i'm investigative reporter chris chmura.u might get two ways you might get who's on it with jardiance? ♪ ♪ we're the ones getting it done. we're managing type 2 diabetes and heart risk. we're on it with jardiance. join the growing number of people who are on it with the once-daily pill, jardiance. jardiance not only lowers a1c, it goes beyond to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death for adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease. and jardiance may help you lose some weight. jardiance may cause serious side effects including ketoacidosis that may be fatal, dehydration, (that can lead to sudden worsening of kidney function), and genital yeast or urinary tract infections. a rare, life-threatening bacterial infection in the skin of the perineum could occur. stop taking jardiance and call your doctor right away if you have symptoms of this infection, ketoacidosis or an allergic reaction, and don't take it if you're on dialysis. taking jardiance with a sulfonylurea or insulin may cause low blood sugar. a once-daily pill

i'm chris chmura. tonight why organized criminals are so interested in gift cards and how to protect >>> they were the hottest holiday gifts, but is yours a dud? consumer investigator chris chmura is seeing a troubling trend. >> many hacked and drained, some of them before you even get to them. so how do you protect your balance, chris? >>> good evening. tonight we're responding to a walnut creek woman's case. she lost a small amount on a gift card but thieves are stealing big money, perhaps tens of millions of dollars every month. $100, a benjamin, c-note, whatever you call it, $100 is real money for a 23-year-old like sydney. when her grandparents gave her a $100 gift card, it was -- >> exciting. >> she tracked every penny until she went to a san francisco bookstore to spend the last $37. >> i knew there was money left on it, and it was declined. >> where did sydney's $37 remaining balance go? >> i have no idea what happened to it. >> there's a good chance someone stole it. >> if this is happening to

i'm consumer investigator chris chmura. we'll show you how to cancel a gym membership and protect yourself next. >>> i'm chief meteorologist jeff ranieri. high pressure is keeping that storm track to the north. i'll have an update on rain chances and how we're doing so far for the rainfall season after all that rain earlier this month. month. m [narrator] everyone needs quality health insurance, even if you're healthy and active. covered california is a free service to help you get covered. 90% of members have received financial help. and every plan offered is comprehensive, covering preventive care, doctor visits, emergency care, and more. regardless of your income, check today to see how covered california can help you. and if you have questions, there's free assistance every step of the way. covered california, this way to health insurance. enrollment ends january 31st. go to coveredca.com. >>> when the new year begins there's a long line, people want to sign up for the gym. already many want to quit. >> it's not even fe

i'm consumer investigator chris chmura, we'll show you how next. >>> i'm chief meteorologist jeff ranieri tracking the storm. the updated timeline and how much more when it comes to storm much more when it comes to storm ac - life is uncertain. everyday pressures can feel overwhelming it's okay to feel stressed, anxious, worried, or frustrated. it's normal. with calhope's free and secure mental health resources, it's easy to get the help you and your loved ones need when you need it the most. call our warm line at (833) 317-4673 or live chat at calhope.org today. busisiness can h happen anytime,e, anywhere.e. so h help yours s thrive ad stay c connected w with the call our warm line at (833) 317-4673 comcasast businessss complee connnnectivity s solution. it's the l largest, fafaste, reliablele network.. adadvanced gigig speed wif. anand cyberthrhreat protecec. startingng at just $49.99 a a month. plusus, you can n save upup to 60% a a year whenen you add comcast t business m mobil. oror, ask how w to get upp to a $ $750 prepaiaid card. complelete connectctivity. one solulution, for r whe

i'm kira klapper. >> and i'm chris chmura. the storm continues and the coast is being hit pretty hard. there's serious damage in santa cruz, capitola, and aptos because of high waves, wind, and flooding. >> in capitola, homes are flooded. you can see in this video the floodwaters are so high, water is rushing into the backyards of those homes, carrying debris and knocking things over. and more damage in aptos. >> take a look at this. we see a wave come up and totally wipe out the pier. those waves are so high it's basically covering the broken pier. >> and we want to bring you closer to home. our skyranger is live over southbound 880. on the left side of your screen there, where folks have completely shut down the freeway, this is to fix those potholes that have emerged during the last two storms. we once again have team coverage of the storm that roared through the bay area and beyond. our team of reporters are fanned out across the area. this new storm is ravaging one of the most popular beach destinations for people who liv

