the south bay. >> officials are going to give us an update in a few minutes from pg&e. and when they start, we will go there. first,e wil show you what sky 7 is showing thus morning. this is the police making the traffic stops in the area, and in montclair, because people are going through the intersections and the lights are not working and so it has been tough for the people, i ges in the dark to see, but now that it is sunlight, the officers are making sure that people are respecting the four-way stops and making sure that people are safe. >> because of this, oakland has deployed additional officers. we saw this yesterday morning in the north bay when people either were not prepared to stop, not paying attention or they just i don't know what they were doing. they just weren't being safe. so we all need to be careful this morning since many more of our communities don't have power and a lot of you are just about to get out of the door. so, make sure that you are slowing down and the light up there is not going to be doing anything. >> so we are talking about the power outages leading to issues including the traffic lights out, and also, we are under a red flag warning in so many counties in the bay area, and mike has been tracking that for us and the wind conditions, mike. >> yes, the winds 72 on mount diablo, and the hurricane threshold. in mount hamilton, a 53, and the threshold is 58 miles per hour. and knoxville, and look at the oakland hills with tamalpias is also very high. so we will peak tonight, and continue through the morning commute. they will pull back a little bit, but the critical fire deng e e and the critical conditions from the north bay to the east bay to the diablo range, and thankfully the window for the santa cruz mountains and people traveling there is narrower, and you will have five more hours of the critical conditions. this is the noon advisory and it is going to tape ear little bit, because the criteria is going to be a little slower, and so winds are reaching 35 to 55 miles per hour again. so this is north bay mountains and the east bay hills and the diablo hills, and the winds won't be as fast in the valleys, but the problem is if a fire ignites on the hills with these winds it could push the embers into the valleys and start a new fire, and this is why the east bay valleys that are not that windy are still under the red flag warning. so the current conditions, 22 in the oakland hills to 72 on mount diablo and that is ridiculously fast. you can see the humidity levels in the 10 to 15% range. in the forecast, you can see stepping out 70s by noon and staying there at the coast and looking at everybody else with the breezes and in the 70s. sue? >> the metering lights were on at 5:20 this morning, but it is getting lighter, and there is the mcarthur maze, and from hercules through the toll plaza to be about 43 minutes and put it in the yellow. back to san francisco where we have an accident of one car blocking the left lane and 280 before 101 and you are stacking up at 280 and at least for now, 101 is looking better, and we will check back in, in a couple of minutes. >> thank you, sue. we are also looking at the fire that broke out in moraga and it was a scary situation for people living on several streets there. >> yes, the video of the flames starting at 1:00 this morning and got all of the way up into people's backyards, but the great thing is that the firemen were there to stop the flames. and that red flag warning that mike has been talking about all morning with the widespread outages has people on edge. >> and we will be checking into an -- sorry? okay, we are going to the evacuation cenr where some people were forced to spend their morning. >> hello, reggie and kumasi. if you have been following the coverage, you would have seen that the room was packed with people around 5:30 this morning and that is when they got the news that the people in sanders ranch could go home, but unfortunately, we have some lovely people sitting behind m here who have not been able to get back. they live on merrill circle, and that is where people are still under an evacuation order and i wanted to take you to video from earlier this morning and the crews have the fire under control. the moraga fire chief says it is a close call. dozens of homes were threatened and the fences were burned and no injuries or serious damage, which is very good news there. i have talked with so many residents this morning and a lot of people awakened in the middle of the night. some got an alert, and some didn't. some had knocks on the doors from firefighters and police officers and neighbors. this is what the experience was like. >> reporter: what happened when you left your house this morning? >> somebody was pounding on the door and asked us to leave. and so they said that you have time, so we pack everything that we think important. >> and so none of the homes here have power and the streetlights are out, and we are working hard with the head lamps and the fire engine lights to continue to put water on this fire. >> it is kind of nervous, because even though sanders ranch is pretty far away, we have had fires a few times before and people have kind of been freaking out about them, but i was calm, because we are pretty far away from it, and we are well prepared. >> we do not have an update as to when people will return back home on merrill circle. and we are hoping that is soon for these residents. the cause of the fire is still under investigation at this time. and the fire chief did tell m that because the power was out, that really just had nothing to do as far as the impact that they had on them fighting the fire, because they already had extra firefighters on hand because of that. and the power is also out here at the evacuation center at saint monica church and has been out since late last night. reporting live for abc7 news. thank you, jobina. we are happy that everybody is safe. and reporter amy hollyfield is live in lafayette where it is dark. >> yes. no lights here in lafayette. people have stopped by the gas station hoping to get some gas and then realized, oh, yes, the power is out, and the gas pumps are not working. all businesses are closed around here. we have also seen people wanting coffee. nothing happening here. but the driving conditions are better now that the sun is coming up, and it was so dark earlier, and we felt bad for the people working the fire, and the people trying to escape from it. so those evacuees not only were they waking up to fire, but they were dealing without having power in their homes. the firefighters say they were wearing head lamps, and the residents say that the power outage added a extra challenge to the evacuation. >> the emergency operation center and i wanted to thank the media for being here and the community members for watching. today, we will have the city leaders discuss the pg&e blackout that occurred shortly before midnight last night. mayor sam liccardo, and the city manager dave sykes and cmo director lee wilcox and director of emergency management ray reardon and we have spanish and vietnamese speakers here to take questions afterwards. for up to date information on te pg&e blackout, follow the city of san jose on twitter on @city of san jose. and you can follow us on facebook and next door or visit us online at san joseca.gov. more information is available on the pg&e twitter accoun account @pge4me. and also at the santa clara offices of emergency services at sec underscore >> last night we were affected by the pg&e shutoffs -- do you want that higher? okay. goose neck. fabulous. last night we were affected by the pg&e shutdowns in three neighborhoods alum rock and east san jose and the evergreen greee neighborhoods and in the san jose area. up to 70,000 counts affecting about 60,000 know that these shutoffs will continue until pg&e gives the order to restore power, and our city staff has responded an implemented the power vulnerability plan, and something that we have worked on for several months anticipating the shutoffs. our emergency operation center has been working with the residents with additional information as it becomes available. i was there before midnight, and the first power shutdown was related to us by the wife of one of our city employees who lived in the area. so we are certainly getting real tooi time information. and the city and police are operating as normal, but do not dial 911 for information. infor 911 is for emergencies only. we have hard working police and fire out there working to address the emergencies. if you live in an affected area, please do not drive at night. stay home as much as possible in the power shutoff. the streetlights will be off as much as traffic signals and out at the intersections is four-way stops, and the parties must stop at the line. pg&e employees are going to be in our communities inspecting and repairing powerlines. and we encourage the residents to be respectful and compassionate toward them, because they are working hard to get the power up, and we are working collaborately with them to do all we can to get the power restored. we know that certainly, there is a great temptationings for the money morning quarterbacking in this situation. we are laser focused however on doing all we can to support our residents who are impacted by these shutdowns and doing all we can to support pg&e and their efforts to get the power back up. now, we are going to push all of the way to the top of pg&e to ensure that we can get power restored as quickly as possible. it is now my great pleasure to introduce is the city manager dave sykes. >> good morning, everyone. i wanted to emphasize a few things as the mayor mentioned that we are in full implementation of the city's power vulnerability plan. we actually have in field to confirm which areas are affected, and it important to let all of the community know and that is residences and businesses to be a aware that