captions paid for by nbc-universal television good evening. tonight, residents of central mississippi are counting their losses and picking up the pieces of their lives after a deadly tornado onslaught unlike anything they've seen in years. officials now believe ten people died in yesterday's storm, which has left hundreds of homes damaged or destroyed and thousands still without power. experts estimate as many as 30 tornadoes were unleashed by a weather system that raked other parts of the southeast as well with damaging thunderstorms into the night. the paths of some of those tornadoes led right through yazoo city, and mills springs, mississippi. nbc's charles hadlock was among the first to report from the scene. he starts us off again tonight from yazoo city. charles? >> reporter: good evening, lester. more help poured into the storm-ravaged region today as tornado victims and their neighbors began the tremendous task of rebuilding their lives. the tornado carved a ribbon of despair across central mississippi, claiming ten lives, including three children. in mills springs, j.w. carter mourns his loss. the grandfather of five says his son and five grandchildren were trapped outside this house. the father clutched all his children, but the tornado's winds ripped two from his grip. >> he said he grabbed the kids and tried to get on top of them and tried to put them all in his arms with, but the wind left them off. >> reporter: in hardest hit yazoo city today, residents salvaged what they could and told stories of survival. >> did not see it coming. had heard the sirens. >> reporter: evelyn had just returned home from the grocery store when she heard the sirens. she hid in a hallway inside her home. >> it was just a lot of noise and debris and you could hear stuff coming off the roof, hear the front glass window breaking. >> reporter: weather experts are just now learning how powerful and frightening the storm really was. >> the parent super cell tracked across three states for 250 miles, from louisiana through all of mississippi into northwest alabama, and it may have produced as many as ten tornadoes. >> reporter: throughout the region, national guard troops are on patrol and utility crews from surrounding states are helping restore power to some 1,500 customers. and the state's governor says the tornado is somehow helping bring people closer. >> i attribute to the enormity and the power of this storm, when you see some of the homes and the buildings, they are absolutely obliterated. it's amazing how something really terrible like this brings out the best in people. >> that's what you do. >> reporter: evelyn corely knows that firsthand. she was surrounded by her own volunteer army of friends and coworkers, who spent their sunday morning helping a neighbor in need. the national weather service just completed a preliminary survey of this tornado. they rate it as a strong ef-3 tornado, with 160-mile-an-hour winds. but what's amazing about this storm is that while the typical tornado is only a couple of hundred yards wide, this one was a mile and a half wide and the storm cell that created it, lester, was on the ground for 250 miles. back to you. >> charles, thanks. there are some stunning accounts of survival on the aftermath of this tornado and some of those who lived through it shared their riveting stories today with nbc's kerry sanders, who is in nearby mills springs, mississippi. kerry, good evening. >> reporter: well, good evening, lester. mighty oaks upended, cars tossed, literally, like toys. the mangled metal of the frame of a mobile home. it's remarkable anybody in the path of these tornados survived. regina weeks -- >> we're -- we're -- we're okay. we're okay. >> reporter: -- still can't believe it. when she saw the tornado through her window, she herded five members of her family into a bathroom. >> we ran with the babies. >> reporter: everyone crouched with pillows over their heads. >> it was the only one that didn't have the ceiling taken. >> this was the dining area. >> reporter: jean oswalt also survived. >> all i heard was a boom, boom, boom! like an explosion. >> reporter: she dove into the new addition on her house, a christmas present from her son. >> a portrait. >> reporter: he's star houston astros pitcher, ray oswalt. today, just like everyone else, helping clean up. you had been in this room right here? >> right here. >> reporter: victor-ann steel was on the phone with her granddaughter. >> i told my granddaughter, this reminds me of hurricane katrina, and when i said "katrina," the back of my house blew up. boom! >> reporter: the last thing she heard was her granddaughter screaming the phone. >> she was just screaming. and after the storm was over, i looked out the back, the hole, and this was totally gone. and i'm thinking, no way she could survive. >> reporter: and how could she. the only remaining