Lifelines. Like a noahs arc scenario. Jimmy this special edition of nightline, Hurricane Irma, monster storm, will be right back. This is a special edition of nightline. Hurricane irma, monster storm. Good evening and we take you straight to florida tonight. Reeling from Hurricane Irma, now more than 6 million customers without power. State Police Setting up roadblocks to stop people from returning home and the storm is not finished. Now spreading destruction to the north. Reporter in the battle of man versus nature, irma is proving shes a force to be reckoned with. These stunning images showing the hurricanes incredible power. Whoa jimmy Storm Chasers pushed back as they try to measure wind speeds. A tourist knocked over by the sea. The devastation it left from one end of florida to the other is just coming to light. And as irma continues its relentless march north in jacksonville a flash flood emergency. Thank you, guys. Jimmy water rescues along the swollen st. Johns river. The citys mayor with this advice to residents who didnt flee. I would remind folks to put a white flag if we need to get you out. Jimmy near orlando Orange County fire and rescue pulling residents and a scared puppy out of a flood zone. This morning in the florida keys where the hurricane first made landfall in the u. S. Our first look at the damage, boats grounded, cars under sand. Homes destroyed. My heart goes out to people in the keys. Theres devastation. A tree down right there. My colleague tried to see the damage for herself. Its 3 45 on the road were trying to get to the florida keys. But like its many residents trying to return home we were stopped by roadblocks. This road into the keys is not going to be open for a long time. No residents are going to be allowed in at the present time and they do not anticipate a time frame of when the residents are going to be allowed in. I want to go home. And theres no right for them to make me leave. And then now not let me go home. They said it could be hours. It could be days, it could be weeks, up to a month. But hours ago, amy was able to survey the damage from the air. So much water. Boats thrown up side down, roofs ripped off and entire mobile homes demolished. Look at the parks in marathon it is a debris field. Some of them are completely destroyed. Downed power lines the beach spilling into the roadway, debris everywhere. It will be months before the community of marathon is up and running. Matt gutman travelled to marco island where the hurricane made its second strike unleashing it fury with wind gusts of 135 miles an hour. 5,000 hunkered down waking up to mangled trees and no power. We have no electric and no water on the island. We are encouraging people if you dont have to come back right now, dont. Rescuers making their first rounds earlier today. What is that . Thats the ceiling. It seems to have shredded the insulation. It got wet. I guess, and they all came apart. Mark bellfor fled for safety. We were dead center. An estimated 13 people in florida without power as utility crews working 24 7 to get the state up and running again. These satellite images showing south florida before and after irma hit. The once brightly lit cities dimmed by Power Outages and storm clouds. Not good. Thats not good. Trees collapsing, power lines snapping. Look at that power pole split into two pieces. There are power lines across the road. We know that police arent taking any chances. They set up a roadblock to make sure no one drives over those lines. Last night was horrible. Jimmy t this family lost power and is relying on a generator to keep the refrigerator running for now. I dont see the power coming on soon. Its nighttime now and it is dark because there is no power. We saw some people hanging out in front of their house and talk to them now. So no power . Dave and margie now without power since yesterday afternoon. They got the tub filled up here because the water in this area of ft. Myers is not workin over the weekend the monster storm roared ashore as a category 4 hurricane spanning 400 miles across. The state drenched with stinging rains and storm surges up to 6 feet in places. Striking cities like naples with wind gusts up to 143 miles an hour. These winds are unbelievable. The trees that are down, the debris that is flying. Look at this. This is just incredible. It feels like you are being blasted with a fire hose. Feeling the brunt of Hurricane Irma right now. It is relentless. Miami battered and soaked. Trees uprooted. Just pulled straight out of the ground here. This is a street, this is not a river but looks like it. Two massive cranes collapsing amid luxury developments. Another in nearby ft. Lauderdale. Now irma is a tropical depression but as it moves to atlanta, much of the deep south remains at risk of flooding. Another threat, tornados. Earlier today, a watch in effect from savannah to charleston. So far, irma has claimed ten lives in the u. S. And 37 in the caribbean and forced more than 6 million fl floridans to evacuate. Although damage to florida wasnt as bad as some feared, irma is a storm for the history books, spending a recordbreaking three days as a category 5 hurricane. With sustained wind speeds up to 185 miles an hour out at sea, making it one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded over open water. Coming on the heels of harvey its the first time two category 4 hurricanes have hit the u. S. In a single season and its still the peak of the hurricane season. The prevailing hope is that Mother Nature will spare the region another shattering blue. When we come back, the tropical islands now in ruins, were with the coast guard on caribbean rescue mission. This this is my