it could last a while. so the process to turn the power back on on could take a while, and we are here to support pg&e in that work. i think that in terms of the plan that we have executed, we believe that it has been effective. we are looking for communication, better communication i would say and better execution from some of our partners. i will emphasize that the city's web page is a great source for information for the public, and there is some issues with the pg&e website. i am now going to introduce lee wilcox. lee wilcox has been our director of the eeoc for the 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. shift, and lee going to be giving you the operational update. >> thank you, dave. as dave mentioned, we have crews and city personnel out in the field right now assessing a fluid situation. i'd encourage all of the media outlets and the residents to continue to look at the city's web page and twitter and social feeds and facebook for other up to date information. at approximately 10:40 last night, the pg&e shutoffs started in alum rock and then following. and i wanted to talk about the intersections and thoroughfares that have lost power for the residents embarking on commute. this is tully road, quinnby avenue, aborn road, san felipe road, mckee, almadin expressway, and so if you are driving to or away from the affected areas, please be aware of the dangerous conditions for the commute. and as the mayor said, please treat all intersectionings as stop signs and coming to a full stop. in addition, the city will continue to run the city resource centers starting at 8:00 a.m., and to 8:00 p.m. tonight. the community centers will be providing the charging stations for electronics, and water and light snacks and open for the duration of the event until all power is restored, and again, these are not centers for medical care or emergencies and continue to dial911 for emergencies. spanish and vietnamese translation is all available for residents at these locations. lastly, these locations are camden community center, mayfare community center, south side community center, and pg&e will continue to operate their own community resource center at yant svie vant stadium. and with that, we will answer any questions you may have. >> and when did you proclaim a emergency? >> we did proclaim an emergency to go through the proper channels with the county and the state. i would refer that it is posted on the social media and the city's website. >> can you give us a number -- >> as far as the number, the number is about 20,000 accounts throughout the city that have been affected. >> and how many total? >> different agencies are using an algorithm, and at this point, we are going to announce with the 3,000 count number though. >> and the mayor said 50,000 people -- >> it would be helpful if you share the differences between the projected and the actual. >> so it is what we were talking about yesterday is projections. we can say verifiably now that we are close to 20,000 accounts. what that means is whether it is apartments or houses, and the amount of people, we don't know yet, and we will have that information later today hopefully. >> are you expecting anymore areas to be affect ed -- >> so we have heard from pg&e that the outages that have happened thus far are the only outages they are expecting in the weather event to dissipate this morning. so we have been told that there are no further outages. >> can you describe the -- >> i think that it is important to emphasize that we want pg&e to view us as a partner. i know they have had a lot going on. i think at times the communication has been helpful, and at times the communication needs some improvement i would say. certainly, the mayor has emphasized that right now we are all focused on working through the event and getting the power turned back on. what is common in all types of emergency events is to do an after action report, and that is the time to examine where improvements can be, and i will tell you that in every event, there is always room for improvement, and i would say that in one area that we have seen early improvement is in communication. >> is there a step by step process of -- [ inaudible ]. >> so that we are in the middle of the plan now, but the plan started well before into the preplanning work in the summer and when we were notified by pg&e all of the preparation work and the outreach that the city has done to the vulnerable community and the general community in affected areas, and so that has been work that has been taking place. what is happening now, given the what has happened overnight is that in moving into restoration, recovery with the community, and so that the resource centers will stay open until all power is restored, and we will be working with pg&e on the restorations, and specifically in those areas around the transportation corridors and the communities out now. >> and have you mentioned that there are people on the ground, and are they surveying or what is their action? >> right now, they are surveying the area and as we said it is a fluid situation, and so even at the maps that we have been using, it is accurate, but we are trying to get an accurate account. >> when is the last time that you saw something like this? >> i haven't. >> i have one last question, for any community who need ts to be- >> the message is that the power is coming back on and we are working with our partners to do so and take advantage of the resource centers and your neighbors and family and friends, and this is something that we should be able to get through as community. >> and also just convey that regardless of pg&e's decisions, the staff is here to support the community, and we will continue do evything that we can to respond to those impacted by the shutdowns and impact pg&e to restore the power as quickly as possible to the affected areas. certainly, there is a lot of conversation to be had when this power is restored. certainly my position has not changed since i wrote an op-ed in july and testified in front of the state legislature a month later urging a change in the process and procedures that precede a power shutdown. i expect that conversation will become much more robust now that we have had real experience, and experience that is frankly confirming the concerns that we in the city of san jose have long had. >> and as far as the process in responding to the outages -- >> i think so, yes. any questions? okay. thank you, all. >> thank you. thank you. that is real interesting what mayor sam liccardo said at the end regarding have seen it the cities and the municipalities not having a say. and there are many around the state who believed that the city should be able to have some sort of authority to influence whether or not the power was going to turn off in their city, and of course, they don't have any influence right now. it is entirely pg&e's protocol. >> and he is saying that the conversation that he has already had this conversation, and now that they have had actual experience of what it looks like, this conversation is going to continue, and it is going to be interesting to see now that we have had practical experience of what the shutdown is going to be. >> they were being diplomatic this morning, but reading between the lines of the mayor and other city officials and the city manager, it sounded like they were saying, well, there has been some communication issues between what pg&e is saying and doing and what the leaders of cities and counties actually know to be true. so we will see how this all goes after we are done with this particular emergency. >> for sure. >> we will go over the drew right now, because drew has been looking at the emergency, and we have also been able to see that the maps are improved this morning. >> yes. that is huge. two important things. first of all, pg&e mentioned that if you do have power right now, you are likely going to keep your power. it should stay that way, and the second thing is that they do not have a definitive time that your power is going to come back on if you have lost power because of this power outage situation. they said that this morning they have to go out and inspect the lines which is several miles before they can give the all clear and then begin the process of turning people's power back on. so, pg&e has up another website, and i know that yesterday a lot of us were having a huge issue just getting on this website to check the status of the power, but we have checked multiple times this morning, and it is working. however, you kind of know if your power is out. are waking u will know. but if you want to check on a friend or loved one, you can check the exact address. so searching on an address, you will put in the address and you will find the exact address or type in a city. all morning long we have been watching moraga and that fire there is under control, and still, moraga is one of the thousands of areas that is under the public safety power shutoff due to gusty winds and the dry conditions and the heightened fire risk. so the map that is orange, and we will enlarge it for you. everywhere shaded in orange has lost power and we have reiterated that is 350,000 customers. and that is meaning a meter, a meter attached to a private home or apartment complex or business. so t number of people affected by this is going to be much higher. pg&e has this snap, and it is colorful, and you will see that there is a lot of purple on the screen. what purple means is that you have had your power shutoff. you can actually zoom in very close in this map and then you can look in certain areas, and we just saw much of san jose talking about how their power has been out, and you can click on the different icons and show the polygons, and this is west of cupertino, and 400,000 people are affected there. so if you want to look around where you live and other people live, you have the links on the website, and you have to go to