hundreds of containers filled with water, food and emergency supplies, but the problem is getting the stuff to areas of the island in desperate need. destroyed bridges and a lack of fuel and shortage of drivers has hampered that operation. today the u.s. military decided to dispatch a three star general to puerto rico to help direct the response to hurricane maria and several thousand more troops will follow all the while the trump administration is defending itself against criticism that its response to the devastation has been disorganized and slow to move. we are fortunate to have dann cuellar, who is live in carolina, puerto rico tonight. dann what are your first impressions, your first observations of the situation there? >> reporter: well jim, it seems no matter where you look you can't escape the devastation and you look and look and see it all over you and all around you.

even the trees left standing they are without leaves from the force of hurricane maria. and over here you see high rises there are people in there without electricity and no power. some have generators, where we are staying the generator is on from 6:00 until 9:00 tonight and from 6:00 until 9:00 the next morning and then no power. the gasoline situation is no power, they have to ration gasoline and we went to one gas station in catalina, it was closed but the owner says they will open up at 8:00 and people can buy a limited amount of gasoline for cars and limited amount for tanks to power their generators. >> tell me what you are going to do tonight. how long do you expect the lines to be? >> many people. long lines. >> from both sides of the gas station? >> that side and this side until you run out of gas and that is

it. >> as you may know, demands for cash is soaring after the hurricane knocked out atm's and credit card systems. a bright ray of hope some atm machines were beginning to open and there were lines of people trying to get cash to buy supplies, much needed supplies. >> it's positive that these are working. >> you were able to get money? >> we were. thank god we were. >> the governor says that virtually everyone is still without electricity after the monster storm destroyed the power grid. they estimate jim it could take months before power is fully restored to this once beautiful island. we are live here in catalina, puerto rico, dann cuellar, channel 6 "action news." >> thank you. mayor jim kenney and other local leaders are calling on the federal government to extend

relief efforts for puerto rico and kenney said that the victims will need help for months to come. >> what we have done is not nearly enough. and what is why we are here to call on the federal government and the trump administration to continue to step up to the plate and send the american citizens of puerto rico they aid they desperately need. >> congressman bob brady called for military support to be sent to aid in the cleanup in puerto rico. our coverage of the crisis continues on 6abc.com. right now you can't find out more about the local efforts to lend a hand and get details on how you can help. and bring you the latest from "action news" reporter, dann cuellar as he surveys the situation firsthand. and world news tonight with david muir has more from puerto rico, that is next at 6:30 right after "action news." >> and tonight the community is coming together to mourn the death of a philadelphia teenager

shot tuesday night on east pistorius street in german town. christie aleto was live. >> reporter: jim, many classmates and students and classmates and friends started to gather here for the slain teen that was murdered. his classmates and teachers describe him as a good friend and model student that loved basketball and most importantly an innocent bystander in tuesday's shooting. >> i still can't believe he is not here. i was just with him helping him in math class and doing our work together. >> frederick page is one of many students that inked good-bye a . the 16-year-old was one of four teens shot in german town. a single bullet in the back ended his life.

>> when something happens to anyone a staff member a child we are all affected and we will continue to be affected but we will not forget him. >> he was a kind boy and didn't bother anybody and just play basketball and do his work and make it out of school and go to college. >> his dreams of playing in college is now deflated. police arrested an 18-year-old involved in the shooting and believe that more people could be involved. people were adamant that jay was not the target. >> usually when you see someone for real and the next day they are gone and it's crazy, you never know when your life can go. >> you can't see in this very packed crowd is that a lot of friends have signed a basketball for jay and a lot of counselors are here and at the school earlier today for those that

want to talk about what happened and dealing with this loss. again, this is starting in a couple of moments, again we are live in east german town, for channel 6 "action news." >> thank you. dr. ricardo christiany is arraigned following his arrest on sex charges. harged with seven counts of indecent assault and e female patients. the former head of neurology at the drexel college of medicine. he was fired after getting complains about his conduct from several patients. he is do back in court next week. the speaker of the house of representatives, paul ryan, was in our area this afternoon to push the republicans new tax reform plan, and trying to convince blue collar workers good for them. live at penn machine works is "action news" reporter, vernon odom.