piece of the trailer she was in is this metal frame. >> i was swung around and then i saw a tree and i hung on to it. >> reporter: she grabbed to the branches of a falling tree with a grip that held as 160-mile-per-hour winds swirled. >> i didn't know i had so much strength to crush the trailer and tangle up the car. >> reporter: yet, you had the strength to hang on to the tree? >> yeah. >> reporter: at mills springs missionary baptist church, destroyed by the tornado -- ♪ -- parishioners are celebrating her survival. >> it lets us know that god is still in the miracle-working business. the death toll might have been higher had this tornado not touched down in the daytime, but, rather, normally when tornadoes make their way to mississippi, it's at night. in the daytime, people were listening to radios, listening to televisions, and aware of threat. how strong were those winds? to give you a visual example, that's the tree limb, and you'll notice there's no bark on it. it literally ripped the bark right off and that's the case on a lot of trees that are downed here. very powerful. lester? >> remarkable so many survived. kerry sanders tonight, thank you. president obama was in west virginia today, carrying out one of the toughest duties any president has, serving as comforter in chief for the grieving. in this case, the loved ones of those 29 coal miners lost in a mining disaster just three weeks ago. nbc's mike viqueira reports tonight from beckley, west virginia. >> nothing i or the vice president or the governor, none of the speakers here today, nothing we say can fill the hole they leave in your hearts. or the absence that they leave in your lives. >> reporter: it's been three weeks since the worst mine disaster in 40 years. 29 west virginia miners lost at the upper big branch. today, after the catastrophe and the controversy, a time to mourn. >> these miners lived as they died, in pursuit of the american dream. >> reporter: friends, family, and fellow miners gathered in beckley, the heart of coal country, where they heard president obama pledge the lives lost at the mine would not be in vain. >> our task here on earth is to save lives from being lost in another such tragedy. to do what we must do individually and collectively to assure safe conditions underground. >> reporter: though mr. obama is not popular here, politics were put aside in the wake of the tragedy. >> and i know it's difficult in every way for a president to come here, you know, so -- but we are very appreciative. >> it's a sad day, but one that's important to pay tribute to these people. >> reporter: before he spoke, the president met privately with each of the victims' families. >> gary wayne quarles. >> reporter: then, together with the vice president, looked on as each was led to the cross that bears the name of their fallen loved one. >> god bless our miners, god bless their families. god bless west virginia. and god bless the united states of america. >> reporter: and, lester, it was clearly a day of mourning and remembrance here in west virginia, but there are ongoing investigations into what caused that explosion at the upper big branch mine. and today we learned that there is still so much deadly methane gas filled in that mine that investigators won't be able to get into it for at least another month to find out exactly what happened. lester? >> mike viqueira in beckley for us tonight, thank you. president obama was taking some time off in north carolina this weekend, and before he left for west virginia, he paid a visit to evangelist billy graham at his home in north carolina. now 91, graham has met ever president since truman. today, president obama became the first to visit graham at his home. from west virginia, the president heads back to washington where he's got a fight on his hands this week ov over financial reform. john harwood joins us tonight from the white house. republicans say they're going to try to block a reform measure. is there a chance, though, of salvaging a bipartisan deal? >> reporter: there will be a deal at the end. they're close, as richard shelby told david gregory on "meet the press" this morning, but it's probably not going to occur tomorrow and democrats don't mind that at all. democrats are enjoying this fight, they think they're winning it, they're not easy to close the deal with concessions and if the headlines on tuesday morning say that republicans block consideration of wall street reform, that's not a problem from the standpoint of the democratic leaders. >> republicans said they were hung up on this $50 billion resolution fund. it's something the banks would pay in themselves to cover the cost of closing a failed institution, but they see it, though, as a de facto bailout, don't they? >> reporter: they do. and they have an argument on narrow grounds. the republicans and the treasury department in