>>> TONIGHT, THE URGENT EFFORT TO AVOID A CATASTROPHIC GOVERNMENT DEFAULT PRESIDENT BIDEN HOSTING SPEAKER KEVIN McCARTHY AT THE WHITE HOUSE. BOTH NOW OPTIMISTIC A DEAL CAN BE REACHED. THE PRESIDENT SAYING THEY NEED TO REDUCE THE DEFICIT AS THE GOVERNMENT BENEFITS FROM MILLIONS AND MUCH, MUCH MORE HANG IN THE BALANCE >>> THE DEADLIEST FIGHT OF THE UKRAINE WAR. RUSSIA NOW IN CONTROL OF THE CENTER OF BAKHMUT, BUT UKRAINE SAYS IT IS NOT OVER. >>> SENATOR TIM SCOTT OF SOUTH CAROLINA THE LATEST REPUBLICAN TO CHALLENGE FRONT-RUNNER DONALD TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT. OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW. >>> THE SUSPECT IN THE MURDERS OF FOUR IDAHO COLLEGE STUDENTS IN COURT INSIDE BRYAN KOHBERGER'S APPROACH AS WE LEARN OF NEW EVIDENCE IN THE CASE >>> ALSO TONIGHT, WE RETURN TO FLORIDA, DEVASTATED BY HURRICANE IAN. EIGHT MONTHS AGO FLORIDA INSURANCE COMPANIES ACCUSED OF SHORT CHANGING HOMEOWNERS, WHERE IT IS QUESTIONED WERE DAMAGE CLAIMS ALTERED? FAMILIES STILL IN LIMBO IN UNINHABITABLE HOMES. WE INVESTIGATE >>> PLUS, FLORIDA'S MASSIVE TOURISM INDUSTRY BOOMING IN SOME PLACES. IT IS STRUGGLING IN OTHERS >>> AND WE MET THEM RIGHT AFTER IAN HIT. SOME LEFT, SOME STAYED THE STEPS FORWARD BIG AND SMALL AS FT. MYERS BEACH COMES BACK >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT REPORTING TONIGHT LIVE FROM FT. MYERS BEACH, FLORIDA. >>> GOOD EVENING WELCOME, EVERYONE. WE'VE TAKEN "NIGHTLY NEWS" ON THE ROAD TONIGHT TO FT. MYERS BEACH, FLORIDA, FOR A STORY OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS TONIGHT WITH THE OFFICIAL START OF HURRICANE SEASON JUST OVER A WEEK AWAY, A FOLLOWUP TO HURRICANE IAN WHICH CAME ASHORE HERE IN SEPTEMBE AS A DESTRUCTIVE CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE IN MANY SPOTS HERE AS YOU CAN SEE AROUND ME, IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAPPENED JUST LAST WEEK AND THERE ARE A LOT OF HOUSES THAT LOOK LIKE THIS I SPENT SEVERAL NIGHTS IN THE DAYS AFTER THE STORM REPORTING HERE ON WHAT BECAME ONE OF THE COSTLIEST NATURAL DISASTERS IN U.S. HISTORY. IT CLAIMED MORE THAN 150 LIVES DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY AND LEFT A TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION EIGHT MONTHS LATER, WE'RE BACK WITNESSING UNEVEN RECOVERY AT BEST SURELY A STORY OF RESILIENCE AND HOPE, ALSO ONE OF DEEP FRUSTRATION WHERE PATIENCE IS THIN, ESPECIALLY OVER UNPAID INSURANCE CLAIMS WE'LL LOOK DEEPER INTO THAT IN A FEW MOMENTS. >>> BUT ECONOMIC WELL-BEING IS AT THE TOP OF MIND FOR AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TONIGHT. THE PRESSURE TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING HAS NEVER BEEN HIGHER. TODAY WITH THE U.S. QUICKLY RUNNING OUT OF HEAD ROOM TO PAY ITS BILLS, AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF DEFAULT SEVERE, A HIGH-STAKES NEGOTIATING SESSION BETWEEN PRESIDENT BIDEN AND HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN McCARTHY KELLY O'DONNELL IS AT THE WHITE HOUSE WITH THE LATEST