body of proof. Proof of less joint pain and clearer skin. This is my body of proof that i can take on Psoriatic Arthritis with humira. Humira works by targeting and helping to block a specific source of inflammation that contributes to both joint and skin symptoms. Its proven to help relieve pain, stop further joint damage, and clear skin in many adults. Humira is the 1 prescribed biologic for Psoriatic Arthritis. Humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. Serious, sometimes fatal infections and cancers, including lymphoma, have happened; as have blood, liver, and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure. Before treatment, get tested for tb. Tell your doctor if youve been to areas where certain fungal infections are common, and if youve had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have flulike symptoms or sores. Dont start humira if you have an infection. Want more proof . Ask your rheumatologist about humira. Whats your body of proof . Not for me, for you. Aveeno® positively radiant 60 second inshower facial. Works with steam to reveal glowing skin in just one minute. Aveeno® naturally beautiful results® the toothpaste that helps prevent bleeding gums. If you spit blood when you brush or floss you may have gum problems and could be on the journey to much worse. Help stop the journey of gum disease. Try parodontax toothpaste. But their nutritional needs vremain instinctual. D, thats why theres purina one true instinct. Nutrientdense, proteinrich, real meat number one. This is a different breed of nutrition. Purina one, true instinct. Take the zantac it challenge pill works fast . Zantac works in as little as 30 minutes. Nexium can take 24 hours. When heartburn strikes, take zantac for faster relief than nexium or your money back. Take the zantac it challenge. Food. Water. Internet. We need it to live. But what we dont need are surprises, like extra monthly fees. I see you, fee, played by legendary actress anjelica huston. You got me, mark. We just want fast internet for one, simple rate. For all the streaming and the shopping and the newsing, but most of all. For the this. Internet for one everyday simple price and no extra monthly fees. Throughout history, the one meal when we come together, break bread, share our day and connect as a family. [ bloop, clicking ] and connect, as a family. Just, uh one second voice guy. [ bloop ] huh . Hey . I paused it. Bam, family time. So how is everyone . Find your awesome with xfinity xfi and change the way you wifi. On its way to florida, Hurricane Irma decimated several caribbean islands, leaving millions without power, water or food. The u. S. Military as well as a major cruise line are swooping in to help. Heres abcs Lindsay Janice. I didnt think i was going to survive. Reporter this is all that is left of the hotel she was staying in at st. Martin. It was her dream birthday vacation. Now what is left will live in her nightmares. It looked like hell. It looked like a war zone. It went from the most beautiful resort ever to chaos. To total destruction. Reporter the once idyllic islands of the northern caribbean took the brunt of Hurricane Irma. Now waste lands of destruction and debris. The category 5 storm killed at least 37 people from barbuda. This is one of the worst days of my life. The entire country has been decimated. Reporter to st. Martin, to the Virgin Islands. Now there are severe shortages of food, water, and medicine. And adding to the chaos, a second hurricane, jose, churning over the same area this weekend. Costing authorities precious time, preventing them from getting to the most ravaged areas. Now the harrowing stories of survival are emerging. Flooding is kind of amazing. The rain and wind is bringing it through the sliding doors. Reporter along with tales of the frightening aftermatds as the rule of law began to break down. It is going to be rough on the way over. Reporter we left with the coast guard on a cutter as they rushed to st. Thomas on the u. S. Virgin islands to bring in needed supplies and evacuate stranded americans to puerto rico. Were coming into st. Thomas and you can see already the evidence of irma because all of this used to be green, but the leaves are no longer on the trees. Many of the trees are down. Many of the structures here, destroyed. We have water. Wee we have dry food, some clothes for kids in need. And we also are dropping off federal agents to help with Law Enforcement and try to reopen the airport and the ports in st. Thomas. Reporter the department of defense says 4600 Service Members are helping with relief efforts in the Virgin Islands and puerto rico. On the island of st. Thomas, the airport, destroyed by wind and rain. Government planes landing anyway. But for everyone else, the only way on and off is by boat. As we made land, all around, utter desolation. Just look what irma did to this church, completely ripped off the front of it. These were the stairs that was the altar. Reporter a couple blocks away, reports of looting. People trying to break into this shipping container and steal whats inside. Reporter its not a total surprise to see people taking supplies, where most have exit existed for days without running water, food or power and as conditions continue to deteriorate. Fema has dispatched three emergency medical teams here where the one hospital was destroyed. Youre stranded here . Until i can get to puerto rico. Ive been told there are cruise ships coming in tomorrow taking people to puerto rico and from puerto rico youre on your own. Reporter while the lucky ones from another devastating island, st. Martin are evacuated by c130s. What did it sound like . Like you are in an airplane