abc7news.com. and if you have power, pg&e says that you likely won't lose power, and if you are wondering when it is going to come on, pg&e does not have a definetive time of when it is coming on. and mike has more. >> and if you are just joining us, we are looking at the wind and the higher it is going i diablo, and at atlas peak, a little bit higher and then knoxville creek higher than that. so the winds are at the peak push of extreme speeds this morning, and that is going to continue in the next couple of hours, and combine it with looking at the humidity out there, and it is bone dry from 13% in atlas peak to 29% in spring valley which is in that red flag warning. so you can see the humidity is down at the lower levels, and also, very dry, and anywhere from the teens and the 20s and the 30s and the winds in the valley have been very good where we have had gusts up to 30 miles an hour all night. and some of the valleys, you are in the red flag warning and some of you are in it, because of the wind that could, if a fire starts at a higher elevation, you could pick up the embers and throw them into your neighborhood. and talk about the fire index and it is going to take into account the heat, and the lack of humidity and the speed of the winds, and you can see here, the timetable, and here's our legend and we want to be in the green and the blue, and we don't want to be in yellow, blue, orange or red, so you can see as we head through the 7:00 hour, the red is pegging around solano county, and napa and extending up to lake and also sonoma counties, but in east bay, it is high until noon, and then you are pretty much out of the fire danger index threshold. you are down to the moderate and the low, and we will turn all of the attention to north bay where we are still seeing the red out there, and the highest level, and that is because the winds are going to be fastest in the north bay, and the air is going to be the driest. but by 5:00, when the red flag warning ends, you can see the high fire danger, because the air is so dry. it is not overly hot with the temperatures in the mid- to upper 70s and few 80s in the inland neighborhoods and 76 in san francisco where the winds have kept the temperatures this morning in the low to mid-60s and so over the next few hours the winds will increase a little bit and settle down, but they will still be above the levels needed for the critical fire conditions until at least 5:00. >> thank you so much, mike. so this is the day that we have been worried about and as mike just said by the end of the day, we should be in the clear when it comes to the winds. so we are hoping that the power is going to be coming on soon. >> we can give you all of the updates on the outages at abc7news.com, and we will back here for ♪ the hills are alive with the sound of music ♪ welcome back to "gma" and just then our cameraman was just dancing around with the camera. i wish he would do it again. that is julie andrews on that iconic scene from the "sound of music," the legendary actress sat down exclusively with our diane sawyer looking back at her life, and that's coming up in our next hour. >> come on, show me your moves. that's it. that's what you were doing. >> there you go. well done. >> he has many talents. >> many talents. got a little side hustle going on there. we have much more on that ahead with julie andrews and diane sawyer, but first, the top headlines we're following right now. darkness sweeping over northern california. hundreds of thousands still without power. could last for days as those fierce winds kick up wildfire fears. also right now, the war in syria after the decision by the president to pull u.s. troops out, turkey has launched an attack on our kurdish allies there, of course, affecting the ongoing battle against isis. and the latest in the impeachment showdown. tomorrow, the house expected to hear from the ambassador of ukraine, which the president had fired, and fiona hill set to appear monday. the big question is, will they appear overruling the wishes of the white house. we'll have more on that coming up. but right now, the latest on the rape allegation against matt lauer. former "today" host fired off a blistering letter categorically denying the accusation from a former nbc staffer who went on the record in the new book from ronan farrow, "catch and kill." linsey davis is here with the story. good morning, linsey. >> reporter: good morning to you, george. lauer claims the alleged assault was actually a consensual extramarital affair. it's been nearly two years since he was fired, and now he says, my silence has been a mistake. lauer writes, after not speaking out to protect my children, it is now with their full support i say enough. as for the alleged victim she's now countering with her own comments. this morning, former nbc employee brooke nevils firing back at matt lauer, the former anchor of the "today" show, after excerpts of ronan farrow's book "catch and kill" was leaked to "variety." detailing her allegations. lauer, who was fired in 2017 for inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace, sent a 1,400-word letter defending himself against the allegations, describing his relationship with nevils as an extramarital affair that began in sochi with a completely consensual sexual encounter writing, there was absolutely nothing aggressive about the encounter. she was a fully enthusiastic and willing partner. at no time did she behave in any way that made it appear she was incapable of consent. she embraced me at the door as she left. she says it was a case study in victim blaming. i am not afraid of him now regardless of his threats, shaming and the predatory tactics i knew he would and now has used against me. she tweeted, i want to thank the many survivors who shared their stories with me today, and offered their support. it takes courage, and i am truly grateful. in "variety's" excerpts, nevils describes a nonconsensual encounter with lauer in his hotel room during the 2014 olympics in sochi while working with co-anchor meredith vieira. after a night of drinking at the bar, she claims lauer pushed her onto the bed flipping her over and forced her to engage in a particular sex act despite her multiple refusals. according to "variety," nevils says the interaction was nonconsensual in the sense that i was too drunk to consent, and i said multiple times that i didn't want to. according to "variety," farrow reports that nevils acknowledges she had further sexual encounters with lauer once she returned home and nevils said it was completely transactional. it was not a relationship. in his statement, lauer writes that he ended what he calls for affair when he simply stopped communicating with her, but says she tried to rekindle it. lauer says, i was never told she claimed our encounter in sochi was nonconsensual. had i been, i would have defended myself immediately. according to "variety," nevils told colleagues and superiors at nbc about the situation but didn't go to nbc human resources until distraught vieira encouraged her to do so in 2017. within 24 hours of that complaint, lauer was fired. at the time nbc chair andy lack described lauer's conduct as sexual misconduct. now, in a letter to nbc news staff, lack defended the network's response saying, the first moment we learned of it was the night of november 27, 2017 and he was fired in 24 hours. any suggestion that we knew prior to that evening or tried to cover up any aspect of lauer's conduct is absolutely false and offensive. lauer's former "today" co-host ann curry has tweeted in support of nevils calling her a credible young woman of good character. she added, quote, i believe she is telling the truth and that breaks my heart. >> boy, what a story. thank you, linsey, very much. and tomorrow we'll have the author, ronan farrow of "catch and kill," his first broadcast interview tomorrow right here on "gma." all right, george, now to what some passengers are calling a nightmare cruise after stops were canceled over what the cruise line is calling severe weather conditions and passengers were denied full refunds, which got people angry. gio benitez is here with more. good morning, gio. >> reporter: hey, michael, good morning. yeah, they got very angry and it wacapts all ed on camera. we're talking about what was supposed to be a luxurious 14-day cruise, but instead these passengers say it was just a total nightmare. this morning, dramatic images from what the passengers called a cruise from hell. [ crowd chanting ] >> reporter: norwegian cruise line facing the fury of hundreds of passengers when they say the "norwegian spirit" didn't dock at two of its scheduled stops in amsterdam and iceland. passengers also complaining of sewage backing up, and toilets not flushing. tension rising as passengers sought answers from crew members. >> the captain or someone who can dictate and make rules because you can't. you're not doing anything. we need someone that can do something. >> reporter: passengers who paid as much as $6,000 to tour the mystical fjords now protesting on the ship. [ crowd chanting ] one sign reading, we want refund. another, shame on you. but this morning, norwegian refusing to give a full refund instead offering 25% off a future cruise. norwegian saying in a statement, unfortunately, norwegian spirit's itinerary was impacted by severe weather conditions. we are very sorry for any inconvenience and disappointment our guests experienced. severe weather conditions are an act of god and cannot be controlled, influenced or remediated by the cruise line. the ship did end up replacing some ports of call but some passengers say that's not enough. one woman tweeting, the ship didn't go to iceland or amsterdam. where else can you pay full price and get 40%? you can see right there many of these passengers just aren't satisfied with the cruise line's position. they still want their money back. guys, back to you. >> you can understand why they