don't wait, your deadline to file a claim is six months after the incident. >> chris chmura for us, thank you, chris. >>> and check out this video, the recent storms are paying off in the sierra, the statewide snow pack is now at 245% of normal for this time of year, and new satellite pictures give us a bird's eye view of the snow pack this year compared to last year. this is from january 2022. there's some snow, but it's nothing near what the sierra should look like during the winter. now take a look at this picture. wow, taken earlier this week. what a difference. here's a side by side comparison. look at all of that snow all the way down into the southern sierra. very nice. >>> some bay area faces at the white house yesterday, president biden hosting a conference with mayors from across the nation, and among those in attendance, oakland's new mayor sheng thao. she tweeted these pictures with the president. this is a group of mayors from cities with populations of more than 30,000 people. >>> demand for mental health services by young people are at an all-time high, and doctors say they

i'm consumer investigator chris chmura. we'll give you a hand with finding travel deals and help you steer clear of delays and cancellations. that's next. >>> and a chilly day. right now 50 in livermore, and it continues to drop tonight, eventually down to 39 at midnight. i'll have the freeze warning and the latest on what you can expect in my long-range forecast. a new update in about ten minutes. >>> and as we go to break, we want to remind you that if you are one of the many people that have driven through a pothole and it caused damage to your car following these recent storms w very some help for you. consumer investigator chris chmura answers questions like if you should file a claim with your insurance company or caltrans. you can see his story on nbcbayarea.com. we'll be back in a moment. (steven) every time i come to see caremore, they go above and beyond to take care of me. i feel a lot better now. i'm taking medication for what i should have been taking years ago. (vo) caremore health provides advanced primary ca

i'm chris chmura. we'll give you a hand with finding travel deals and help you steer clear of delays and cancellations. that's next. hold on... you're a night manager and mom. and the bill payer, baker, and nightlight maker? that's a lot. so, adding “and student” might feel daunting. but what if a school could be there for all of you? career, family, finances and mental health. -happy birthday. -happy birthday buddy. well, it can. national university. supporting the whole you. >>> good morning. it's just about 7:42 on this sunday. and hey, it's not too late to get back to your new year's resolutions. and if that includes going out for a workout, a jog, let's go to danville. please wear another layer if you're heading out between the hours of 8:00 and 9:00 this morning. but plenty of sunshine in the 50s this afternoon. and then in mil valley, yes, we do have chilly temperatures, warming up there, as well. but i want you to be careful of the king tides and the gusty winds that are in and around mill vall

i'm consumer investigator chris chmura. we'll show you two ways you might get reimbursed for your repair costs. >>> 6:30 on your tuesday morning. thanks for joining us. i'm laura garcia. >> and i'm marcus washington. time to take a live look outside for you this morning in san jose. this is where you can see drier conditions out there. after two-plus weeks of rain, you know what, we haven't seen the last of that rain. >> meteorologist kari hall is tracking another storm that's on its way but how is that one going to stack up to recent storms? >>> weaker than the previous storms but the ground is saturated so we can still see more problems from mud slides and issues we've seen recently. but as we take a look at our clear start to our tuesday morning, so nice. we have sunshine on the way. it is chilly as you step out the door. we could dip another degree or two around sun rise in san jose. upper 30s and then we'll head into the low 50s for today so you'll probably keep that jacket on as we reach 56 degrees in downtown san jos

i'm consumer investigator chris chmura.ll show you two ways you might get reimbursed for your repair costs. >>> and a live look outside and this view from san jose and at last that rain is taking a break, but not for long. meteorologist kari hall is tracking one more round of wet weather this week. this is "today in the bay" streaming live on roku, amazon fire, apple tv and online. and a good morning to you on this tuesday. i'm marcus washington. >> and i'm laura garcia. let's start with a look at the forecast. what's on our way? >> rain. >> no, a dry day! >> i'm so used to saying that. >>> we're going to break that pattern. we're going to have sunshine, cold weather today. yeah, something different for us. you do need to bundle up as you get ready to head out. look at these temperatures this morning. we're at 33 degrees right now in santa rosa. that's just one degree above freezing and we're at 37 right now in dublin and livermore. 41 in oakland as well as palo alto. so san jose as you're stepping out a chilly morning but

i'm consumer investigator chris chmura. we'll show you how to cancel a gym membership and protect yourself next. >>> here we go. ♪♪ >> maybe you need to just get outside and exercise a little bit. i wasn't here the last couple of days because i finally got to take a trip up to tahoe and i went snow shoeing. >> it looks fun. >> it was a good workout. >> was it? >> yes, it was. you can keep up with me on twitter, instagram and facebook. having diabetes can raise a lot of questions. like my morning ride, will it help lower my glucose? with the freestyle libre 2 system, you can know where your glucose level is and where it's headed without fingersticks. know what activities work for you. manage your diabetes with more confidence and lower your a1c. ask your doctor about the freestyle libre 2 system. it's covered by medicare for those who qualify. visit freestylelibre.us/medicare to learn more. ♪♪ >>> welcome back. it's 5:25 right now. when the new year begins there's a long line to sign up for gym. right about now a new line fo

