His first classified briefing and his historic picks as he staffs up his administration the injury over the weekend hes recovering from and the two battlegrounds delivering a new blow today to President Trumps legal fight. Severe storms barrel through several states, tornadoes, strong winds, heavy rain al roker is here. Cyber monday expected to be the biggest ever how to score deals all week long. Plus, the shipping alert you need to know about. The man clinging to a capsized boat 86 miles off the coast. Tonight how he survived messages to santa in the pandemic. What kids are really asking for this year this is Nbc Nightly News with lester holt. Good evening, everyone the specter of a covid surge on top of a surge is almost too much to imagine. But its exactly what Public Health officials believe we may be in for as millions of americans return to their lives today, some likely bringing home from thanksgiving gatherings more than just family memories officials urging travelers to take precautions and to assume you have the virus to stop the spread because the current wave has already left some hospitals without a single spare bed to offer. Miguel almaguer has details. Reporter as authorities brace for a deadly december, the end of november marks the most dire month of the pandemic a record 4 million new cases in 4 weeks and a grim 35,000 fatalities now as tens of millions of american return home from the holiday the darkest days may be yet to come. As we go for the next couple of weeks into december, that we might see a Surge Superimposed upon that surge that were already in reporter expecting to see new infections spike in the next 5 to 10 days, in states like rhode island, there is no place for the sick to go an Emergency Alert warning residents stay home saying hospitals are at capacity. Several regions are on the brink. At this point in covid, its widespread all bets are off. Reporter today new yorks governor told hospitals to start recruiting retired nurses now warning new statewide restrictions could soon be ordered. In Los Angeles County daily cases have quadrupled while hospitalizations have nearly tripled effective today, some of the nations toughest restrictions are in place for l. A. County among them, no mixing with other households, not even for a Walk In The Park in the bay area, Santa Clara County is banning contact sports, forcing the 49ers to now play home games in arizona the measures applauded by nurses like Erin Mcintosh who has watched colleagues become infected with the virus. When were gone, theres just nobody thats going to take care of you when youre in the hospital and that should scare everyone. Reporter tonight a Record Number of americans are hospitalized instead of home as officials scramble to slow the surge. Miguel almaguer, nbc news. Now to the breaking news on the other major front on the war on this Pandemic Today Biotech Compan Moderna is submitting its Covid Vaccine to the fda for emergency use authorization. Like pfizer which submitted its own vaccine days earlier, moderna said its vaccine is about 95 effective. In an interview today, with top execs from three top Vaccine Makers today modernas president told me he expects approval very soon. Were quite optimistic actually that the vaccine is the data speaks for itself and theyll be supportive. Once approval comes, how quickly does Moderna Spring Into Action and begin shipping the product so like the others were partnered with general pern and his team at operation warp speed. I have been told they want trucks rolling within hours if not a day and so what we have been done is we have been helping to position the vaccine in the warehouses where they can access it immediately if its approved. And start distribution as you wait for this fda approval, is there a plan b if for some reason they dont approve theres not much of a plan b since about february were all in on this we hope this vaccine works. Obviously we are confident in the data. If they come back with any questions, of course, well do everything we can to answer those questions but at this point theres not a plan b. You can hear much more of my interview with the top execs on dateline this thursday. This week were taking a special look at the race for a vaccine across all of nbc news tonight we focus on the enormous challenge of distributing the moderna and Pfizer Vaccines once approved, both here and in europe. Heres tom costello. Reporter modernas challenge moving millions of doses of its vaccine via Cargo Carriers to every corner of the country for use the minute the fda gives the go ahead. That could come within two weeks. Modernas vaccine can be kept in a normal freezer while pfizers requires arctic cold already pfizer is using United Airlines cargo flights packed with dry ice t Preposition Millions of its Vaccine Doses while awaiting fda approval part of a massive Distribution Network now taking shape worldwide. American airlines also using empty Passenger Planes to rush supplies around the globe. Inside