New Field Hospitals set up in parking lots, and the number of children hospitalized has hit an alltime high. In dallas they have no more pediatric Icu Beds your child will wait for another child to die and the major city mandating all teachers get vaccinated third shots administered today for those with Immune Deficiencies the white houses developing plans to allow extra shots for others some americans, without medical issues, are already finding ways to get them. The Gulf Coast in line for a onetwo punch. The two tropical storms heading its way. And Window Display of friendship a young boy fighting for his life and the inspiration he got from far away this is Nbc Nightly News with Jose Diazbalart. Good evening we are watching two major disasters unfolding overseas tonight. President biden late today ordered more u. S. Troops into afghanistan to help Get Americans Out. The taliban took more Territory Today and are getting closer to the last major holdout. The Capital City of kabul. And in haiti, a powerful earthquake throttled the Island Nation this morning toppling buildings and killing hundreds it is all too similar to the devastating earthquake from 2010 that killed hundreds of thousands of people this earthquake, even more powerful. And there are Fears Tonight the Death Toll will rise. We begin with Vaughn Hillyard Reporter this morning, a 7. 2magnitude earthquake jolting haiti. Buildings turning to Rubble Hospitals overwhelmed. The ascent of the Death Toll far from known. Already more than 200 confirmed dead. Dead bodies on the streets, you know, and the hospitals, they are full with, you know, dead bodies and people who are injured. Reporter jean and his godmother fled their home in the peninsulas biggest metropolis are your friends okay . Yes, she is my friend and she was in her house. But unfortunately, she died she died with her son inside the House Reporter this earthquake in western haiti reminiscent of the 2010 one that killed up to 300,000 haitians, and devastated the nations bustling capital, portauprince Todays Quake ravaging towns with populations in the tens of thousands. This young girl pulled from the rubble, alive. At least nine aftershocks rocking the island in the hours since. The quake collapsing this Cathedral Steeple in the city of jeremy. What do you fear this is an area that virtually cut off from the capital and from a lot of lifesaving aid, right now. Unfortunately, i think were going to see and hear a lot more about damage and lives lost. Reporter the country already reeling politically after the assassination of its president in july. Along with Intensifyinggang Violence and major Food Shortages 60 miles from todays epicenter, len runs an orphanage with 66 kids his daughter, brittany, died in the 2010 earthquake. The Ground Shaking had to conjure up a lot for you. Oh, absolutely. I went into Survival Mode immediately, rushed the children out of the orphanage. And, vaughn, to complicate all this, there is a tropical storm nearby yeah, jose, this is tough timing for haiti. Expecting those high winds and significant rains to make landfall by monday. And it was just five years ago that Hurricane Matthew devastated these exact communities. Jose vaughn hillyard, Thank You. President biden, late today, increased the number of u. S. Troops heading back into afghanistan, adding another thousand troops to the 3,000 already en route. And the 1,000 already there. The orders come as the taliban gained even more ground, today, closing in on kabul. We have two reports, tonight, and we begin with Kelly Cobiella in kabul. Reporter tonight, President Biden ordering more u. S. Troops back into afghanistan. Raising the total, now, to 5,000 personnel. Already on the ground at a military compound at Kabul Airport for what the pentagon says is a limited mission to Get Americans Out the u. S. Ambassador and commander for u. S. Forces in afghanistan, meeting with President Ashraf Ghani Today and the head of afghan Special Forces now, in charge of defending kabul, as the Taliban Close in on the capital, reportedly seven miles away but not yet fighting in this propaganda video, they claim they ambushed an afghanmilitary convoy 50 miles from kabul, and captured government soldiers. And tonight, theyve seized the last, big city in the north, mazarisharif after the warlords who pledged to defend the city fled to uzbekistan, today. Firmly in control of key Cities Kandahar in the South And Herat in the west this taliban fighter claiming businesses are open and people are happy. But 13,000 families have now fled talibancontrolled areas, and Aid Agencies are warning of a humanitarian crisis humanitarian needs are growing, by the Hour Reporter these men all worked for nato as construction workers, cooks, Interpreters Reporter many here feel abandoned and betrayed Nbc News has spoken directly with the taliban commander in afghanistan. He said that the taliban is aware that u. S. Forces have been deployed, and that if the u. S. , quote, tries anything, theyll be treated the same as afghan forces. Jose Kelly Cobiella, in kabul, Thank You President Biden today defended his decision to pull out u. S. Troops of afghanistan. Saying a longterm american presence there was not acceptable but critics are saying he needs to do more. Monica alba is at the white house. Reporter President Biden tonight defending his decision to end americas longest war. Writing one more year or five more years of u. S. Military presence would not have made a difference if the afghan Military Cannot or will not hold its own country. The president also underscoring his commitment to the afghans who helped the u. S. Effort over two decades. Saying our hearts go out to the brave afghan men and women who are now at risk. The statement breaking days of public silence from the commander in chief, who has been consulting with his Nationalsecurity Team on the deteriorating Security Conditions from camp david. Where the president held a video conference, saturday, with the Vice President , pentagon chief, and Secretary Of State as republican combat veterans like Joni Ernst slam the administrations strategy. It is all on President Bidens shoulders. This rapid and haphazard withdrawal of american Troops Reporter Senateminority leader, mitch mcconnell, calling for u. S. Air strikes against the taliban in order to keep kabul from falling something President Biden predicted wouldnt happen just last month. Likely theres