KELLY? >>> LESTER, THE PRESIDENT SAYS A CRITICAL POINT NOW IS THAT HE AND THE SPEAKER MUST BE ABLE TO SELL WHATEVER DEAL THEY CAN REACH TO THEIR OWN PARTIES. I ASKED THE PRESIDENT IF SPENDING FIGURES ARE THE KEY TO RESOLVING THIS AND HE SAID NOT THAT ALONE HE ALSO WANTS TO TALK ABOUT RAISING TAXES ON THE WEALTHY, A NONSTARTER FOR REPUBLICANS. >>> STEPPING OUT OF THE WEST WING THE HOUSE SPEAKER SAID NO DEAL YET >> I THINK IT WAS PRODUCTIVE THE PROFESSIONALISM AND HONESTY WITH ONE ANOTHER. >> Reporter: IN THE OVAL OFFICE THE PRESIDENT ALSO LOOKED FOR PROGRESS >> I THINK WE MAY BE ABLE TO GET WHERE WE HAVE TO GO WE BOTH KNOW WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITY >> Reporter: COMING TOGETHER WITHOUT OTHER CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS, LATE TODAY, AFTER FINANCIAL MARKETS CLOSED NEGOTIATORS ALSO MET ON CAPITOL HILL. HOUSE REPUBLICANS WANT TO REDUCE OVERALL SPENDING AND SAY DEMOCRATS ARE NOT WILLING TO CUT ENOUGH. >> THE TIME OF SPENDING, JUST SPENDING MORE MONEY IN AMERICA AND GOVERNMENT IS WRONG >> Reporter: ADDING TO THE PRESSURE A FRESH ASSESSMENT FROM THE TREASURY SECRETARY THE COUNTRY'S ABILITY TO BORROW IS HIGHLY LIKELY TO RUN OUT AS EARLY AS JUNE 1st, TRIGGERING DEFAULT AND WHAT ECONOMISTS SAY WOULD CAUSE JOB LOSSES, STOCK MARKET DECLINES, AND RECESSION. THAT MIGHT EVEN INCLUDE A DELAY IN FEDERAL FINANCIAL BENEFITS OWED TO GOLD STAR FAMILIES LIKE TERESA JONES, A NAVY WIDOW WITH TWO SONS. HER HUSBAND, A CHOPPER PILOT, WAS KILLED IN 2013 >> IT WOULD ABSOLUTELY BE AN ADDED BURDEN IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, OKAY WHERE IS THE MORTGAGE -- WHERE ARE THE FUNDS FOR THAT COMING FROM? WHERE ARE THE GROCERY BILLS COMING FROM? >> Reporter: AND THE TIMING, SO CLOSE TO MEMORIAL DAY WHEN EMOTIONS ARE ALREADY RAW >> I AM FRUSTRATED FOR MY FAMILY, MY GOLD STAR FRIENDS, THEIR FAMILIES I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAS TO BE SO DIFFICULT. >> Reporter: THE STRESS COMPOUNDINGHOUSE. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, THE DEADLIEST BATTLE OF THE WAR IN UKRAINE RUSSIA NOW CLAIMING VICTORY IN BAKHMUT BUT UKRAINIAN FORCES STILL FIGHTING MOLLY HUNTER IS IN UKRAINE FOR US TONIGHT. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, THE CITY OF BAKHMUT IS OBLITERATED. AS THE SUN SETS, THE CHARRED REMAINS OF THE CITY ONCE HOME TO 80,000 PEOPLE. THE MERCENARY GROUP CLAIMING FULL CONTROL OVER THE EASTERN CITY AND PRESIDENT PUTIN CONGRATULATING THE TROOPS TODAY AS PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY RETURNS HOME FROM THE G-7 -- >> Reporter: UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS SAY IT'S STILL A FIGHT FOR THE OUTSKIRTS OF BAKHMUT THE KREMLIN RELEASING FOOTAGE OF RUSSIAN FIGHTER JETS IT SAYS TARGETING AN AIR BASE IN A SOUTHERN UKRAINIAN CITY BUT UKRAINE SAYS IT WAS THE CIVILIANS THAT CAME UNDER RUSSIAN FIRE NOBODY HERE THIS GRANDMOTHER SAYS COULD HAVE IMAGINED IN THEIR WORST DREAMS WHAT HAPPENED HERE LAST NIGHT. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, THE SIGNS THAT CONFLICT IS SPILLING ACROSS THE BORDER. FIGHTING REPORTED INSIDE RUSSIA. YOU HEAR THE SIRENS. THE BATTLE OF BAKHMUT IS THE BLOODIEST BATTLE SO FAR. BUT OF LITTLE STRATEGIC VALUE. NOW IF RUSSIA ACTUALLY DOES CONTROL THAT CITY'S CENTER, THEY HAVE TO HOLD IT AS UKRAINE PREPARES THEIR COUNTER OFFENSIVE. LESTER >> MOLLY HUNTER, THANK YOU. A HAUNTING SOUND BEHIND YOU PLEASE STAY SAFE, YOU AND YOUR CREW. >>> NOW TO THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE REPUBLICAN SENATOR TIM SCOTT JUMPING IN CAN HE FIND A LANE AGAINST THE FRONT-RUNNER FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP? HE SPOKE WITH OUR REPORTER IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, THE REPUBLICAN RACE HEATING UP >> I'M THE CANDIDATE, THE FAR LEFT FEARS THE MOST >> Reporter: SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR TIM SCOTT EMPHASIZING HIS OWN STORY AND LEANING INTO OPTIMISM. >> Reporter: YOU HAVE A VERY POSITIVE MESSAGE YOU QUOTE SCRIPTURE. THE TWO PEOPLE LEADING THE GOP RIGHT NOW, DONALD TRUMP AND DeSANTIS, THEY'RE NOT AFRAID TO DEMONIZE OPPONENTS. DO YOU THINK GOP VOTERS WANT SOMEONE CARRYING A BIBLE OR DO THEY WANT SOMEONE DRIVING A BULLDOZER INTO THE DEMOCRATS >> THE TRUTH IS THAT WHAT PEOPLE REALLY WANT IS AN OPTIMISTIC, POSITIVE, CONSERVATIVE WHO HAS A BACKBONE BUT ALSO BELIEVES THAT THE BEST IS YET TO COME I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO BE A PESSIMIST TO BE STRONG. >> Reporter: HE HIGHLIGHTED HIS GRANDFATHER WHO PICKED COTTON THEN SAW HIS GRANDSON ELECTED TO CONGRESS >> MY AMAZING MOTHER -- >> Reporter: AND HIS MOM WHO HELPED HIM RISE UP OUT OF POVERTY. IN 2021, YOU WOULD SUPPORT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IF HE RAN FOR RE-ELECTION. HE IS RUNNING BUT YOU JUST ANNOUNCED YOUR CANDIDACY. WHAT CHANGED >> I BELIEVE AMERICA CAN BE FOR ANYONE. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A PRESIDENT THAT PERSUADES, NOT JUST WITHIN OUR BASE, BUT EVEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE I KNOW I'M THE CANDIDATE THAT BEST GETS THAT DONE >> Reporter: SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE TRYING TO DRAW A CONTRAST THERE. WHAT WILL YOU OFFER VOTERS THAT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL NOT? >> THE QUESTION IS I'M RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, PERIOD I PLAN TO WIN. SO THE QUESTION IS WHAT DO THE VOTERS WANT IN THEIR PRESIDENT? THEY WANT SOMEONE THAT CAN PERSUADE ON THE ISSUES THAT MATTER THE MOST >> Reporter: WOULD YOU EVER TRY TO OVERTURN AN ELECTION YOU LOST >> NO. >> Reporter: WE PRESSED SENATOR SCOTT ON ISSUES LIKE ABORTION >> AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, I WOULD SIGN THE MOST CONSERVATIVE LEGISLATION THAT CAN GET TO MY DESK >> Reporter: ARE IN FAVOR OF A FEDERAL BAN ON ABORTION? >> WE'LL SEE LEGISLATION LIKE THAT COME THROUGH CONGRESS. IF WE DON'T FIRST WIN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE >> Reporter: AND SCOTT DRAWING DISTINCTIONS WITH RON