ahead. >> danielle: and off the top at 4:30, a south florida woman shaken up after coming face-to-face with an armed man. good afterno, the 91-year-old victim saying her daughter was out in the yard when he came through the side gate. >> lynn: with a gun in hand, he made his w into the home, grabbing a purse and taking off. brandon beyer spoke to the victims. >> reporter: lynn,magine that you were outside on the back porch having a cup of coffee before going to work, and that's at the woman was doing, when the man walked into the backyard with a gun and walked into the house and robbed her. lele me show you the sketch that the broward sheriffs' office has released of the suspect.

the description given t t them by this woman and her 91-year-old woman who was inside of the home when he watked into the backyard and into the living room, took a purse, took a cellphone and was gone just like that. >> the woman saia that she was screaming throughout the process during the entire process. and several neighbors called 911 and the police were there? minutes. the police need the public's help trying to identify the person. the woman said that what strikes her the most about the ordeal is how calm the man was. >> i can't get over, the gun, he never waiverred with me screaming like a lunatic. he didn't act rattled, he didn' act frighted. he was as calm and quiet. that will stay with me forever. he was just so calm.

look, here's a very much for you. it's a pretty good drawing, a good description of the manual that the woman said entered her yard and pointed a gun at her and robbed her purse and her cellphone. if you recognize who this could be through the sketch, call broward county. 954-493-tips. for now, live in deerfield beach, brandon beyer. 7 news. >> danielle: a leaky situation capped in deerfield beach. working to reach the broken line, areas from second street to the palm beach couy line were closed as a precautionary measure. and another gas leak to tell but, this one in miami beach. a backhoe rupturing a gas line. officials blocking off the area

that leak has since been capped. >> lynn: some wicked weather across the southwest. families forced to evacuate as rivers rise following days of heavy rain. officials warning of record flooding, not seen since 1884 along the sackine river, which serves as a long board between ken and then louisiana. >> reporter: washed out communities in the southwest still haven't seen the floodwaters rerede as texas governor, greg abbott toured damage. >> support and i emphasize that the rising waters are not over yet. people need to remember about the mobility that the water could continue to rise for another day or two. >> reporter: this comes after heavy rain last week, which is now moving downstream. residents in orange, texas, woke up to rising floodwaters wednesday morning. >> i didn't look to see.

i was sleeping and woke up and jumped on the truck. >> reporter: the water wash being out interstate ten between the lone star state a louisiana with both states now working together. >> this has been a two-state joint effort to deal with this challenge. it has been louisiana, impacted as much as the state of texas. >> reporter: the national guard s been helping to place sandbags and deliver aid. >> we're not new to this kind of disaster. we're ready and prepared. >> reporter: but the communities are now dealing with another problem. >> we're going too have problems with looting and stealing arod the lakes. the people are going from house-to-house. >> reporter: meanwhile, some relief louisiana as floodwaters are starting to draw down. >> it's down a good 4-inches, and that covers a lot of area, but i have two more inches in the garage. if i can get it out of the garage, i'll be home tonight.

rain the lasas few days, more storms are expected throughout the weekend. >> danielle: taking you cross-country now, a collision course in north carolina. a car slamming into an emergency room in greenville. the police say the driver crashed into a sign and went rightough the emergency room lobby. the driver and three others were hurt, but have since been treated and released. >> lynn: and in colorado, convenennce store clerk's quick thinking, helping to save her mother and hor baby. the clerk said that she noticed that something wasn't quite right when the young mother came up to the cououer and the clerk quickly grabbing the baby secondsefore the mother fell to the ground, suffering a seizure. how was that for timing? she was able to call for help and we're told thatother and baby are both okay. >> danielle: and another hero, this one near washington state. the man said that he was driving

car on fire. he pulled over to help and noticed a one-year-old and a two-year-old in the back seat. he twerked get them out and moments later, the car burst into flames. >> i'm trying to get the seatbelt off of the car seat. and itit filled with smoke and can't breathe. >> when it burst into flames, i was like, oh, my god, let me get these kids out of this car. >> danielle: well, the firefighters did arrive soon after, and thanks it that man, the babysitter, who was driving, and the children, everybody is fine >> lynn: also on 7, a california woman injured while boogie boarding, thanking her hero, who she says saved her life. she was on the water when a huge wave caused her to wipe out. >> danielle: an off-duty firefighter spotting her in the water and rushing to her rescue. after weeks of treatment, she

