Transcripts For WFTS Action News At 9AM 20160831

Heavily. So this is going to continue to be a big problem through the morning and into the midday hour. Theres clearwater through st. Pete and some lightning embedded there as well. So not just all rain, we continue to see lightning throughout the morning hours. Look at this, this is not from yesterday. This is just this morning, 2 to 5 inches of rainfall fell in a very short amount of time and that is why we had the flooding issues. Widening out the shot you can see this blob of white, that is the depression, were well out good 400 to 500 miles away and were getting that plumb of tropical moisture that continues to move from south to north. Again a multiday rain event and tomorrow getting into the winds. Right now 35 miles an hour. Still the forecast from the National Hurricane center and the models 55 to 65 mileper hour winds. Track shifted a little further west and that is even better news for us that, means the coastal flooding were expecting for tomorrow 1 to 2 feet will be less so as it continues to trend in that direction. Yes, we have a hurricane watch for the coast. I dont think were going to get hurricane conditions. Citrus, hernando into pasco county and even parts of Pinellas County and Hillsborough County with winds in excess of 40 miles per hour. More on that and the new numbers heading in through friday, this will be an ongoing event. Flooded roads already becoming an issue in Pinellas County. Cars getting stuck and some driving through standing water at i275 and 54th avenue south in st. Petersburg. Abc action News Reporter Lindsay Logue joins us live from st. Pete. This is certainly a good reminder of why we see if you see flooded roads, turn around, dont try to drive through them. Reporter absolutely. Things are only get to get worse from here. The weather in st. Pete still very bad. Ivan moments ago talked about the band on top of us. Look at this, now the last lightning strike, 8. 1 miles from where were sitting now. Too dangerous for us to be even outside. Thats why were in the live trucks removed the cars from the flooded water at the exit ramp at 54th avenue south. And 275. This is where drivers just drove right into a flooded area, not knowing how deep it was. Look at the video we recorded from our fdot camera earlier. Just about an hour ago several drivers out here got stuck while the rest of them got stranded, backed up on to the exit ramp. As you can imagine nowhere to go from there and impossible for them to reverse interstate. And that caused huge backups as you can imagine on 275 you will morning. Fdot did put Emergency Communications signs to use and warned others of the flooding and this ramp on the 54th avenue south is still closed at this hour. In fact coming down here we saw at least three of those communications signs all lit up letting us know there was flooding and this ramp was closed and we needed an to go but up. I really dont expect them to reopen this exit ramp on 54th avenue south for some time. We know these roads really well. And ive never seen an exit ramp flood like this, have you . I havent seen it, when i saw it pop up i was quite surprised and still surprised that cars tried to drive through it. So many cars got there. It took a while to get them moved out of the way. This is the top of the interstate where the ramp is quload. They have the northbound and southbound ramps closed from 275 to 54th avenue south. So youre going to want to use 22nd avenue south instead. We have other areas of flooding when in clearwater, gulf boulevard at gulfview boulevard, avoid that area in largo, we have reports of walsingham road. And flooding in south tampa, tip cap spots so watch for that as well. Typical areas. As far as the drive, still very slow on 275 and i75 southbound heading to i4. The veterans expressway surprisingly this morning has been pretty good. They opened up another lane there. Right now about 60 the average speed there. Back to you. 9 05. Turning to another floodprone county. Families in pasco county doing everything they can to avoi in 2012 during Tropical Storm debbie. County officials urging families in the most flood prone areas to prepare to voluntarily evacuate. The county has had pumps going since last week in hopes of preventing that kind of flooding in neighborhoods. The inmates you see here from the county jail helped fill dozens of sandbags yesterday. A lot of parents i know are wondering about school tomorrow. Pasco county officials will decide tonight if schools and government offices will be will also decide tonight if they will hold classes tomorrow. Governor rick scott is ready to make the rounds and discuss how this tropical depression or storm will affect florida. Hell be in tallahassee, jacksonville and other parts of florida throughout the morning to talk about how Emergency Operations centers are bracing now for the impact. Governor scott visited tampa yesterday to check on storm preparations. He says 8,000 National Guard troops are standing by to help. The state Emergency Operations center already upgraded its alert level. Governor scott says people in this area for the worst. Hopefully we will not have a hurricane this season and it wont be too bad but were going to have rain, were going to have the potential of flooding and rip currents. Everyone has to be prepared. This year there are additional concerns because of the zika virus. The storm could leave behind standing water where mosquitos the governor. He says homeowners need to take responsibility for any standing water that pools in their yards. We have got to go out into our backyards, take