And as we prepare to mark 20 years since 9 11, my visit to Ground Zero with the first Fdny Chief on the scene. Among the names on the memorial, his own brother. Announcer this is Nbc Nightly News with Lester Holt hello, everyone, and nice to be back with you President Biden Tonight wrapping up a visit to physically and emotionally shattered neighborhoods in New Jersey and new york, where last Weeks Record and deadly floods became icons of a changing climate and a planet in trouble. The president offering words of comfort and promises of support to the affected while issuing rallying cries in the battle to confront the brutal effects of Climate Change Idas Trail of misery still being felt tonight. Power outages are affecting hundreds of thousands across the south, as we learn more about how the storm affected the most vulnerable. The actions being taken tonight against several Nursing Homes in louisiana lets begin ou reporting with gabe gutierrez. Reporter with the devastating aftermath of idas remnants sprawled across the northeast, Today President biden toured hardhit communities, comforting families and highlighting the urgency of Climate Change Climate Change poses an existential threat to our lives, to our economy, and the threat is here its not going to get any better the question is can it get worse. We can stop it from getting worse. Reporter the president approving major disaster declarations for counties in New Jersey and new york, pouring more federal aid into them but in queens, where gutwrenching video showed officers trying to rescue a family from a flooded basement, frustration is spilling over It Levels out down here reporter as Flood Survivors struggle with the new normal. Its a shame. It really is something has to be done i can deal with it not after 38 years im getting too old. Reporter in manville, New Jersey, Julie Colorado is clearl still in shock days after the storm. We didnt know where to go. All of manville is on fire around us and theres water everywhere theres nowhere to go. It came up from the Basement Reporter her mother shows us ho the water flooded the garage after it destroyed their basement it seems each one gets worse and worse reporter this area also flooded during the remnants of floyd in 1999 and irene in 2011 how sick are you of this happening over and over again i was 50 the first time 60 the second time and 70 the third time. Reporter the water reached past Phillips Basement and into the first floor. It triggered gas leaks nearby homes and businesses exploded are you worried about the future consequences of climate Change Yes Reporter mr. Mehta owned this property that used to be a Banquet Hall my business is hurt, my family is hurt, i built the business from scratch and all my money is gone i dont know whats going to happen next gabe, lets talk for a moment about the rain in the forecast there that cant be sitting well with folks. Reporter yeah, lester, a Flash Flood Watch is in Effect Tomorrow Night for parts of the northeast. Adding insult to injury and potentially making this Cleanup Effort even tougher. Lester all right, gabe, thank you. We want to get to those breaking developments out of louisiana. Health officials revoked the licenses from seven Nursing Homes after their residents were evacuated to a warehouse where seven died local leaders question how did they fall through the cracks Sam Brock is in New Orleans tonight. Reporter the crises are coming from all angles in New Orleans where lines of cars stretch miles for chicken. The need for gas is still gaping and a fresh round of Rain Slamming in already waterlogged regions. Theres also a crisis of care. The generator went out. Its a hot box its one big hot box Reporter Tonight, a Communitys Confusion leading to Action Officials revoked the licenses of seven Nursing Homes after nearly 850 patients were evacuated to this warehouse, leading to at least seven deaths. Lets be clear. There is no Emergency Preparedness Plan that allows for residents to be kept in such an unsafe, unsanitary, and unhealthy condition. Reporter in New Orleans, an additional 600 senior citizens were rescued from nine assisted living complexes. We identified emergent threats to life and health. Reporter dr. Jennifer avegno is the Citys Health Director what did you see inside these facilities that gave you deep cause for concern . So, no power, not even emergency generator, no lights, no Elevators Reporter the archdiocese of New Orleans manages the majority of those nine buildings and did not grant our request for an interview they previously said management repeatedly requested assistance and resources from civil authorities, assistance It Claims came too late. Our nolo ready and 311 have been in contact with them since the beginning. So im interested to see what officials they are saying they reached out to who didnt respond reporter you cant find the Documentation And Trail of requests . No. We dont have any evidence of that reporter officials now pledging new laws to protect the most vulnerable Sam Brock, nbc news, New Orleans. Tonight a pandemic milestone. The cdc says 75 of american adults have now received at least one Vaccine Dose but with President Biden Planning to announce a new strategy to combat the Delta Variant, there are fears of a new spike from Holiday Travel heres Miguel Almaguer Reporter just as covid cases began to stabilize in some pockets of the country, tonight there is growing concern the nearly prepandemic number of americans who traveled for the Holiday Weekend could fuel another nationwide surge. It comes just as many young, unvaccinated children return to the classroom for the first time, fearing worries over new outbreaks. Officials urging parents to take extra precaution im concerned about that convergence, that perfect storm of flu, covid, and Everything Else reporter with more than 100,000 hospitalized tonight, big cities like austin are already facing a serious shortage of Icu Beds in idaho, some ten medical centers are now activating their crisis standards of care, facing a Crushing Wave of covid patients the hospitals are working under disasterlike circumstances. The governor warned the entire state could soon have to Ration Care i wish everyone can see what i saw in the icu last Night Reporter though