We begin this morning in hawaii where authorities have increased the death toll caused by the wildfires there, at least 55 people now confirmed dead from the raging inferno that swept through the town of lahaina. The community there is just devastated from the loss. We are going to try our very best to identify those that have perished so that the families can have their closure and can have that understanding. When the mayor said it is all gone, it is all gone. It is all gone. It is gone. The governor estimated thursday that about 80 of the overall lahaina area was destroyed. County officials in maui say the fire there is mostly contained. The federal government also swinging into action with President Biden issuing a Disaster Declaration for maui and parts of the big island. And sfeefema oig administrator traveling there today. And i want to bring in a woman who is safe but also separated from her family. Her parents home has burnedsis firefighter there. First of all, how are you doi
but people in lahaina, this is how strong they are connected to the land, to the people. they want to stay. they will stay until the end. that is lahaina. and we re hoping that the people of lahaina and hawaii get everything that they need to rebuild as quickly as possible. but we so appreciate your time today. we know it wasn t easy to talk about but we re plaid glad that and your family are safe. we appreciate you being with us this morning. thank you. thank you. in other news this morning, federal prosecutors and lawyers for donald trump will appear before a judge in the special counsel case of election sub version against the former president. both sides will argue about restrictions that prosecutors want to impose on what trump can say publicly about sensitive evidence in the case. trump is not expected to be in court for today s hearing. meantime on thursday prosecutors filed their proposed trial schedule for the case and their ambitious calendar would have the trial begin
and i want to bring in a woman who is safe but also separated from her family. her parent s home has burnedsis firefighter there. first of all, how are you doing? it has been hard to watch. how are you doing? you know what, i feel an immense amount of guilt for not being in lahaina to help my hometown and the people i love the most. i m okay. i m safe. i have electricity, i resources, i have my husband, i have my family. i m grateful i have my mom and dad and my sister who is a firefighter alive. so i m good. thank you for asking. i know a lot of people in lahaina, they are not doing good. so thank you. and walk me through what is happening with your family right now in terms of communication. what can you tell us about the
hard to reach. near impossible. when you talk to your sister i m sorry, go on. no, go ahead. i m curious when you talk to your sister as you said a firefighter there, what has she told you about about just the extraordinary amount of work ahead and what they are still dealing with now? anyone that knows my sister, she is even keeled, cool, calm, collected. she is a female firefighter. we re born and raised in lahaina and i remember the call, she said i m okay, everything is gone. lahaina is gone. and when she said that, my heart dropped because i knew it was serious. she has seen what she has told me is she has seen
devastation beyond belief. i mean, bodies everywhere. hour our hometown is gone. buildings, homes. we grew up in lahaina. and i can t even i can t even begin to describe what she has talked about because the trauma that our firefighters and our first responders are facing is enormous. and i don t think that anyone understands, i don t think anyone can grasp until they see it firsthand. pictures, videos will not do justice. and i m believing that. i know it is the pictures and just comments coming out of lahaina have been so incredible to hear and witness. tell me a little bit more about the lahaina community for those who have not been there, for those not been to hawaii.