responsibility for our personal property, dump over any flower pots, any fountains that you may have, anything that will collect standing water, we need to turn it over to make sure that the mosquito larva dont have the opportunities to breed. The city bought 5,000 more mosquito dunks that kill the larva in large standing water. You can also call Code Enforcement if you need help with it. Aaa has tips for drivers ahead of the tropical depression. Making sure your tires are properly inflated for the best traction. Slow down on wet pavement, turn on headlights in low Visibility Conditions and avoid flooded streets because its hard to tell how deep it is. Now is the perfect time to remind to you download our stormshield app. A Weather Radio for your mobile straight to your cell phone or tablet. Available for android and apple. Breaking news now at 9 00 we just confirmed one person is dead, another injured after a house fire in lake wales. The flames broke out around 7 45 this morning at that home on lido avenue. Investigators and fire crews are on scene now. We also have a crew on the way to try to get more details about what happened. Well bring you any updates as soon as we get them. 9 08. To democracy 2016 and were set fo november breaking down the results from last nights primaries. Marco rubio winning in a landslide in his reelection bid for one of the Florida Senate seats. Collecting 72 of the vote. Six years, can you commit to six years . Thank you for coming todays. Can you commit to a full term senator . Outstanding. When asked about serving a rubio wouldnt comment. Critics say that is because he plans to run for president again in 2020. 20minute speech in kissimmee he didnt waste time attacking his democratic opponent for november. U. S. Representative patrick murphy. I can tell you i dont want it to be hillary clinton. Shell be a disaster for america. I think the bigger question is going to be how murphy will justify his campaign. He cant point to a single achievement either in his private life or in four years in congress. Polls show rubio leading murphy heres a look at murphys win margin. He. 59 of the vote. Going in depth now on what the race means for november, our political expert says the rubio murphy matchup promises to be one of the most coveted and competitive races in the country. When the u. S. Senate is in balance and florida is one of flip it, it is going to be a big race not only in florida but nationally. This matchup will also result in millions of dollars being spent on political ads in florida. Also look for clinton to hold rallies for murphy and even donald trump to share a stage with marco rubio. As both sides now try to claim the tight race. In Pinellas County representative david jolly holding off attorney mark bircher for the chance to keep representing district 13. Now jolly faces former governor Charlie Crist in the general election. Why a school in indiana is getting rid of the title for highest achieving student. And the tropical depression is ways away but were getting the tropical moisture and torrential downpours continuing at this hour. Embedded lightning as well. The Pasco County School district saying school buses are running about 15 to 20 minutes late this morning. Because of heavy rain and traffic problems. Our assignment desk making calls now to find out which specific schools are affected by the delays at this hour. It will be likely middle schools but well check on that throughout the hour. People are boarding the first commercial flight from the tows cuba in more than half century. That 9 45 jetblue flight is scheduled right now to fly from Fort Lauderdale to cuba. Reestablishing commercial flights is part of president obamas plan to normalize relation was the island nation. Historians though disagree on the exact date of the last commercial flight. Appears to have happened after cuba banned incoming flights during the october 1962 cuban missile crisis. Well check on that flight and see if its actually going to leave. Were hearing heartwrenching new 911 calls from the pulse nightclub ones desperate for help. In one call an emotional father begs dispatchers to save his wounded son still stuck in that club. Callers can be heard getting frustrated they called multiple times over 20 minutes and say that help still hasnt arrived. Orange county Sheriffs Office released those ca Orlando Police department which received the bulk of the calls has yet to release them. Massacre june 12th killed 49 people and wounded dozens more. The shooter, omar mateen was killed in the shootout. There may be no valedictorians in one school. The School District in clark School District, across the boarder from louisville calls unhealthy competition. He wants to honor the top 10 of students in each class. The superintendent says the new system would recognize more students for their hard work. Opponents of the idea say it amounts to participation award. School board will discuss the changes during a meeting set for next week. If you have College Loans you know what a burden they can be. Loan forgiveness programs catch your eye but consumer reporter John Matarese shows us the trouble with many of these so you reporter this election season were hearing a lot about college debt and talk about reducing our even foregiving some student loans. So when a woman heard about a Loan Forgiveness Program from president obama she was thrilled. Until she learned she had been scammed. Nichelle culver is struggling to pay her College Loans and captivated by a ad that says billions have been forgiven. 