♪♪ >>> TONIGHT, THE MASS EXODUS FROM BURNING MAN AFTER EXTREME WEATHER TRAPPED MORE THAN 70,000 IN THE NEVADA DESERT. NEW IMAGES OF VEHICLES LINED UP FOR MILES TO GET OUT, PEOPLE WALKING FOR HOURS, THE ROADS FINALLY DRY ENOUGH TO REOPEN AFTER A MASSIVE STORM CREATED A MUDDY MESS, STRANDING FESTIVAL GOERS FOR DAYS. ONE DEATH UNDER INVESTIGATION. OUR TEAM IS THERE ON THE GROUND. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, NEW LEADS IN THE PENNSYLVANIA MANHUNT FOR AN ESCAPED KILLER ON THE RUN FIVE DAYS. HE WAS SEEN ON DOORBELL CAM. POLICE NOW SAY THEY HAVE FOUR CREDIBLE SIGHTINGS. HOW WAS HE SURVIVING? AND THE REPORTED PLEA FROM HIS MOTHER POLICE ARE USING. >>> MILLIONS RUSHING HOME THIS LABOR DAY. DANGER ON THE ROADS, A TANKER TRUCK IN FLAMES IN CONNECTICUT, A CRASH KILLING FIVE IN GEORGIA, ONE CAR FALLING 50 FEET. AIRPORTS PACKED, CAPPING OFF A RECORD SUMMER. >>> AND THE DANGEROUS HEAT THIS HOLIDAY FROM THE CENTRAL U.S. TO THE NORTHEAST, POTENTIALLY RECORD BREAKING. AND THE NEW TROPICAL THREAT WE'RE TRACKING. >>> PLUS, PRESIDENT BIDEN ON THE ATTACK, USING A LABOR DAY EVENT TO TONIGHT THE NEWLY REVEALED VIDEO, HIS SURPRISE FINAL PERFORMANCE. ♪ WASTING AWAY AGAIN IN MARGARITAVILLE ♪ >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT. >>> GOOD EVENING. I'M TOM LLAMAS IN FOR LESTER TONIGHT. WE BEGIN WITH THE MAIN GATES FINALLY OPENING AT BURNING MAN AFTER SOME FESTIVAL GOERS INCLUDING SOME CELEBRITIES DEFIED A SHELTER IN PLACE REQUEST AND WALKED FOR HOURS TO GET OUT OF THE MUD AND MUCK. TODAY A LINE OF VEHICLES STRETCHING FOR MILES, CARRYING MANY OF THE 70,000 TRAPPED THERE OUT OF THE NEVADA DESERT, MANY BOARDING BUSES, RIDING ON THE BACKS OF TRUCKS TO MAKE THEIR LONG-AWAITED EXIT AFTER THAT LATE SUMMER STORM BROUGHT SOME TWO MONTHS' WORTH OF RAIN TO THE SITE IN LESS THAN TWO DAYS, STRANDING THEM IN ANKLE DEEP MUCK. POLICE INVESTIGATING AT LEAST ONE PERSON'S DEATH. THE VIEW FROM THE AIR A SEA OF TENTS AND RVs AND AN ENORMOUS TASK TONIGHT GETTING EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING OUT SAFELY. >> Reporter: TONIGHT WITH THOUSANDS URGENTLY WAITING TO LEAVE, SIGNS THE EXODUS AT BURNING MAN HAS BEGUN. >> WE'RE MAKING IT OUT. >> Reporter: AFTER DAYS STUCK IN THIS MUD-SOAKED DESERT, THE WEATHER DRYING UP, FESTIVAL GOERS KNOWN AS BURNERS FINALLY GETTING THE GO-AHEAD TO GET OUT. YOU MADE IT OUT. >> I KNOW IT. I'M SO GRATEFUL. >> Reporter: THE TRAFFIC BACKING UP BY EARLY MORNING, THE RUSH VISIBLE FOR MILES. AROUND CAMP, THERE'S STILL POCKETS OF MUD LIKE THIS, WET AND STICKY. IT'S WHAT OFFICIALS ARE WORRIED ABOUT AS BURNERS BEGIN THEIR EXODUS. THE CHAOS BEGAN FRIDAY. AN UNUSUAL SUMMER STORM TURNING THE ANNUAL DESERT CAMPOUT INTO A MUDDY MESS. MORE THAN 70,000 TRAPPED, SOME HIKING MILES TO GET OUT. SO LOCAL SHERIFFS PROBING THE DEATH OF ONE PERSON DURING THE RAIN EVENT, THE CAUSE STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION, BUT ORGANIZERS SAY IT WAS NOT STORM RELATED. >> PEOPLE ARE GOING TO NEED TO BE PATIENT. >> Reporter: FOLLOWING CALLS TO SHELTER IN PLACE AND CONSERVE SUPPLIES, THE BURNING MAN CEO TELLING ATTENDEES TO