Good morning, everyone, its wednesday, november 30th, im alex witt alongside ali velshi and louis burgdorf. Already this morning, deadly weather breaking out all over the southeast. Reports of damage stretch from mississippi to alabama. A Church Day Care center and homes destroyed with three People Killed and more in critical condition. For more on this lets bring in meteorologist bill karins. Lets talk about these winds, the fires, tornados even in november. Late season tornado outbreak. We had a report of 27 tornados last night, many of them happened after dark, and a couple happened in the middle of the night. Those are the ones that people are sleeping, they dont have a lot of warning. They are woken out of bed and these are some of the pictures were getting. This is a small town in Jackson County, extreme northeastern alabama, a little Small Community town. This is like the main plaza and shopping area, completely destroyed. We heard about a Baptist Church there completely destroyed. This is a separate picture from cole bert county and this is what remains of a house. You see a house that looks like this, these werent weak tornados. Some of these tornados appear to have been strong and well see many more homes destroyed when we get day break and see more of these pictures. As far as the tornado watch goes, everywhere here still in pink, we should be ending the one in new orleans shortly. Tornado watch continues to 11 00 a. M. This morning for northern alabama, we had one Tornado Warning earlier near coleman, alabama. No longer showing any rotation, so thats good news out of there. The last map ill show you is the damage path continued last night from mississippi, all the way through northern portions of alabama. 85 total storm reports, 27 of them being tornados. Give you updates as we continue to get more pictures this morning. That means well check back with you in a bit. Three people are dead in tennessee after wildfires overtook the communities of gatlinburg and pigeon forge. When we came on the air yesterday, this was the scene, skies red with fire and thousands of people driving to flee with the flames licking at the roads around them. Theres down my road. Oh [ bleep ]. God. Well get out of it. Hit the gas. I cant see. You can see. Burning around us. Every cabin, everything. Embers raining down on them. From a distance the smokey mountains were just lit up. This is dollywood, the resort and theme park belonging to dolly parrton. Some cabins were damaged or destroyed. Morning light revealed what fire does. 150 homes, restaurants, businesses, and structures destroyed. 14,000 people evacuated, though now pigeon forge has been given the allclear to begin returning home. One man came by to collect what was left of his familys belongings after rushing his grandfather out last night. His grandfather didnt want to leave. Got my grandparents out probably about an hour before it burned. Everybodys safe, but their home for 43 years is gone. My grandfather being a vietnam vet, one of the main things is, guns. So the gun i learned how to shoot with, my first bb gun is right here. Whats left of it. Yeah, whats left of it anyway. So it is completely gone. Mayor mike warner tried to rally his community, though he himself lost his home and business. Three people are still in critical condition, but emergency crews havent been able to get into some mountainous areas yet, so for many there is no rest. Carrie sanders caught up with one man whos still waiting for news about his own family. Reporter michael reid separated from his wife and two children in the chaos, unsure if constance, 12yearold chloe, and 9yearold lilly are alive. She called from the house phone and said that there were flames across the street from our house and she didnt know what to do. I told her to call 911 and get out. That was the last time i heard from her. Thats chilling. The local paper reports that a friend drove to his home to check on that house and it had been destroyed. Ali . Well keep staying on that story. President elect donald trump and his Onetime Republican party rival mitt romney met last night for a second discussion since trumps victory three weeks ago. The two dined with rnc chairman and incoming chief of staff Reince Priebus at a pricey and world renowned restaurant at a trump property in manhattan. In case youre wondering, dinner included frog legs and divers scallops, among other things. Romney is in talks on position for secretary of state, an uncomfortable choice for some trump loyalist, given romney disdained trumps character through the general election, but the Washington Post reports a mutual acquaintance of romney and trump urged the 2012 nominee to work with the new president. Stephen pagliuca told romney when he golfed with trump some years ago trump had talked at length how much he admired bain, the private equity firm romney led until 1999. Speaking to reporters after the dinner last night, romney talked about his conversations with trump. I had a wonderful evening with president elect trump. We had another discussion about affairs throughout the world, and these discussions ive had with him have been enlightening and interesting and engaging. Ive enjoyed them very, very much. I was also very impressed by the remarks he made on his victory night. By the way, its not easy, i know that myself. He did something i tried to do and was unsuccessful in accomplishing, he won the general election, and he continues with a message