and we'll do it. >> and the pain in the south, the pain still being felt in the northeast and whit johnson with us from queens, new york, tonight. where president biden spoke late today. and whit, i know the president today sounding the alarm that climate change is here, saying the only question is, how much worse this gets, if we don't act. and he said, we must rebuild infrastructure to handle these kinds of weather events, pressing congress to take action on his plans. >> reporter: david, president biden called this an eye-opener, saying climate change is everybody's crisis. and he's doubling down on his push for congress to pass that massive infrastructure package, not only to help rebuild now, but to be better prepared for extreme weather threats in the future. david? >> all right, whit johnson, thank you. >>> overseas tonight and to afghanistan. secretary of state antony blinken saying the u.s. is working around the clock to help about 100 americans now still in afghanistan. four americans have been rescued. the harrowing story of how they got out. and it all comes as the taliban appo

family members since i've been in here from covid, and it's a bitter and hard pill to swallow. >> whit johnson with us live again tonight, whit, the white house was pressed on whether the president got ahead of himself talking about boosters. the press secretary said eight top doctors suggested these were coming as far back as august. this plan was put together and always pending approval from the fda and the cdc and the white house saying that they'll be ready if and when this green light comes and tonight new york city, they're already preparing for a surge in need for boosters? >> reporter: and, david, really it's public health departments across the country preparing for this surge in booster shots. new york city as you mentioned right here, the mayor promising to have nearly 2,000 vaccination sites ready to go and they're mobilizing walk-in clinics and public outreach events but again all of this pending approval from government regulators, david. >> whit johnson leading us off tonight. whit, thank you as always. >>> the other major news, the department of homeland security issuing a new

>> whit johnson leading us off here tonight. whit, thank you. >>> there's also late word tonight on those seven confirmed tornadoes, at least seven now, from the philadelphia area to new jersey. and tonight, the staggering damage. abc's janai norman from pennsylvania. >> holy [ bleep ]. >> reporter: tonight, a total of at least seven confirmed tornadoes touching down in the philadelphia area and southern new jersey area, as those historic storms walloped the northeast. >> look at that tornado! >> reporter: this one in south jersey seen on video tearing through multiple communities. >> we were down there about 15 minutes before -- when the warning went off and we have a walkup basement, luckily, so, we were able to get out through that, thank god. if not, we would not have been able to get out. >> reporter: that twister in mullica hill at least an ef-3, with winds more than 135 miles per hour, ripping apart at least two dozen homes and damaging 100 more. this ef-2 twister just northwest of philadelphia causing a tree to collapse o

whit johnson leading us off again tonight. whit, thank you as always. >>> now to the other major news this thursday night, the department of homeland security issuing a new warning tonight that some heading to washington in support of people charged in support of people in the january 6th riot may seek to engage in violence. security now ramping up across washington, fencing up again around the capitol. video surveillance now installed and the new comments from former president trump tonight, supportive words for those who were there that day. rachel scott on the hill tonight. >> reporter: tonight the fencing around the u.s. capitol is back up. washington bracing for saturday's rally in support of those charged in the january 6th riot. the department of homeland security tonight issuing a bulletin that people either involved in or posting this weekend's event may seek to engage in violence. most trying to distance themselves. the number two republican telling "the new york times" there are a lot of clearly angry people who want

there's important planning that has to take place. >> let's bring in whit johnson back with us tonight. whit, i know this goes to the cdc next. bottom line tonight, what's the time line, and when could americans 65 and old inter-american who at high risk be getting their boosters? >> reporter: david, a cdc panel will be meeting next week to consider more specific guidance about how these boosters should roll out. if authorized we could see those shots going into arms way late next week at about 80,000 locations across the country, including pharmacies. david? >> whit johnson, we'll see you right here this weekend. meantime we know many of you at home have questions about booster shots i want to bring in dr. ashish jha, dr. jha, always great to have you with us. you have been saying on the air with me for some time that older americans and those at higher risk should receive the booster first, which is what the fda panel recommended today. that still makes sense to you base on the science revealed? >> good evening, thanks for having me back. it does. the science is very clear. high risk

>> all right, whit johnson tonight. whit, thank you so much. know many of you at home have questions about the potential for boosters on the way. so, let's bring in dr. ashish jha, dean of the brown university school of public health. dr. jha, always great to have you with us. let's get right to what the fda released today, this pfizer data. they are suggesting this extra dose, this booster shot, a third shot, for those 16 and older, about six months after receiving that second dose. and they said this isn't necessarily because of the delta variant, instead, they said this is because of effectiveness decreases with increasing time. essentially waning over time, which is what you and i have talked about so often here on the news. moderna releasing very similar data. are you convince bid why what yw today? >> yeah, david, thanks for having me back. what i'm convinced of today is people who are vulnerable. people who have over 65, people with chronic diseases, they clearly need that booster shot after about six months. because they don't just have

whit johnson live at a pharmacy, just one of many offering the booster shots already. a lot of people wondering if they can get the pfizer booster even if they got moderna or johnson & johnson originally. i know the fda has weighed in on this. >> reporter: david, studies are happening right now looking at combinations of different vaccines and booster shots, and we do expect to have some answers in the coming weeks but for now, the fda says there's knous just not enough evidence to know if it's safe and effective, and they're not yet ready to endorse a mix and match program. >> no mixing for now when it comes to these boosters. whit johnson leading us off. coverage of the coronavirus for tonight. >>> we move on to the other news this evening and the deadly super market shooting in tennessee. tonight, the gunman and his connection to the kroger store has been revealed. also here the harrowing stories of survival. alex perez on the scene for us. >> reporter: authorities tonight identifying the gunman they say unleashed a deadly rampage inside this kroger grocery store as