i'm investigative reporter chris chmura. 'll show you how towe (steven) every time i come to see caremore, they go above and beyond to take care of me. i feel a lot better now. i'm taking medication for what i should have been taking years ago. (vo) caremore health provides advanced primary care wherever you need it, in the hospital, at home, in our clinics, or virtually. (steven) so when i call them over a medical issue, they take care of it instantaneously. i'm not afraid to go to the doctor anymore or put off going to the doctor. (vo) call the number on your screen to learn more about mecare plans in your neighborhood that include caremore. >>> how are you doing with your new year's resolutions? usually when the new year begins there's a long line to sign up for gyms, but right about now a new line forms to quit. >> so there might be some hoops to go through if you want to do that. consumer investigator chris chmura shows us savvy ways to cancel the gym memberships and how $4 might protect you. >> reporter: those new year

i'm chris chmura. flooding, power outages, falling trees is basically what everyone is expecting as the next storm rolls into the san francisco bay area. meteorologist kari hall is here to tell us what to expect and when. hi, kari. >> good afternoon. we've seen some rounds of rain moving in, but we're still waiting on the brunt of the storm to get to us. look at this storm system off the coast. it's been really beautiful imagery, but we know with it comes a lot of danger here as this very powerful storm moves into the bay area. it's also tapping into some tropical moisture, so not only is it an atmospheric river but the way it intensified with the center of the storm, it's also a bomb cyclone, so we're anticipating a lot of big impacts here as waves of rain come through. we've seen it lightening up for some spots, but now we're under a flash flood watch. and we are looking at e potential of all of this rain coming on a saturated ground, causing creeks, streams and rivers to rise very quickly and could

i'm consumer investigator chris chmura. we'll explain why you don't want one and how to steer clear of a flooded car next. >> kris sanchez's daughter competed in her first senior swim meet over the weekend. they grow up so quickly. kris says she wishes the time would slow down. i agree. you can follow kris on facebook, twitter and instagram and, of course, every morning right here on nbc bay area. we'll be right back. [narrator] everyone needs quality health insurance, even if you're healthy and active. covered california is a free service to help you get covered. 90% of members have received financial help. and every plan offered is comprehensive, covering preventive care, doctor visits, emergency care, and more. regardless of your income, check today to see how covered california can help you. and if you have questions, there's free assistance every step of the way. covered california, this way to health insurance. enrollment ends january 31st. go to coveredca.com. >>> welcome back. it's 5:25. the rash of recent rainstorm

i'm consumer investigator chris chmura nbc bay area responds next. >>> but first check out what mike inouye posted. he woke up on new year's eve and realized his roof had a leak. thankfully his crew was able to repair it. he sends his thanks to all the hard workers. they were there for him just like mike is there for you. keep up with him on instagram, twitter and facebook. sosometimes a a cough isn't just a c cough, sosometimes a a cough soso it's s better sosometimes a a cough to b be prepareded. bibinaxnow™™ gives youou rereliable resesults in 1515 mis bibinaxnow™™ gives youou anand detects s multiple v vars bibinaxnow™™ gives youou includuding omicroron ba.5. bibinaxnow™™ gives youou bibinaxnow™™ the #1 covovid-19 selflf t bibinaxnow™™ in the u us sosometimes a a cough isn't just a c cough, sosometimes a a cough soso it's s better sosometimes a a cough to b be prepareded. bibinaxnow™™ gives youou reliablele results i in 15 minus anand detects s multiple v vars reliablele results i in 15 minus including g omicron baba.5. binaxnxnow™ including g omicron baba.5. ththe #1 covidid-19

i'm chris chmura. where to get free help, how to where to get free help, how to get your money [narrator] everyone needs quality health insurance, even if you're healthy and active. covered california is a free service to help you get covered. 90% of members have received financial help. and every plan offered is comprehensive, covering preventive care, doctor visits, emergency care, and more. regardless of your income, check today to see how covered california can help you. and if you have questions, there's free assistance every step of the way. covered california, this way to health insurance. enrollment ends january 31st. go to coveredca.com. >>> football season is starting to wind down but tax filing season is just kicking off today. >> consumer investigator chris chmura joins with us a special deadline and the fastest way to score a refund. >> reporter: good morning. today is the first day the irs is accepting and processing income tax returns from 2022. the national filing deadline is april 18th

