After this day, which may be one for the ages, the ice ages, the coldest day yet in this polar freeze. And the map from space says it all. A white, bonechilling blanket over most of the united states. Stretching 2,500 miles from the Canadian Border to the florida keys. Tonight, we want to bring you the big picture. Who has been the coldest the longest . When will it end . And who had the toughest day . Our extreme weather team has fanned out across this nation, tonight, in this freezing cold. And abcs meteorologist ginger zee starts us off. Ginger . Reporter you know, diane, weve all been dealing with this relentless cold. So, weve all known that from the trenches out here. But if you add some snow, and im talking two feet of snow, and then, wild winds, and this is what you get, some of the worst in the country. Inside the blinding blizzard, 50mileperhour wind gusts. And 24, the number of inches of snow falling in erie county, new york, in the past 24 hours. They are expecting up to five feet by the end of the week. It is the snowiest place in america today. Here in the town of hamburg, there are drifts that are actually above my knee. Reporter but as we all know, the major headline is the ridiculous cold. Very cold. Very cold. Reporter as 16 states saw windchills of 40 below or lower. And then, theres this astonishing number. 61, the number of hours minneapolis, minnesota, spent below zero. Not below freezing. Below zero. And heres a familiar site. So Many Americans doing that perilous plunge. 51, thats the number of degrees new york city fell in 23 hours. Bottoming out at a record 4 below zero this morning. And no, this is not just a northern issue. If you are in fourth grade, this was the coldest day of your life in parts of the south. 6, that was the recordbreaking low temperature in atlanta this morning. This is not the coldest it has ever been, nor is it the longest it has been this cold for anyone in the u. S. But in wisconsin, one resort has deemed it too cold to ski. And in kentucky, this prisoner escaped, then promptly turned himself in because, it was just too cold. So, everybody hold on because it is almost over. Let me show you a graphic. And i want you to pick out your state and watch as the warmer and i say that really tenderly because it is relatively warmer air takes over. This is thursday. The 50s all along the gulf coast, back into parts of florida that havent seen it. The 40s right there. And then, the 30s, mixing up and going into new york city. By the end of the week, well see the 40s return right here in new york. A lot of places going to get back to what they should feel like and in some spots, above average. Diane . So good to see it on the retreat. Thank you, ginger. As we know, from all across this country, so many survivor stories streaming in about pipes bursting, houses without heat. Abcs ryan owens shows us what happens when its below freezing in your living room. Thats got ice on the back of it. Theres 31 right there. Reporter with every hour, john bandy is counting every degree. Thats 39. Reporter on every wall of his indianapolis home. His laser thermometer has had nothing but bad news since sunday when he and thousands of others here lost power. I did spend one night here. And then, attempted to spend last night here. It just got too cold. Reporter john came back today to fill his bathtubs with hot water to prevent his pipes from bursting. I have to set it at about 130. Thats a lot of heat coming out of there. Reporter pipe bursts have been a problem. From this starbucks in atlanta, to this evacuated nursing home in maryland. They are among the millions just trying to survive this bitter blast. Were feeling all crammed in here. Reporter more than 500 people spent 14 hours stranded on 3 amtrak trains stuck in a snowbank in rural illinois. They had power but limited food. And the bathroom situation, less than ideal. They were finally bussed to chicago. Im exhausted. And i havent had much to eat. Reporter surviving this storm has a whole new meaning for this young mother. She gave birth to her first child all by herself. At home. When no one could get to her. Her due date was not until the 21st. I think she wanted to see the blizzard. She didnt want to miss out. Reporter although millions of adults wish they could have missed the last few days, especially those like john bandy, who, tonight, are still shivering in the dark. Ryan owens, abc news, indianapolis. And, ryan, we thank you. As we know, a lot of those people huddled at home have been using electric heaters, ovens and lighting fires to stay warm. Some of them hazards. And abcs gio benitez spent the day with the firemen trying to fight fires in the freeze. Reporter on those frozen front lines, firefighters battle more than just the blaze. Those icy dangers. Watch. A chicago firefighter just trying to work. Slips and falls, knocking his helmet right off his head. And late monday night, firefighters trying to battle a twoalarm fire, were frozen themselves. And watch what happens to the building. Once engulfed in flames, becoming ice castles after firefighters