would want that. okay, gio, thank you. a massive fire we'll tell you about that devastated a texas motel sending seven people to the hospital for smoke inhalation. the fire marshal says a fire was sparked by children left alone by their babysitter. paula faris is here with that story. good morning, paula. >> reporter: good morning, robin. those children were playing with a light, which caused the fire. this morning, their baby-sitter who left them alone is facing charges. this motel six in spring, texas erupting in flame, the devastating fire reportedly caused by two young children playing with a lighter in their room and this morning, their baby-sitter who left the 3-year-old and 6-year-old alone is expected to face charges. the harris county fire marshal's office tweeting out overnight, they're investigating the circumstances surrounding the supervision of the children. seven people were transported to the hospital with minor injuries, most suffering from smoke inhalation, including those two young children. >> i couldn't breathe and i didn't know where the staircase is. you can't see nothing. >> reporter: it took three fire departments from surrounding areas to battle the inferno. aerial video from station ktrk shows a massive gaping hole in the roof of the motel surrounded by thick, black smoke. the three-alarm fire so large it spread to a building next door. and firefighters broke windows to rescue a litter of puppies, but as they were battling the blaze, witnesses already were talking about seeing these two little children with a lighter and they were asking for their mother. >> oh, my goodness. so sad all the way around. okay, paula, thank you very much. coming up, you got to stay with me on this one. it's a jaw-dropping adoption story. the couple claiming their adopted daughter, they thought she was a child. is she really an adult woman attempting to cause them harm? how the couple is charged with abandoning her. we're hearing from the father this morning. come on back. andoning her. we're hearing from the father this morning. come on back. ing from the father this morning. come on back. it tastes very similar to that. t home, except the seasoning, i probably can't season it as well as chick-fil-a does. the chicken is super tender and honesty, the best nuggets i've ever tasted. my name is meredith and a little thing i love about chick-fil-a's mac & cheese is the oven toasted cheesy top layer. if home had flavor, it would be chick-fil-a's mac & cheese. i'm passionate about it. you don't need to go anywhere dad, this is your home. the best home to be in is your own. home instead offers personalized in-home services for your loved ones. home instead senior care. to us, it's personal. if your mouth is made to amaze, let philips sonicare give its care a raise. get healthier gums in 2 weeks guaranteed. give it philips sonicare. next level clean, next level care. there's always a way to make life better. philips sonicare there's always a way to make life better. the city with the most millennials living at home. we all live together here. it's myself, my dad, and my husband, and our three dogs. we hear a lot about millennials, but did you know that more than one in four are caring for a loved one. as the years went on, she took on more and more responsibility. so how do you financially prepare for needing care one day? it's something everybody really should think about, but precious few really do. planning for the future together, that's financial wellness. talk to a financial advisor or start your plan now at prudential. - [narrator] 10-minute tasty chicken tacos. step 1: chop stuff. sfx: upbeat music step 2: do stuff. sfx: goat sound step 3: eat stuff. instant pot. dinner. done. this is you shopping. and this is you maximizing at t.j.maxx. you shopping, you maximizing. you shopping, you maximizing. get more of the brands you love and the quality you want, and save every time. it's not shopping, it's maximizing. start maximizing today! maxx life at t.j.maxx. when i think of what my imagination looks like... [laughs] i mean, wow. ♪ the surface is a tool that helps me realize beautiful ideas. ♪ we are back now with that jaw-dropping story. a couple who says that the little girl they adopted from overseas is actually an adult who has threatened them. they're now charged with neglect for abandoning her. amy, whoo, this is quite a story. >> reporter: i mean, this is -- when you say it's a bizarre story, that's truly an understatement with all of these details that are now unfolding. the real age of the girl is under investigation right now, and the adoptive couple has been accused of neglect for moving out of the country and leaving the girl behind. but now, the adoptive father is telling his side of the story. michael barnett and his wife kristine thought they were adopting an adorable 6-year-old girl but this morning, they claim that girl was actually an adult woman who they believe was intent on killing them. >> we were told by doctors this person is a sociopath. this person is a con artist. you are all in danger. >> reporter: it's a story just like the horror movie "orphan," adoptive parents who believe they are adopting a young girl but who turns out to be much older. >> what are you talking about? the picture i sent you is of our adopted daughter and she's 9 years old. >> no, she's not, she's 33 years old. >> reporter: now, michael barnett and his ex-wife kristine could face jail time accused by the state of indiana of neglecting their adopted daughter natalia leaving her behind after moving to canada but according to the barnetts, natalia is not who she says she is. they claim she's an adult and that she was attempting to cause them harm. >> natalia would do things like place clear thumbtacks on the stairs face up so that when we would walk up the stairs we would be stepping on thumbtacks to pain and injure ourselves and she had attempted to kill my wife for the second time trying to pull her into an electric fence. >> reporter: she was reportedly 6 years old when the barnetts adopted her. she suffers from a rare form of dwarfism and barnett says they quickly noticed some suspicious behavior including developmental changes consistent with adults. he claims that doctors testing and even a court ruling led them to believe she was actually born in 1989. >> in 2012, based on evidence presented to the court, the marion county superior court ruled that her birth year would be changed from 2003 to 1989 effectively changing her from 8 to 22 years old. >> reporter: still there is confusion about natalia's age. right now, she could be 16 based on her original birth certificate. or 30 based on the revised certificate, but officials believe she was a minor when the barnetts moved out of the country arresting them both. right, so everyone at home is doing the math and that's what everyone is forced to do in this case so, yes, natalia is about 30 according to the barnetts but police say she may be 16 or 17, and then there's also the question of where she is right now. police have not released any information on that, but michael barnett says she is living with another family. so some incredibly disturbing details in this case, and still a lot of mystery. >> yeah. >> this is like we saw. >> the movie "orphan." i saw it way back when. thinking, wow, what a crazy story that could actually happen. and this is the real life case of it if it is all indeed true. >> everybody is shaking their head on this one. thank you very much, amy. coming up, we have the pep talk that you don't want to miss. it is our "play of the day." let's get you fired up on this thursday. >> fired up, ready. >> to go. ♪ this is how we do it >> to go. surfaces? 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[ back in baby's arms by patsy cline ] then, it appeared a beacon of hope. ♪ i'm back in baby's arms more glorious than a billion sunsets. we were found. ♪ i'm back where i belong found by the hounds. ♪ back in baby's arms ♪ this is how we do it oh, yeah. >> montell jordan. that's right. back now with our "play of the day" and the pint-sized football player amping up his team in a big way before the game. take a look. >> be determined. be this team. be a maverick. let's show 'em that we can beat them on their home field, on our home field. we could beat 'em anywhere. we could go to new england for goodness sake and still beat them. what we got? >> yeah, that's right. >> go to new england for goodness sake. >> go to new england. >> and he knows the word maverick. i love that. >> he's only 10, okay. he's really only 10 years old. viewed over 2 million times. i'm pumped up. are you pumped up? >> i'm pumped up and ready. put me in, coach. >> ready to play. that's our "play of the day." that's "play of the day." makes any occasion the perfect coffee occasion. 