the past have viewed the advance funding of that money for winding down firms as potentially making people think there's a cushion and perhaps taking more risks. there's also questions about how much discretion regulators should have. but, clearly, the thrust of this provision is to wind down, shut down failing firms rather than bail them out permanently, as republican leaders have charged. so that broader argument is pretty weak, lester. >>ion harwood at the white house tonight, thank you. there's still a developing story we're following tonight in the gulf of mexico, where last week's deadly oil rig blowout triggered an oil leak that remains unchecked tonight and it's raising fears of an environmental disaster in the making. nbc's chief environmental affairs correspondent, anne thompson has more. >> reporter: the oil spill now covers 600 square miles of the gulf of mexico, and 97% of it is a very thin sheen. fueling this spill, a leak near the wellhead, a mile below the surface. >> the rate we're seeing today is considerably lower, considerably lower than what was occurring when you saw the rig on fire. >> reporter: to stop the leak, authorities are simultaneously working on two strategies. first, deploying remote-controlled submersibles to the gulf floor to activate the blowout preventer, essentiallily, an emergency brake to stop the oil flow. the oil is leaking at a rate of 42,000 gallons a day. monday, a rig will arrive to drill a relief well. that would seal the original well. however, the process could take weeks if not months to complete. meanwhile, the concern now turns to what could happen if the oil reaches shore. officials say it is at least three days from hitting the coast. >> i worry that if -- >> reporter: joann white teaches environmental science at tulane university. >> the critical factor is, can they keep it from getting on shore? can they keep it out of those wetlands, off those beaches? >> reporter: the wetlands are crucial to the gulf coast environment and economy, providing breeding grounds for fish, birds, and shrimp. >> the impact of offshore drilling affects more than just the marine environment. it put coastal communities, beaches, industry such as commercial and recreational fishing at risk. >> reporter: retired navy admiral denny mcguinn says the disaster is a wake-up call that the united states cannot drill its way to energy security. >> we use 25% of the oil produced every year. we control about 3% of the known resources. that just isn't sustainable. >> reporter: but today, offshore drilling is still a way of life on the gulf coast, and now the race is on to contain disaster. anne thompson, nbc news, robert, louisiana. when "nightly news" continues this sunday, why would so many people walk right by a man in desperate need of help? the good samaritan who paid a terrible price on the streets of new york and it's all caught on tape. and mother nature still reminding us who's boss tonight in iceland. at my family barbeque. join the fun (announcer) for people with copd, including chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both, great news. advair helps significantly improve lung function. while nothing can reverse copd, advair is different from most other medications because it contains both an anti-inflammatory and a long-acting bronchodilator, working together to help you breathe better. advair won't replace fast-acting inhalers for sudden symptoms and should not be used more than twice a day. people with copd taking advair may have a higher chance of pneumonia. advair may increase your risk of osteoporosis and some eye problems. tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking advair. i'm glad you came, grandma. oh, me too. if copd is still making it hard to breathe, ask your doctor if including advair will help improve your lung function for better breathing. 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[ female announcer ] ask your doctor about the exelon patch. visit exelonpatch.com to learn more. it's like a nightmare come true and it played out on the streets of new york city. a man left bleeding on the sidewalk as dozens of people simply walk right by. not offering help. nbc's jeff rossen has this disturbing story and a warning -- some of what you are about to see you may find hard to watch. >> reporter: the surveillance tape is chilling. just off-camera, this woman is mugged. that's when police say a good samaritan jumped in to help. the mugger stabbed him and ran away. the injured samaritan chases him before collapsing on the sidewalk. over the next hour and 20 minutes, more than 25 people pass by and did nothing. in one case, a man took a picture on his cell phone camera. another lifted his body and walked off. leaving him for dead. by the time emergency workers arrived, it was too late. when you saw that video, what went through your mind? >> i