of inclusion and bringing people together. And his vision is something which obviously connected with the American People in a very powerful way. Thanchtsst what you call a back pedal. Last night Kellyanne Conway said to expect new announcements around 6 30 a. M. Today. Stay tuned with morning joe interview with Reince Priebus. Ali, theres still others in the running for the highest ranking unelected cabinet position. Yesterday president elect met with senator bob corker of tennessee, another potential secretary of state. Just two weeks ago corker told nbc that his likely role would continue to be chairman of the Foreign Relations committee, but yesterday the senator deflected questions about joining the cabinet and instead describing what the job requires. Secretary of states role is so important to a president. He needs to choose someone that hes very comfortable with and he knows theres going to be no daylight between him and them. The world needs to know that the secretary of state is someone who speaks fully for the president , and again thats a decision hes going to have to make. Meanwhile, former new york city mayor Rudy Giuliani was scheduled to meet with trump yesterday. Giuliani has made it plain what he sees as his qualifications for the job. Ali . Thanks, louis. Investigators have retrieved two black boxes from the plane crash that killed 71 people in colombia. While investigators work, they are looking into the planes pilot, who reported an electrical problem and circled before crashing just miles from the airport in medellin. A surviving Flight Attendant reportedly told rescuers that the plane ran out of fuel. On the brazilian flight, on the flight was a Brazilian Soccer Team and journalists on their way to a south American Championship playoff. Only seven people survived the initial crash, including three team members. The teams goaltender later died at a hospital. Last night fans packed the soccer teams home stadium in brazil for a candlelight vigil. The countrys president has declared three days of national mourning. So tragic. The remains of fidel castro will remain the trek to their final resting place today, following a massive remembrance rally. Tens of thousands packed into revolution square last night to honor castro. Greeces Prime Minister, along with the president s of mexico, venezuela, and south africa were on hand. Cuban president raul castro close the the rally, calling his brother a leader of the revolution for the humble and by the humble. The white house announced yesterday the chief u. S. Diplomat in havana and Deputy National security adviser will attend castros funeral, but there will not be an official delegation to cuba. Back in the u. S. , the former South CarolinaPolice Officer charged in the death of an unarmed black man took the stand in his own defense yesterday. Michael slager is accused of killing walter scott in North Charleston in april of last year. This cell phone video of the incident, which appears to show schrager shooting scott as he ran away shocked the nation. In my mind at that time, people dont run from its always another reason. Schrager testified on the stand that he fired his taser at scott three times and while trying to subdue him on the ground, scott wrestled his taser away and pointed it at him before the two men got up. I see that barrel, like this big, coming at me. And i knew i was in trouble. At that time i pulled my firearm and i pulled the trigger. I fired until the threat was stopped. Like im trained to do. Schrager, whos been housed in a cell block along with accused Charleston Church shooter dylann roof said his life has been a nightmare, saying his family, along with scotts family, has been destroyed by the incident. Slager couldnt witness the birth of his first child and faces life in prison. Closing arguments are expected to begin today, ali. Two soldiers have been charged with premeditated murder in connection with the disappearance of a fellow soldier. The two, both members of the 101st Airborne Division also face charges of kidnapping and conspiracy. Private first class shadow mcclain went missing back in september. Family members say their relationship was tumultuous. Authorities have not yet said whether mcclains body has been found. Louis . Officials in california say one of the two inmates who escaped from a california jail a week ago has been recaptured. The Sheriffs Office says campbell was taken into custody last night. The search continues for chavez. Officials say the men escaped last wednesday after sawing through the bars that covered a window and rappelling two stories to the ground using a bed sheet. The Sheriffs Office says it will release more information on the arrest in a News Conference later this morning. Still ahead, Hillary Clinton makes a surprise appearance in new york and honors one of her biggest celebrity supporters on the campaign trail. Plus, the Double Overtime showdown between ohio state and michigan has led to a shakeup in College Football playoff rankings. Those stories and a check on weather when we come right back. vo stank face. An expression of disgust caused by inadequate litter tidy cats is the cure. With new guaranteed tidylock protection, you wont have to face one more stank face. Tidy cats. Every home, every cat. Theres a tidy cats for that. Ive heard it all. Eat more fiber. Flax seeds. Yogurt. Get moving. Keep moving. I know try laxatives. Been there, done that. My chronic constipation keeps coming back. I know. Tell me something i dont know. Vo linzess works differently from laxatives. Linzess treats adults with ibs with constipation or chronic constipation. It can help relieve your belly pain, and lets you have more frequent and complete bowel movements that are easier to pass. Do not give linzess to children under six and it should not be given to children six to seventeen. It may harm them. 