many regions remain overwhelmed by hospitalizations, some experts believe new covid cases driven by the Delta Variant Wont Peak for several weeks. It comes as more cases of the Mu Variant are being detected nationwide and in counties like los angeles. Though some fear it could be more resistant to vaccines, for now authorities arent overly concerned. Theres no evidence that this variant is causing people who are otherwise fully vaccinated to end up in the hospital with severe disease and we expect that variants like the Mu Variant are probably going to arise Reporter Tonight, an evolving threat in an everchanging pandemic miguel, the president this week is expected to roll out a new plan to better deal with the Delta Variant. What do we know about the plan reporter lester, the president is expected to lay out a strategy to get the pandemic under control. Hell likely ask for more help from public and private sectors to mandate vaccines just today in seattle, some professional Sporting Venues say youll need to be vaccinated or test negative for admission, lester. Miguel almaguer, thank you. Were closely following afghanistan where americans are among those stranded at an airport, desperate to leave the Secretary Of State says theyre working with the taliban but a top democrat is blasting the administration for not doing more to get them out. Andrea mitchell has the latest Reporter Tonight on a tarmac in northern afghanistan, planeloads o stranded people including americans, prevented from taking off for days in qatar, Secretary Of State Tony Blinken says theyre working with the taliban to get those private flights in the air they said that they will let people with Travel Documents freely depart. We will hold them to that reporter but with president biden already facing fierce criticism for leaving americans behind when he withdrew u. S. Troops, now a top democrat is slamming the administration for not doing more to help americans at that airport. Senator Richard Blumenthal saying, i have been deeply frustrated, even furious at our Governments Delay and inaction. Also left behind, more than 100 afghan journalists with Voice Of America, funded by the u. S. Government, who feared taliban targets on their back for working for the u. S. , especially the women. We spoke today with one who is now in pakistan, one of the few able to get out. What hope is there to get them out theyre just really very afraid right now that the evacuation is technically over theyre left behind. Theyre hoping that people are still working to get them out. Reporter one american still stranded spoke to Voice Of America she went to kabul for her wedding and says the State Department gave them a Pickup Location to escape we went there and waited an extra 12 to 13 hours with no food, no water, nothing. Reporter she waved her american passport at the taliban and got turned away. I think to myself, am i going to make it home am i going to end up living here . Am i going to end up dying here reporter since the State Department says there are no u. S. Officials left to verify the identities of the americans trying to get out, it appears they could be stranded for a while, lester andrea mitchell, thank you. Lets get more now on the harsh new reality inside afghanistan. After claiming total control, the Taliban Today announced who will run the country Richard Engel is in the region richard, the taliban named a wanted terrorist as its top security official. Reporter thats right, lester. The taliban announced, finally, its new government not surprisingly it is extremely hard Line Led by a religious cleric with day to day affairs managed by two deputies, one of whom signed the Peace Deal with the united states under the Trump Administration the Interior Minister responsible for policing afghanistan is a u. S. Designated terrorist. And this is the government that will have to oversee a dire humanitarian crisis, with the u. N. Saying that half of children under 5 years old are at risk of severe malnutrition, lester all right, Richard Engel tonight, thank you. Were going to take a break in 60 seconds well go to Guantanamo Bay, cuba, where the mastermind of the 9 11 attacks is in court today. Days before our nation marks 20 years since 9 11, the man accused of plotting the attacks returned to a courtroom in Guantanamo Bay after a long delay our Ken Dilanian is there. Ken, Khalid Sheikh mohammed looked a lot different than many remember reporter lester, the confessed mastermind of the 9 11 attacks was escorted by guards into a Military Courtroom here today wearing a turban and a full beard dyed orange. His first appearance after a Pandemic Shutdown of more than 500 days Khalid Sheikh mohammed could be seen smiling and bantering with one of his four codefendants. The Death Penalty Case against the five men is in its ninth year of pretrial hearings with a new judge and no sign that it will reach a Military Jury anytime soon the judge called a halt after just two hours over a procedural issue the defendants were taken back to their cell as the 20th Anniversary of the 9 11 attacks approaches, justice in this case remains elusive. Ken dilanian at Guantanamo Bay tonight, thanks. Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed sweeping new Voting Restrictions into law. Critics say it suppresses voters of color. The republican Governor Abbott says it protects election integrity. Its a defeat for democrats who fled the state in july to block the bill the law faces several federal lawsuits up next, our exclusive with Monica Lewinsky what she tells savannah when asked if Bill Clinton owes her an apology every single day, were all getting a little bit better. Were better cooks. Better neighbors. Hi. Ive got this until you get back. Better parents. And better friends. No no thats why comcast works around the clock constantly improving americas largest gigspeed broadband network. And just doubled the capacity here. How do things look on your end . Perfect because were building a better network every single day. More than two decades later, Monica Lewinskys affair with former President Bill clinton still resonates. Its the subject of a Tv Series premiering tonight on fx. In an exclusive interview with savannah guthrie, lewinsky talked about the scandal and the