>> i ducked under a wave and i fell backwards, and the only thing that i remember is i couldn't move. >> reporter: these were not the waves that s sphanie faced on her boogie board on february 25th. they were much bigger and dangerous. one pounded her into the violent surf, knocking her out. >> and the next thing i remember waking up in the emergency room, all of these people screaming at me, stephanie, are you okay? >> reporter: he had justrrived with his family for the day at the beach. >> any time you see a boogie board without a person, that's a red flag. >> he found stephanie unnscious, face down in the water. >> she was two feet under so i pulled her out and opeped up her airways, and she started foaming quite a bit. and i had to drag her off the beach quite aways.

the neck and back. >> reporter: stephanie was unable to walk for several bs because of nerve damage to her spine. and she's getting better, but wears a neck brakes. >> my right side is better, and i'm comfortable. >> reporr: she has a positive spirit and is giving thanks for many things. >> nate, i want to thank you very much for being in the right place at the right time. and i'm very grateful for you. you're my hero, thank you. >> reporter: her rescuer said that stephanie has a great spirit. and t tt's helping with her recovery. in the plex, i'm diana diez, 7 news. >> danielle: well, coming up next from the news station, call her a lucky dog. after spending weeks lost at sea, this pup makes her way back home. and it makes foror one emotional reunion. >> lynn: and american idol

take the stage for a week of competition, and this time

the stars of a hit fox show. >> lynn: a dog with his own story of survival. this german shepherd is b bk home after a month at sea.

to the test. >> danielle: likee a castaway. >> there are no words to explain it. >> reporter: one lucky german shepherd lost for weeks after being lost at sea in the pacific ocean in san diego. luna, the 1 and a half-ye-old german shepherd must be some kind of canine survival expert. after days of searching by water and plane, luna was presumed lost at sea and given up for dead weeks ago. but lun app found the energy to keep swimming to san clemente island, an island owned by the u.s. navy. and thenomething miraculous happened. >> we were driving up the road and in the car she jumped. >> reporter: luna w w in the

conservationists. >> everye wanted to see a picture of her, they fell in love with her. >> reporter: this is a picture of a survivor who beaeathe odds. she fell off of her owner's fishqng boat in the middle of the night. without hearing a sound, her owner thought that she was lost sea. he hoped that she would survive, but the island of san clemente is not a hospitable place. >> there's no standing water on a permanent basis. >> reporter: but with el nina, luna survived by eating dead seagulls and rats. she's happy to be with her family and they're happy to have their dog bac >> we give our gratitude to them. >> reporter: and so much had to go right for luna to survive the ordeal.

happier and more fired than usual. >> lynn: if dogs could talk? she might write a book. >> danielle: she just might, stranger things have happened. >> lynn: that went. ahead on the news station, mother nature giving quite a show that many thought were special effects. >> danielle: and south florida,

this weekend. >> lynn: american idol is known for making stars, and this year's finalists are now learning to look the part. they always change. their journey to fame is just beginning. >> danielle: and now the stars of the fox hit show will take the stage to learn a thing or two about superstardom. christine cruz has a look. >> reporter: it takes a lot of work behind the scenes to make an idol performance ready and that sometimes means a lot of time spent doing hair and makeup. for some, this is a very new experience. >> i've been doing this for 15 years, and you better be ready to put membership on. they tell me to wear heels and a dress, that's what you need to do. >> i can't wait it get into my hotel roooo and wipe all the makeup off.

but i'm still getting used to the makeup situation. >> they know what they're doing, and i was really nervous about my hair, because nobody touches my hair, and they touched my hair. but iradually, like slowly but surely, i'll ready to trust them. >> i'm ready for the transformation. >> reporter: the team behind the glamor knows it's a process. >> we make sure that they're comfortable. >> we speak to each other and work on different looks each week, and each of the contestants are very different individuals, and it's a fun process. 1> initially, when we start out we want them to look like themselves, but a little nicer version, and then we like to transition them slowly into superstar, if you will. >> reporter: when it comes to their voting fans, a look can have an impact. >> to the contestants, so many different responses, i love that

you get it? there's a lot of talk about the fashion on the show, which is good. >> reporter: and with only the top five contestants going forward after this week, they will need every last bit of impact, and even more as they share the stage tonight with two idols in their own right. some of the stars from "empire" singing their single, never let it die. christine cruz, 7 news. >> lynn: and it will be a night packed with performances, including a lot idol alum, adam lambert. you can catch the episode here on 7. >> lynn: well, a very high honor from united way on miami beach. the spirit of giving recognized for the big event. receiving the ward for out standing philanthropy.