350,000 of student loan forgiveness. She called the washington, dc number and soon learned. I found out it was a u. S. Federal grant. The grant administrator told her to purchase a 300 itunes gift card at her local supermarket to pay the fee. Scratch it off. She did but instead of the grant she got another request for more cash. We need an additional 500 i just gave you 300. Reporter that is when she she called the number with me. Yes, theres a woman in cincinnati named nichelle and you got 300 from her. As soon as i identified myself as a reporter the man who answered put me on permanent hold. The ftc calls this the classic scam. Grants require a lengthy application process. The ftc says the government will never ask for an application fee Via Western Union our itunes which are untraceable. Got screwed over. Shes filed Police Reports and warned others now of the grant that that is too good to be true. Theres no loan program like this and certainly not one that asks for hundreds of dollars up front. So you dont waste your money. 9 18. Florida not the only state dealing with a tropical system. Families in hawaii are preparing for a category 1 hurricane. Schools closed, sandbags stacked. Madeline could be the first hurricane to make landfall in that state in over two decades. A live look at hilo on the east coast of the big island. Rain already falling. That shot may be frozen. Its frozen there, they are going to get good wind and rain from it. Surfers are taking advantage of the big waves stirred up by the tropical was closed but the beach was busy. Surfers and body boarders out enjoying the higher than normal surf. Not recommended with strong rip currents that can form. Live look outside at home, wet roads causing backups on 275, this is southbound fowler avenue. Ivan, as more rain makes its way in drivers of course will need to use a lot of caution on the roads. We saw problems already this morning. Looks like the ramp reopening there. We had upwards of a stuck there. You never want to see. That you dont know how high the water is. You always think, some of us that youre going to be the one that gets through. Im just going to make it as youre late to work. I saw the one with the lights flashing because he didnt make it. A lot of times theres drainage ditches next to the roads, you can tell where the road ends and ditch begins. Its going to be a problem today, tomorrow and friday as we continue with the flooding. More rainfall on the way. This is just a piece of our at the pockets of very heavy rain. A few lightning strikes embedded in there but mostly a tropical rain. When you get the storm approaching its all warm up and down so youre talking about mostly a rain event, not so much lightning. This is tropical rainfall that comes in, 2, 3 inches an hour as far as rainfall rates. Its continued to rain that way so weve gotten just that, upwards of 2 to 5 inches just this morning from this little piece of moisture coming in. But the actually center of the tropal about 500 miles away. 35 mileperhour winds, well get an update from the nhc at 11 00. Dont get fixated on the name hermine, its important not important, whether it becomes a Tropical Storm is important. The issue for us is therin and will be that way as far as torrential downpours that will give us up to a foot of rainfall. Theres going to be some wind, trended west which is great for us which means less of a storm surge, not zero, maybe 1 to 2 feet at time of high tide through tomorrow but the further west it goes the better. But, its a huge system as far as the moisture. Tropical storms tend to be messy so that the forecast point, center not as important as a potent hurricane. Speaking of which, yes, still hurricane watches posted along the coast of citrus, hernando and pasco not thinking its going to materialize as far as 75 mileperhour winds. Trop our three Northern Counties with winds in excess of 40 miles per hour. Not to say that the rest of us wont get it. I think pinellas and hillsborough will have gusts 35 to 40. Look at the tallies, 9 inches, a foot in areas. Weve already had upwards of 5 this morning so you can clearly see that trend continuing here and then that sharp cutoff, 3 to 5 inches further inland, folks have been asking polk county, highlands, desoto and sebring, looking at rainfall effect from 8 to 12 inches. That continues in effect from 2 00 p. M. Today through friday. So again an ongoing multiday event as far as on and off rain. It will be heavy at times and that continues by the way into tonight. So we are now into that tropical moisture headed out to the bucs game, take the poncho. I dont think it will be dangerous weather as far as the wind and rain combined tonight but you do want to watch those roads as they continue to pond and we likely see flash flood continuing tou wind. Well be watching that closely along with the potential of some quick spinners as far as tornadoes, busy day for us here. Then friday well begin to wind down. Just get back to afternoon showers and storms. The weekend by the way, were going to salvage that for the holiday, just afternoon thunderstorms and plenty of sun during the early part of the day. Good morning, im Lissette Campos with your positively tampa bay. A preview of the Fashion Event of the year here in tampa. This fashion week. 9 25. A fumingive is on the loose in Hillsborough County after running from police while handcuffed. Fugitive. The man escaped in the area of fowler avenue and 22nd street a Traffic Violation around midnight and say they found 20 bags of heroin. Heres a look of the area where the man escaped. Detectives did arrest one man, with the person who escaped. The man arrested is mikhail medina