even if you only had a small flood, consumer investigator chris chmura urges you to take action. >>>old is nothing to brush off. when it's left unchecked, the insurance information institute says mold is destructive to your home and possessions, and worse, the damage it causes generally isn't covered by homeowners' insurance, specifically floods. the best advice we found is to take two immediate steps after a flood, disinfect and dry out asap. here's why. fema says mold growths or colonies can start to form on a damp surface within 24 to 48 hours. to prevent rapid and possibly destructive mold, you've got to thoroughly clean all hard surfaces such as flooring, molding, wood and metal furniture, countertops and sinks with water and dish detergent. here's a cdc shomg list, some biksss, brushes and soap, and safety tools like gloves, goggles and a mask. there especially important if you see signs mold is already kbroeg, you don't want to touch it or breathe near it. after a flood, the environmental protection agency says proper drying is essential, turn on exhaust fans. bring in box fan

i'm consumer investigator chris chmura, nbc bay area responds next. >>> and as we head to break, we want to show these photos our mike inouye shared over the weekend. he woke up on new year's eve and realized his roof had a leak. he was worried, who would he find to come repair it on a holiday? thankfully it all worked out after a crew showed up yesterday. mike sends his thanks to all the hard workers. you can keep up with mike on instagram, twitter and facebook. instagram, twitter and facebook. t arting the year ou - life is uncertain. everyday pressures can feel overwhelming it's okay to feel stressed, anxious, worried, or frustrated. it's normal. with calhope's free and secure mental health resources, it's easy to get the help you and your loved ones need when you need it the most. call our warm line at (833) 317-4673 or live chat at calhope.org today. >>> nbc bay area responds to a lot of people who want their money back. today we're helping a viewer who needed to return a couple hundred bucks. >> consumer investigator chris chmura has the story of an east bay woman who struggled to

. >> consumer investigator chris chmura is here with three important steps you can take right now. >> reporter: good morning. first, you can get ready to evacuate. you can pack a go back full of essentials. keep it by the front door or in the trunk of your car. emergency managers recommend things like a phone charger or two or three. a few days' supply of medicine, clothes, water, nonperishable food, et cetera. think about the basics you might need if you end up in a shelter. second, prem your home for a possible power outage. consider powering electronics down to avoid a possible shock or power surge. side note about your fridge during a power outage. you can crank it colder now, and here is good news. the usda says a refrigerator will hold its temperature for four hours if you keep the door closed. the freezer is better. a half stocked freezer will keep food cold 24 hours. fully stocked, 48 hours. think about your insurance. a typical policy does not cover flooding. you have to buy flood insurance separately. 98% of california homes do not have it. the national flood insurance progr

right now, consumer investigator chris chmura is working a how-to video to help you file a claim if you need to fail one. how is it going? >> i'm in the middle of editing right now. >> sorry about that. i wanted to talk but to what you're working on. . >> we want to walk you through the process. if you had trouble with a pothole and it caused trouble to your car, we want to help you get reimbursed. >> what time can we see your story tonight? >> we'll run it at 5:30 and we'll put it on our how-to channel on our youtube page and our website, nbcbayarea.com/howto. >> okay. thank you for that preview. i'm sure that video will help a (steven) every time i come to see caremore, they go above and beyond to take care of me. i feel a lot better now. i'm taking medication for what i should have been taking years ago. (vo) call the number on your screen to learn more about medicare plans in your neighborhood that include caremore. >>> welcome back. today we honor ledgeredary civil rights leader dr. martin luther king jr. people are taking time to reflect on his legacy on the anniversary of his bir

chris chmura: you're watching an "nbc bay area news special." "nbc bay area responds.", ed slanina: they lied in google. they lied to us on the phone. chris: some viewers say an imposter on their smartphone took them for thousands of dollars. we'll explain how and how you can avoid getting fooled. catherine wilson: it is traumatic. chris: first, they lost everything in a fire. now they're losing out rebuilding because of inflation. we'll show you how to protect yourself. dr. mike lano: this feels like a total rip-off. chris: plus, the battle over a surprise tax bill from decades ago. we take one man's case to city hall. plus, we have a record-keeping lesson for everyone else.