contributed money, but time and leadership to community causes. west side station predent, mr. ed anson, we love him, he received the same award in 1995, and he presented thihiyear's winner. 400 of south florida's most generous this will agentpists who contribute at least $10,000s each year. >> phil: it w a hot one, especially in miami. 71 in fort lauderdale. and your saint patrick's day high, only 82 , and no rain in the rain gage. by the way, the hig in miami was one degree away from the record set back in 2015 for this date. the temperatures right now in the 80sverywhere. 81 in fort lauderdale. pembroke pines, pompano@ beach, temperature of 84 . the wind out of the

and the humidity, 51%. here's the stormtracker. there's rain across northern florida. we do have a front that's basically setting up shop right here. slowly but surely, that front will continue to head south. the moisture ahead of it will probably bring us some showers, maybe even pockets of heavy rainfall for the weekend. right now, high pressure in firm control. and we have upper level clouds moving in out of the gulf of mexico. tonight, still on the warm side. and form, temperatures will remain in the mid 80s. still mostly dry. may still see an isolated shower. and then here's the first half of your weekend. there's the front. but moisture will get trapped ahead of t rainy in some spots, and looks like e will be wetter come summed. here's the marine forecast. threat of rip currents at the beach. seas, 1-2 feet. biscayne bay, light chop. for you in the florida keys, no advisories, wind out southeast.

the reef, 1-3, and coastal waters with a l)ght chop. the next high tide, dade, broward, coastal waters, 5:31 for the lower key uv index at 9. and the water temperature, slowly but surely climbing. 82 , it's pretty warm for this time of year. and then as we look at tonight, partly cloudy skies. overnight lows, 60s and low 70s at the beach. 73 for the keys, and then by tomorrow, more clouds start to move in. your typical highs between 78 and 80. we're going to be well above that again. here's you extended outlook. showers, saturday, sunday, and maybe some rainfall. that's your first day of spring, and then cooler temperatures for monday and tuesday. that's your 7-on-7 forecast. >> lynn: phil, thank you. >> danielle: mother nature setting off a show in the sky

>> lynn: tower cameras showing what looked like special effects. what do you think? during the newscast, you can see a lightning strike at the top of the world trade center. i can see why it looks fake. the bolts appearing as if right on cue, and now it's making its way across social media and

news coming right >> danielle: well, that is 7 news at 4:30.

>> lyn i'm lynn martinez. 7 news 59:00 starts right now. >> nown 7 news. >> belkeys: now from the newsplex, a high school pep rally performance nendz a ball of flames. a man accidently setting himself on fire. we're live. new details on president obama's historicrip to cuba and he has a packed schedule. sea world makg a major announcement about killer whales at their parks. > family dealing with a difficult diagnosis daifns move changes a little girl's life forever. days after his presidential bid comes to and he, senl tore marco rubio back on the job. and big things in store for south florida this weekend but there arehings you need to know before heading out. >> hello and welcome every one i'm belkeys nerey. >> craig: i'm craig stevens. we invite you to join us. the news continues now at 5:00. >> this is 7 news at 5:00. >> craig: now at 5:00, a high

dangerous. >> students watch it unfold. >> boom, he just engulfed in flames. >> craig: and now spepe out about the fiery stunt. >> gek everybody. the performer was left badly burned. >> belkeys: several students also injured. vanessa ma zena live in delray beach where this all happened. vanessa. >> reporter: well t was the final act in the show and this grand finale ended with a bang that no one expected. it was supposed to be an over the top st. patty's day pep ratley at atlantic high school in delray ray beach. complete with a fire breeder and crazy stunts. >> i'm dwessing he put too much in his mouth and when he tried to to spit taught, it got on his face and you can see him there trying frantically get the stuff

has the bottle of alcohol he is using and then the wotel spills or he spits it out because there is stuff still in his throat and boom, he engulfs in flames. >> reporter: the inferno challenge performer realize he is in trouble. he runs off the slam dunk inflatabab for help the gas basketball court was on fire. every one was panicking and running around and trying evacuate the area. it was crazy. students thought it was first papa of act. he started rolling around and started stream screeming. my teacher ran and tried to again the fire extinguish eemplet and the extinguisher caused ra la's daughter have an asthma tact. when i got got to the school i saw the paramedics and ambulance d police officers. i ran out of the car and tried to to find my daughter and they were treating kids.

other students had anxiety a tactsz tafnlgtz we did found the one adult performer received burn injuries significant enough to transport him is az a trauma alert. in all 20 students rans treated by paramedics. seven taken to theospital for smoke inhalation. right now i'm just glad the kids were oka i don't think it was a wise decision but i'm just glad my daughter okay. >> >> reporter: so ricky charles the performer suffers burns to his know, face and ampletz he said he tried to a new lamb oil and that trickled down on to his face dwhdz caused his face to catch fire. he is expected to be k. he is in a lot of pain. he says doctors are still cleaning up his wounds at delray heech beech medical center. as for the students, they are all except toad be fine. reporting live in delray leech beech. vanessa medina.