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>> sorry. >> we apologize. we're so sorry. we're extending our week too, if that makes you feel any better. >> that shows how long this week has been. >> they're hearing everything. we love that. well, on this thankful thursday, happy friday eve, we have a great audience upstairs and also have four incredible chefs that are here to tailgate with us. they're going to mvp, there they are with delicious dips. we hear that they are all, all four are winners. >> got the turf down there. tailgating upstairs. but we have the latest on that state of emergency in the west. hundreds of thousands of people in northern california waking up in the dark again. going to go back to will carr in san francisco. good morning again, will. >> reporter: and, michael, those diablo winds really picked up overnight here. that's why the power's out. you can see the tree limbs here really being pushed around, but even with that threat, pg&e says it had to set up this blue barrier and a security guard out here because they're worried about the safety of their customers because of hundreds of thousands of people are without power right now. i spoke to one mother who says she doesn't know what she's going to do about child care because she has a job. the governor is voicing his frustration after pg&e's website crashed multiple times. right now, there's a double threat for fire today here in northern california as well as in southern california. where they could face their own power outages as well in the comes days. george. >> okay, will, thanks very much. now to the latest on the fallout from president trump's decision to pull u.s. troops out a key part of syria, abandoning allies who helped fight isis. want to go back to ian pannell on the ground in northern syria. good morning, ian. >> reporter: yeah. good morning, george, from northern syria. you know, the last time i was in this area, we saw american and kurdish forces fighting hand in hand to defeat isis, and its caliphate. this morning, that's all changed. we got turkey's troops moving across the border, we got turkey's jets in the sky and artillery bombarding positions of kurdish fighters but as we know, the americans were pulled out after that phone call between president trump and president erdogan. it also throws into doubt that partnership against isis. the sdf of which the kurds are the main components are saying they're no longer engaged it in that battle against isis and seeing isis prisoners guarded by the kurds, some of those guards now leaving their positions and for the civilians they're on the run, but very few place for them to go to. george. >> such a dangerous situation. okay, ian, thanks very much. >> it really is. coming up, diane sawyer one-on-one with julie andrews. the emotional and revealing interview, also the incredible second act. the stockbroker turned farmer who is keeping his father's dream alive. also this morning, the new character on "sesame street," taking on a tough topic. that's coming up in "pop news." and, lara, what's cooking upstairs? >> michael, today we wl mvp your meal. get it together. we got this "a" team of chefs. we are dipping into a tailgate favorite. you don't want to miss that, and a wonderful audience as you just heard. "good morning america" will be right back. don't go anywhere. [ cheers and applause ] "gma's" morning menu sponsored by u.s. bank. sponsored by u.s. bank. sponsored by u.s. bank. ♪ good, better emma. and soutenu. ♪ i'm gonna be president. and the winner for president: emma williamson. i'm gonna start a juice bar. emma, the numbers are looking really good. you're gonna start a juice bar. at u.s. bank, we believe hard work works. and for everyone working toward a goal, we're here to help. at pthe style is yours. the moment is elegant indigo. now save 25% on all indoor dining furniture. visit pier 1 or pier 1.com today to save. i wanted more that's why i've got the power of 1 2 3 medicines with trelegy. the only fda-approved 3-in-1 copd treatment. ♪ trelegy. the power of 1-2-3. ♪ trelegy 1-2-3 trelegy. with trelegy and the power of 1 2 3, i'm breathing better. trelegy works 3 ways to open airways, keep them open and reduce inflammation for 24 hours of better breathing. trelegy won't replace a rescue inhaler for sudden breathing problems. trelegy is not for asthma. tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking it. do not take trelegy more than prescribed. trelegy may increase your risk of thrush, pneumonia, and osteoporosis. call your doctor if worsened breathing, chest pain, mouth or tongue swelling, problems urinating, vision changes, or eye pain occur. think your copd medicine is doing enough? maybe you should think again. ask your doctor about once-daily trelegy and the power of 1 2 3. ♪ trelegy 1-2-3 save at trelegy.com have been caught sleepings on breakfast. we have rehydrated egg on our faces... this isn't who we are! we're not plastic-sealed, breakfast-compromise people! we're mcmuffin people. we're fresh-cracked, sizzled and toasted-until golden people! it's time to come back to the breakfast table. mmhhmm. it's time to... wake up breakfast! with mcdonald's. ♪ thand find inspiration who win new places.ct... leading them to discover: we're woven together by the moments we share. everything you need, all in one place. expedia. something is transforming and our world.. it's the longevity economy - americans 50+ driving 7.6 trillion dollars... of economic activity every year. right before our eyes, aging is unleashing exponential growth... ...in every industry. are you ready? we are. a-a-r-p is teaming up with business leaders and innovators... ...sparking new ideas and real solutions. so, what are you waiting for? performance comes in lots of flavors. ♪ (dramatic orchestra) there's the amped-up, over-tuned, feeding-frenzy-of sheet-metal-kind. and then there's performance that just leaves you feeling better as a result. that's the kind lincoln's about. ♪ ♪ hey. [ applause ] welcome back to "gma." we have a great audience with us here this thursday morning. [ cheers and applause ] thank you guys for being here with us and right now it is time for "pop news" with lara spencer. >> let's do it, friday eve, baby. >> let's do it. good morning, everybody. we're going to begin with country music queen, dolly parton, the 73-year-old music icon is launching a line of wigs, everybody. i like that. some of them designed after her signature blond bouffant. wigs have always been a staple of dolly's look, and know, they might come in handy for a couple of actresses, dolly telling the new issue of "elle" magazine if they make a movie about her life she has imagined reese witherspoon in the role, the other one she says would be great right there, scarlett johansson, to fill out those iconic cowboy boots. >> that's true. >> she also revealed a mentor once told her to tone it down years ago if she ever wanted to be taken seriously. but she said, nope, just can't do it. she says in part, quote, this is who i am. i figure if my work was truly good enough, people would recognize that. i look totally artificial. but i am totally real. a rhinestone shines just as good as a diamond, everybody. we love that. [ applause ] you can read more about delicious dolly in "elle" magazine's women in hollywood. it's a great read. also in the news this morning, diana ross. right now shs celebrating her 75th birthday with a u.s. tour and this morning she has just announced she will perform at the glastonbury festival. that's in england, next year, everybody. good deal. diana tweeting, this is a dream come true. to all the fans across the world, this is my tribute to you. i am coming to glastonbury, the month -- motown star will be playing sunday following the footsteps of greats like dolly parton who we just talked about and lionel richie who have taken the stage and diana is the first act to be announced for the festival. other names we're hearing could be the next to confirm, paul mccartney. >> wow. >> madonna. >> whoo. >> fleetwood mac. >> get out. >> even taylor swift is being bandied about. her european tour dates just so happen to coincide with glastonbury. so we shall see. sounds like it's going to be a great musical event. >> it does. and finally, as you guys talked about in the tease, "sesame street," the beloved show is taking on a tough topic, that of addiction. it was revealed earlier this year that one of its characters, karli, is living in foster care and now children are learning the reason why. the character addressing in new episodes that she isn't living at home because her mom is struggling with addiction. one of the show's producers saying, quote, we want to explain what parental addiction is and more importantly provide hope and resilience for understanding it. it is a topic that will resonate with many considering there are now over 5 million children under the age of 7 living with a parent battling with substance abuse right here in the u.s. this is not the first time "sesame street" has taken on tough subjects. they do it so well. it's a really important thing to do. [ applause ] >> thanks, lara. >> thank you for that, lara. appreciate it. now we're going to turn to our "gma" cover story. prince harry and superstar ed sheeran teaming up for world mental health day. abc's maggie rulli is in london with the latest. good morning, maggie. >> reporter: hey, michael. yeah, the two joked that this video was about helping gingers unite. but their real priority was reminding people that they don't have to suffer in silence. two of the world's most famous redheads -- >> we're excited. we'll go in there and film a thing with prince harry. >> reporter: prince harry and ed sheeran are teaming up today to mark world mental health day. ♪ they cracking jokes about their shared distinctive hair color. >> i just feel like it's time we stood up and said we're not going to take this anymore. we are ginger and we're going to fight. >> oh, okay. slightly awkward. this is about world mental health day. >> reporter: and focusing on the real reason the two are together. the cdc says suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the u.s., and the second among young people. >> this world mental health day, reach out, make sure your friends, strangers, who are suffering in silence. we're all in this together. >> thanks for watching. >> and it was just a few days ago that the fab four teamed up to voice a video about mental health. that one practically broke the internet. this one already has more than a million and a half views in just a few hours, so guys, doing an amazing job here raising awareness about mental health. >> wonderful. >> glad they're teaming up. thank you so much for that, maggie. now we're going to ginger who is actually in panama city, florida. hey, ginger. >> hey, i'm actually here in mexico beach, florida, right along the gulf of mexico. you'll remember one year ago today i was right here as hurricane michael, that category 5 storm, devastated parts of the florida panhandle, including panama city, but the video you're seeing there was when the