. >> and i'm chris chmura. just like clock work, the rain comes down and the potholes show up. break in the rainstorm assembly line is allowing repair crews to fix some bay area roads. we'll give you a live look at 880 through oakland. this is just one of many highways and roadways with a ton of potholes. damian trujillo spent time with crews in san jose. >> reporter: this is one of

chris chmura has some options to get reimbursed and get you moving forward once again. >> reporter: one quick drop into a pothole can cause a lot of damage. an average of $600 damage. let's look at who pays. two ways. first, car insurance. the insurance information institute says pothole damage is usually covered provided you have collision coverage. progressive insurance tells its policy holders immediately after the incident, take photos of the pothole. note the location of the pothole as well as the time of day and the weather conditions. then file a claim. if it is unsafe to snap a photo of a pothole, like on a freeway, let your insurance company know that up front. generally car insurance covers pothole damage to your tears, rims, steering and body. here's the thing. your deductible will apply and that's usually $500 to $1,000. you might be able to get that back. more on that in a minute. if you have minor damage, $100 or $200, your insurance might not kick in. progressive says in many instances, it doesn't make sense to fail a claim. one thing that does make sense, all these drive

chris chmura has some ideas for what you can do before, during and after.ll be joined by the 49ers' long time consultant, sociologist dr. harry edwards. that's coming up on our 7:00 newscast. >>> up next, "nightly news" sits down with a neuro surgeon. the news is straight ahead. >>> tonight, the nfl star in critical condition after a terrifying collapse on the field. buffalo bills player damar hamlin hospitalized after suffering a cardiac arrest following a tackle the new message from hamlin's family asking fans to keep him in their prayers. and after the game was postponed, what the nfl said today about rescheduling it. >>> also tonight, chaos in the house. for the first time in 100 years, the election for speaker going to multiple rounds after a group of hard right republicans denied kevin mccarthy the votes he needed on the first ballot so what happens now? >>> the suspect in the idaho college student murders appearing in court for the first time in pennsylvania waiving extradition. his family in the courtroom and the new body cam the suspect's brush wit

this is complicated but we have answers from chris chmura. that story and more coming up on our 7:00 newscast. >>> up next on "nightly news" the link between alcohol and cancer risk. is it time to update those warning labels? that's coming up right now. lester holt joins us from new york. >>> tonight, the flight disruptions nationwide after a system meltdown. it grounded all flight departures in the u.s. for hours. the coast-to-coast chaos. more than 10,000 flights canceled or delayed. the white house saying there is no evidence a cyber attack so what did cause it >>> also breaking tonight, nbc news, first to report that president biden's aides found at least one additional batch of classified documents in a separate location in the private office where the first batch was discovered what we're learning as the gop demands a special counsel probe. >>> gop congressman george santos facing new calls to resign from a growing number of republicans after he lied about his background speaker mccarthy asked today what will he do about santos how he a

. >> and i'm chris chmura. just like clock work, the rain comes down and the potholes show up. today's break in the rainstorm assembly line is allowing repair crews to fix some bay area roads. we'll give you a live look at 880 through oakland. this is just one of many highways and roadways with a ton of potholes. damian trujillo spent time with crews in san jose. >> reporter: this is one of those hot spots. san jose remains under a state of emergency as the next storm approached so crews are out there today making repairs. spend any time on the bay area roads and you'll likely run into one of these, a new pothole. >> this is crazy. they're basically everywhere. i, myself, also avoid the potholes. i switch lanes because it's happened before where i'll hear my car scrape because i hit the pothole. >> reporter: we know hitting them is an issue but dodging them can create problems as well. we saw people crossing the divider line to avoid them. trying to get out of the way? >> i guess without endangering. >> reporter: and fixing the storm damage can create its own problems. crews ha

i'm chris chmura. audrey has the day off. we have been tracking stories. new numbers for making it or not in the bay, showing astronomical housing prices are perhaps coming back down-to-earth. our scott budman will join us live to see what it might mean for your family. >>> also, perhaps odd to talk about this now considering these back-to-back rainstorms, but battling wildfires remains a concern in california and beyond. more and more women are joining the fight. we'll take you behind the scenes at a fire service training camp. >>> let's start with our weather. we'll give you a live look around the bay area. we had a nice break from the rain today but our team's forecast calls for that to change within hours. a new storm is brewing in the pacific. there it is. it is headed our way promising another wet weekend. we will check in with jeff for the rain time line in just a bit. >>> first, let's look at the destruction, though, caused by this week's storm, the one we're just getting over. most notably in santa cruz county, over capitola village strong waves h