>> all right, whit johnson here in new york tonight. whit, thank you. >>> we know many of you at home have questions because this is the pfizer booster first. they applied for authorization for their booster first. moderna and johnson & johnson could be applying in the coming weeks. in the meantime, let's bring in dr. ashish jha. great to have you. the cdc tonight backing the single pfizer booster after six months for those 65 and older, for those 18 and older with underlying health conditions and given the data that you've studied, you're completely comfortable with this? >> good evening, david. yes, i am. i think the data supports that quite strongly and i think the cdc panel got that one right. >> the one surprise here, the experts were asked about those with jobs that have a high risk of infection, front line workers, teachers among them. the vote was no. 9-6 on this. a lot of those workers are watching the news here tonight. can you explain why the cdc said fwho no to them? >> yeah, this is anned advisory committee vote that i don'

>> all right, whit johnson on this again tonight. thank you, whit. >>> next this evening, a school shooting in memphis. a teenager opening fire in a stairwell. a 13-year-old boy in critical condition. here's abc's steve osunsami. >> reporter: parents at this south memphis grade school tonight just can't believe this is happening again in america and happening to them -- a teenage boy brought a gun to school and shot a 13-year-old student. >> they have a student that has been shot. possible suspect responsible is still inside the school. >> reporter: shortly after 9:15 this morning, memphis police had to race to cummings elementary school. with 500 students on lockdown, police swept the school searching for the child with the gun. >> the shooting occurred in a stairwell in the school. from the video evidence we've reviewed, there were no other students around. >> reporter: police believe he left the school in a car. at this baptist church a half mile away, frightened parents had to wait for their children. >> my daughter text me and to

i'm whit johnson in new york.nd all of us here at "world news tonight," have a great night. >> business owners are the end of unemployment benefits means a boost in potential employees. humpback whale. we will tell you what we know, coming up. >> moving -- building a better bay area, moving forward, finding solutions. this is abc 7 news. on a warm holiday like this, that water looks good. it is the air you have to worry about today and tomorrow. thank you for joining us. >> you are watching abc 7 news live wherever you stream. you are looking live at the view in santa cruz. blue skies, proof the air-quality index is in the green. ama: move inland and it looks different. this is a live look from our terror camera -- our tower camera and it shows why we have a spare the air alert let's bring in spencer christian. dan: we have seen worse, but this is not great. spencer: current air-quality, if you are near the coast, you are experiencing good to moderate air-quality, indicated by the green and yellow dots. most air-q

i'm whit johnson in new york.nd all of us here at "world news tonight," have a great night. >> building a better bay area. moving forward. finding solutions. this is abc 7news. >> i am hoping we're not going to see a major spike. >> people are, like, it is no open. it is devastating. >> concerns of a holiday surge as travel skyrockets. good afternoon, and kristin see. dan: and i dan ashley. you are watching us live on abc seven, hulu live, and wherever you stream. >> americans crowded stadiums and beaches during one of the highest hospitalization surges the country has seen in months. >> abc reporter morgan norwood is in los angeles. reporter: as the delta variant is driving up cases, a labor day weekend reminiscent of times pre-pandemic. the cdc director had warmed unvaccinated people shouldn't travel during the holiday, yet more than three and half million people were screened between friday and saturday, at roughly the same number of labor day weekend travelers as 2019. >> i am expecting a bump. i am hoping we

whit johnson with late reporting tonight, how soon those booster shots could begin and what new york city is staying. >>> authorities securing the u.s. capitol ahead of that protest in support of the hundreds arrested in the january 6th attack on the capitol.

i'm whit johnson in for david tonight, and we begin with the rising death toll after the remnants of hurricane ida hammered the northeast with historic flooding and record-breaking rain. the deadliest tropical system in this country in four years. tonight, more than 60 people are dead in eight states. at least 49 in the northeast. and we're getting new images of the monster tornado that sliced through new jersey, an ef-3 with 150-mile-per-hour winds. surveillance video showing powerful flash flooding destroying a basement wall. there you see it within seconds. in new jersey, a doorbell camera capturing a home explosion, suspected to be from natural gas. the neighborhood had already been evacuated. in downtown philadelphia today they were still pumping water out of the vine street expressway into the river. in horseham, pennsylvania, every power line on this street and many others is down. the devastation still so painfully clear. president biden paying a visit today, promising help, saying no community will be left behind. and tonight in the northeast, flood warnings are still in eff