spray them with water. And look at this fire hydrant covered in snow. Here in chicago, firefighters even had to use a flare to melt the ice around another. Worse thing that could happen to firefighter is when they get out, hook on to the hydrant, they turn that valve and nothing happens. Reporter tonight, firefighter miguel diaz suits up. Really, weather like this could be dangerous for you . Very dangerous. Reporter no matter the temperature, the suit is the same. 60 to 70 pounds of equipment. And while it may look warm, its no match for the cold. Its almost like you want work to stay warm. Reporter and remember, they have to be outside, even when most of us arent. Gio benitez, abc news, chicago. And we have some pictures, now, we want to share tonight. All of us looking out together at each other. Arctic travelers bundled up. A sea of eyes peering out from mountains of scarves and hats. And take a look. So many eyelashes and eyebrows turned to icicles. And one family sent us this picture saying it was something theyve never seen before. A ring of ice around the dogs water bowl. And something theyd never seen before in florida, a snowy owl usually found in the arctic, landing on the beaches of the sunshine state. By the way, we followed up on a hunch today and found out a Record Number of us are searching online for, quote, warmweather vacations. At least we can dream. And now, we turn from the cold blast across the nation to another big story in the news tonight. The cold reception at the white house for a new book, which is peeling back the curtains on the white house windows, telling people what others really thought of each other inside. And the unlikely author is former secretary of defense robert gates, shaking things up. And abcs chief white house correspondent, jonathan karl, tells us how. Reporter for two years, he was the president s pointman on the most Important National security decisions. The end of the war in iraq. The escalation of the war in afghanistan. He was there in the situation room the night bin laden was killed. But it turns out, thendefense secretary robert gates had deep misgivings about the president he served. In a soontobe published book now leaking out, gates writes that during one white house meeting on afghanistan, quote, i thought, the president doesnt trust his commander, cant stand karzai, doesnt believe his own strategy and doesnt consider the war to be his. For him, its all about getting out. Gates, who calls himself a republican and also served as george w. Bushs defense secretary writes suspicion and distrust of senior military officers by senior white house officials, including the president and Vice President , became a big problem for me. His harshest criticism is of Vice President biden, who he calls a man of integrity but quote, i think he has been wrong on nearly every major Foreign Policy and National Security issue over the past four decades. Gates says hilary clinton, thensecretary of state, shared some of his frustrations. The controlling nature of the obama white house, he writes, and its determination to take credit for every good thing that happened while giving none to the career folks in the trenches who had actually done the work, offended secretary clinton as much as it did me. In response to all this, the white house has put out a statement tonight, praising bob gates for his service to the country. Saying that the president welcomes differences of opinion on his National Security team. But when it comes to Vice President biden, the statement says, the president strongly disagrees with gates assessment. Saying that biden is, quote, one of the leading statesmen of his time. And, diane, gates also in his book acknowledges that on one of the biggest decisions, the bin laden raid, it was gates that was wrong. And it was the president , who he says, made one of the most courageous decisions he ever saw made in the white house. Thank you, jon. I dont think anyone expected this kind of book from secretary gates. Thank you. And we have word tonight, sad word, from the department of defense. Four u. S. Troops, members of the u. S. Air force, are presumed dead after a Helicopter Crash in england. The accident happened during a nighttime training mission. And a big headline about americas largest bank. Jpmorgan, has agreed to pay more than 2. 