DeSANTIS, THE FLORIDA GOVERNOR WHO INITIALLY CALLED THE WAR IN UKRAINE A TERRITORIAL DISPUTE. >> AMERICA'S NATIONAL VITAL INTEREST INCLUDES DEGRADING THE RUSSIAN MILITARY THEREFORE, OUR PRESENCE IN UKRAINE IS ESSENTIAL TO US ACHIEVING THAT DIRECTIVE. >> Reporter: SO YOU DISAGREE WITH HIM ON THAT POINT AND YOU THINK IT IS MUCH BIGGER THAN A TERRITORIAL DISPUTE. TOM LLAMAS, NBC NEWS, CHARLESTON >>> IN MOSCOW, IDAHO, THE SUSPECT IS THERE THINGS TOOK AN UNUSUAL TURN IN THE COURTROOM. >> HE SEEMED VERY ALERT AND DIRECT AS HE TOLD THE JUDGE HE UNDERSTOOD THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM. WHEN HE WAS ASKED HOW HE PLED, INSTEAD OF SAYING GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY, HE REMAINED SILENT, SO UNDER IDAHO LAW THE JUDGE ENTERED DEFAULT PLEAS OF NOT GUILTY FOR KOHBERGER AND SET THE TRIAL FOR OCTOBER 2nd. THERE ARE NEW QUESTIONS COMING TO LIGHT AFTER EXCLUSIVE REPORTING FROM "DATELINE." ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS KOHBERGER'S DNA EVIDENCE WAS FOUND ON A KNIFE SHEATH AT THE SCENE AND NOW A SOURCE WITH INSIDE KNOWLEDGE OF THE INVESTIGATION IS TELLING "DATELINE" DETECTIVES FOUND EVIDENCE THAT KOHBERGER ORDERED THE KNIFE AND SHEATH ON AMAZON SEVEN MONTHS BEFORE THE KILLING AFTER TODAY'S HEARING THE PROSECUTION WILL NOW HAVE 60 DAYS TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY A LITTLE LATER. LESTER >> ALL RIGHT GADI SCHWARTZ, THANK YOU. >>> IN 60 SECONDS WE ARE BACK FROM FT. MYERS BEACH AND WE'LL GO INSIDE THE BATTLE OVER INSURANCE WITH HOMEOWNERS DESPERATE TO REBUILD PLUS HOW TOURISM IS BOUNCING >>> WE'RE BACK FROM FT. MYERS BEACH WHERE HURRICANE IAN HIT EIGHT MONTHS AGO WITH HURRICANE SEASON ABOUT TO BEGIN, MANY HOMEOWNERS HERE ARE STILL IN LIMBO, STRUGGLING TO GET INSURANCE PAYOUTS THEY NEED TO REBUILD. >> THIS WAS OUR MASTER BEDROOM. >> Reporter: WHAT WAS ONCE THE CLIFFORD FAMILY'S HOME IS NOW AN UNLIVABLE MAZE OF STUDS. THIS HOME IS UNINHABITABLE NOW. FOR HOW LONG >> UNTIL WE CAN FIX IT >> OH, MY GOD. >> Reporter: WHEN IAN TORE THROUGH FLORIDA, LAST SEPTEMBER, THEY HAD JUST RELOCATED FROM NEW JERSEY AND WERE DAYS AWAY FROM MOVING INTO THEIR NEW HOME THE ROOF WAS DAMAGED, FLOORS AND CEILING SOAKED BUT THE CLIFFORD'S THOUGHT THEY WERE RELATIVELY LUCKY THEN THEY SAY 9-YEAR-OLD SHEILA STARTED GETTING SICK WHEN WAS THE MOMENT YOU REALIZED YOU COULDN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE? >> THE MOMENT THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS MOLD IN MY DAUGHTER'S ROOM AND IT WASN'T SAFE FOR THEM TO STAY THERE ANYMORE. >> Reporter: AN ADJUSTOR THAT HE HIRED ESTIMATES THERE IS MORE THAN $400,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. THEY DIDN'T HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE AND THEIR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE HAS ONLY COVERED THE DAMAGE TO THE ROOF >> THEY SENT A CHECK FOR I THINK AFTER DEDUCTIBLE ABOUT $4800. >> Reporter: IS THAT GOING TO CUT IT? >> NO. >> Reporter: CLOSE >> NOT AT ALL. >> Reporter: THE COMPANY