of some flooding. the ground is saturated. the rivers, streams and creeks at maximum level. when you add in additional 15 inches of rain, that obviously will lead to the potential of flash flooding and flooding of the streams and rivers. it is hilly in south carolina. that could end up in mudslides. it is not just the rains, but coastal concerns. with high tide, we have moisture and wind off the atlantic which will push water onshore. there is a high tide at noon today. the hour before noon and after the noon hour is when we will see the coastal flooding. we could see beach erosion and

coastal areas dealing with flooding as we go through the weekend until the winds finally subside. erica and craig. thank you. >> turning now to the story developing in the middle of the ocean. the coast guard is out again this morning searching for a cargo ship that went missing two days ago. 33 crew members, 28 american. nbc's kristen dahlgren has more for us from jacksonville. >> reporter: good morning, erica. you can imagine how agonizing this wait is for families in jacksonville. waiting to hear any word on the fate of their loved ones. it is daylight. the coast guard is back up flying and looking for any sign of this cargo ship. yesterday, they covered about 850 square mile area. that was under very difficult conditions as joaquin was passing by. the coast guard admitted they were pushing the limits of safety. they hope to get a better look

at the vast sign of the ocean. the ship left in jacksonville on tuesday headed for puerto rico. a call came in that they lost propulsion. it was taking on water and listing 15 degrees to the side. this is a very heavy cargo ship loaded with cars and containers. then there was an automated distress beacon. it could have been activated by water coming on it and can it can be manually activated. it is not sure what happens happening on board the ship. they are continuing to fly out today. family members are gathering waiting for word on what happened to the ship. we will update you through the day. >> kristen, thank you. turning to the tragedy in oregon where a 26-year-old shooter opened fire on a community college killing nine. police say the shooter was a student at the school and he left behind a disturbing note

before his rampage. this morning, amazing stories of survival and heroism. we have nbc's kevin tibbles with more. >> reporter: craig, in the wake of the tragic story, new stories are emerging. ones of courage and forgiveness. roseburg's 22,000 residents now grapple with the horror of thursday's rampage. lives have been taken. lives changed forever. cory was the first to speak to his wounded sister ana. he did it by cell phone. just 18 years old and she is a survivor. >> it was a minute or two after the incident. she answered the phone. i told her to keep breathing and i loved her. i was trying really hard to keep it together for her. >> reporter: there were heroes here too. 30-year-old chris mintz.

he told the gunman it is his son's birthday. he tried to block the shooter's path and was shot several times. >> it is sad to know that there are some that don't get to have that. >> reporter: a special go fund me page was set up by a cousin hoping to raise money for the mintz family. it has raised hundreds of thousands. hannah miles was spared hiding from the gunman in the next room. >> confusion and terror. >> reporter: their father is a local minister. >> we are very blessed today. my heart goes out to those that don't have their children tonight. my heart goes out to those folks that have lost their family members. i'm blessed and thankful to god. >> reporter: as roseburg prepares to bury those taken on

thursday, there are tributes and remembrances, but craig, there is also the grief. craig. >> kevin, thank you for that. doctors say ana is expected to make a full recovery after surgery yesterday. her older brother, whom he talked to her, joins us this morning. thank you for getting up with us this morning. >> thank you very much. >> first, there are so many people pulling for your sister. how is she feeling this morning? how did the surgery go? >> the surgery went as well as the surgery possibly could have. i saw her possibly 1:00 a.m. before she fell asleep. she has been in physical therapy and moved to a less intensive care unit. she is expected to make a full recovery with no lasting or remaining damages. >> which is incredible. i know you said at one point she asked the doctor one thing before surgery. she wanted the bullet.

>> yes. she's quite the comedian. she wanted to keep it as a souvenir to show she is not afraid and brave. >> did the doctor salvage that and give it to her? >> the doctor was not able to because it was part of the crime scene and it was considered evidence and it was probably confiscated by police or active people on duty. >> you talked about a bit how you tried to hold it together when you first spoke with her on the phone after everything happened. walk us through it. she actually played dead at one point? >> yes. she played dead when the gunman first came in. she was hit in the opening fire. she fell to the floor next to her friend cheyenne. she pretended to be dead. she was told to stand up and she remained quiet and remain still. that bought her time where he left her alone and continued on

with his horrible event. she, when i called her in the classroom, she was gasping and breathing hard and crying. told she she had been shot. i just prayed for her and told her to keep breathing and i loved her and it was everything i could do to stay on my feet while i was speaking to her. i thought i was going to lose my little sister. all i knew she was shot lying in the classroom. now i know -- go ahead. >> go ahead, korrie. >> now she is okay, i'm feeling better. at the time, i was more scared than ever in my life. >> we can only imagine what that feeling was for you. based on the stories you tell and what ana told you, you come from an incredibly strong family. >> absolutely. >> i understand you are a student there. did you know the gunman? >> i think i was aware of the fact he may have been a student previously and he was active on

the ucc campus. i didn't know him personally. i believe i recall seeing him, but as far as knowing him on a personal level, i did not. i'm aware of who he is. >> have you or your sister talked about going back to class? >> we haven't talked about going back to class at all. we don't know when classes will start again. we have been focused on family and very focused on ana and managing her recovery. >> she has an incredible support system from you and the community. you are all pulling together. we appreciate your time this morning. give ana our best. >> thank you. absolutely. she would like to share one thing. she is very happy to be alive. she is very happy to be here. she wants everyone to realize that living every day like it's your last is much more real to her now and she sends her love to the families struggling. she sends her affection and care

to the community and nation who is watching. >> what a statement from the very strong young woman to take a moment to think of others. thanks again. >> thank you very much. we continue to follow that deadly air strike in afghanistan as well. sheinelle is here with more on that. >> yes, the u.s. military says the strike on a doctors without borders hospital is now under investigation. the charity group says nine of its staff members are dead and 30 other people still missing. adding the strike on the trauma center was a sustained bombing. the uaw have reached a tentative deal with ford at the key assembly plant. ford released a statement saying plant operations will continue at the kansas city factory. the university of louisville says it is investigating a problem sex scandal with paid

escorts that is rocking the basketball program. on friday, coach rick pitino addressed bombshell allegations. the book claims a former team staffer paid prostitutes for sex with players in dorms. >> i'm shocked over this. my heart is taken out of my body and broken. >> louisville says it first learned of the allegations in late august and immediately n e notified the ncaa. a farmer in michigan made a discovery. the bones of a woolly mammoth. they thought a bent fence post caked with mud, but it was a pelvis from ancient woolly mammoth that lived up to 15,000 years ago. they found the skull and two tusks with ribs and both shoulder blades. what a find.

>> from snuffalupagus to snow. >> never on television. >> oh, craig. and rain, too. let's talk about that down in the southeast. rain and be wind. flooding across south carolina and coastal flooding from new england to florida this weekend. that's a look at the weather good morning, i'm britn britneysh britneyshbritnetney shi shipp. today, conditions windy and rainy. temperatures range between 54-54 degree, seven day forecast shows improvement. the first alert is only for today, a coastal flood warnings in effect, and we improve sunday. windy, temperatures at 63. back to the 70s and dry out as we push into next week. i'm glad i have all of these here. >> still to come here on

saturday morning, what she touches turns to gold, but could taylor swift be cursed when it taylor swift be cursed when it comes to major lea earning unlimited cash back on purchases. that's a win. but imagine earning it twice. you can with the citi double cash® card. it lets you earn cash back twice. once when you buy and again as you pay. it's cash back then cash back again. and that's a cash back win-win. the citi double cash card. the only card that lets you earn cash back twice on every purchase with 1% when you buy and 1% as you pay. with two ways to earn, it makes a lot of other cards seem one-sided. this proteins in your skin. watch it react to direct contact with ordinary soap. soap weakens the proteins. dove is different. with < moisturizing cream and mild cleansers dove helps skin maintain its natural moisture. my psoriatic arthritis i'm caused joint pain.o golfer. just like my moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. and i was worried about joint damage.

my doctor said joint pain from ra can be a sign of existing joint damage that could only get worse. he prescribed enbrel to help relieve pain and help stop further damage. enbrel may lower your ability to fight infections. serious, sometimes fatal, events including infections, tuberculosis, lymphoma, other cancers, nervous system and blood disorders and allergic reactions have occurred. tell your doctor if you've been someplace where fungal infections are common, or if you're prone to infections, have cuts or sores, have had hepatitis b, have been treated for heart failure, or if you have persistent fever, bruising, bleeding, or paleness. don't start enbrel if you have an infection like the flu. joint pain and damage... can go side by side. ask how enbrel can help relieve joint pain and help stop joint damage. enbrel, the number one rheumatologist-prescribed biologic. oh, she looks upset. should i say something? or should i just keep looking at my phone?

gracias. kleenex. someone needs one. centrum brings us the biggest news... gracias. in multivitamin history. a moment when something so familiar... becomes something so...new. introducing new centrum vitamints. a multivitamin that contains a full spectrum of essential nutrients... you enjoy like a mint. new centrum vitamints. the coolest way yet... to get your multivitamins. back on a saturday morning with a little trending. school may have just started, but one is seeking the perfect gift for her child's teacher. i myself like a bottle of wine. a mom of two came up with the custom label. a photo of your child with the

caption, our child might be the reason you drink. adorable. >> cute. >> as long as you know your audience. make sure you know your teacher. here is a lesson of whatnot to do what you come across a bear in the woods. a woman on a solo kayak trip. she was eating lunch and threatened the bear with pepper spray. the bear responds by eating her kayak. take a look at how it unfolded. >> i'm going to pepper spray you in the face. no! get away from the kayak! please stop! it's the end of september. you are supposed to be asleep. >> that's great. >> i think she was just a little stressed. i don't think her voice is normally that high. >> bear was there. >> trying to reason with the

bear. >> like he is going to say okay. i'll spray you in the face. >> i didn't realize that was your kayak. >> we have to move on. we are getting in trouble in the ear. a sneak peek of bridget jones. sheinelle. >> taylor swift is fighting a curse. the world tour sold out stadiums across the summer. but she has bad blood with baseball fans. astros were leading the conference before swift's arrival. immediately after the concert at the stadium, they lost the next 7 of 8 games. nationals were leading their division before her concert. after, the record plummeted eliminating them from the playoffs. she is performing at the toronto blue jays. they already clinched. >> stop hating. and john stamos says bob

saget will reprise his roll later this year. and we have bridget jones' latest. are we going to do it? >> i'm hanging my head over here. >> this is "today" on nbc. back after this.

i was at my shop tied up with a customer when i realized the time. i had to get to the bank before it closed, so i made a break for it. when i got out it was almost closing time. traffic was bad. i knew i was cutting it close. but it was ok. i use td bank. it's got the longest hours and stays open an extra ten minutes every day. i'm sid. and i bank human at td bank.

as promised, we want to show the bridget jones photo this morning. it's not a diary. it's an

to feel this special... you need to eat this special. kellogg's special k... made with whole grains and fiber to help a body thrive. ♪ folic acid and vitamin d... to make a body feel this good. start your day with 150 nourishing calories... in a bowl of special k. eat special, feel special. special k red berries, now with more real strawberries. padvil pm gives you the healingu at nsleep you need, it.

helping you fall asleep and stay asleep so your body can heal as you rest. advil pm. for a healing night's sleep. i love you. love you too. ♪ one minute. ♪ hi. hi dad. we need to do this, yes. ♪ you be good. alright.

♪ letting go... don't say a word. it's a little easier when you've saved for college, with state farm. brandois heaven in a jar. that's because our ingredients come from... farmers committed to responsibly sourced oils... blended with ingredients like cage-free eggs. mmm. heaven. real ingredients. that's how we're working to bring out the best. good morning. just ahead on nbc 10 news today, a stormy night followed by more winds, showers, and rain, and today, streets underwater and a flood warning in effect. that's right. more details on the coastal

flood warning staying in effect throughout the weekend and what to expect temperature wise into the rest of today. >> thanks. lost at sea, the u.s. coast guard is searching for a cargo ship that vanished during hurricane joaquin with 33 crew members including 28 americans. plus, new information about the mass murderer who opened fire in a community college in oregon, plus, what we are learning about the victims. those stories and more up next at 8:30. okay.

so everyone is saying, "hey! you gotta get fios!" but why? why fios? well fios is a 100 percent fiber optic network, so you can get 100% out of all your devices. whatever speed you need, fios has it. so if you need more streaming for more devices, fios gives you options with the fastest internet and wi-fi available from 50 to 500 mpbs. and we're not just talking downloads. we're talking equal upload speeds, too. you can upload your favorite videos up to 5x faster than cable. plus with the fios mobile app, you can view your entertainment at home, or on the go. but the main reason to get fios? we're rated number 1 in customer satisfaction. why fios? ultimately, that's why. right now, get 50 meg fios internet, tv & phone starting at $79.99 a month, guaranteed for two years. plus get $300 back with a two year agreement. get out of the past. get fios.

this is nbc 10 news first aletter weather. right now on nbc 10 news today after a stormy night, streets remain underwater at the jersey shore. coastal areas are still at risk. when will we dry out? the answer ahead in the first alert forecast. plus, watching joaquin. the path is turning away from the coastlines, but when will

that happen? a timeline is laid out for you. temple students on alert after police released video you're seeing here of the man they believe responsible for sexual assault of a student. we'll tell you what other crimes he may be connected to in the area. good morning. welcome to "nbc 10 news today," i'm katy zachry. it is almost 8:30, and everyone is talking about the weather. let's get a quick check with brittney shipp. >> that's right. what's going to happen with the weather? first thing, we're still going see coastal flood warnings in effect through the entire weekend. a live look outside. right now, light rain is coming down throughout the philadelphia area. this is something that's going to continue throughout most of today, and the heavier rain is gone, but it's going to be a soaking start to your saturday morning and afternoon and even into the evening, things clear up as w