hernandez, facing marijuana charges. The other man ran off while deputies were searching the car and interviewing the other man. Anyone with information needs to contact the Sheriffs Office. A bradenton woman attempted to eat her steak and cake and enjoy a meal without paying. The Manatee Office saying this past monday afternoon anna bolevik entered the codys roadhouse on cortez road west and ordered a new york strip and chocolate cake. Deputies report she said the bill was higher than expected. When asked how much money she had, she said none. She was promptly arrested and charged with theft. Still to come its the beginning of a very wet few days as the effects from tropical depression 9 pick up in the bay area. Line of fire. 9 30. Were keeping track on the tropical depression already impacting our area with flooding rains and its only getting worse the next coue lining the Homosassa River. Ahead in a live report how Citrus County is dealing with the threat of possible flooding. Good morning. At 9 30 were keeping tabs on this tropical system in the gulf creeping ever closer to the tampa bay area. Governor rick scott just declaring a state of emergency in 42 of our 67 counties in the state of florida. Preparing for tropical depression number 9 and what eventually is a Tropical Storm. Meteorologist ivan cabrera we will a big rain event that is starting well ahead of the system actually getting here, and it will, tomorrow. It will arrive with 55 to 65 mileperhour winds, that is enough to cause coastal flooding. Time of high tide, weve talked about that and all the while bands of very heavy tropical rains coming in. Likes of which will cause continuous flooding in pinellas, youve been hit hardest, with standing water an be on the way. Notice the stream now, we tapped into the gulf and now everything moving from southto north. So these will be downpours, wont rain every minute but there will be bands of very heavy rainfall on and off throughout the day and some of which could put down a very quick 2 to 3 inches of rainfall which is why were talking about a foot of rain throughout the event if not a little more in some areas that have already picked up five inches. So here is the actual tropical depression. Well get a new track from the and well be able to tell you whether we have 40 mileper hour winds and that would make it Tropical Storm hermine. Its going to continue to move to the north and east. If youre just tuning into the latest forecast no huge changes for us. The only thing the track moved a little further west. That is good news for coastal flooding but as far as the rainfall totals were still thinking the same thing, in fact even a little more as things have already gotten out of hand in Pinellas County there. Theres the track thursday 1 00 p. M. Making landfall. Late thursday into the very early were going to be on the southern end and that will be favored for coastal flooding along with the potential for some tornadoes. Well have more on that threat, the flooding and how much rainfall we can expect when i see you in a couple minutes. That storm is a major concern now for people in Citrus County. The hurricane watch has people on edge there. Along the Homosassa River in particular. People there are not taking any chances. Abc action News Reporter Rodney Dunigan is live near the people are preparing early. Reporter thats right. As you mentioned the major concern this morning off of those homes that line the Homosassa River here, many of them behind me, i spoke with a number of homeowners this morning concerned in just a few hours they will be forced to leave. The weather cutting our vacation short. Reporter caution and concern first and foremost on the minds of people in homosassa. Weve seen so much of this stuff we just grain of salt. Reporter longtime residents john sykes was here in 1993 when the massive flood overspread the area. It was waist deep. Reporter folks in town hoping they wont see the same the coming days. Local schools being proactive, an automated call going to parents regarding student safety. Wither staying up to date with weather updates. Reporter kids at Homosassa Elementary School already set day. In just hours the citrus County School district will release weather plans. They are keeping a close eye on it. They are supposed to meet this morning and give us information later today to make decisions about the rest of the week. Local businesses also prepping, at the freezer tiki bar generators and lanterns on hand in case of a power outage. The staff says theyve seen high waters on the Homosassa River before staying confident they will make it through this. We go through this every year. And, the fre well either leave or stay and make potato salad and party. Reporter Citrus County Emergency Management set to outline their threat response this morning once they know the strength and path of the storm. The rain is just starting to fall now so folks are getting ready for this weather event. Weve also been told that a number of local parks are closing early today. As for the sandbag locations, Citrus County this morning. For more information on where you can go to get that assistance if you need it, go to our web site where we have a full listing, abcactionnews. Com. For now reporting live in Citrus County, Rodney Dunigan, abc action news. Forecasters with the National Hurricane center in miami still expect this to strengthen into a named storm but warning the danger to the bay area is the same. Named or not. Heavy rain and flooding are going to be the major impacts of this storm and not heeding warnings could dont drive over water covered roadways. You dont know how deep that water is going to be. If it rains really heavily in your area and flash flood watches or warnings are issued take those very seriously. A lot of people have died in landfalling tropical depression and storms and hurricanes the last several decades due to heavy rainfall causing freshwater flooding and a loot of those people in their cars. Us were in the peak of Hurricane Season now and we cant let our guard down. Get familiar with your evacuation routes, have plenty of supplies on hand and stay with us at abcactionnews. Com, and abc action news on air and online. Out here now at the digital dashboard as rodney mentioned several counties are extending operating hours at sandbag locations. In Hillsborough County you can pick up sandbags until 9 00 tonight. Weve got all the locations here, Citrus County, clearwater, Hillsborough County, we have them all listed in the bay abcactionnews. Com. You can also find this list on our free mobile app. A remind theyre you can have weather warnings sent straight to your cell phone or tablet. Download our stormshield app, its available for both android and iphones. Meanwhile the Literacy Leadership Technology Academy in tampa is closed today because lightning tore holes in the roof there yesterday. That damage is covered with a tarp now after lightning hit yesterday afternoon. Should be ok. In democracy 2016 the threat of a Tropical Storm in the gulf isnt stopping republican Vice President ial nominee mike pence from making his first Florida Campaign stops. In fact the indiana governor will make two appearances in the bay area today. At a private fundraiser in st. Pete at 1 00 and then 4 00, pence will attend the rally at the Hyatt Regency in sarasota. Ticket and donald trump set to meet with Enrique Pena Nieto this afternoon before delivering a major speech on immigration in phoenix. It will be streamed live on facebook starting 9 00. In Washington Four leading democrats are now asking the fbi to investigate trumps campaign. They want to know if the campaign worked with russia to hack Democratic Party computers to interfere with the election. Democrats note some trump aides previously worked with a wrapped up three days of fundraising in the hamptons on long island. The biggest event concluded performances by Jimmy Buffett and jon bon jovi. Clinton is also spending time preparing for the upcoming president ial debates. Officials in polk county presenting their plan to the state to stop five failing schools from shutting down. All of them middle schools. They are all in jeopardy because of failing grades. The state rejected the first improvem approval for the new plan. Happening today a woman accused of running over an killing a tow truck driver and then leaving the scene is heading back to court. Police say Allison Huffman hit and killed roger perez on the Howard Frankland bridge in february. She is set for a hearing this morning in tampa. Investigators say she admitted to hitting the man but told still ahead a car on fire with a pregnant woman inside. Who the stranger is who managed to make this incredible save. Were going to continue to track our tropical depression. It will be a Tropical Storm by 11 00 but the big story is the rain that has already befun to fall and will continue to do 9 42. The public face of isis is believed to be dead. The Islamic State group announcing his death in a rare public statement. The group says Abu Mohammed Al agnat iowas skilled in syria yesterday but havent said how. It marks the killing of an isis member. Its one more example of the pressure the group is under in both iraq and syria. The u. S. Admits targeting him in an airstrike but its still assessing whether that attack succeeded. Indiana man suspected of plotting a terrorist attack could go free if u. S. Prosecutors are not willing to charge him with a federal crime. Two weeks ago police pulled over 21yearold Christopher Byrne for having a taillight out. They found a rifle in his car scope with a silencer and Water Bottles filled with bleach. Last year ar15 rifles were found in his apartments. Prosecuteorities say theres no reason for him to have any of that stuff. Theres only one conclusion. He was up to no good. Something bad was going to happen. You add it all up and it equals something that we should be troubled by and look into. Right now the state of indiana can only charge byrne with being a habitual traffic offender but asked federal pr the case hoping to charge him with plotting a terror attack. A news photographer in louisiana rescues a pregnant woman from the burning car you see there. The driver lost control and then crashed into the trees near baton rouge yesterday. The 21yearold pregnant woman driving crawled from the drivers seat to the passenger side. That is when the photographer Patrick Perry pulled her out and carried her to the side of the road. Perry says it was like Second Nature because of his career action. Doing it for so long i watched paramedics, i knew to keep her head still, to make sure she had no further injuries. Firefighters put out the fire, that well was rushed to a woman was rushed to a hospital, in stable condition. Her family says the baby is ok. Lets update our action weather forecast. Meteorologist ivan cabrera joins us again with an update on, well still tropical depression number 9. Its still a tropical depression, weve talked about the fact it doesnt really matter because its going to be a big rain event. That is the issue as we talk about the rain. In fact, ive updated the totals here. Ive been talking with dennis and i think were on the same page as far as what is going to transpire with the numbers and weve adjusted up, not down. Because of what already happened this morning. Upwards of five inches across pockets of heavy rain continuing over the same area. That is the issue. Upwards to 2 to 5 inches of rain this morning and more rain is on the way. These are tropical downpours and when we talk about Tropical Storm downpours its a specific thing. Those are the kinds of rainfall rates that could be anywhere from 3 to 5 inches an hour. So a lot of rain in a short amount of time. That gets you in we go further offshore, 450 miles now and that is where we find the center of our tropical depression which is still forecast to become a Tropical Storm. Everything continues to push in. Watch the bands of rain coming in. Another thing, the storm not as well organized but doing better as far as organization than weve had since weve been tracking it from africa here and making landfall through thursday night to the very early hour of friday. Again more on the track in a this is watch the clock through tomorrow morning, that is already falling, from 6 to 8 inches and then we continue to rain heavily throughout the day tomorrow which of course will be the day which not only will be rain but will include wind and well expand expand out so by the time we get to the 11 00 newscast friday, there it is, the total, 12 inches. And there will be isolated 15 inch areas, further east and it will be 3 to 5 inches across interior counties. 6 to 8 and its really right along the coast where we have the biggest threat for flooding and that is where we have the flood watches that continue in effect. Those will go in effect, in fact 2 00 this afternoon through the early part of friday. So why we have a problem. Its not a compact storm like you would get in a hurricane. In and out. No, its a messy broad area of low pressure that is spinning tropical moisture all over the state of florida and we have to one viewer just reporting in clearwater upwards of 4 1 2 inches since yesterday so you get the idea. Very heavy rain. 11 00 shay will bring you more. Hurricane watch still posted and under this Tropical Storm warnings as well which is really what were thinking about, the wind. 40, 50 mileperhour winds where you see the areas shaded in red. There is that hurricane watch here along the immediate coast, just dont think that is going to transpire as far as the winds. So heavy rain, coastal flooding potential tomorrow and plus miles an hour with the tornado threat that will continue through thursday. 7day forecast will feature more of the same as far as heavy rain through friday morning. Then winding things down for the weekend. With more typical pattern setting up afternoon storms. Still ahead the tampa museum of art is determined to put the bay area on the fashion map. Coming up on positively tampa bay see the big named designer coming in for good morning. They start in new york city, move to london, then milan and paris. Were talking about the industrys top designers setting the fashion trends for the Upcoming Season during fashion weeks. The tampa museum of art hosts its version of fashion week sometime between and paris show. On the grounds of the museum. New this year the first of its kind fashion exhibition with a celebrity designer being featured in the runway show. Its a multimedia exhibition and city event to raise funds for the museums Art Education programs year round. Joining us are the cochairs of this event. Henderson everett lee and elise lipincott, thank you for coming. In thank you for having us. Norma kamali coming to the tampa museum of art . Its a big deal. She just won the cfda Lifetime Achievement award, her career has never stopped. Its an honor. What can folks expect when they go to the event . City is an event that is primary around a fashion show. Its a party. Party before. 20 mississippi fashion show with looks that norma has selected for the museum. Especially for this. And then after that its going to be just a fun party and very different than the things they do and are trying to bring fashion and art together. I see that you both are wearing you said youre wearing your norma kamalis. We are. What is the look of norma . Shes relaxed fashion. She will she can be tblam russ but its about comfort. Were encouraging our friends to wear norma to support the event. And take it beyond city into their lives. So great. We will continue the conversation on facebook. We have more pictures to share with viewers at home. If you would like all the information for this wonderful event its at for september 24th with the runway fashion show. Number to call is 8132748130. Another band of very heavy rainfall moving through pinellas into hoib as well. This will be the case throughout the day today. On and off heavy rain. A new track from the National Hurricane center, will be at Pinellas County just announcements announcing they are opening their Citizen Information Center because the 911 center is getting overwhelmed with calls. If you have questions about the storm call 7274644333. The number is on the screen now. It will stay open until 6 00 tonight and reopen tomorrow morning,ality 8 00 if you have an emergency though you should still call 911. Continuing coverage of the top stories now on abcactionnews. Com. Stay with us. Tampa bays Morning Blend is captions by caption colorado, llc 800 7757838 email comments captioncolorado. Com good once morning. Thank us. Im Natalie Taylor joined by my second cohost. Meredyth androtti. Thank you. I am on the freak show and its just what that is, the freak show hanging out with my best friends every morning having