storm surge came in, and i watched that home wash off its foundation. the pylons from that home are still right behind me. this drone video we're about to show you is live. you are seeing that gorgeous beach that they are so famous for here. but also that building in the background, that is called the summer house. that is where we survived the storm, and there have been a lot of survivors. they have just had a rough year. the cleanup, they have got their banks that are on trucks. they have groceries that are far from them. they don't have gas stations. overall, they tell me they have just felt forgotten, and today we are here to tell them they good morning. i'm abc7 news meteorologist mike nicco, and unfortunately we wake up under a fire danger again until 5:00 today, and otherwise sunny and seasonal temperatures and tomorrow into saturday and calmer and warmer, and then autumn returns sunday. the temperatures are low to mid-70s along the coast, and san francisco, and mid-70s along the bay, and low 80s inland. grab an extra blanket tonight, and most diane sawyer's exclusive interview with julie andrews. revealing in a deeply personal conversation with one of hollywood's most loved and legendary stars. >> come on. come on. good girl. there's my girl. she's so pretty, isn't she? >> reporter: julie andrews at home, so much life in her smile and her arm around your shoulders and in all the joy she has given us for generations. it started 56 years ago when a stage actress boarded a flight to hollywood to make her very first movie ever and no idea what movie stars do. >> how do i say that? what do i do? >> you were age 27. do you remember the first exchange of the first movie that you ever did in your life? >> you mean the first take? >> in "mary poppins," yes. >> yeah, i do. dick van dyke said -- >> mary poppins, you look beautiful. >> and all i had to do was walk across camera and say do you really think so. >> cross my heart you do. >> reporter: and so it began and it wasn't how she said it, it was that something in her face told you that there was someone named mary poppins who wanted to heal your world and make it bright. ♪ by the way, she invented those feet. >> the feet need to be turned out. >> why? >> i don't know. but you don't want droopy feet at the end of the image of the umbrella. they just sort of flapped about. >> reporter: and early on she showed she could do anything. ♪ a robin feathering >> reporter: a tweeting robin. you're doing that whistling. >> yeah, i was very good at whistling. [ whistling ] ♪ for a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down ♪ >> reporter: ever seen the kind of decathlon singing, tweeting and a huge contraption. >> yeah, there was a wire that went up my shoulder and down my back. ♪ mary poppins step in time >> reporter: every scene had to be perfect. some of them taking six weeks of rehearsal. watch her and dick van dyke from behind the scenes trying to balance on anvils that will eventually become turtles. >> i was learning on my feet, diane. i mean so fast. >> reporter: every day up before dawn home after dark. she was also breast-feeding her new baby. >> you were breast-feeding? >> uh-huh. >> you're getting up before dawn. >> yes. >> reporter: the stern, formidable p.l. travers who had created "mary poppins" even phoned her the day after her baby was born. >> and she said, well, talk to me. i gather you're going to be doing "mary poppins" and i said, well, i have just had a baby and i'm feeling a bit groggy right now, miss travers, but how lovely to talk to you and she said, well, you're far too pretty, of course, but you've got the nose for it. that, i guess. my ski nose. >> reporter: no wonder the costume designer who also happened to be her husband tony walton, created a kind of message. >> he had secrets in the costumes. >> yes. he said, i fancy that mary poppins has a secret life, kind of quiet pleasure at being a little wicked and naughty underneath all the skirts there were other colors and so when i kicked up my shoes or when i moved you just caught a flash. >> reporter: it's all here in her new memoir"home work." the story of a life lived in the place where home and work are in collision. ♪ a life that began with that little girl endlessly traveling through music halls, in vaudeville. ♪ she was helping support her unsteady, cracked family. >> you grew up in a turbulent household of alcoholism, anger. >> uh-huh. >> uncertainty. >> and despair on my mum's part and things like that. >> depression. despair. ♪ >> reporter: as a child, a lonely life on the road, here even singing for the king of england. ♪ >> reporter: she promised her mother she would make it all right as a teenager buying the family home, but through it all, a supernatural gift and that escape from the sorrows in her life. >> and it was like four or five octaves and i could -- dogs for miles around would howl when i wouldn't way up in the stratosphere. >> "f" above high "c." twice nightly in my debut. >> you've talked about the fact you were taught just to carry the note and keep -- >> to even them all like a string of pearls if possible. just pure joy. >> reporter: and the joy of that music would propel her through movie after movie. album, concerts. a golden career and a struggle at home. ♪ with regret >> reporter: tomorrow she and her daughter emma will tell us what we've never heard before about real life off screen. >> i finally got enough courage after the first week to say i don't understand why i'm weeping so much. i can't seem to stop. you know, you're surrounded by the wagons and suddenly the cavalry comes up over the hill in one of those westerns and you weep for relief. >> your whole life had been geared toward a sort of perfectionism. >> yes. well, those lovely first movies were no help either. >> no. >> mary poppins practically perfect in every way and she wasn't so there you are. >> reporter: in her memoir "home work," the courage it takes when you are in a marriage with something you cannot fix, and summoning strength when a horrible surgery takes away her singing voice. she writes of one song and singing a note designed to carry everyone closer to their happy ending, the song was "jingle bells." ♪ jingle bells jingle bells jingle all the way ♪ ♪ oh what fun it is to ride >> i can feel it coming. ♪ in a one-horse open >> further out. ♪ sleigh [ applause ] >> wow, that's a finish right there. the star is out with a new memoir "home work," and of course, we'll have more of diane's exclusive interview with julie andrews tomorrow morning. but right now, we have a story about family and perseverance. there are more than 2 million farmers in the u.s. and down in louisiana we met a father of two and former stockbroker who dropped everything to preserve his family's legacy. >> at 3, 4 years old i knew my place in this world. >> reporter: for eddie lewis iii, it's in his roots. >> i was raised on the farm with pigs, cows, okra, corn, the commercial crop we grow today sugar cane. >> reporter: a fifth generation sugar cane farmer near lafayette, louisiana, producing nearly 5 million pounds of sugar a year on the land his family owns. after eddie's father passed away eight years ago while working in the fields -- >> the next day i quit my stockbroker job. i called my boss and said, look. i my dad passed away. i want to get back into the family business and make sure i save my dad's crop. >> reporter: he and his two brothers jordan and hunter carrying on the legacy. >> i don't want his hard work to be taken for granted. i want to make sure it's here for years and years and years. >> it's my job to continue what he couldn't. because i feel like if he was still here to this day, he would have still been doing what i'm doing actually. >> reporter: right now eddie is wrapping up planting season. >> we're hoping that this one stalk turns into about ten. that's the name of the game. >> reporter: and is in the midst of the vital harvesting season. >> so it's very crucial that we get the job done, in and out every day. >> reporter: from sunrise to sunset, american farmers like the lewis family face unpredictable weather and dangerous conditions. there's all different kind of challenges we face on a daily basis. breakdowns, you kind of got to go with the market, go with the weather. >> reporter: to supply the food on our kitchen tables. >> this job is not meant for everyone. but the people who dedicate themselves to doing it end up making it worth their while. >> reporter: beyond the challenges of mother nature, big corporations and modern technology have put pressure on family-owned farms to compete. >> the new farmers coming in from the mill, those guys are growing for profit for the mills so they don't care if they take out the little guy. >> reporter: african-american farmers in particular have felt the burden. the lewis family says they've seen it firsthand. >> the lewis farms is about 25 to 2,700 acres in our rotation, 20, 30 years ago when my grandpa was farming full-time, there was a lot more land, about 4,000 more acres that was farming. >> reporter: according to the usda less than 2% of farmers in the u.s. are african-american. >> there are probably about four african-american farmers left. probably about 20, 30 years ago they had about 40, 50. it brings a great sense of pride to me because my grandfather and my family and my dad preserved that. >> reporter: now, eddie is sowing the seeds for generations to come, hoping to reap a continuous rich tradition of the american farmer. >> i hit the fields. i get on my tractor. no matter what problem i run into, it's not going to be big enough to stop me. if you put in the hard work and dedication, you'll seed. you'll succeed. >> that's a salute to the american farmer. my producer, nicole, went down to louisiana and they said life is sweeter in louisiana. [ applause ] >> so inspiring. >> the food on our tables because of farmers like that. >> hard work behind it. >> that's right. we'll