thought it was sad. i said, we shouldn't be cruel to each other. at the minimum, someone should have called 911. >> anybody that would do that, just leave him there to die, that's -- no morals, you know? no morals, no conscience. >> reporter: and it's happened before. in hartford, connecticut, a 78-year-old man was hit by a car on this busy road. at least nine drivers and countless pedestrians passed him by. he later died. in brooklyn, new york, a patient in a psych ward collapsed facedown, unconscious in the waiting room. hospital staff and other patients ignored her for nearly an hour. she also died. and in seattle earlier this year, it was security guards who stood by as this girl was beaten by a group of teenagers. psychologists say there's an explanation for this. something called the bystander effect. believe it or not, the more people around, the less likely it is for someone to help you. >> there's an assumption that someone else must be helping out. we're motivated to try to fit into our social environment. we're influenced by others. we want to do what others do. our behavior will follow. >> reporter: he says we're hard-wired to look away. from the notorious case of kitty enginevy in 1964, stabbed to death in new york as neighbors ignored her screams, to this latest case more than 40 years later, where a man may have been saved if not for the indifference of his neighbors. jeff rossen, nbc news, new york. when we come back, too much of a good thing for too many of us. and what may be done about it. transitions adapt to changing light so you see your whole day comfortably and conveniently while protecting your eyes from the sun. ask your eyecare professional which transitions lenses are right for you. woman: discover the protection, comfort and convenience of transitions lenses for the entire family at transitions.com/samsclub or visit a sam's club optical today. an everyday moment can turn romantic at a moment's notice. and when it does, men with erectile dysfunction can be more confident in their ability to be ready with cialis for daily use. cialis for daily use is a clinically proven, low-dose tablet you take every day, so you can be ready anytime the moment's right for you and your partner. tell your doctor about your medical condition and all medications and ask if you're healthy enough for sexual activity. don't take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain, as this may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. don't drink alcohol in excess with cialis. side effects may include headache, upset stomach, delayed back ache or muscle ache. to avoid long-term injury, seek immediate medical help for an erection lasting more than 4 hours. if you have any sudden decrease or loss in hearing or vision, stop taking cialis and call your doctor right away. ask your doctor if cialis for daily use is right for you. for a 30-tablet free trial offer, go to cialis.com. yo, kev, tell them about trunatural. well, it's our 100% organic fertilizer that grows healthy, green grass...naturally. trunatural's going gang busters! green families love it. hey man. families with dogs love it... know who else loves trunatural? bobby. second quarter's gonna be a monster. 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[ male announcer ] trugreen. go greener. most americans, nine out of every ten, consume too much salt and face the health risks that go along with that. the problem is, most of it is hidden salt, added to food before it ever reaches your plate. but now there's a move to cut back. nbc's tom costello reports. >> reporter: in the battle against high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes, health experts say too much salt has emerged as a clear villain. >> salt is a very serious problem in our food supply. it is a major cause of disease in this country. >> reporter: now for the first time, the fda is considering ways to cut salt consumption by working with food manufacturers to set new lower salt standards. dietary guidelines generally call for limiting salt to 2,300 milligrams a day, a little more than one teaspoon of salt. but americans regularly consume 50% more, even double that every day. registered dietitian colleen gurg says salt or sodium seems to be in every can, jar, bottle, and box in the grocery store. >> if you were to eat this one whole can of soup, you'd be consuming 2,300 milligrams of sodium. exactly the amount that you should get in an entire day. >> just in one can of soup? >> right. >> reporter: the cdc reports that only 5% of the salt we consume comes from home cooking. 6% comes from the salt we add while eating. most of the salt or sodium we eat comes from packaged, processed, store-bought, and restaurant food. that morning bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit on the way to work can have up to 1,360 milligrams of salt. a portion of cheese pizza, anywhere from 400 to 800 milligrams. french fries, 270 to 960 milligrams, depending on the restaurant. and that cheeseburger. 