SENT A LETTER SAYING THE DAMAGE IS NOT COVERED BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE OCCURRED FROM WIND DRIVEN RAIN. OR ELEVATED FLOOD LEVELS THE CLIFFORDS ARE SUING THE INSURANCE COMPANY WHICH TOLD NBC NEWS THEY WERE UNABLE TO COMMENT FURTHER DUE TO THE ONGOING LITIGATION HOW WOULD YOU RANK THE INSURANCE RESPONSE >> GARBAGE >> TERRIBLE. >> Reporter: EIGHT MONTHS AFTER HURRICANE IAN, DESTRUCTION IS STILL A COMMON SIGHT HERE MANY HOMEOWNERS BLAME INSURANCE COMPANIES SAYING PAYOUTS HAVE BEEN SLOW AND INSUFFICIENT AND FLORIDA'S DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES IS INVESTIGATING POSSIBLE FRAUD AFTER SEVERAL INDUSTRY SPENT ADJUSTORS CAME FORWARD ALLEGING WORK HAD BEEN MANIPULATED TO PAY POLICYHOLDERS LESS WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD AND DISCUSS THIS >> THE FACT IT WAS JUST WRONG AS WRONG COULD BE THERE IS NO DOORS OR WINDOWS LEFT >> Reporter: WHEN A STORM HITS, ADJUSTORS ARE HIRED BY COMPANIES CALLED THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATORS OR TPAs TO HELP INSURANCE COMPANIES GET THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS OF CLAIMS THEIR JOB IS TO GO TO HOMES AND ESTIMATE PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE COMPANIES CAN MAKE REVISIONS TO THE REPORTS BUT THE ADJUSTORS SAY MAJOR CHANGES WERE MADE WITHOUT THEIR COLLABORATION OR CONSENT. >> 44 OF THE 46 CLAIMS THAT I TURNED IN TO THE FIRM THAT I WAS WORKING FOR, THEY MANIPULATED 44 OF THEM >> Reporter: WHAT THINGS WERE DIFFERENT THAN WHEN YOU SIGNED OFF? >> THERE WERE MISSING PICTURES AND THE DOLLAR AMOUNT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED FROM WHAT I HAD ORIGINALLY WRITTEN FOR. >> Reporter: WOULD YOU PICK UP THE PHONE AND CHALLENGE THEM >> I DID THEY GAVE ME NO BASIS AS TO WHY THEY WERE MAKING THOSE CHANGES >> Reporter: NBC NEWS REVIEWED SEVERAL OF THE REPORTS THEY SUBMITTED AND THE FINAL COPIES IN MANY CASES, THE LOSSES WERE REDUCED BY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. >> I HAVE ONE THAT I WROTE FOR $239,000 AND THE ALTERED ESTIMATE IS $3,476 >> Reporter: THE FINAL REPORT STILL LISTS THE ADJUSTORS' NAMES HAS YOUR WORK BEEN TOTALLY MISREPRESENTED >> VERY MUCH SO. SO YOU COME OUT TO A CATEGORY 5 HOME. YOU SEE THE DAMAGE AND I WRITE AN ESTIMATE FOR THAT DAMAGE. BY THE TIME IT GETS BACK TO THE POLICYHOLDER THAT, ROOF IS NOT ON THAT ESTIMATE AT ALL. I MEAN, WHAT DO YOU DO >> Reporter: THE INSURANCE COMPANY ASSOCIATED WITH HIS WORK SAYS IT TAKES THESE KINDS OF ALLEGATIONS VERY SERIOUSLY. ADDING TPAs INTERNALLY REVIEW AND MAKE CORRECT ADJUSTMENTS BEFORE THEY ARE PRESENTED TO COMPANIES FOR A COVERAGE DETERMINATION. THE TPA AND INSURANCE COMPANY LEE WORKED FOR HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO NBC NEWS' REQUEST FOR COMMENT. HAVE YOU SEEN THESE ALTERED ESTIMATES IN OTHER DISASTERS? >> YES, WE HAVE. >> Reporter: DOUG QUINN FOUNDED AN ASSOCIATION AFTER HIS HOME WAS DESTROYED IN SUPERSTORM SANDY >> THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT DID