new portrayal of it. It is a dramatization but theres an Enormou Amount of emotional truth. Thats what was really important. The story affects a lot of people, not just you linda tripp, who recently passed. The clintons would you want Bill Clinton to see this series . I dont know how to really answer that so do you ever wish that you could speak to him do you feel like he owes you an apology after all these years . You know, there was an i think there was a long period before my life changed the last six or seven years where i felt a lot in terms of there not being this resolution and im very grateful that i dont have that feeling anymore, i dont need it. He should want to apologize in the same way that i want to apologize any chance i get to people that ive hurt and my actions have hurt. Monica lewinsky with savannah guthrie. Tonight we hear from the woman whose allegations of Sexual Assault against Bill Cosby sent him to Prison Andrea Constand spoke with Kate Snow do you still feel that you were believed, even given whats happened with Bill Cosby since yes, i do i was vindicated i was validated. Reporter but she says the pennsylvania supreme Courts Decision to overturn Cosbys Conviction shows the american Judicial System is flawed Today Innocence came to mr. Cosby. Bill cosby celebrated this moment as a victory, as a full Victory Everybody is entitled to their own celebrations but it doesnt change the fact that he is a sexually violent predator and he will always be my rapist. Reporter in her book The Moment, constand describes years spent rebuilding her life she doesnt dwell on the past and avoids coverage of what does cosby is doing now cosby has always denied any wrongdoing and has staunch defenders including his wife camille do you have anything to say about her through all of this i almost want to say im sorry, ive forgiven, ive found peace. There was nothing happy for me about seeing Somebody Put in handcuffs and put into a van and taken to jail its all sad lives impacted, families ruined. I would say im sorry for you. Im sorry. There are people who believe that Bill Cosby was wronged because of his race, that this was a racially motivated takedown it wasnt it happened. Youre saying the crime, the alleged crime happened the crime happened. And i dont see any evidence that it was racially motivated Reporter Constand runs a foundation now to support survivors of Sexual Misconduct theres a photo in her book of a Phoenix Tattoo on her back i knew that i was going to be taken so far down that i would have to rise, that i would have to rise still rising . Rising. Reporter Kate Snow, nbc news, toronto. And up next tonight, ill talk with one of new yorks bravest. He remembers 9 11 and the race to save lives. For 20 years, weve pondered the question, what propelled so many ordinary people to rise above fear and impending doom to become heroes on September 11th tonight, we hear from the Fire Chief who led many of those heroes on that day and now tries to answer that Question Reporter Joseph Pfeifer didnt just answer the call that day. 911 from manhattan. Reporter he also made the call. We just had a Plane Crash into a floor of the World Trade Center reporter while on another routine run in lower manhattan, pfeifer literally heard the sound of disaster coming. I heard this loud noise of a plane coming overhead. Then i watched Thi Plane flying at a low altitude, race past us reporter The Moment captured by a Film Crew that had been following pfeifer that day, later featured in a documentary. The plane is going this way going along the Hudson River at a very, very fast speed. And so low, i could read on the fuselage the word american. And then i saw the Plane Aim and crash into the World Trade Center reporter pfeifer, an Fdny Battalion Chief at the time, was likely closest and initially in charge. It looks like the plane was aiming towards the building, transmitted third alarm. I remember having to slow my thinking down a little bit and create a deliberate Calm Reporter you immediately sent your firefighters into the North Tower. Did you know what you were sending them into i knew that we had multiple floors on fire and i knew that thousands of people were trapped reporter he made critical decisions, ordering the South Tower evacuated before it was hit, likely saving countless lines. Among the firefighters who raced into the North Tower was his younger brother and fellow firefighter, kevin. My brother as he came in, we were able to look at Each Other and wondered if we were both going to be okay reporter and later, as the conditions grew worse, chief pfeifer issued this ominous order and i got on the radio and said, command to all units in tower 1, evacuate the Building Reporter you were asking firefighters to leave the burning building, full knowledge that there were people you couldnt reach perhaps the first time in history that a Fire Chief ordered the evacuation of our firefighters with A Thousand people in the Building Reporter in his book ordinary heroes, pfeifer doesnt describe super men rushing into the burning tower, but in fact, ordinary, mortal men. I look at My Hero firefighters and i think they would say the same thing, that they did ordinary things but in an extraordinary time in history. Reporter including his brother. Kevin pfeifer hes my brother, with his Engine Company. We lost the entire Engine Company that day. Reporter as we walk along here, you see all these names. These are the people we lost that day how much do you think about the people that you and your firefighters saved that day that day, we saved 20,000 people. And i think thats what we have to remember thats nightly news for this tuesday. Thank you for watching, everyone im Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and Each Other. Good night im raj mathai. Next on nbc bay area, the White House called in to help Governor Newsom keep his job. And whos voted so far . Were having a conversation about the recall now just one week away. Also it appears covid is here to stay. This pandemic will last for years. So how do you prepare . Our Covid Expert joins us to explain what its going to take to fight off covid over the next several years and if Theres Anything we can do now to end the pandemic earlier, and now just bad for our