5 billion for missing the warning signs of Bernie Madoffs massive ponzi scheme. Bank Officials Say employees did not knowingly help madoff scam customers out of billions of dollars. Madoff, as you know, is serving a prison sentence of 150 years. And next, right here tonight, a big bust of some police and firefighters accused of massive fraud. And adding to the outrage, some of them, reportedly, trying to cash in on one of americas darkest days, 9 11, when real heroes showed real strength. Abcs bob woodruff has the details. Reporter they were the ones who ran towards the towers. [ sirens ] amid smoke and ash, saving lives, toiling for days on the pile. For Many Police Officers and firefighters, the experience at ground zero took a lasting toll physically and psychologically. But today, dozens of other retired firefighters and Police Officers are charged with lying, making up claims of 9 11related Mental Illness to get millions of taxpayer dollars in disability payouts. This alleged scheme, involving people who once served the public and helped those in need, raided government coffers and took advantage of the very people that Police Officers and firefighters are sworn to protect. Reporter prosecutors claim four ringleaders, including an 89yearold pension consultant, coached First Responders to appear disoriented in psychological evaluations. Prosecutors say more than a hundred Police Officers and firefighters lied. About half of them blaming 9 11 for their disability. But investigators say photographs, video, and postings on social media reveal the defendants, do no appear to be disabled despite their claims they could not use a computer, could not drive. Could not shop. Former Police Officer glenn lieberman, shown here on a jetski, received 175,000 over four years after reportedly saying he couldnt go outside. I can only express disgust at the actions of the individuals involved in this scheme. Reporter there is anger, tonight, among the families of the heroes who died on 9 11. George siller lost his brother, stephen, a firefighter. The firefighters and police i know were digging on the pile right after 9 11 to rescue and then to recover. And many are dying today from the cancer. So, it puts a mark against people like that who are so dedicated. And truly represent what the fire and police are. Reporter now, George Siller also told me that he is sickened. Hes appalled by this alleged fraud. And that, we really need to remember what his brother stood for, what these heroes do every, single day. And that we shouldnt really focus on these few bad apples, diane. It is so great to have you on this story, bob. Good to have you here. And moving on, tonight. Other stories in the news. The results are in in this new year. Well tell you which diet was chosen the best one of the year. And youll meet some people who found a way to lose weight and keep it off. And a stunning idea. For the first time, a dog helps perform surgery in the operating room. What does she do . Do not miss it. Were back in two minutes. As your life and career change, fidelity is there for your personal economy, helping you readjust your Retirement Plan along the way, rethink how youre invested, and refocus as your career moves forward. Wherever you are today, a fidelity i. R. A. Has a wide range of Investment Choices to help you finetune your personal economy. Call today, and well make it easy to move that old 401 k to a fidelity i. R. A. Legs, for crossing. Feet. Splashing. Better things than the joint pain and swelling of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. If youre trying to manage your ra, now may be the time to ask about xeljanz. Xeljanz tofacitinib is a small pill, not an injection or infusion, for adults with moderate to severe ra for whom methotrexate did not work well. Xeljanz can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. Serious, sometimes fatal infections and cancers have happened in patients taking xeljanz. Dont start xeljanz if you have any infection, unless ok with your doctor. Tears in the stomach or intestines, low blood cell counts and higher liver tests and cholesterol levels have happened. Your doctor should perform blood tests before you start and while taking xeljanz, and routinely check certain liver tests. Tell your doctor if you have been to a region where certain fungal infections are common, and if you have had tb, hepatitis b or c, or are prone to infections. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, and if you are pregnant, or plan to be. Taken twice daily, xeljanz can reduce the joint pain and swelling of moderate to severe ra, even without methotrexate. Ask if xeljanz is right for you. And next, here tonight, the new years resolution to lose weight. Today, u. S. News and world report released its list of the best diets. And at the top, the d. A. S. H. Diet, which emphasizes portion control. Also on the list, the mediterranean diet, which focuses on fruits and nuts, vegetables and fish. And of course, weight watchers, which uses that points system for food. But next here, youre about to meet a handful of people who not only lose weight but know how to keep it off. So, how do they connect it to their happiness . What are their secrets to success . Abcs linsey davis tells us right now. Reporter meet an elite group of superdieters. I lost 60 pounds. Reporter people whove beaten the odds. I lost 75 pounds. Reporter the 15 of dieters whove not only lost weight but kept it off for years. The total weight loss of 158 pounds. Reporter more than 10,000 of these longterm losers are being tracked by the National Weight control registry. Their secrets, stored in a database. We asked them in the registry, what made this successful effort different from all your past unsuccessful efforts . And they say that this time, they were more committed to losing weight and keeping it