REMAIN CALM. >> WE'VE MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE DO NOT SEE THIS AS AN EVACUATION SITUATION. >> Reporter: IT'S A TRADITION GOING BACK NEARLY 40 YEARS, THE COUNTER CULTURE FESTIVAL IN THE NEVADA DESERT CELEBRATING ART, MUSIC AND COMMUNITY. >> IT'S ONE FOR THE AGES. THAT'S FOR SURE. >> Reporter: WITH THE LINE TO LEAVE TAKING HOURS, SOME FINDING IT HARD TO GET OUT. >> THERE WAS A TAXI. HE SAID HE CAN TAKE US TO RENO BY THE METER AND IT'S GOING TO BE $500 OR MORE. >> Reporter: AT THE RENO AIRPORT, OTHERS STILL STUNNED. >> I WAS SCARED. >> Reporter: THE HARROWING CONDITIONS. >> YOU CAN SMELL A BURNING RUBBER AND MUD. >> Reporter: PUTTING EVEN THE MOST SELF-RELIANT TO THE TEST. >> LIZ JOINS US NOW. WE CAN SEE THAT LONG LINE OF TRAFFIC JUST BEHIND YOU. ANY SENSE HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO GET ALL THESE PEOPLE OUT? >> Reporter: IT'S BEEN A SLOW CRAWL FOR THOUSANDS TODAY. THE LINE LOOKS LONG HERE. THE LINE IS EVEN LONGER BACK THERE. EVEN UNDER THE BEST CONDITIONS IT CAN TAKE SEVERAL HOURS TO EXIT THE FESTIVAL. IT CAN TAKE DAYS TO GET THIS ALL CLEANED UP. >>> WE TURN TO ANOTHER MAJOR STORY, THAT MANHUNT FOR AN ESCAPED KILLER IN PENNSYLVANIA NOW IN ITS FIFTH DAY. POLICE CONFIRMING HE'S BEEN SIGHTED IN THE SAME AREA MULTIPLE TIMES. NOW THEY'VE ENLISTED HIS MOTHER TO CONVINCE HIM TO TURN HIMSELF IN. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, TWO DAYS AFTER THIS DOORBELL CAMERA VIDEO SHOWED ESCAPED INMATE DANELO CAVALCANTE ON THE RUN. POLICE ANNOUNCED ADDITIONAL SIGHTINGS WITHIN A TWO-MILE RADIUS OUTSIDE THE PENNSYLVANIA CHESTER COUNTY PRISON WHERE THE CONVICTED KILLER ESCAPED FROM THURSDAY MORNING. >> WE HAVE SECURED THAT AREA AND CONTINUE TO ACTIVELY SEARCH IT. WHILE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES, WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT IF HE IS IN THERE, WE WILL FIND HIM. >> Reporter: PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE ARE NOW TAKING THE LEAD ROLE IN THE SEARCH. >> I INTEND TO STRESS HIM. I WANT TO PUSH HIM HARD. HE'LL MAKE MISTAKES. HE'LL SHOW HIMSELF. >> Reporter: LOCAL RESIDENT BRIAN DRUMMOND SAYS HE SAW CAVALCANTE AT HIS HOUSE ON FRIDAY. >> I FLICKERED THE LIGHT SWITCH FIVE TIMES JUST TO LET HIM KNOW THAT I KNEW THAT HE WAS DOWNSTAIRS. THEN HE FLICKED THE LIGHT BACK. THAT WAS THE TERRIFYING MOMENT WHERE I LOOKED AT MY WIFE AND SAID HE'S IN THE HOUSE, CALL 911. HE STOLE SOME OF THE PRODUCE, SNAP PEAS, PEACHES AND APPLES. >> Reporter: HE WAS CONVICTED LAST MONTH AND SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR THE 2021 BRUTAL STABBING OF HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND. AUTHORITIES SAY HE'S ALSO WANTED FOR A 2017 HOMICIDE IN HIS NATIVE BRAZIL. U.S. MARSHALS ARE ALSO HELPING IN THE SEARCH. >> THIS IS A HEAVILY WOODED AREA. IT'S VERY THICK. THERE'S A LOT OF HIDING SPOTS. >> Reporter: POLICE ARE PLAYING AUDIO RECORDINGS FROM CHOPPERS AND PATROL CARS OF HIS MOTHER SPEAKING IN PORTUGUESE PLEADING FOR HER SON TO TURN HIMSELF IN. COMMUNITIES JUST OUTSIDE THE SEARCH ZONE ARE ON EDGE. >> PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. YOU'RE