did the workers think ryan was convincing today? >> reporter: i will say this jim, the workers at this factory were thrilled to get a visit from washington's power elite. one of the most powerful persons down there but the jury is still out here whether any big time politician these days can be trusted or actually deliver on all of their promises. in aston today house speaker, paul ryan, touring a pipe fitting factory founded in 1931, here to make the sales pitch to workers for the gop tax plan. ux plan yesterday pinning it as a deal for the working class and >> we want to get these tax rates down so our american jobs especially in manufacturing can compete in this global economy and that means they can compete they can get more jobs and more

accounts and raise wages. wouldn't you like to see that happen here. >> this tax is not about the rich, it's about coming back and giving you a chance to put more money in your pocket at the end of the day by squeezing down these rates. >> the coming fight over taxes could be as bitter and as intense as obama care. democrats are blasting the trump tax plan saying it will benefit the wealthy. >> behind the vague framework and deceptive math the american people find the billionaires first tax plan that fails the middle class. >> did the workers buy the ryan speech. the reaction from one. >> we don't know especially from the flip-flopping from upper levels of government these days i can't take any guarantee from it. >> jim, that was a broad

consensus here today. congressman ryan left town quickly and taking no questions from reporters as he headed back to the nation's live in aston, i'm vernon odom, channel 6 "action news." >> thank you. a big surprise and a huge honor for students at saint max millan school in westchester. the school is name aid 2017 blue ribbon school of excellence. students learned the news at an assembly and this was their reaction. colby is one of 50 private schools in the country to make the grade. the blue ribbon destination goes to schools where students achieve at high levels or where the achievement gap is getting smaller. >> the eagles look to continue their winning ways as they get ready to take on the chargers. a south jersey survivalist is donating dozenser barrels of dried food he is saving over the years to the victims of the hurricane in puerto rico.

i'm nora muchanic in medford with the unusual story next. >> we go from summer to fall in 24 hours, the high was 89 degrees and today down to 78 for a high. and how about 60s for highs for the weekend. we'll talk about the changes in accuweather. >> that and much more when "action news" continues tonight.

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medford is preparing for dooms day and the architect and his late wife built a bunker that could accommodate 100 people. sadly joe lost his house in foreclosure. >> good, miraculous. these people are dying they have nothing. >> instead of trashing food and supplies that did not sell. he is donating them to mar ten barber and plans to send it to her family in puerto rico where they are flooded out and ithout >> this is saving their lives, my grandmother has nothing andl >> the barrels each way 300 pounds and contain itemseans an them hash food to feed 84 people for four months.

>> none fat dry milk and powdered eggs and most of the stuff that i bought is for >> this is exactly what they eat, rice as are tons of them. flight by a private company. >> and we are shipping the rest 62 more barrels all at once. >> for joe the supplies were always about survival. he doesn't know until now who he would be saving. in medford, i'm nora muchanic, channel 6 "action news." leave it to the pros? i am a pro. i made this lawn from seed pride, and less water than you'd think.

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eagles back to work getting ready for the chargers. this is a big game forever the eagles, the chargers last eight games zero wins, the eagles could feast here believe it or not they are underdogs on the road against the 0-three

children chargers. among those hurt right now. fletcher cox is hurt right now expected to miss the game with a calf injury and did not practice again today but they cannot use this as an excuse. >> our goal is to not let them start on us. we'll start with us and with the mind set we have we'll try to come back 3-1 and that is the goal. and we have to do anything to get a w. >> eagles offense is doing anything and everything and even carson wentz is running around. the offense ranks in the top ten with passing and rushing. with so many weapons. >> it put a lot of stress on the defense when there is multiple options, i can run or hand it off or throw. that creates an element that you don't do a lot. it's kind of a play here or there. but i think it puts a stress on

teams. >> well, call it the sam hinke rule. the nba is changing the draft lottery odds to discourage tanking. starting in 2019 team with the worst record have a 14% chance of the first overall pick instead of 25%. ♪ happy birthday to you >> sixers singing happy birthday to okafor. he can help provide wisdom to the younger guys like ben simmons and folks. >> and he can make the pass and mid range and play the one through five. playing with him make its easier for me. >> the way the phillies are playing too bad the season is winding down, they are playing

a ha wh three games to go against the met at home tomorrow. are you catching phillies baseball they are fun to watch again. how about herrera and the phils the winningest month since april 2016. in september they won series against the nationals and dodgers the best teams in the league. >> i'm proud of the guys with the fact that they play hard the entire season in my opinion and we didn't have the o clicking the first half and that was part of our problems. but in the second half things started clicking and we started to play better baseball. phillies mans may still be booing jayson werth. no hard feelings. his final year of his deal doesn't know if he will play again at citizens bank park and

wanted to show respect for phillies fans even though they booed him at every at bat. since he left. >> you don't think that was sarcastic. >> no, he said. >> and speedway hosted a special event to highlight help to those with disabilities. martin truex jr. gave rides to to civilians and veterans, that car is especially adapted for those that cannot walk and participants had a chance to drive a race car equipped with hand controls.