engine. Reporter an estimated 5,000 americans were believed to be trapped on st. Aftera aft aftermath of irma. Michelle and Charlie Pratt were on the dutch side of the island also at simpson bay. What was it like . Frightening. We thought we were going to perish together. It blew our doors and windows in. It blew the doors in and the walls were shaking. Reporter they took these videos of the devastation outside. Soon, people began arriving from other hotels. And quickly, things went from bad to worse. Our generator caught on fire. After they put the fire out, the people stole the generator. Then they started stealing food from our fridge. Then they beat up one tourist. Hit him in the eye. The military came in and yelled for us all to get in. There were bank robbers and they ran into our section with their cars. The military were after them with the machine guns. Reporter the pratts and other guests say theyed to go word of evacuations. Waiting in line for hours to make it on to a military plane. 200 others have been evacuated by cruise ship. Adventure of the seas picked up 300 folks in st. Martin. Literally it was like the united nations. Americans, canadians, europeans, people from asia, latin american. Really, from all over the world. And lots of local people from st. Martin. Reporter Royal Caribbean dispatched four vessels to ravaged island, offering shelter an transporting evacuees to safer ground. Over the past few days have four ships that we have dedicated to humanitarian efforts. We are all from south florida and we want to try our best because we have these ships and they are empty for various reasons related to the hurricane. How can we give Something Back and thats what we are trying to do. Reporter further along irmas track, ten people died in hardhit cuba where today some neighborhoods were still under water and without power. [ speaking Foreign Language ]. Reporter cubans waded through the streets of havana, sometimes in waisthigh water. Tomorrows frances president , Emmanuel Macron is expected to travel a st. Martin to survey the damage and offer relief to the french dutch island. Residents are worried about how they will rebuild. [ speaking Foreign Language ] reporter many people left homeless. Some forced to cook their meals on coals in the middle of the street. The Dutch Military transportingg some to another ireland to go to the netherlands, for the residents they are left with little but their grief. Barbuda, flattened, 90 of its buildings decimated. This is the worst i tell you, last night was the worst time in my life. And i would not stay in a hurricane like this again. Reporter tonight, for those like the pratts with homes to return to, a profound sense of gratitude. You must feel lucky you got out. Its a miracle. It really is. Reporter im Lindsay Janice in san juan, puerto rico. When we come back, the ceremonies around the country today honoring the lives lost in the 9 11 attacks, 16 years ago. Endless shrimp is back at red lobster. And we went all out to bring you even more incredible shrimp and new flavors. Like new Nashville Hot shrimp, drizzled with sweet amber honey, and new grilled mediterranean shrimp finished with a savory blend of green onions, tomatoes, and herbs. Feeling hungry yet . Good, cause theres plenty more where these came from. Like garlic shrimp scampi, and other classics you love. As much as you want, however you want them. But hurry, endless shrimp wont be here long. As much as you want, however you want them. Good starts with g. Gloriously great tasting whole grains. Theyre whole every gram glistening with genuine golden honey. Its true real cocoa, Peanut Butter and cinnamon too. [glass breaks] oops sorry just gearing you up for good mornings and good afternoons. [cheers] [laughing] these whole grains will get you going good. Speaking of good. Try new Apple Cinnamon toast crunch. Because everyone likes easy. Sure do. Because everyone is on the go. Because we all like to save energy, but sometimes we slip up. Reaching up. Ssssh because sometimes we want it cool at night, then toasty in the mornings. Introducing the easy to use, energy saving, adjustable from everywhere, easy on the wallet and the eyes, nest thermostat e. E is for everyone. The best things in life theyre free stars belong to everyone they cling there for you and for me flowers in spring the robins that sing the sunbeams that shine theyre yours and their mine love can come to everyone the best things in life theyre free. Until we found a connection. You have the power to change your childs life. The Boys Town National hline can help. tdd 18004481433 finally tonight we mark the 16th anniversary of 9 11. In new york city, firefighters of ladder 10 and engine 10 saluting and remembering those lost that day. They read the names of those victims. My father, kevin james murphy, i love you very much, dad. I know you are looking down on me with a big smile on your face tonight. And my father and my aunt. Both of you left a void in our hearts and lives but we know youre in a better place. We miss you and we love you forever and always. And to my dad, i hope my mom, sisters and i are making your proud. And my brother, Joseph Michael giaconni. His family and friends will never forget, i come here every year for 16 years to make sure i hear his name. There were also ceremonies at the flight 93 National Memorial in shanksville, pennsylvania and at the pentagon where the president and first lady paid their respects. 16 years later and it is as important now as it was then to never forget. We want to thank you for watching abc news tonight. We are online 24 7 and on our Nightline Facebook page. Thank you again for watching and good night