off. Reporter steve porter is a registry member. I started having back issues. And the doctor said im happy to keep giving you injections and pharmaceuticals as you need them. But where are you going to be five years from now . Thats when i said we had to look at changing something. Reporter after losing 105 pounds, he managed to keep off 75 of those pounds for the last 3 years. And he says maintenance is the hard part. But its possible for him, with daily exercise and meticulously recording everything hes going to eat. We plan our meals very carefully. Keep everything on an excel spreadsheet. Its posted on the refrigerator. Reporter two of the most common strategies for superdieters. Getting on the scale, for many of them, every, single day. And exercising on average, an hour a day. Rather than thinking of it as a diet, its including exercise, and good health, eating habits, as the new normal. Reporter that new normal is all about being conscious and careful. Thats the key for kalyea moss. Come on in. Reporter who shared her weight loss journey with abc news for the last two years. You can be healthy. You can be beautiful and love yourself. Reporter at 179 pounds, shes now at her lowest weight as an adult and committed to losing even more. Linsey davis, abc news, new york. And another interesting note about the new years resolution. Half of the people in the weight loss registry used a diet program. But half did it on their own. And when we come back right here, would you surf a 60foot wave . The American Daredevil who did in our instant index. The modest first floor bedroom in tallinn, estonia and the southbound bus barreling down i95. This magic moment it is the story of where every great idea begins. And of those who believed they had the power to do more. Dell is honored to be part of some of the worlds great stories. That began much the same way ours did. In a little dorm room 2713. This magic moment still running in the morning . Yeah. Getting your vegetables every day . When i can. [ bop ] [ male announcer ] couldve had a v8. Two full servings of vegetables for only 50 delicious calories. The 1 selling pain reliever, in one Cold Medicine. Advil congestion relief. It delivers a onetwo punch at pain and sinus pressure with the power of advil and a nasal decongestant in a single pill. Advil congestion relief. In a single pill. It really made the difference between a morning around the house and getting a little exercise. Unlike the bargain brand, depend gives you new fitflex®, our best protection. Its a smooth and comfortable fit with more lycra strands. Get your free sample at depend. Com. Yeah. Try new alka seltzer fruit chews. They work fast on heartburn and taste awesome. These are good. Told ya im feeling better already. [ male announcer ] new alka seltzer fruits chews. Enjoy the relief [ male announcer ] new alka seltzer fruits chews. The pain started up and wrapped around to the front. I couldnt play my bassoon because of the pressure that i felt throughout my whole head. The blistering and the rash was moving down towards my eye. The doctors at the emergency room recommended that i have it checked out by an eye doctor. There was concern about my eyesight. When i had shingles the music stopped. Our instant index begins with a dream interrupted tonight for olympic skier lindsey vonn, who crashed and damaged her knee in that awful accident last year. She was expected to be americas biggest star at the sochi olympics next month. But today, she broke the news. Tweeting, quote, i am devastated to announce i will not be able to compete in sochi. She said her right knee is just still too unstable to try it. And if you grew up with melted velveeta for your chips, a yellow alert for all of us tonight. Some Grocery Stores in the east are reporting they are cleaned out. And velveeta says theres a shortage. Theyre trying to fix it in the next few weeks. But look at the calendar, velveeta in high demand during football season. And the super bowl is approaching. One velveeta fan tweeted, for perspective, between that and the weather, are these the end times . And an unexpected sideeffect of the arctic blast here at home. Celebration for some American Daredevils. The storm here, combined with a 110mileperhour wind in europe is causing epic waves across the pond in spain. What experts call an atlantic code red. It means the waves take a look at them here as big as 50, even 60 feet tall. And some truly brave, elite surfers, americans among them, descended on it. Hanging ten or hanging on for dear life. And next, tonight, here, for the first time ever, see a dog helping out in the operating room. Accomplishing even Little Things can become major victories. Im phil mickelson, pro golfer. When i was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, my rheumatologist prescribed enbrel for my pain and stiffness, and to help stop joint damage. [ male announcer ] enbrel may lower your ability to fight infections. Serious, sometimes fatal events including infections, tuberculosis, lymphoma, other cancers, nervous system and blood disorders, and allergic reactions have occurred. Before starting enbrel, your doctor should test you for tuberculosis and discuss whether youve been to a region where certain fungal infections are common. You should not start enbrel if you have an infection like the flu. Tell your doctor if youre prone to infections, have cuts or sores, have had hepatitis b, have been treated for heart failure, or if you have symptoms such as persistent fever, bruising, bleeding, or paleness. Since enbrel helped relieve my joint pain, its the Little Things that mean the most. Ask your rheumatologist if enbrel is right for you. [ doctor ] enbrel, the number one biologic medicine prescribed by rheumatologists. [ doctor ] enbrel, the number one biologic medicine millions have raised their hand for the proven relief of the purple pill. And that relief could be in your hand. For many, nexium helps relieve heartburn symptoms from acid reflux disease. Find out how you can save at purplepill. Com. There is risk of bone fracture and low magnesium levels. Side effects may include headache, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. If you have persistent diarrhea, contact your doctor right away. Other serious stomach conditions may exist. Avoid if you take clopidogrel. For many, relief is at hand. Ask your doctor about nexium. Imany Cold Medicines may raisee your blood pressure. Thats why theres Coricidin Hbp it relieves cold symptoms without raising blood pressure. So look for powerful Cold Medicine with a heart. Coricidin hbp. And finally tonight, the remarkable dog who helped save a life every day. Even in the operating room, ready to bark orders to the doctors and nurses. Heres abcs steve osunsami. Reporter surgeons at Duke University say this is a first. 7yearold Kaelyn Krawczyk is heading into a risky operation to deal with a kidney infection. And theyre bringing her pet dog to stand watch. What are you going to dream about . J. J. Reporter her dog, j. J. , is trained to smell when shes in trouble. K. K. , as her family calls her, lives every day with mastocytosis, which causes lifethreatening reactions to everyday things. And shes especially sensitive to anesthesia. We saw how it works at her home. This is j. J. Alerting, sensing a reaction coming on, smelling a change. It didnt take her a minute to run down to this cabinet door, and get the medical kit. Good job. Reporter doctors say the dogs nose works better than their machines. The procedure went great. And j. J. Gave us a few little warning signs that maybe something might have been started. But calmed down very quickly. Reporter and to think, j. J. Was abandoned at five weeks old. But she stood out to trainer deb cunningham, who searches the shelters for trainable puppies. You want one whos confident, one whos going to say, hey, i need you to pay attention. Reporter she says any dog can be trained using saliva samples. No different than training dogs to detect low blood sugar levels or epileptic seizures. Watch as this dog literally pins his owner to the ground. This is her treat for when she alerts. Reporter all this means that k. K. Gets to live a relatively normal life and even go to school. You know this dog is a miracle to us, every day. Reporter should i tell people that you love your dog . How much . More than any number. Reporter more than any number . So, would you say a thousand . More than a thousand. Reporter more than a thousand. I make up a new number. A fillion. Reporter a fillion. And she assures us, thats a lot. Steve osunsami, abc news, raleigh. Stay with us, all the time at abcnews. Com. Nightline, later. Ill see you tomorrow night. Good night. Tonight a jail house interview with a man accused of kidnapping a girl outside of her home and the situation he claims compelled him to do it. A man accused of setting this fire, what made him decide to target the chinese consulate. And tonight, Horror Stories of passengers sitting in limbo in the freeze, sitting everywhere but here. I dont want to call it an abduction or kidnapping. The bizarre explanation of a kidnapper why he snatched a 7yearold girl from her n. Front of her home. Good evening. That kidnapping happened friday night. The 6yearold girl was snatched from the driveway of her antioch home. An amber alert led police to their suspect, david allen douglas, hes talking from jail about what happened on friday. Jonathan . Well, for starters David Douglas admits he did it. He also says that it wasnt his fault that he kidnapped the little girl and he has a bizarre explanation. Douglas sat down with us for a jail house interview here in martinez the first thing he did is explain what he calls a conspiracy to control every aspect of his life, including the decision to linger and abducting one that he says would be easiest to gravenl he detailed what he says happened next. I actually just walked up to her and she came with me yale tiffly easy i appear to be someone that could be familiar to her. You know . With her ethnicity. She put her hand out and came with me. Then, turned back and said mommy. And that is when her mom came and was alarmed i had to hurry and