THE RIGHT THING. THEY PUT A SAFETY NET IN PLACE IN CASE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS. AND WHEN THAT SAFETY NET FAILS THEM, WHAT THEY GO THROUGH IS DEVASTATING. >> Reporter: AS FOR THE CLIFFORDS, THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY'LL BE ABLE TO RETURN HOME ARE YOU IN LIMBO >> KIND OF JUST KEEP REITERATING TO MYSELF THAT THERE'S GOT TO BE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL >> Reporter: WE HAVE MORE TO TELL YOU UP NEXT, INSIDE FLORIDA'S TOURISM REBOUND. THE NEW HURRICANE SEASON APPROACHES. >>> WITH THE THEME PARKS, BEACHES AND RESORTS, FLORIDA RELIES ON TOURISM AS A PILLAR OF THE ECONOMY. BUT OUR NBC ORLANDO STATION REPORTER TELLS US, THE RECOVERY AFTER LAST YEAR'S DEVASTATING HURRICANES IS A MIXED STORY ACROSS THE STATE >> Reporter: ON FLORIDA'S COCOA BEACH, THE SURF DIRECTOR SAYS BUSINESS IS BOOMING. >> I'D SAY 90% OF THE BUSINESS IS TOURISM. WE GET PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY >> Reporter: 137 MILLION TOURISTS A YEAR BRING FLORIDA ROUGHLY $100 BILLION IN REVENUE SUPPORTING 1.6 MILLION JOBS >> WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO COME INTO THE STATE THERE ARE HUGE PART OF OUR ECONOMY. >> Reporter: ALL OF IT, AT RISK WITH EACH INCREASINGLY DEVASTATING HURRICANE. IAN FLOODED AREAS OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, SHUT DOWN THEME PARKS, AND BATTERED THE SHORELINE. EIGHT MONTHS LATER, SOME PARTS OF THE STATE ARE SETTING NEW RECORDS. >> AND LIFTOFF >> Reporter: ROCKET LAUNCHES FUELING TOURIST SPENDING AND 72 MILES OF BEACH EAST OF ORLANDO >> WE LIKE TO SAY WE'RE THE ONLY BEACH THAT DOUBLES AS A LAUNCH PAD >> Reporter: BUT ON BARRIER ISLANDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STATE, RECOVERY IS MUCH SLOWER. HOW IS TOURISM PRE- IAN VERSUS TODAY >> OH, MY GOSH WE WERE LOOKING AT RECORD NUMBERS COMING IN >> HOLLY SMITH WAS MAYOR OF SANIBEL WHEN IAN HIT. >> OUR TOURISM DOLLARS WERE STRONGER THAN THEY EVER HAD BEEN BEFORE, 1920, 21 AND THAT CAME TO AN ABRUPT HALT. >> Reporter: BEFORE IAN SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA ISLANDS HOSTED 2600 RENTALS NOW THERE ARE LESS THAN 200 RENTALS, THE ISLAND INN ONE OF THE ONLY PLACES YOU CAN STAY >> YOU WANT THE TOURISTS TO COME BACK BUT YOU WANT TO BE READY. IT IS A FINE LINE WE'RE WALKING. >> Reporter: SANIBEL USED TO SEE MORE THAN A MILLION VISITORS A YEAR 1600 A DAY JUST AT THE DING DARLING NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE. >> WILDLIFE IS VERY RESILIENT. >> Reporter: SINCE REOPENING LAST MONTH IT STRUGGLES TO BRING IN 300 A DAY. >> THE WILDLIFE WILL CONTINUE TO USE IT THAT GIVES US A LOT OF HOPE >> Reporter: HOPE AND DETERMINATION. SLOWLY BRINGING THE ISLAND BACK. THE VISITOR CENTER REOPENED, REPAIRS UNDER WAY AT THE NATIONAL SHELL MUSEUM. RESTAURANTS ONCE AGAIN READY TO SERVE TOURISTS RETURNING FOR THE WATERS AND THE SHORE. >> IT IS BEAUTIFUL WE DON'T HAVE BEACHES LIKE THIS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. >> Reporter: WITH