a consumer investigator chris chmura is here. such a stressful time for so many of us. we're talking about -- actually, i just looked at my yard. that one might be a problem, that one might be a problem, that one might be a problem. so what happens now if a tree falls on my yard? i know if it's my tree, it's on me. what if my neighbor's tree falls on to my property? >> we asked these questions of the insurance institute today. the answer is really the insurance company up-front doesn't really care where the tree came from. you should call your insurance company. because what might happen in the background is they'll use that term right there, subborgation. and they would contact and ask for reimbursement. even if you have to pay your deductible today, through that process, it's possible you would would get your deductible back. >> have a $500 deductible or $2,000, i pay now and in theory i get it back. >> don't be shy. talk toe your insurance agent about this. if you don't understand this, if you didn't read your policy, ask them, because they should have read it for yo

. >> i'm chris chmura. this is a way of more questions than answers related to the shooting rampage at a mushroom farm in half moon bay. we expect to hear from governor newsom around 2:00 this afternoon. >> in the last 90 minutes we learned more about the investigation. as you likely know by now, seven people were killed. we now know that six of them were women and one was a woman. there's no one survivor, a man in critical but stable condition in the hospital. the suspected gunman is in custody and we know he will face a judge tomorrow afternoon. the san mateo county sheriff says all signs point to this being an incident of workplace violence and not a hate crime. >> with each bit of information we get, we get a better idea of the timeline. the first 911 call came in around 2:20 p.m. from the first of the two shooting locations. that's the mushroom farm where workers also live. deputies arrived to find five victims, including that man who is now in the hospital. next, three miles away, off highway 1, three

chris chmura: you're watching an nbc bay area news special. tonight, "nbc bay area responds." elle laus: you can feel the sticker, it has a little bit of a ridge on it. chris: gift cards are in thieves' crosshairs. we'll help you protect your balance by exposing the tricks criminals use to steal your money; and-- phillip parkerson: the person i spoke with literally told me, "it doesn't matter what you've done. my computer tells me what zone you're in, and we can't give insurance because of your zone." chris: californians in shock. insurance companies are dropping them by surprise.

we bring in our consumer investigator chris chmura, who is a travel expert.'re our travel guru here. what happens? that family in sunnyvale just one of thousands or millions of families. you get caught in a city. southwest says we'll pay you back. do they pay back your hotel, your car, your food and everything else? >> what southwest says is they're going to accept and honor applications for reimbursement that are reasonable. so they're talking about airfare, they're talking about accommodation. they're talking about gasoline when you rent a rental car. but there are lots of questions that come with it. >> what is reasonable? say i'm stuck in san diego. i'm staying at the hyatt, and i have to stay at the hyatt four more nights. do they cover my hyatt and food for four more nights? >> we're going to find out. we asked southwest what do you mean by reasonable? they said, we don't have any specifics to share, but each case is reviewed on a case by case basis. we'll see. if you have trouble, let us know, and we can try to see if we can push it along. but we're re

i'm chris chmura. audrey has the day off. we have been tracking stories.ack down-to-earth. our scott

let's bring in our consumer investigator, chris chmura. we're not just talking about sandbags. give me some pro tips. >> an important thing is we've got to treat it like a fire. people will probably have to evacuate their homes in a hurry. when you do that, you're frazzled. so tonight pack one of those go bags, the essentials you would need if you have to spend a couple nights in a hotel. also make some non-perishable food, a change of clothes, a mask, medicine is really important, a couple days' worth of prescription medicine, and don't forget the pets. pack a go bag. >> it's like an earthquake. say your home does flood. your home, garage, your car. what are your options here? >> well, so i think as far as insurance is concerned -- >> i don't think i have flood insurance. i don't think most of us do, do we? >> 1.5% of california residents. most of us are on our own. only 204,000 insured out of 14 million housing units. you'll kind of be on your own. this is why we harp on cleaning the gutters, trying to seal everything up, do everything you can to protect your home because mos

i'm chris chmura. thank you for watching nbc bay area news at 4:30. we are beginning with an ongoing

chris chmura is seeing a troubling trend. >> you're talking about gift cards.tect your balance? here's chris. >> good evening. tonight we're responding to a walnut creek woman's case. she lost a small amount on a gift card but thieves are stealing big money, perhaps tens of millions of dollars every month. a $100 bill, a benjamin, a c note, whatever you call it. it's real money for a 23-year-old like sydney. so when her grandparents gave her a $100 gift card it was -- >> pretty exciting. >> reporter: she used it a few time, tracked every penny, everything went fine. until she went to a san francisco book store to spend the last $37. >> i knew there was money left on it and it was declined. >> reporter: where did her $37 remaining balance go? >> i have no idea. >> reporter: there's a good chance someone stole it. >> if ths happening to me, i'm not the only person. >> reporter: she's right. we've heard from many others whose gift card balances just vanished. our nbc responds and telemundo respond teams around the country? >> i checked it and it said the ballot wa