ON HIGH ALERT. >> I'M NOT SURE IF OUR KIDS WILL BE BACK IN SCHOOL TOMORROW IF THEY DON'T CATCH THIS GUY BY TOMORROW. >> Reporter: TODAY STATE POLICE REMINDED RESIDENTS CAVALCANTE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. >> HE DOES NOT WANT TO BE CAUGHT. HE HAS VERY LITTLE TO LOSE AT THIS POINT. >> I KNOW YOU HAVE NEW REPORTING ON A REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ESCAPED KILLER'S CAPTURE. IT'S AROUND $10,000. >> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT, TOM. POLICE SAY IF THEY ENCOUNTER CAVALCANTE AND HE'S NOT ACTIVELY SURRENDERING, THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED. >>> ALSO ON THIS LABOR DAY, THE RUSH TO GET HOME. TENS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ON THE ROAD AND IN THE AIR AS WE CAP OFF A RECORD SUMMER TRAVEL SEASON. AS KATHY PARK REPORTS, THIS HOLIDAY HAS SEEN ITS SHARE OF TRAGEDY ON THE HIGHWAY. >> Reporter: SERIOUS TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS ADDING TO LOG JAMS ON ONE OF THE BUSIEST TRAVEL WEEKENDS OF THE YEAR. IN CONNECTICUT, A TANKER CARRYING 8,000 GALLONS OF GASOLINE ROLLED OVER AND WENT UP IN FLAMES SUNDAY NIGHT, SHUTTING DOWN THE INTERSTATE FOR HOURS. WHILE IN THE SUBURBS OF ATLANTA, TRAGEDY EARLY THIS MORNING WHEN THREE CARS WRECKED ON I-85. POLICE SAY ONE VEHICLE WENT OVER A WALL AND DROPPED FROM ROUGHLY 50 FEET. >> FIVE PEOPLE WERE FOUND DECEASED AT THE SCENE AND THREE ADDITIONAL TRANSPORTED TO AREA HOSPITALS IN STABLE CONDITIONS. >> Reporter: THESE SCENES PLAYING OUT WITH MILLIONS ON THE MOVE IN THE AIR AND ON THE ROADS. >> IT CAN BE STRESSFUL. >> Reporter: BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC SLOWING DOWN THE POST HOLIDAY RUSH HOME FROM THE BEACHES IN MARYLAND TO THE SMOKEY MOUNTAINS IN TENNESSEE. THIS FAMILY FROM DETROIT SAY THEY'RE LOOKING AT EIGHT HOURS OF DRIVE TIME. >> SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH WHEN YOU GO ON VACATION. >> WHAT'S TODAY LOOKING LIKE SO FAR? >> LONG. >> TRY TO SLEEP IN THE CAR. GET HOME AND START SCHOOL TOMORROW. >> WE'RE PREPARED. WE GOT THE MUSIC READY. THEY'RE FILLING UP WITH FOOD. WE'LL BE GOOD. >> Reporter: THE AIRPORTS PACKED AS WELL WITH MORE THAN 2 MILLION TRAVELING EACH DAY AROUND THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND, AN 11% INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR. >> TRAVELING HAS BEEN SO MUCH MORE EXHAUSTING THAN IT USED TO BE. >> WHAT ABOUT THOSE TRYING TO SQUEEZE OUT ONE MORE DAY OF THE WEEKEND AND TRAVEL HOME TOMORROW? >> Reporter: TOM, IF THAT IS YOUR PLAN, KEEP IN MIND MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ARE HEADING BACK TO WORK AND SCHOOL TOMORROW, SO EXPECT A LOT OF COMPANY ON THE ROADS BETWEEN 7:00 AND 9:00 A.M. >> THANK YOU. >>> WE'RE ALSO TRACKING THE DANGEROUS HEAT THIS HOLIDAY FROM TEXAS TO MINNESOTA TO THE NORTHEAST. METEOROLOGIST MICHELLE GROSSMAN IS TRACKING IT ALL. WHAT ELSE ARE YOU SEEING? >> WE ARE TRACKING RECORD BREAKING DANGEROUS HEAT. 35 MILLION AMERICANS UNDER HEAT ALERTS ON THIS UNOFFICIAL END OF SUMMER. WE'RE GOING TO SEE TEMPERATURES