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Last night Hillary Clinton made a surprise appearance at the annual unicef snowflake ball in new york city. The former secretary of state introduced her pop star supporter and unicef goodwill Ambassador Katy Perry with a humanitarian award, reportedly bringing the singer to tears. Clinton described perry as a champion, while perry said clinton has, quote, lit a voice inside of her that will never go out. You may remember perry appeared with clinton on the campaign trail, one of her most high profile celebrity supporters. Louis . Chris christie is opening up about his political future and whether it involves a spot in the trump administration. Christie announced a News Conference yesterday morning, ended up having some fun at the presss expense, using the event to roll out a 300 million renovation to new jerseys state house, but christie also addressed the elephant in the room about whats next for him. I have said and for some reason people think im equivocal about this, and im not, i am completing my term. I want you all to take a deep breath and relax. For those of you who would be distraught over the idea that i would leave before january 18th of 2018, no reason for you to be distraught, im not leaving. For those of you looking forward of me leaving before january 18th of 2018, sorry to disappoint you, but im not going to. So for whatever camp you fall into or even a neutral one, if there are any neutrals left after seven years, im not going anywhere. And despite that claim by christie hes not going anywhere, he didnt completely close the door on joining the trump administration, saying he would consider any requests that are made. Okay. Lets get a check on weather now. Whats it looking like out there overall . The Severe Threat is diminishing. Its not over with. Still could get an isolated tornado throughout the morning. A lot of the worst damage has been done, including mississippi and through alabama. Heres a map that shows you the damage path. This is where we started 3 00 p. M. Yesterday, northern louisiana, mississippi, and then the storms spread pretty quickly across the state. In the area of greatest concern yesterday afternoon was in central mississippi. A lot of wind damage reports. Did get a couple tornados, then overnight numerous tornados forming in northern alabama, red icons where we had tornado reports and this patch here, this is the ones we had the confirmed three fatalities, Jackson County, alabama. In all we had 27 what we called unfiltered tornado reports, couple may be double, so somewhere around two dozen. Wind damage reports, 40 to 50 of those. In total weve had 68 damage reports throughout this region. So we do expect a lot of the pictures when they come in, we will see structures that were totally destroyed. Already had a couple pictures of those in from alabama. We know the small town where the fatalities were, a Baptist Church was destroyed there, the main plaza in town for shopping and the gas station was destroyed. This is a rural, only two main roads go through the town and they had a lot of damage there. In all, about 550 miles along that damage path. For today, we dont expect a tornado outbreak by any means. We will see isolated Severe Weather from about northern upstate portions of South Carolina, atlanta, augusta area, columbus, and northern florida. Wind damage would be the biggest concern, 10 Million People under severe risk today, but again, only isolated tornado. Heres the timing, theres 11 00, 12 00, as we go throughout the late afternoon, if we get strong storms on that front, thats when theyll occur. Cold front moves slowly to the east, so beneficial rain, but need the Severe Weather we got along with it. Some of the rain will move up the east coast, too. We showed you the fires, its pouring on the fires right now, probably an additional half inch rainfall totals here about an inch to inch and a half. Thats fantastic news for the firefighting efforts in that area. Probably wont put them all out, but its a big step in the right direction and everyone in the northeast, too, be prepared, heavy rain this afternoon and significant airport delays, but wont be Severe Weather up here from d. C. To boston in new york, just heavy downpours this afternoon. All right, great Mother Nature is helping out. Thanks so much, bill. One good. Yep. Still ahead, all the action from the nba court, including the moment j. R. Smith decided it to skip his defensive duties while playing the milwaukee bucs last night. Louis will show you next in sports. Ordinary tissues left dakotas nose sore and red. So dad slayed the problem with puffs plus lotion, instead. With lotion to soothe and softness to please. A nose in need deserves puffs, indeed. I want a hippopotamus for christmas only a hippopotamus will do at the United States postal service, we deliver more Online Purchases to homes than anyone else in the country. And more hippopotamuses, too. So whatever your holiday priority, our priority is you. Welcome back. Time now for sports and a sha