the 787 no passengers and no suitcases. It is all cargo. Making room for more medical supplies, vaccine, therapeutics and ppe. Pharmaceuticals that require cooling are shipped in mobile freezers, the temperature constantly monitored. If the temperature drops by even a quarter of a degree the alarm goes off and the team is able to investigate and to find out its ready for the rest of the shipment. Reporter a Cdc Advisory Committee will meet tomorrow to decide who gets vaccinated First Arkansas Health Director dr. Jose romero is on that committee. What is your biggest challenge in arkansas . I think our biggest challenge is going to be reaching those urban constituents that need the vaccine. Rural health care centers, rural hospitals. Reporter while the military will rush vaccines to every state and territory, each Healt Department must get it to the most remote corners of the country. Both moderna and pfizer require two shots. One concern, keeping the Pfizer Vaccine cold enough. It may not be possible to get it out to some remote clinics and smaller hospitals that just dont have the capacity to store it in the appropriate fashion. Reporter with lives on the line one of the biggest civilian Cargo Airlifts in history is now ramping up tom costello, nbc news, philadelphia. This is keir simmons in london. As many European Countries announce nationwide strategies to vaccinate their citizens, the uks plan which is ready to roll out, begins wit immediate vaccinations in care homes for elderly residents and those who work in them next up, people 80 years and older along with all health care workers. Theyre followed by people in the 70s and late 60s after them, adults with Underlying Health conditions. Mass distribution is expected later in 2021 volunteers are already being trained. People are going to be frightened. Some people who maybe never had a vaccine since they were in school. Reporter in germany, this medical freeze manufacturer is working all hours. The door which then gets married with the body of the freezer. Reporter sending units to the u. S within weeks they will have the ability to store 100,000 Vaccine Vials each you are surrounded by enough refrigerators for more than a million vaccines this is a logistic project the world has never seen before. Reporter the green light from europes regulators could happen at any moment officials here in the uk have been told to be ready for vaccinations as early as tomorrow. Lester its just an incredible operation. Keir simmons, thanks very much. The president ial transition is moving forward. President elect joe biden received his first classified intelligence briefing today. While President Trump is still making baseless claims of Election Fraud lets begin with geoff bennett. Reporter tonight the biden transition, entering a critical new phase. The President Elect and Vice President elect today receiving the president s daily brief for the first time the briefing offers biden insight into the most sensitive and Urgent National security questions, including how the killing of irans Top Nuclear Scientist complicates his goal of rejoining the iran nuclear agreement. Im hopeful that President Elect biden can actually reach in and calm the waters. But i think this heightens tensions significantly. Reporter the briefing comes as biden continues his transition with historymaking hires officially unveiling a Diverse Group to lead his Economic Team alongside Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellen Biden naming also naming his Senior Communications team for the first time, all of the top staffers tasked with shaping white house messaging will be women. The President Elect is on the mend tonight after a ct scan confirms Hairline Fractures in his right foot, an injury suffered saturday while playing with his dog major. Nbc news capturing this shot after aides refused to let reporters see biden enter or leave the doctors office. Bidens doctor saying the President Elect will likely require a walking boot for several weeks. Geoff bennett, nbc news, wilmington, delaware im Hallie Jackson at the white house in phoenix today, a last gasp in a fading fight. I call this the mccarthy era On Steroids Reporter the president s lawyers still pushin Conspiracy Theories of widespread fraud that doesnt exist in an election thats all but settled in a state that today is certifying its results. Leaders including the Arizona Republican governor officially naming joe biden the winner there we do elections well here in arizona the system is strong reporter wisconsin also formalizing its results showing biden taking that state after a partial recount requested by the Trump Campaign despite that and all the evidence showing the system worked, the president s trying to undercut it and override the will of the voters blasting the former top Cyber Security official he fired, chris krebs who called this election the most secure in american history. The proof is in the ballots. Reporter Krebs Standing by his statement in a new 