SOARING INTO THE 90s, CLOSE TO 100 DEGREES. FACTOR IN THE HUMIDITY AND IT'S GOING TO FEEL LIKE OVER 100 DEGREES. WE COULD BREAK MORE THAN 80 RECORDS TOMORROW. TEMPERATURES INTO THE 90s, UPPER 90s IN D.C., PROBABLY BREAKING THAT RECORD OF 97. SAME STORY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. A LOT OF SCHOOLS AND KIDS GETTING BACK TO REALITY. BALTIMORE, 99, CAPE HATTERAS 87 DEGREES. THE TROPICS ARE HOT. WE ARE LOOKING AT OUR NEXT SYSTEM THAT WILL PROBABLY BE OUR NEXT NAMED STORM. IT HAS 100% CHANCE OF BECOMING LEE IN THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS. >>> AT SOME LABOR DAY CELEBRATIONS, A NEW LAYER OF SECURITY. POLICE INCLUDING THE NYPD USING DRONES TO MONITOR EVENTS. AS EMILY AKITA TELLS US, IT'S RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT PRIVACY. >> Reporter: AS LABOR DAY CELEBRATIONS BLANKET THE COUNTRY, IN NEW YORK CITY THERE'S ANOTHER LAYER OF POLICE EYES NOW IN THE SKY. THE NYPD IS LAUNCHING DRONES TO RESPOND TO PRIORITY AND NON-PRIORITY CALLS AROUND THE CARIBBEAN FESTIVAL AND WEST INDIAN AMERICAN DAY FESTIVITIES, WHICH IN PREVIOUS YEARS HAVE BEEN MARRED BY SHOOTINGS. >> LARGE CROWD, LARGE PARTY IN BACKYARDS. WE'LL UTILIZE OUR ASSETS TO CHECK ON THE PARTY. >> Reporter: WHAT POLICE HAVE CALLED AN ASSET, CRITICS ARE CONCERNED COULD BECOME BIG BROTHER. >> WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS BLEEDING OUT SORT OF ROUTINE PATROLS BY DRONES, ROUTINE HOVERING OVER OUR HOMES AND OUR COMMUNITIES. >> Reporter: ON THE GROUND IN BROOKLYN, OPINIONS ARE SPLIT. >> SAFETY PRECAUTION, I'M ALL FOR SAFETY. >> NO PRIVACY AT ALL. I THINK IT'S TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL. >> Reporter: NEW YORK CITY HAS INCREASINGLY LEANED ON DRONES THIS YEAR, WHICH HAVE SCANNED SHORELINES FOR SHARKS. THE NYPD AND MAYOR ERIC ADAMS DEFENDED DRONES AS MORE EFFICIENT, ESPECIALLY FOR NOISE COMPLAINTS AND IN CROWDED STREETS. >> THEY'RE GOING TO UTILIZE DRONES FROM A SAFE DISTANCE UP, NOT DOWN FLYING IN SOMEONE'S BACK YARD TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE ON THE GRILL. >> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE ACLU MORE THAN 1400 POLICE DEPARTMENTS UTILIZE THE TECHNOLOGY, LIKE IN SANTA MONICA WHERE DRONE FOOTAGE HELPED CONVICT A BRUTAL ATTACKER. AS THE GROWING DEBATE OVER THE ADVANCING TECH TAKES FLIGHT. FOR PERSPECTIVE, NYPD NUMBERS SHOW THE DEPARTMENT USED DRONES 34 TIMES LAST YEAR, WHILE IN THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR, THAT USE HAS MORE THAN TRIPLED. TOM. >>> NOW TO THE RACE FOR 2024. PRESIDENT BIDEN GOING ON THE ATTACK AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AT A LABOR DAY EVENT IN PENNSYLVANIA. WHILE MR. TRUMP'S GOP RIVALS LOOK TO STEAL HIS SPOTLIGHT IN ANOTHER KEY BATTLEGROUND, NEW HAMPSHIRE. DASHA BURNS IS THERE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT THE UNOFFICIAL END OF SUMMER KICKING OFF THE UNOFFICIAL START OF PRIMARY SEASON. PRESIDENT BIDEN ZEROING IN ON REPUBLICAN FRONTRUNNER FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. >> THE GREAT REAL ESTATE BUILDER, THE LAST GUY HER, HE DIDN'T