HURRICANE SEASON APPROACHING THE LESSONS FROM IAN ARE CLEAR. RESILIENCE IS THE ESSENTIAL CONSIDERATION IN REBUILDING >> SANIBEL TOOK A HUGE HIT. DID YOU GET A SENSE TALKING TO FOLKS THAT MAYBE IT WASN'T A GOOD IDEA TO REBUILD? >> Reporter: ACROSS THE BOARD WE SAW DETERMINATION TO COME BACK TOURISM IS THE BUSINESS OF SANIBEL ISLAND AND WITHOUT IT THERE ISN'T MUCH OF AN ECONOMY. PEOPLE TELL US IT COULD TAKE UP TO FIVE YEARS TO GET BACK TO WHERE THEY WERE BUT THEY'RE IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL. >> THANKS VERY MUCH. >>> UP NEXT THE STORIES OF INCREDIBLE STRENGTH AFTER HURRICANE IAN. >>> FINALLY, SIGNS OF HOPE AND WHAT HURRICANE SURVIVORS HERE TOLD ME ABOUT DISCOVERING STRENGTH WITHIN THEMSELVES AND EACH OTHER IT'S BEEN EIGHT MONTHS SINCE HURRICANE IAN BARRELLED ASHORE BUT FOR SOME IN FT. MYERS BEACH IT LOOKS AND FEELS LIKE YESTERDAY >> IT WAS TERRIFYING >> A LOT OF PEOPLE STILL WITHOUT POWER. QUITE A FEW THAT DON'T HAVE WATER >> Reporter: THE BEACH BAPTIST CHURCH FILLING WHAT EVEN TODAY IS STILL AN URGENT NEED >> WE'RE FEEDING ABOUT 2800 MOUTHS PER MONTH. >> Reporter: THERE ARE SIGNS OF PROGRESS -- REBUILDING, BUSINESSES SLOWLY RETURNING, EVEN WEEKEND BEACH GOERS ARE BACK RECOVERY IS MEASURED IN SMALL STEPS VOLUNTEERS CLEANING UP, POSTING STREET SIGNS. >> THEY CALL IT THE BEACH VIBE COMING BACK. >> Reporter: BUT THE PERSONAL TOLL IS HARD TO MEASURE SOME LEFT AFTER THE STORM. OTHERS CHOSE TO STAY HOW ARE YOU, MAN GOOD TO SEE YOU. HOW YOU BEEN I FIRST MET FISHERMAN AND COAST GUARD VETERAN MATTHEW SIMONSON THE DAY AFTER HURRICANE IAN HIT. >> IT'S LIKE A TSUNAMI. >> TELLING ME ABOUT HIS HARROWING STORY OF SURVIVAL, CLINGING TO A BOAT AS IT WAS HURLED ON TO LAND ATOP THE STORM SURGE. >> WE WERE ACTUALLY EYE LEVEL. WE WERE TAKING OUT SOME OF THESE TOP WIRES. >> WE FOUND HIM STILL LIVING HERE DOING MARINE SALVAGE WHAT MADE YOU STICK IT OUT? >> THERE IS SO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE HERE STILL. >> THAT SENSE OF PURPOSE AND HOPE EXTENDS EVEN TO THE VERY YOUNGEST HERE THE CHILDREN OF FT. MYERS BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WERE FORCED TO RELOCATE TO ANOTHER SCHOOL WHEN THEIRS WAS DESTROYED. HOW DID YOU DO DURING THE STORM? >> I FEEL LIKE I DID PRETTY GOOD. >> THEIR STORY, SHARED IN A SONG THAT DEEPLY RESONATES ON THIS BEACH AND ACROSS THIS BATTERED BUT REM REMARKABLY STRONG COMMUNITY. ♪ WE CAN TAKE WHATEVE COMES OUR WAY ♪ >> WHAT GIVES YOU THAT STRENGTH >> BECAUSE AFTER THE STORM I FELT LIKE I LOST EVERYTHING BUT I REALIZED I STILL HAVE MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY. ♪ >> THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS" FOR THIS MONDAY. JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT WHEN I REPORT LIVE FROM MIAMI ON THE REMARKABLE GROWTH HERE AND WHY THE ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE MAY RUN THROUGH FLORIDA. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, EVERYONE I'M LESTER HOLT. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND EACH