the highest number in seven whit johnson with late reporting tonight, how soon those booster shots couldeady saying tonight. >>> authorities securing the u.s. capitol ahead of that protest in support of

let's go back to whit johnson for the latest. morning, the director of the cdc making her official decision on this next wave of pfizer booster shots which means millions of eligible americans can start making appointments right away. this morning, president biden addressing the nation after millions more americans are eligible. >> the decision of which booster shot to give, when to start the shot, and who will get them is up to the scientists and the doctors. that's what happened here. >> reporter: the president saying he'll be getting his booster shot, but insisting the primary goal is still to vaccinate the unvaccinated. >> this is a pandemic of the unvaccinated. we still have over 70 million americans who have failed to get a single shot. >> reporter: after weeks of head-spinning debate, overnight, the cdc director giving the green light for booster shots, but going against her own panel of advisers on a key element of who qualifies. >> this motion passed 15-0. >> reporter: dr. walensky now endorsing the panel's recommendation

whit johnson is tracking the very latest. morning, whit. >> reporter: michael, good morning to you. we're now getting a clearer picture of who will be eligible for the booster shots, older americans and those at high risk. a cdc advisory panel will consider the next steps later today but soon after we could start to see pharmacies like this one in local cities across the country administering those boosters by the end of the week. overnight the fda giving the green light for pfizer booster shots bringing the u.s. one step closer to authorizing a third dose for millions of americans. the eligible group is expected to include people 65 and older, those at high risk of severe illness, health care workers and other frontline employees like teachers, day care staff, grocery workers and people in homeless shelters and prisons. >> it is possible that some people may benefit from a booster, six, eight, nine months after their first shot. the plain truth is, there's a lot we still don't know. we do know that the vaccines are holding u

pfizer's recommended people 16 and over receive a third shot of the vaccine and whit johnson is at a er headquarters in new york. good morning, whit. >> reporter: george, good morning. while an fda analysis suggested pfizer booster shots are safe, some health experts still question whether they're really needed for everyone. pfizer insists that the extra dose will help address the issue of waning protection over time. but today we'll hear a variety of different arguments about wat the country should do next. this morning, an fda panel is poised to deliver its verdict on the need for booster shots from pfizer. in an open letter published thursday, pfizer's ceo calling this a pivotal moment in our fight against the virus and emphasizing the strong response after the booster dose and new data out of israel indicating an additional pfizer shot provided ten times more protection against covid and severe disease. the company recommending boosters for everyone 16 and older six months after their second dose. >> it's quite persuasive to me that it will be wise to give boosters to those over t

whit johnson is at pfizer headquarters with more. it. >> reporter: michael, good morning to you. there's still considerable debate within the scientific community about whether booster shots are even needed for everyone and fda analysis suggests that an extra dose appears to be safe but key decisions still need to be made about who should get them and how soon. the looming question of whether vaccinated americans are ready for booster shots could be answered as early as tomorrow when the panel is expected to vote an a recommendation. pfizer is making the case a third shot is needed for those 16 and older, about six months after receiving their second dose. >> what we've seen is increases in cases, in breakthrough cases as time goes on just because of a waning immunity, and this is why this booster question is coming into play right now. >> reporter: pfizer also suggesting the reduction in vaccine protection is likely not due to the delta variant but instead vaccine effectiveness decreases with increasing time since being fully vaccina

whit johnson has that story. >> reporter: this morning, with the school year in full swing, pfizer revealing new details on its plan to expand vaccine access to children. the company saying it expects to file safety and efficacy data for kids 5 to 11 years old in early october and for those as young as 6 months in the weeks shortly after. dr. anthony fauci predicting fda emergency authorization would soon follow. in new orleans, all three children in this family, from 14 months to 6 years old, taking part in the pfizer vaccine trial. >> we're not 100% sure that the kids got the vaccine yet, but just knowing that they have a chance and that they have that little extra layer of protection makes me much more at ease with sending them back to school. >> reporter: but with tens of millions of children back in the classroom, covid cases among kids in the u.s. jumping 240% in the last six weeks. >> we're seeing kids who are admitted, who just need some oxygen support, all the way to kids who are requiring ventilator support and then to those kids who are even sicker than that and require heart/lung

whit johnson joins us from white plains hospital in new york with more on all of that. ng to you, whit. >> reporter: amy, good morning to you. in the month of august 22 pregnant women died from covid in the u.s. that's the highest monthly total since the start of the pandemic and health officials are now stepping up their pleas for expectant mothers to get their shots, arguing the benefits far outweigh the risks. this morning, an urgent call for pregnant women to get vaccinated. the cdc saying they are more at risk of severe illness from covid. twice as likely to end up in the icu and 70% more likely to die. >> the covid-19 vaccine is safe to get if you are pregnant. please do not put yourself or your baby at unnecessary risk. >> reporter: yet only 31% of all pregnant women are vaccinated. at 32 weeks pregnant an unvaccinated samantha kelly ended up in a coma with covid. doctors were able to safely deliver her baby. she's now recovering. >> it's a lot of decisions being thrown at you and, you know, you try as a mom make the best one, but unfortunately i think i made the