BUILD A DAMN THING. >> Reporter: A TROUBLING SIGN FOR THE PRESIDENT. A NEW POLL SHOWING MORE VOTERS, 51% BELIEVE MR. TRUMP HAS A RECORD OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS VERSUS PRESIDENT BIDEN, 41%. MEANWHILE, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE TRYING TO MAKE A DENT IN FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S LEAD. THAT SAME POLL SHOWING HE'S UP 46 POINTS OVER HIS NEAREST RIVAL, RON DeSANTIS. VIVEK RAMASWAMY FREQUENTLY PRAISES MR. TRUMP. YOU'RE EMBRACING TRUMP SO MUCH. WHY WOULD VOTERS VOTE FOR YOU WHEN THE ORIGINAL IS IN THE RACE AND WAY UP? >> THAT'S THE MEDIA FRAMING IT. IT'S A FALSE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE FACTS. THE TRUTH IS I DO SHARE 90 PLUS PERCENT OF POLICIES IN COMMON WITH HIM. THAT MUCH IS SOMETHING I RESPECT ABOUT HIM. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE AGENDA TO THE NEXT LEVEL, BECAUSE I CAN REUNITE THIS COUNTRY. >> Reporter: TEACHER TOM JACKSON IS INTERESTED IN RAMASWAMY, BUT HASN'T MADE UP HIS MIND. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR A CANDIDATE TO WIN YOUR VOTE? >> WELL, I'M GOING TO WANT TO SEE HOW THEY WOULD DO IN THE GENERAL ELECTION. >> Reporter: DASHA BURNS, NBC NEWS, MILFORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE. >>> IN 60 SECONDS THE COLLEGE STUDENT FATALLY SHOT AT RANDOM, HIS FATHER SPEAKING OUT TO US TONIGHT. HIS SHOCK AND TONIGHT WE'RE HEARING FROM THE FATHER OF A TCU FOOTBALL PLAYER SHOT AND KILLED. POLICE SAY IT WAS A RANDOM ATTACK BY A GUNMAN LOOKING TO KILL. HERE'S SHAQUILLE BREWSTER. >> Reporter: THE FAMILY OF WES SMITH SPEAKING OUT AFTER THE TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENT WAS KILLED. >> IT'S HARD TO GET YOUR HEART AROUND IT, YOUR HEAD AROUND IT. SO IT'S CERTAINLY BEEN SHOCKING. >> Reporter: POLICE SAY SMITH WAS KILLED OUTSIDE A FT. WORTH BAR FRIDAY AFTER BEING APPROACHED APPARENTLY RANDOMLY BY SUSPECT MATTHEW PURDY. >> THIS WAS SENSELESS. IT SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED. >> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE ARREST WARRANT, PURDY ADMITTED TO SHOOTING SMITH THREE TIMES IN THE STOMACH, SHOULDER AND BACK OF THE HEAD AFTER HE FELL. THE SUSPECT TELLING POLICE HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE HE WAS DEAD. INVESTIGATORS SAY PURDY ALSO HIT A WITNESS WITH HIS GUN AND TOLD OFFICERS HE WOULD HAVE SHOT OTHERS IF HE HAD NOT RUN OUT OF AMMUNITION. PURDY, WHO WAS OUT ON PROBATION FOR AGGRAVATED ROBBERY, ACCORDING TO POLICE, IS NOW CHARGED WITH MURDER. >> HE'S IN CUSTODY WHERE HE BELONGS. >> Reporter: SMITH WAS A DOUBLE MAJOR, A WALK-ON FOR TCU FRESHMAN FOOTBALL AND A STUDENT WHO LED BIBLE STUDIES FOR HIS FRATERNITY. >> HE WANTED TO BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT AND FRIEND TO OTHER PEOPLE. PEOPLE GRAVITATED TOWARD HIM. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, WITHOUT A KNOWN MOTIVE, A FAMILY AND COMMUNITY IS LEFT HEART BROKEN AND CONFUSED. SHAQUILLE BREWSTER, NBC NEWS. >>> STILL AHEAD, THE HERO IN HAWAII. HIS HITS INCLUDE "ALL STAR" AND "WALKING ON THE SUN." HARWELL WAS 56 YEARS OLD. >>> NOW TO THE FIRE ZONE IN MAUI AND AN AMAZING ACT OF HEROISM THAT MAY HAVE SAVED AN ENTIRE BLOCK OF HOMES. IT WAS ALL CAPTURED ON VIDEO. SAM BROCK HAS THE STORY AND THE DRAMATIC PICTURES. >> RECORD EVERYTHING. WE'RE LEAVING. >> Reporter: RIGHT FROM THOSE FIRST HEART STOPPING MOMENTS, JESSICA AND STEVEN PICKERING KNEW THEIR TIME WAS PRECIOUS, LEAVING LAHAINA WITH FLAMES ON THEIR HEELS. >> OH MY GOD. >> Reporter: AND A WALL OF SMOKE IN THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR. >> WE TRIED TO GET OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUT WERE BLOCKED BY CARS. >> Reporter: ALONG THE WAY THEY SPOT A FLASH OF FIRE IN THE BUSHES. >> IT'S RIGHT THERE IN THE BUSHES. >> WHAT? >> THE FIRE! >> Reporter: STEVEN LEAPS FROM THE CAR TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES THREATENING A COMPLETE STRANGER'S HOUSE. >> STEVEN, WE'RE GOING TO GET STUCK! COME ON! >> WERE YOU THINKING THIS IS CRAZY AND IT COULD COST US OUR LIVES? >> YES. >> BUT WHAT DID HIS ACTIONS ACTUALLY END UP DOING? >> I THINK HE SAVED THAT AREA OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. >> Reporter: THE PICKERINGS SAY THEY BARELY SURVIVED WITHOUT EMERGENCY SIRENS OR EVEN A TEXT TO WARN THEM. >> I HAVEN'T HEARD OF A SINGLE NOTIFICATION THAT ANYBODY RECEIVED. >> Reporter: OUT OF HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU'VE TALKED TO? >> HUNDREDS. >> Reporter: MAUI COUNTY'S RESPONSE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION, THOUGH OFFICIALS HAVE MAINTAINED THEY WARNED RESIDENTS THROUGH TEXT AND POLICE LOUDSPEAKERS IN NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY HAVEN'T SPECIFIED WHERE OR WHEN. >> BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY. LIVES AND SAFETY OVER STRUCTURES ANY TIME. >> Reporter: THIS MAN SPENT MORE THAN 15 YEARS WITH THE MAUI EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AS A SENIOR OFFICIAL. >> I WOULD HAVE SAID FULL EVACUATION. >> Reporter: IN THE MORNING? >> IN THE MORNING. KNOWING THE WINDS ARE THIS HIGH. THEY'RE SUPER HIGH. PREPARE FOR THE WORST AND THEN HOPE FOR LESS. >> Reporter: THE ROAD TO RECOVERY LOOKS LONG FOR JESSICA AND STEVEN, ONE OF THEIR MAUI DIVING SHOPS WENT UP IN FLAMES ALONG WITH $1.5 MILLION OF INVENTORY. >> HAVING TO SAY YOU HAVE NOTHING AND ASK FOR HELP IS REALLY HUMBLING AND HARD. >> Reporter: STILL, THERE'S A SOULFUL SILVER LINING ACROSS TOWN IN THE SMITH HOUSEHOLD WHERE DREW SMITH RECOGNIZED SOMETHING FAMILIAR ON SOCIAL MEDIA. >> HONEY, COME HERE. LOOK AT THIS. THERE'S A GUY SAVING A HOUSE. OH MY GOD, IT'S OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THEN WE'RE LIKE THIS IS OUR HOUSE. >> Reporter: SMITH SAYS HE'S PUTTING THE PICKERINGS IN HIS WILL. JESSICA AND STEVE HAVE THEIR LIVES AND THEIR LOVE AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF NEIGHBORS READY TO HELP THEM OUT I >> SOMETHING SPECIAL TODAY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. >> IT'S A GREAT WAY TO REMEMBER HIM. THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS" FOR THIS MONDAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR