flooding destroyed 50 homes in august. hundreds of others damaged there were opportunities in improvement. >> reporter: i asked how she felt. >> in this instance it was time for leader ship change because there were communication and clob ration issues that we consider to be important to fix. >> reporter: better communication is one of the areas the new director is focused on and he says everyone in the eoc needs to know their role and he plans more hands on training, the first of which this tornado going on today simulating more flooding. >> the road and lake and the normal suspect spots are experiencing problems. >> reporter: today is practice. he's seen enough of the real thing but the hope is if disaster strikes again everyone will be ready.

flood threat continues in parts of the south. five deaths being blamed for the historic flooding. up to two feet of rain has already fallen in some areas and still coming down. >> reporter: in six states from texas to tennessee, flash flood watches and warnings caused by days of relentless rain. the rising water forcing emergency evacuations. >> we didn't know the water was coming up like that. >> reporter: the national guard rescuing more than 3500 families from homes using black hawk helicopters to save drivers from emerged street. in louisiana the governor declaring a state of emergency. >> this truly is a statewide event. i have to imagine when the damages add up it will be in the millions of dollars.

this high was in 2008 when gustav it us. >> this historic flooding in the south claiming several lyes and destroying livelihoods. >> it will be okay. >> reporter: and the risk still isn't over. >> just pray for us and hope we don't get anymore hard rain. those same areas are expecting more rough weather through saturday morning with up to half a foot more rain in the forecast from new orleans to jackson mississippi. marcy gonzalez, abc action news, new york. marcy is right. you can see the moisture coming in from the gulf streaming right into new orleans off to the east across coastal mississippi and into alabama. what's left of this is going to

this weekend. not going to give ugh significant rain. low to mid 80s across the area and gusty winds are leading to brush fire dangers. at least right now not hearing about issues. we'll time that out coming up. a live look at the roads at 275 and ashley. no problems out there. typical traffic flow for your evening commute. there's a lot going on this weekend. traffic report and more. we start off with the big grand prix race starting with the race circuit here. this is where you will find street closures traveling along bay shore drive and all around the airport and back up to first street southeast. that's the race course those

expect a lot of traffic and congestion first street west. parking could be a challenge even though there are more than 25,000 parking spots within a mile radius. sun dial and south florida are options. it costs $15 a day saturday and sunday. you can also park at the drop and take the shuttle. parking will cost ten dollars. that's where the big boat show is happening this weekend. so lots here could fill up fast. a lot going on in downtown tampa. the musical festival at curtis front park and the rhianna concert also. make sure you leave yourself extra time to work around the detours. for more information on these happenings this weekend, make

at abc action traffic. developing story in high lands county, fire department could answer highlands calls. they want to replace with automatic service for the county. officials say avon park fire would still operate full time. protestors demonstrated in las vegas where right wing organizer cliven bundy went before a judge. he was involved in a take overof an oregon wildlife refuge. he led a stand off with federal agents. his charges are relited to the 2014 stand off. investigators are saying the bureau of land management workers felt threatened and he

behalf. his wife is spreading his message. >> he say, "to remember this is not about the bun dys. this is about the constitution rights.". >> he faces charges on threaten a federal officer and obstruction of justice. nine students loaded on to stretchers after a bush crash in houston. it was rear ended by an suv this morning. emergency crews pulling the students from the bus. the houston fire department said no serious injuries. a houston area family says their four year old was left with devastating injuries after a visit to the dentist. she can't walk or talk or see

after being sedated at the dentist. >> it's heartbreaking. she's my angel. i never thought something like this would happen. >> the dentist has been suspended by the texas board of examiners. records show dr. jefferson didn't properly sedate a young patient and record say the dentist keep proper track of the patient's blood pressure and pulse. the highlands county school board has plans for the next school year but they will need $124 million to pull it off. 22 million for new school buses, 4 million to add new wings at park and lake county elementary schools and new gyms to avon park. they are hoping to get the money through a sales tax. the school board votes

the president of ideal image has passed away. he began serving in that role at america's number one choice for hair removal. ideal image did release a statement reading in part we do not believe it's appropriate to discuss details beyond express sadness for his family. the company is best known for its laser hair removal procedures. next at 5:30. coming up where to turn when the land lord won't fix the ac or return your do po sit. >> i can't walk out and drop my to well. >> a utah mom is facing felony charges after abandoning her eight-year old son at a police station and the reason she thought she would be protected by the law. it sounded like pain.

contaminated water and overflowing toilets rank as number one complaints to landlords. >> what happened to one renter who put her family at risk and what to do when you have problems with your landlord. >> reporter: erika rogers said this started months ago. the single mom made repeated calls. the boil water notice proved to be the breaking point. i reported her living conditions . >> it was a serious situation so we had a code officer go out

>> reporter: this inspection report documented a nonworking toilet and sewage backing up in the tub and water source undrinkable. it went before the board. >> when i got the notice that said it was e. coli in the water -- i have kids and it scared me. >> reporter: the landlord assured the board the repairs had been made. >> since then the complaints have been resolved. >> reporter: a maintenance person arrived and made the repairs and they treated the wells which means the water is safe for her and the children to drink. >> now i feel like my drinking water is safe. >> reporter: like so many others erika had no idea she had a legal right to these repairs or the steps to take. put all repair requests in writing and contact code enforcement and use the landlord