750 to 970 milligrams of salt. new york city has already launched an anti-salt crusade, pushing food manufacturers and restaurants to cut salt levels by 25% over the next five years. now the fda is looking at gradually cutting salt levels over the coming decade. the hope is that by cutting down on the sodium content over the next ten years, americans won't notice any difference in taste. >> we have conditioned our palates to want as much sodium in our food, and you can decondition your palate in the same way by eating a lot less processed food and eating fresh, whole foods. >> reporter: a new emphasis on salt awareness and healthy eating. tom costello, nbc news, washington. it will be ten years this november since the 2000 presidential election put george w. bush in the white house. and today it was announced that november 9th we'll see the release of the book he's been working on since leaving office. it's called "decision points," a book by former first lady laura bush is due out may 4th. up next, the latest from iceland, still not living up to its name. no matter what life throws at you, you can take the heat. until it turns into... heartburn. good thing you've got what it takes to beat that heat, too. zantac. it's strong, just one pill can knock out the burn. it's fast, the speed you need for heartburn relief. and it lasts, up to 12 hours. so let them turn up the heat. you can stop that heartburn cold: (sssssssss!!!) zantac. . you can te . gecko: yeah right, that makes sense. boss: trust is key when talking about geico. you gotta feel it. why don't you and i practice that with a little exercise where i fall backwards and you catch me. gecko: uh no sir, honestly... uh...i don't think...uh... . bos vo: geico. fifteen minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance. let's go to last night's highlights. there's mom and dad cleaning up. and there's the meatloaf. yuck. look what sometimes happens with the ordinary bag. it slips, oh, bingo, it falls in. mom was mad. mom should have used glad forceflex with the new stretchable drawstring that grips the can and stays in place. plus, it has the stretchable strength of forceflex. that's all today for glad tv. both: don't get mad-- get glad! that's all today for glad tv. everything is better with swanson broth in it. made with garden vegetables and sun-drenched herbs. the secret is swanson, 100% natural chicken broth. finally tonight, iceland has taken center stage lately, not because of what my person did there, but because of what the earth itself has done. the volcano, you know, snarled air traffic and put the spotlight squarely on those in charge of keeping watch on the iceland. chris jansing reports from iceland. >> reporter: the icelandic winds are blowing hard, but scientists from new mexico are braving the elements, closing measuring lightning strikes inside the volcano. >> our instruments could say, oh, it's erupting and there's lots of lightning, even though you couldn't see it because the radio waves would go right through the clouds. >> reporter: suddenly, people who study volcanos are getting noticed. no longer just a bunch of science nerds with obscure projects, they're highly trained experts whose information could be worth billions of dollars. and here's why. the shortest international routes in the northern hemisphere take planes near iceland. in 2009, 100,000 flights. the two busiest routes, london to los angeles and london to san francisco can have a serious domino effect if they're canceled or delayed. it's a potential aviation nightmare, even without the kind of huge drifting ash cloud that crippled flights over europe last week. and difficult as it may be to believe by lookinged a it, this was a relatively weak eruption, that keeps causing problems even as it continues to lose strength. even though it's only putting out 10% as much ash as it was a week ago, that's still millions of pounds per second. some of this is from today, some of it landed earlier in the week which is being whipped up by high winds. that's been enough to paralyze flights to and from iceland. experts are getting better at predicting when volcanos will erupt. right now, they're keeping an especially close eye on the much bigger katla. so far, indications are good. >> there are lots of measurements, lots of instruments on that volcano, and there's absolutely no sign of it activating so far. >> reporter: but even with the most extensive testing, predicting when what a volcano will do after it erupts remains an inexact science. >> this is nature. we can't control it and we can only guess about what might be ahead of us. >> reporter: an educated guess with a lot at stake. chris jansing, nbc news, iceland. that's "nbc nightly news" for this sunday.