It states Hurricane Helene was just upgraded. A powerful category three storm. Its already wreaking havoc on bridges and roadways such as this one youre looking at in Southwest Florida for those in the Big Bend, thats where the Florida Panhandle meets the peninsula. The storms Outer Bands all already have brought extensive flooding. And were told that works is yet to come. Listen to what federal and state officials are saying right now, it looks like its dead on hit to tallahassee. This is an unusually dangerous storm that threatens to bring Heavy Rain and potentially catastrophic flooding. This will be a statewide event. We expect strong winds throughout date with hurricaneforce Winds Wind Gust up to 8,200 miles an hour you just heard from the North Carolina Governor and the Georgia Governor we are standing by to hear from florida governor Ron Desantis in the next hour. And as you heard, it is not just florida in helenes pam, georgia, south carolina, North Carolina, are all all facing
Smiths case . Plus, americans in iran, out of prison and now under house arrest. The rare move marking a bright spot in u. S. Iran relations. The new details were learning about the tentative deal to free them and what iran is getting in return. And senator joe manchin says hes seriously thinking about leaving his party as he weighs his own political future. Why manchin might be stepping away from the democrats and what it could mean for the Balance Of Power on capitol hill. Good morning and welcome to Way Too Early on this friday, august 11th. Im jonathan lemire. Thanks for starting your day with us. And well begin with breaking and tragic news out of hawaii where wildfires continue to ravage the Island Of Maui. At least 55 people are now confirmed dead, and that number is only expected to rise. Four major fires are currently burning across the island. Theyre being fueled by dry conditions and strong winds caused by a passing hurricane. The fires have destroyed Historic Buildings and
Lahaina residents now allowed to return to see firsthand the devastating damage. This is going to take years to recover. And it just breaks my heart because something my kids. We held on. We are here. We are alive. Margaret Emergency Proclamations issued as thousands seek out temperate dreary tote shelter and supplies. We cant get goods there fast enough. The harbors are our lifeline. Margaret new questions tonight after maui residents say they received little to no warning as the fires barreled towards them. Without a proper evacuation order, people in a desperate attempt to outrun the flames got into their cars and took to the road. But the fire quickly caught up. Attorney general Merrick Garland announced a Special Counsel to investigate President Biden son, hunter. The move gives u. S. Attorney david weiss expanded powers to continue his probe into Hunter Bidens tax and gun charges. The judge in the January 6th Case says she will accept some limits on what former President Trump ca
Destroyed. Most of the Historic Town of lahaina wiped out. And now an investigation into the Emergency Alert system, with residents telling us they had little to no warning of the raging fire. Many now lining up for a chance to return home. Some are finding a wasteland where their houses once stood. We meet a mother and daughter searching through the ruins. A family that may have lost four members. And a pregnant woman who fled the flames, due to have her baby any day, desperate for a steady place to stay. Were following the massive Relief Effort under way. Donations pouring into maui. Neighbors racing to help each other. Gio benitez standing by. And our Team Coverage across maui. Also in our news tonight, millions on alert for extreme weather. Damaging hail in the midwest. Severe storms sweeping into the east. Including possible tornadoes. Blistering heat as the Pacific Northwest braces for a dangerous heat wave. A deadly Home Explosion. The flames spreading to other homes in the neig
Mounting about why residents werent given more warning. Whether more should been done to alert people, to what the governor says, will likely be the largest Natural Disaster in state history. Nbcs joining us from maui, lets talk the latest on the search for survivors. Is it still being classified as a Recovery Operation . How are they looking at their . This is still a Search And Rescue effort. You may have seen me spinning around as this was happening. That is because the road behind me has just opened up. This road has been shut down due to a curfew for the last few hours. Really, overnight, stay lit a few people in yesterday. Then they shut it all down all of a sudden yesterday. People have been waiting here for hours, since 3 00 in the afternoon yesterday. It is now 5 00 in the morning. This is finally opening. This is a huge deal to folks. They are still waiting to get into see their homes. Maybe reunite with people that are missing. This is happening as we speak. I will tell you