be right back. [ applause ] good morning, north bay. let's get up and get going. >> i'm reggie aqui, and it is 8:27 and pg&e says it does not expect to cut power to anymore customers in the safety power shutoff. overnight in the power outage, a wildfire broke out in moraga and the firefighters got it under control and the families evacuated have been allowed to go back home. the cause of the fire is still under investigation. >> going to take a look at the traffic right now. >> good morning, everyone. we have a little problem coming into oakland area, and we will get more into that with the car facing sideways. this is eastbound 580 before highway 24 and two lanes blocked there and the resers commute, but if you are trying to get to downtown oakland, you will be experiencing delays. northbound 280 coming into san francisco a drag because of earlier problems and a b.a.r.t. delay, but 63 trains in the antioch direction to sfo. >> thank you, your business can do a lot in 10 minutes. like make a big sale. surprise and delight a customer. or come up with the winning idea. and 10 minutes is all you need to finally give your business the internet technology it really needs. we'll prove it. give us 10 minutes. if we can't offer you faster speed or better savings than your current internet service, we'll give you 300 dollars for your time. call now to get your comcast business 10 minute advantage and take your business beyond. comcast business. beyond fast. >> now, your accuweather forecast with mike nicco. >> and the fastest speed was 72 miles per hour wind, and just under the hurricane threshold. we will have noon ♪e will have noon ♪ gg or ghome [ applause ] welcome back to "gma." football season is in full swing. the aprons are out and that means tailgating, everybody. all season long we are teaming up with some of our favorite chefs who are showing us how to mvp your meal. this morning, i dip, you dip, we dip. that's right. because we are putting the spotlight on a tailgate staple, dips. >> i love a dip and we have an all-star lineup of chefs ready to take a deep dive. chef richard blais on my team and jamika pessoa with amy, george has city harvest chef michael white and, michael, teaming up with jean-paul bourgeois and doing the tasting we have members of the audience and let's kick this off with richard. so this is a taste of texas. >> this is a taste of texas. it's queso. it's not competitive at all, but speed usually wins, chef, and this is a very fast recipe. >> one ingredient, onions going. >> garlic, a little cumin, we'll add some chili and poblano peppers. those are burnt so this is a recipe anyone can cook because you literally want to burn the chiles. >> i can do this. >> a little tomato. jalapeno and, of course, our cheese. >> how long -- >> a bit of milk. >> how long are we doing this? >> this will go on the stove and cook until it gets ooey and gooey and chewy, can you match that, chefs? take it to the next level, our queso will have -- we need an offensive line to this dish so this is smoked brisket. smoked brisket. we'll just chop it up, barbecue brisket and the queso and top it with a lot of our smoked brisket and then we'll add some pico on top of it and finish it with some fresh ciltro. boom. >> there you go, chefs. what's up? [ applause ] >> all right. so we're going low. >> oh, yes. >> low country dip, crab dip? >> that's what brings people together. football and a low country crab dip. so i have all the ingredient, the sausage sauteing here and nicely browned with some butter, oh, yes, put in a little onion. we do a little fresh corn as well. don't want to brown them or burn them. just get nice little color and garlic because a dip needs some garlic. >> of course, yum. >> put that breath in the competition's face. let this brown and then we get to the cheesy creamy part. we have cream cheese in here and we also have a little mayo if you can start mixing that up for me and when you pull from that dip it should have nice cheese pull so doing three kinds of cheese. we have mozzarella going in, a little cheddar going in and a little parmesan. >> yum. >> nice. oh, everything is and a little cajun seeing so once you mix all of that -- >> that smells so good. >> it is coming together nicely. stir it all together, sausage, onion, corn and the seafood. when you're doing your lump crab, now, if you're going to invest the money on lump crab, fold it in gently. you want people to know you paid for some lump crab. let them know you spent the money on this dip. you just want to fold it in not to lose any of the lumps. gently fold in the crab and put it in a prepared baking di and 400 degrees until nice and brown and tah-dah. served with skewered roasted red potatoes and we are winning. >> we dip. we dip low. [ applause ] >> this is about simplicity. the italian way is the hallmark simplicity, garlic, brush it on this crust making crostini, a store bought dough, crust is absolutely fine. we parmesan gelato. it looks just like gelato. we'll whisk this in, in with a little bit of cream and set it in the refrigerator. we're gonna cool this down. once it's set it looks just like this. >> check that out. >> like gelato. >> you got to tell us about the city hall charity event. >> next week city harvest. 50 of the city's greatest chefs coming together. it's a wonderful event. i invite everybody to come down. city harvest. >> jean-paul, we are up. we are making something i never thought you could make, chicken and waffle dip. >> all these guys, you've heard a lot. real easy. no cooking involved here. >> we worry about taste. >> fried chicken i had from the night before and took all the nice crispy bits and crust off. that's some philadelphia cream cheese. >> okay. >> all right. so mayonnaise, roasted peppers. throw that cheese in for me. >> i love green onions in here, nice bite of sweet and onion. a little pepper. a little hot sauce. hot sauce is boss in my house. >> that gets mixed up. >> that gets mixed up. what we have here, this is how the waffle comes in. this is the playful part, the part that everything is like, dang, man, you know your stuff. >> yeah, you do. >> let's do it. i got this beautiful waffle cone and, look, it looks just like ice cream so that's yo fried chicken dip that goes in. >> hey, you want toppings, mike? >> yeah, i want some toppings. >> crispy skin, some chives. and a little maple syrup. >> got to finish with the maple. bam. chicken and waffle dip. there you go, america. you're welcome. that's right. a big thank you to all of our chefs and you can get all of these recipes on our website. goodmorningamerica.com. our taste testers, they're too full to pick a winner but it's okay. we're all winners this morning. coming up, tory johnson is here with travel "deals & steals." we'll be right back. [ applause ] you know when you're at ross and your new fall look just keeps getting better? check this out! that's yes for less. score a head-to-toe look you'll love and save 20 to 60 percent off department store prices. at ross. yes for less. and you get first dibs on that brand... ...at that price? that's yes for less. seriously, get the fall brands and styles you love and save 20 to 60% off department store prices. at ross. yes for less. ♪ something's big i feel it happening ♪ welcome back, everybody. this morning, we are going places and "deals & steals," that's right. >> straight to the top. right, tory? >> yes. let's do it. so first up, softies. michael, you said the code word, lara walked out as my supermodel and he said you look cozy. that's what you get with it. >> like a cardigan. it's so comfy. >> whether you're at your desk, on an airplane you'll be super comfortable. the long length is flattering. normally $99. today it is slashed, $44 and -- >> free shipping. that's right. >> easiest way to go hands-free. i prared this one for you with a little lunch money in your lanyard there. you have your phone and lunch ne this is awesome whether you're going to aheme park, cruise, errands, whatever it is, these are opportunities for you. normally $8 to $15, slashed in half at $4. yes. this is started by a mom who wanted to go jogging at night but needed light so this is mittens and gloves with l.e.d. lights built right in so you can see and be seen just like that. $50 regularly. today, slashed more than in half, $22. >> i feel like iron man. >> yes, yes. >> rainy climate, we've got something for you. > these rain boots are awesome. not because they're super comforble, quick dry lining but have given over 100,000 pairs to people in need because they have got a buy one get one program, and now we have their reversible umbrella so you can coordinate your boots with your umbrella. >> that's important. >> very important. normally $29 to $79. slashed in half, $14 to $39 from roma. that's a big sippy cup. this is a collapsible cup, 24 ounces of rose to be exact. water, wine, coffee, collapsible cup, awesome for on the go, normally $25, today slashed in half, $12.50. on the go means luggage. i went to japan with my luggage and it was a life saver. it spins. that's one of the awesome things. it's lightweight so you're not going to be lugging it to put it into the overhead bin. we have got carryon, checked bags, we have got compression packing cubes. what's great is the compartment so you keep your dirty laundry separate from your clean laundry. huge assortments on this. usually these range from $35 to $45. all slashed in half and starts at $22.50 and then i have got -- i partnered with adam glassman of o magazine to create a a problem-solver box. 31 full size products, no sample sizes to make life easier in a variety of category, we've solved 31 everyday problem, you get all the details on our website for this one. it's a winner. this one is a winner. everything is a winner. >> everything is a winner. >> everything is a winner. >> all you do is serve us up winners, tory. >> a heat holder. >> may need that. getting cold out. we partnered with all these companies on these great deals. you can get them on our website and our audience you're going to take home frauds from genius pack and gear beast. all right. now we'll go back to ginger in mexico beach, florida. hey, ginger. [ applause ] what a stunning and gorgeous morning it is here on the gulf of mexico in mexico beach, florida. but you'll remember it was quite different one year ago to this date when hurricane michael, that category 5 storm with its 160-mile-per-hour winds and 14-foot storm surge tried to erase this town and so much of the panhandle, even into georgia, but look behind me. you have homes that are still certainly tattered and the homes that are gone completely, even inland here buc, but today i'll with our affiliate wmbb because they are doing construction like many other people and finishing a ribbon cutting of their brand-new tv station that opens after it was so heavily damaged by michael. good morning. we begin this thursday under a high fire danger that will continue through 5:00. the temperatures near 70 at the coast, and the rest of us in the upper 70s and near 80 as the winds relax this afternoon no. we are the florida panhandle strong all over here today, george. >> you sure are. we'll turn to the new lifetime movie inspired by a real story. "the college admissions scandal" and they navigate the competition of getting into college and stars penelope ann miller and joins us this morning. welcome. i should say this is fiction. >> well, okay, i'm a fiction at -- fictional mom, but it's based on the truth. >> what's been happening. >> and there are real characters in the movie from the real story. rick singer who was the mastermind behind this scandal, yeah, he kind of was the one who lured these families in and had the side door, but he was a legitimate -- or i guess he's what -- was, yes. past tense of a counselor to help admissions counselor, coach, if you will to help kids get into college so people used him legitimately as well. >> but your character kind of goes through this journey and we have a scene here where she learns about the side door. >> i did hire him initially legitimately and then -- >> you learned this. >> this is insane. >> it was completely surreal. >> so how does it work, the coaches just -- >> yes, they get to pick a few kids that they want in and that list gives those applications the extra gas they need to get over the line. >> kind of excited. terrified. horrified. >> yes, yes. well, look, our culture is becoming one in which wealthy powerful privileged, you know, want to pay their way into situations sometimes and it's unfortunate. obviously it's been going on for a long time. >> long time. you can feel it, though. you know what's going on. my daughters are 17 and 14. they're in the thick of this whole college admissions thing. >> and i have an 18-year-old. >> they feel the pressure and put it on themselves. >> it's worse than it's ever been i feel, the pressure and the anxiety that kids have about getting into colleges. i mean, i was talking to one of my friend's daughters who is applying to 22. i mean, it's insane what's happening because they're to scared of not getting into their top, and then there's the top five, and why are those the top five, and why are those the best for your kids, and then the status that goes around it and the peer pressure. >> i guess we can only hope that the real scandal and the movie is kind of a warning and a wakeup call for people to try to find a way to get this pressure out of the system. >> yoeah. well, the hope is that it's a cautionary tale. it's a fascinating story and it really shows you behind the scenes and sort of how this whole thing came about and who was involved in it and the proctor is a real character in the movie, and the dad from the private school, who exposes the scandal because he was indicted for securities fraud and then wanted a lesser sentence so he outed himself. >> we'll recognize a lot in the movie. >> yeah, it seems -- that is our hope that something positive will come out and change. it's a broken system and our college system and the hope is, yeah, that something good will come out of it. >> amen to that. thank you very much. "the college admissions scandal" premieres saturday the 12th on lifetime. over to michael. all right, george, we have a big "strahan, sara & keke" coming up this afternoon. >> "married to medicine's" dr. jackie is here opening up about her breast cancer and being a survivor. >> and help a viewer to her first mammogram right here. >> you guys join us at lunchtime. we'll see you then, and next on "gma" celebrating national love your hair day. >> love your hair, g ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ blow a kiss, into the sun ♪ we need someone to lean on ♪ blow a kiss, into the sun ♪ all we need is somebody to lean on ♪ ♪ ♪ today is october 10th, which just happens to be national love your hair day. it was coined by our sponsor committed to honoring women in communities across the country. we love that joined by the ceo and founder, carolyn aronson. so impressed with what you've done. why did you create this day, love yhair day? >> our hair is our crown for men and women alike so we needed a day to celebrate it. >> curly, straight. whatever. >> it's all about the diversification and loving your natural beauty. >> to that end we've got three women in our studio audience who are examples of the kind of women that it's a day to celebrate. get up here. >> whoo! [ applause ] >> get up here, you ladies. so you guys, you thought you were here as guests of it's a 10 hair care but want to share your stories with america. take a look. >> reporter: 28-year-old callie knows a thing or two about girl power in 2016 she started a massachusetts bridal company with her best friend sara but it quickly evolved into something more. >> doing trials out of our house at first, so we found a little small studio. it was a little larger than we expected, so we asked a few of our friends that were also entrepreneurs if they wanted to join in. >> in that spirit top knots co-working was born. >> we felt at some point we didn't have that backbone to help us through hard times so i just want to make it as easy as i can for other women. >> reporter: callie is just one of the women impacting the kind of change that our sponsor, it's a 10 hair care is celebrating. five years ago, 37-year-old colleen potter donated a kidney to save her best friend gracie's life. >> i can live with one kidney but i can't live without gracie. >> reporter: unconditional love on display, two women forever linked. >> i wouldn't change anything. we're soul mates. >> reporter: for ashley ellis, a single mom of two from oklahoma, empowering herself post-divorce was a priority. >> when i moved out, i had never lived by myself. i had two small children. i was terrified, and at that poini decided to go into jujitsu. >> reporter: since then, the 34-year-old's love of martial arts has only grown. she now teaches self-defense classes for free. >> i just want women to feel amazing, want them to be protected and feel like they can take on the world. [ cheers and applause ] >> amazing stories. amazing that you brought these ladies to new york. you had a little hotel stay and pampering. carolyn has another surprise for you. >> so today we are actually also giving to each of you, $10,000. >> come on out. [ cheers and applause ] >> it's a 10 grant empowering women and i know you'll all do amazing things with this. you're amazing women, congratulations. >> thank you. >> and when you start your amazing businesses we want to you have fabulous hair so it's a 10 is giving you some products and our audience is also going home with it's a 10 hair care products and today the brand is doing something really special for you at home buy one get one free on all their products on the website. go to "good morning america," the facebook page for more details. it's a 10, you ladies are 10s. happy national fabulous hair day. i just renamed it. >> i love it. >> love your hair day, america. we'll be right back on "good morning america." he's a bit more brave. ♪ oh. look. ♪ ♪ ♪ how you watch it does too. tv just keeps gettinbeer. this is xfinity x1. featuring the emmy award-winning voice remote. streaming services without changing passwords and input. live sports - with real-time stats and scores. access to the most 4k content. and your movies and shows to go. the best tv experience is the best tv value. xfinity x1. simple. easy. awesome. xfinity. the future of awesome. >> announcer: tomorrow get up with the get up and blanco brown. ♪ >> announcer: tomorrow only on "good morning america." presented by carmax. hey, thanks for watching, everybody. hey, sonny. have a sunny day. hey, sonny. have a sunny day. good morning, bay area. let's get up and get going. >> this is the "abc7 mornings." >> and good morning it is 8:59. i'm reggie aqui from "abc7 mornings." and here is mike nicco wh the forecast. >> 75 wind speeds at mount diablo and that is faster than the threshold for a hurricane. and we were close in hamilton and other areas. the winds will howl through 3:00, and the fire conditions though will last until 5:00. so we are under the red flag warning all of the way through the afternoon. sue? >> to richmond where we have the first motorcycle down for the morning. this is blocking injuries and the rider is down in the lane. cautious and westbound 890 near cutting street as you approach the 580 merge in richmond. reggie? >> and stay tuned for "kel and ryan live" a sy tuned for us at midday live. >> announcer: it's "live with kelly and ryan!" today, from the comedy, "the good place," ted danson. and star of "sorry for your loss" elizabeth olsen. and get ready to roll up your sleeves and get the flu shot. all next on the "live." ♪ [cheerand applause] and now, here are kelly ripa and ryan seacrest! [cheers and applause] ♪ >> ryan: hi, guys. [cs

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