60 minutes interview that pretty thoroughly in my opinion debunks some of the sensational claims out there that ive called nonsense and a Hoax Reporter President Trump defiant even in the face of repeated legal losses. We should be heard by the Supreme Court something has to be able to get up there otherwise what is the Supreme Court . Reporter to put that into context of the 41 lawsuits filed by the Trump Campaign and its republican allies so far at least 27 have been denied, dismissed or withdrawn and so far no court has found a single instance of fraud. Lester Hallie Jackson at the white house tonight, thank you. The Supreme Court today took up President Trumps final legal battle over immigration his plan to exclude undocumented immigrants from the census Pete Williams explains why. Reporter if President Trump gets his way this years census will not include undocumented immigrants and because it determines how many seats in the u. S. House each state gets that could mean a loss of clout for new york, florida, texas and california what hes attempting to do is basically transfer power from the states that have significant number of immigrants to thos that do not. Reporter the states say the president s plan would violate the constitutions command that the census counts the whole number of persons. Even some of the courts conservatives noted that in every single census that has meant counting people that live here if an undocumented person has been in the country for, say, 20 years, you know, even if illegally as you say, why would such a person not have a settled residence here hi, im here with the u. S. Census Bureau Reporter the Census Bureau said they dont yet know how many people are here illegally and cant say when theyll have an answer so the majority of the courts seem reluctant to decide the issue now. All these questions would be resolved if we wait until the apportionment takes place. So why arent we better advised to do that reporter if the it turns out the modified census would affect seats in congress, the states could come back here and the court would probably throw it out. Lester Pete Williams tonight, thank you this cyber monday is expected to be the Biggest Online shopping day in u. S. History. Jo ling kent has the deals you can score all week as Shipping Deadlines approach fast reporter The Frenzy Of Cyber Monday is a sign of the changing times the pandemic not slowing down online holiday sales. Shoppers expected to spend 12. 7 billion. The most ever online in a single day. And the golden hours of cyber monday anticipated later tonight when shoppers could spend 13 million a minute that means shipping will be busier than ever to steer clear of possible delays and exposure to covid19, Curbside Pickup has exploded in popularity if you havent finished your shopping, cyber monday will turn into cyber week starting tomorrow with computers discounted 30 on average. 20 off toys and appliances beyond the big retailers, some smaller businesses are doing gangbusters, too. Sales on etsy doubling in just a year shopify says the future of retail is forever changed. Cyber monday has shifted from a weekend to a season, and i think it has led to entrepreneurs and independent businesses being the winners of this particular holiday season. Reporter to make the most of cyber week Shopping Experts advise make a list and prioritiz the hottest selling items. Always look for additional discounts before checking out, especially a promo code jo, with more stayathome orders looming in a lot of places will online deals be extended . Reporter the whole advice here is just to order now. Prices are expected to creep up after this week shipping will get more expensive and less reliable the close we get to santas big day. Lester certainly going to be his busy day. Jo ling, thanks. We are tracking a major storm in the east al roker is tracking it what can we expect lester, we go heavy rain and strong winds in the northeast but back to the west from Buffalo Aumont way north of atlanta we are looking at snow winds gusts anywhere from 25 to 55 Miles Per Hour in the northeast but look at this 27 Million People under winter storm warnings, Winter Weather advisories from the great lakes all the way down into the southeast. Snowfall amounts up to a foot near the great lakes. Up to eight inches, lester, along the line of the appalachians. Its an early winter storm thats going to really hit people hard lester all right al roker, thank you, sir. In just 60 seconds, charities in crisis just when the need is greatest tomorrow is giving tuesday when Many Americans donate to charity but this holiday many are struggling to serve and survive. Anne thompson now on the crisis. Reporter its a holiday tradition. The united way fulfilling wish lists for the needy of new jersey with donations from the community but so far, there are 300 more lists than donors. The need has never been this great because the families themselves are in such financial crisis even before if they had 20 to spend