of course you know this "action news" works side by side with accuweather with the best forecast from the lehigh valley every day and that partnership spans decades. this year accuweather is celebrating a major anniversary. meteorologist, cecily tynan, has more from state college, pennsylvania. >> reporter: well jim it's a big party at state college celebrating accuweather and five and a half decades of forecasting and i had an opportunity to speak with dr. joel myers who started it all. >> it's dedicated to superior accuracy and the best forecast available and when they are more accurate they save lives ahelp e better decisions that is what we are all about. >> "action news" was the first station to partner with accuweather 45 years ago and shows consensus forecasting with a team of meteorologists are the most accurate.

>> i have seen everything and they have seen everything and you combine that and you get a good forecast. >> with the devastation of hurricanes harvey, irma and maria. >> these three storms from puerto rico, florida and texas without warnings over a quarter million people would have died. saving lives with areliable forecast. back to you jim. >> we wish accuweather a happy anniversary. >> yes 55. >> 55 is not some old. >> no. speaking of 55. the 50s the temperatures are sliding that way for most of us in the weather center here and close toward sunset and the sunsetting 10 minutes before 7:00 you see the shadows really getti getting long at this point at penn's landing a breathtaking

day and gusty at times where winds are 30 miles per hour or higher. as we jump towards the weekend tomorrow is picture perfect and a fly in the ointment on saturday. and the front comes through and sparks a shower and most of date is dry. cloudy and peeks of sun and temperatures in the 60s and sunday the sunshine is back and 71 degrees the second half of the weekend. as we look at the numbers that tumbled the last 24 hours, felt like mid-90s in the afternoon and the air temperature dropped 20 degrees cooler in allen tonight and 9 degrees cooler in philadelphia. and you are at 57 in mt. pocono and 68 for reading and allentown and 75 in philadelphia and dover and the numbers are going to drop pretty quickly here once that sunsets. and as you look from the mid-atlantic northeast deep south all the way back to the

midwest. very little is happening and the front is coming through on saturday in the western great lakes and before it clear skies tonight and crisp and cool and 47 by the morning in the suburbs and 54 for center city. and gorgeous around here and the front inching closer and for saturday moisture starved and we bring clouds and a quick shower at times, otherwise it's really cool with pops of sun, 67 for a high and we could use a decent soaking of rain and over the last 10 days most locations pick up less than a .10 inch of rain because of being scraped by hurricane jose and atlantic city picked up a little over a half inch. and no chance of significant rain as we move forward. every day the sunshine will dominate along with the low humidity the only day the clouds

dominate is saturday with temperatures in the 60s and as we go into next week, 71 on sunday and 75 monday and back to 79 on wednesday and then yesterday, we talked about summer's finale and encore coming in a week from now 12 degrees above normal as we go back to the 80s. >> thank you. abc world news tonight with david muir is next on channel 6. and "action news" continues at 10:00 on phl 17 with brian taff and sharrie williams, and adam joseph and ducis rogers and join us for "action news" at 11:00. here on channel 6. for cecily tynan, adam joseph, jeff skversky and ducis rogers and the entire "action news" team i'm jim gardner we hope you'll join us for "action news" at 11:00.

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tonight, breaking news as we come on the air. the very public apology late today to american taxpayers. one of president trump's top cabinet officials, tom price, now apologizing for spending more than $400,000 on luxury jets. the growing crisis in puerto rico tonight. the white house now sending a three- army general. and reports of thousands of con supplies sitting there unloaded. president trump's new tax plan. the wners and losers. tonight, the white house is pressed. how much will middle class americans save? and how much will wealthy americans and corp rate america safe? the nfl controversy tonight. some fans setting jerseys on fire. and the green bay packers, what they're asking their fans to do tonight. and the president late today saying today, nfl owners are afraid of their own players.