>> it feels good not to go home or worry about toilet overflowing or raw sewage in the tub and bathing your kids. >> reporter: the law lays it out for you and your rights. go to our website and we have that guide for you. click on "taking action". i'm jackie callaway taking action for you. new tonight a utah mother is facing charges after abandoning her eight-year old son at a police station and leaving him with this note. the note read, "this kid is rude and ungovernable. i do not want him in my house at all." 36-year old kathy thought she was taking advantage of the safe haven law but it only applies to newborns. the note went on to describe how bad her son was. she says she didn't mean harm. >> i told them he was out of

than i could provide for him. >> she says she has four special needs children and couldn't do it. she is charged with child abandonment and it will be four months before she is reunited with her son again. the team cut ties today with the heisman trophy winner johnny manziel. he faces criminal charges in texas following an alleged domestic violence incident. the doping scandal on the tennis court. there have been 99 positive tests this year alone for the very same drug found in sharapova's sample at the australian open. an agency spokes person didn't provide details of who tested positive. seven confirm cases come from

more moms turning to crowd founding to help pay for maternity leave. there are 1200 counts on gofundme related sites to help fund maternity leave. 12% of americans have access of paid time to spend with newborns. that doesn't include government workers. clean clothes -- when was the last time you weren't able to wear them to work or put your kids in clean clothes to head to school? it's happening to more families in the bay area. one man is trying to change all that. jason started a grass roots effort under the umbrella of that initiative was born the laundry product where countless volunteers show up across tampa bay and wash clothes for free.

across the country washing 24,000 loads of clothes alone. there's a lot of dignity that comes from clean clothes. they're choosing between buying groceries or doing laundry and nine times out of ten, food wins out. >> here's where you come in. north college hill on 29th street. the last wash is at 12:30. donate detergent and drop it off or you can volunteer or pass on the word to a family in need. more information on our website at abcactionnews.com. a man tried to hide cocaine in a cake. he tried to hide $33,000 worth of cocaine in five cakes. the discovery was made during an

concealed within cakes. before we get into weather, one thing. over on that side of the desk, there's a lot of sickness going on. i have a couple lozenges for you. >> i have to say mom, i'm okay. she watches and streams it live on her phone. you throw in allergies and on. it's been beautiful. rain. the timing could be better. sunday probably the worse day with a lot of things going on whether it's the end of the strawberry festival or the grand visibility an issue tomorrow morning. look what happens first thing in the morning.

and visibility will be less than a mile. it will burn off quickly and have another very nice and warm day. outside now tampa 84 degrees. mostly cloudy and the dew point is creeping up. the muggier things get. in comparison in the summertime when dew points are pretty high, you notice the humidity and they are 70 and then some. obviously not anything close to summer but still, dew points rising and rain chances rising first thing sunday morning. sunny skies and winds are calm. sarasota a lot of sunshine. southwest winds at ten miles per hour.

high clouds at time. tomorrow is just like today. overwhelming today. we'll show you that on future cast. first thing tomorrow morning patchy fog and another mild start. later on in the afternoon maybe interior showers. i wouldn't consider changing plans on saturday and i'm not sunday. if you do have an outdoor event, check us out first thing in the morning and we will be tracking rain. it won't be widespread and certainly nothing severe. so as we go into the day on sunday, you'll be dodging a few isolated showers and a storm. overall rainfall totals will be a quarter of an inch by monday morning. nothing to write home about. obviously if it's a two hour stretch when it's dry, you don't want to dodge showers at that

here's a national picture and that rain across the deep south will be lifting north. look at these warm temperatures. you're wondering why winter looks to be done. a lot of warmth sticking around the south for the foreseeable future. you lose an hour of sleep tomorrow night and more sunshine in the evening. we're still up near 80 degrees next week. best rain chances are later sunday morning and out of here by monday morning and next week looks good. next at 5:30 a parenting alert about posting pictures of your children online. the one thing a father did wrong that got him thrown in

before you post that photo of your child on facebook, be sure to ask for their permission according to a new survey, that's the social media rule kids want their parents to follow. new tonight a high landz county man is locked up after offering to return stolen items after a robbery.

accused back in february. he offered to return items if he would drop the charges. he's charged with tampering with a victim now. strokes, seizures and more. why the drug spice is suddenly overwhelming tampa er's and the reason the spice could be the beginning. i'm thinking third world countries and something deadly. but it's in her kitchen and hurting her baby.

a dangerous trend bordering on an epidemic. >> paramedics responding to 30 cases of spice overdoses in the past five days. >> abc action news reporter ryan ace is reporting live. >> reporter: testing is underway to figure out if this is a bad batch of spice. officials are desperate for answers.

spice users here at the er? you have seen the videos. violent incoherent users high on spice in a mad rage. he tried to jump out a window after one hit. >> it's like looking at the walking dead. >> reporter: people are using and selling and reacting. just on monday she took this video of paramedics working on a woman unconscious after using spice. >> he is eating it like candy out of a bag. >> reporter: they have responded to 30 calls of people overdosing on spice. 12 calls alone in one day. >> this is the affects of spice. >> reporter: in all of february they only responded to 17 spice related calls. >> this is a dangerous drug and should be avoided at all costs. >> reporter: a new chemical compound or bad batch is