consumer investigator chris chmura investigates. >> how do you protect your balance? re's chris. >> good evening. tonight we're responding to a walnut creek woman's case. she lost a small amount on a gift card, but thieves are stealing big money, perhaps tens of millions of dollars every month. a hundred bill, a benjamin, a c note, whatever you call it, a hundred bucks is big money for a 23-year-old. she tracked each penny and everything went fine until she went to a san francisco bookstore to spend the last $37. >> i knew there was money left on it, and it was declined. >> reporter: where did sydney's $37 remaining balance go? >> i have no idea. >> reporter: there's a good chance someone stole it. >> if this is happening to me, it's probably happening to someone else. >> reporter: we heard from others whose gift card balances just vanished. our teams around the country? >> i checked it, and it said the balance is zero. >> reporter: have heard from dozens more viewers with similar stories. the federal trade commission estimates tens of millions of dollars in gift card

chris chmura wants to help you avoid resort fees of. have. >> first, a rant, please.at five ways you can try to beetle them. s beat them. we looked at honolulu the. you had to click and scroll down to see it. poke around while many can be revised before you arrive. second, comparison shop for package deals. some warehouse clubs offer members hotel deals that do not have a resort fee. third, see if your company has a negotiated hotel rate. many employers, especially the big ones, broerk broker deals with the big hotel chains. fourth, see if your loyalty pays. at least one hotel chain waives fees for its top tier member, hyatt. getting that requires staying 60 night as year. tip number five, see if using points helps. many hotels do not charge resort fees when you're redeeming their points. i've done had several times. i research added a hotel in honolulu. nothing special. taxes and fees totaled $3,324. but if you book the exact same stay using points it will cost you $2,800. total savings? 4rink. befofore that drdrink turnrns to drinknks, make a plalan to get h home s.

chris chmura urges you to take action. >> reporter: mold is nothing to brush off.n it's left uncheck, the insurance information institute says mold is destructive to your home and possessions and, worse, the damage it causes generally isn't covered by homeowners insurance. take two immediate steps after a flood. disinfect and dry out asap. here is why. fema says mold growth or colonies can start to form on a damp surface within 24 to 48 hours to prevent rapid and destructive mold you have to thoroughly clean all hard surfaces such as flooring, molding, wood and metal furniture, counter tops and sink with water and dish detergent. the basics, a bucket, a brush and soap. but also safety tools like gloves, goggles and a mask. they're especially important if you see signs mold is already growing. you don't want to touch it or breathe near it. turn on exhaust fans, bring in box fans, consider a dehumidifier. best to keep your home's humidity between 30% and 60% when drying from a flood. fair warning, the government says full drying can take days or weeks. remember, you

. >> i am consumer investigator, chris chmura.e you a handith w business can happen anytime, anywhere. so help yours thrive and stay connected with the comcast business complete connectivity solution. it's the largest, fastest, reliable network. advanced gig speed wifi. and cyberthreat protection. starting at just $49.99 a month. plus, you can save up to 60% a year when you add comcast business mobile. or, ask how to get up to a $750 prepaid card. complete connectivity. one solution, for wherever business takes you. comcast business. powering possibilities. >>> good morning. the travel pros we talked to recently said a pre spring break break should not break the bank. fares you can find in january and february even at this late date are in some cases 70 to 80% lower than over the winter holidays and half of what it might cost to travel over spring break. and some flight deals will come and go quickly. the good news is airline tickets are fully refundable for the first 24 hours, so you can book a seat and change your mind risk free

. >> reporter: if you're eager to get your income tax refund, i'm chris chmura. we'll show you how to get free glp, how to business can happen anytime, anywhere. so help yours thrive and stay connected with the comcast business complete connectivity solution. it's the largest, fastest, reliable network. advanced gig speed wifi. and cyberthreat protection. starting at just $49.99 a month. plus, you can save up to 60% a year when you add comcast business mobile. or, ask how to get up to a $750 prepaid card. complete connectivity. one solution, for wherever business takes you. comcast business. powering possibilities. >> reporter: good morning. today is the first day the irs is accepting and processing income tax returns from 2022. the national filing deadline is april 18th but because of the recent storms every bay area county qualifies for an automatic extension until may 15th. the irs told us if you file electronically choose direct deposit and submit with no errors, aiming to get you your refund within three weeks. here is another reason to file electronically.

>> if you are looking to get away soon, consumer investigator, chris chmura, says this. >> a pre springreak should not break the bank. some things are 70 to 80% lower than over the holidays, and half of what it would cost to travel over spring break. >> some flight deals will come and go quickly. the good news is airline tickets are fully refundable for the first 24 hours. so you can book a seat risk free for 24 hours. you can set up free alerts to get the best travel deals, and help you weigh whether travel insurance is worth it. speaking of delays and cancelations, we made a how-to video. it's on our youtube page, our streaming channels and website. look for the how-to play list. i will join you again tonight at 5:30. >> looking forward to it. >>> coming up next, the top stories we are following for you, including arrested and charged. the new fallout for the san francisco business owner seen in a viral video spraying an unhoused person with a hose. >>> i am kris sanchez in capitola, which is expecting to get a visit from president biden and governor gavin newsom today. they are looki

viewers like you can take to the bank, i'm chris chmura. we'll save some folks some money. >>> i'll be hosting "snl" this week. >> i love lil baby. >> right there. >> hi. i'm actually lil baby. >> you see how that could be confusing. >> you can watch michael b. yor dan and lil baby on "saturday night live" at 8:30 and then at 11:30 after our 11:00 newscast. >> reporter: good morning. let's start with missy in santa rosa. she says her elderly mom's cell phone bill and data use spiked. the bill seemed like a bad call, so mitsi threw a flag and challenged it. the phone company didn't call play ball. she scored her $210 refund. here is the kicker. she also got $184 credit, so in total that is a $394 win. next, to michael in san jose. he says a cell carrier was holding $352 from his dad's closed account. here is the catch. the company wasn't walking back, running back or giving back that money. michael tried the whole nine yards. the company passed. so he wrote us for some defense. then we played a little offense. the company fielded our goal an

>> you may be wondering if insurance will cover the damage so we asked consumer investigative chris chmura into it. >> let's start with trees. say your neighbor's tree falls and hits your house. who pays? your insurance. the insurance information institute says you should call your insurance company to get a claim going. typically that kind of damage is covered with a homeowners policy. it's the neighbor's tree, so perhaps you're wondering, why should i have to pay my deductible if it's their tree? it's a fair point. but you might get your money back. in the background, your insurance company might seek reimbursement from your neighbor's insurance company. in legal terms it's called subrogation. the iii says if your insurance company wins subrogation and collects, you can get your deductible back. let's switch to cars. a flood can ruin a car, so does car insurance cover that damage? it can. the key is your policy must include comprehensive coverage. the thing is, it's optional. you can decline it and cut your premium. lots of people do. about a year ago the website money geek estimated 38%

i'm chris chmura here in the nbc bay area newsroom. thank you for joining us.rvoirs are overflowing for the first time in years. near los gatos, water is flowing down the spillway. crowds have even been gathering nearby to watch the water. >> looking at the reservoir is like typically, there is at least the last years that i could remember, there is just feet and feet of rock at the edge. so to see it completely full, it is pretty amazing. >> amazing is one word. santa clara valley water is releasing 3200 gallons per second to make sure it doesn't cause coyote creek to flood. >>> all right, so what is in our weather forecast. let's turn to meteorologist kari hall. >> the sunshine returns today. it is going to be so nice to see. but you'll have to stay bundled up out there. and then tomorrow rain coming in late in the evening. it does move out by thursday morning and shouldn't have a big impact. but it is coming on an already saturated ground. we'll have more of a chance to dry out going into the end of the week. as well as the weekend with our temperatures reac

if you're looking for a getaway soon, chris chmura says you have good teaming. >> reporter: good morning break break should not break the bank. some airfares are deeply discounted right now. >> fares that you can find in january and february even at this late date are in some cases 70 or 80% lower than they are over the winter holidays and half of what it might cost to travel over spring break. >> hotels and rental cars are currently on sale too. some flight deals will come and go quickly. airline tickets are fully refundable the first 24 hours. we're going to expand on all of this at 5:30 and help you weave around delays and cancellations, help you set up free alerts to get the best travel deals and help you weigh whether travel insurance is actually worth it. we made a how-to video showing you to you to get around delays and cancellations. just look for the how to playlist. i'll join you again tonight at 5:30. >> those how tos are very helpful. again, president biden is here. he is touring santa krouz county and will be speaking to the press in about an hour from now. we will bring it