to put something under the tree they dont have that. Many of the people need rent and utilities now. Reporter like the people many serve, covid is affecting the bottom lines of americas nonprofits Charity Navigator says 72 suffered financially. The virus put the kibosh on operation warm Signature Party where they give away specially made brand new coats to kids on average we would get 150,000 requests for coats from kids in urgent need situations and this year were closer to 365,000. Reporter wow thats more than double. Yes. Reporter donations are steady but nowhere near enough. Even the sound of the giving season may be somewhat muted the Salvation Army expects a drop of 50 in kettle collections despite a 155 increase in need then theres the matter of health becky tessa is one of ten volunteers allowed inside this united way branch. Youre still putting yourself at risk to do this. Why . Because it needs to be done. Reporter still trying to give in a world Turned Upside Down anne thompson, nbc news, flemington, new jersey. Up next, a dramatic rescue at sea. It was only the first lap of a Formula One Grand Prix race in bahrain when a car crashed into a barrier broke in half and caught fire. The french driver was trapped but was able to jump out and over a red hot metal barrier. Believe it or not, he escaped with minor injuries, just amazing. Another remarkable escape of a stranded boater off the florida coast and not a moment too soon heres Kerry Sanders with that. Reporter 62yearold stuart bee is lucky to be alive lucky to have been spotted sunday by did crew of a Passing Cargo Ship in the vast Atlantic Ocean he was 86 miles off the florida Coast Clinging to the tiniest portion of his 32foot boat. Miraculous probably isnt Strong Enough word for what they found. Person on a bow is made for tv moment. Reporter just the top of the bow of the boat poking out of the water at that point . That is absolutely it. Reporter bee left Cape Canaveral friday afternoon. After a friend reported him missing saturday the coast guard put out an alert. Thats how the cargo ship angeles knew to scan the sea marine Officials Say theyre not sure why the boat sank, only that bee hung on to the bow for at least four hours we just rescue one person. I cannot imagine the desperation that mr. Bee was goin through at that moment or the elation of finding a vessel out at sea that was a needle in a haystack. Reporter tonight stuart bee, exhauste and weather worn, is still on the cargo ship that rescued him. Kerry sanders, nbc news, miami. Up next, what kids are asking santa in a season like no other finally, its different this year but the Spirit Of Christmas is alive and well, just ask the kids and santa heres rehema ellis. Reporter even in a pandemic the once a year visit with santa claus is still on but it will look a little different. Santas social distancing behind plexiglass elves are Checking Temperatures sometimes santa will be online like from the santa experience in the mall of america. Ho ho ho hello, rehema. Reporter hi, santa. Why is it important to socially distant this year were doing that to help to save lives and to protect us and each other from getting the virus. Reporter what kids All Around The World are asking for is different, too 10yearold julian would like 100 to help his parents pay the bills. In france zoe wrote im not asking for many things to avoid infection. 10yearol lola asked for the virus to go away and some magic to get through this tough year trying to get children to see and understand that we will get through this pandemic santa is still coming to your house. Reporter kids, you better get the milk and cookies ready. Merry christmas to you all. Reporter rehema ellis, nbc news, new york santa, youre the man. Thats nightly news. Thank you for watching, everyone im lester holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good nig right now at 6 00. Could another stay at home order be in our future . If these trends continue well have to take much more dramatic arguably drastic action. The warning from Governor Newsom as hospitals fill up and cases surge. Kicked out of Santa Clara County. Where the 49ers have to play for the next few weeks. Did san jose mayor break protocol . The thanksgiving get together leading to a whole new set of questions. Good monday. Thanks for joining us. A warning tonight from Governor Newsom. Tighter Coronavirus Restrictions could be around the corner. He is considering reinstating the stay at home order if numbers dont drop. The order would be for counties in the purple tier. Which is eight of the nine. There was one positive announcement. The first doses of the Pfizer Vaccine could be here in two to three weeks. Expected to release full Distribution Plan later this week. In the next few weeks 327,000 doses that will be californias portion of the first distribution of vaccines. These are challenging vaccines. These are the ultra Low Temperature stored vaccines. The vaccines that require second dose. Which we expect in