going to be one unified government in afghanistan controlling the whole country is highly unlikely reporter the speed with which the taliban took major cities this week has u. S. Defense officials concerned about what it could mean for Al Qaedas Capability to rebuild. Presenting global threats. Some experts say it might be the most opportune situation for Al Qaeda and the taliban in two decades. They are on the verge of having another Safe Haven but this time, with all of the infrastructure and military assets that we had intended for the afghan government to use its terrifying. And monica, the president had a warning for the taliban today. The president stressed that any action taken by the taliban that puts u. S. Personnel or their mission at risk will be met with, quote, A Swift and strong military response. Jose Monica Alba at the white house, Thank You. And now to the Nations Coronavirus Battle tonight, hospitals around the country are overwhelmed. Some have run out of Icu Beds and in one major city, their Pediatric Ward is so full, they dont have any room for children in need of critical Care Guad venegas has more. Reporter tonight, covid infections growing across the country with hospitals in states with the lowestvaccination rates overwhelmed. In mississippi, cases are rapidly surging. The University Of Mississippi Medical Center is setting up a Field Hospital to help battle the disease when you are seeing a Field Hospital and a major academic medical center, we are pretty much on the you know, at a Collapsetype System Reporter while the governor declared a state of emergency. We find ourselves, today, at or near our peak levels from the previous surges in, both, hospitalizations, as well as in icu Patients Reporter over in georgia, hospitals continue to be stressed with nearly 90 of the States Intensivecare beds taken. And nationwide, more children are battling the disease. With a recordhigh number, over 1,900, being hospitalized with covid a reality strongly felt in texas. If your child has a Heart Congenitalheart Defect or something, needs an Icu Bed or more than likely, if they have covid, need an Icu Bed, we dont have one your child will wait for another child to die. Reporter in florida, over 6 Million residents remain unvaccinated. I had 108 patients in my 29bed er. The 29yearold Emt who came to our hospital, and died of covid this week, left a 5yearold Kid Reporter however, the campaign is making progress with nearly A Million administered today, the highest number in a month. This is a requirement. Reporter in california, a new mandate for all Los Angeles School district teachers to get vaccinated meanwhile, in san francisco, indoor businesses will now require vaccination for its customers. Guad, how do these cities plan to verify people are vaccinated . Jose, with fakevaccination cards floating around, california has created a Digitalvaccine Verification System that is accessible to all and it connects to the States Database to prove that an individual is, in fact, vaccinated Jose Guad venegas in los angeles, Thank You we are following a double threat off the coast of Fri Major Storm Systems Set to hit the state, just days apart. Meteorologist Dylan Dreyer is tracking their paths. Dylan. Good evening, jose. Lets start with some good news as Tropical Storm Fred or what was Tropical Storm Fred has weakened quite a bit but it is expected to restrengthen as it moves through the warmer waters of the Gulf Of Mexico likely, back up to a tropical storm as it approaches the border between Alabama And Mississippi on monday afternoon. So we will see some heavier rain in that area, along the Gulf Coast. But also, the panhandle of florida and the Big Bend of florida could end up with about five to eight inches of rai on the eastern side of this storm the next storm, tropical storm grace, its looking like it wants to take the same exact track as fred, as it is right now forecast to maintain as a tropical storm but its likely to weaken as it moves through cuba just like fred did either way, as we go to The End of next week, we we will likely see Heavy Rain across especially southern florida, that will make its way north. Jose. Dylan dreyer, Thank You very much. When we come back, thirdVaccine Doses are being administered for the first time today but many americans have already found ways to get that extra dose also, new York Governor andrew cuomos first interview, since resigning. Why he says he will not be disappearing. Were back with the debate over a third Covid Shot Today immunocompromised people are getting third doses of the vaccine for the first time but the move leaves out many who feel they need the extra shot for protection, despite being ineligible some are going so far as to get it themselves Kathy Park has more. Reporter just hours ago, Richard Bronner got an extra dose of protection from the coronavirus a kidneytransplant recipient, he received his third dose of the Pfizer Vaccine. I just had a physical for my birthday and they tested for antibodies and there were no it was negative for Antibodies Reporter to gain those antibodies, he is now among the 2. 7 of adults in the u. S. With weakened Immune Systems, eligible to receive a third shot of the Pfizer Or Moderna vaccine. Recipients of the J J Vaccine dont yet qualify. Walk us through how this is being administered how is this actually being vetted so what usually happens is something of an Honor System where we just ask the patient, do you have any of the following conditions either written on paper or i go over it verbally reporter currently, the cdc is recommending a third shot for the immunocompromised, including cancer patients, organtransplant recipients, and those with hiv the New York times reporting that the biden administration could have boosters ready to go for more americans, in the fall next up . Nursinghome residents, healthcare workers, and older adults but 68yearold Roger Beatty isnt waiting he says he doesnt have any underlying conditions but received the onedose J J Vaccine in march questioning its efficacy, he got another jab in june. This time, pfizer. And i decided to take a calculated risk i thought it was low risk and potentially high benefit. Reporter and hes not alone. The cdc this week acknowledging more than 1 Million people have received an unauthorized booster already. Doctors say making your own call on another Vaccine Dose could be risky you really dont want to give your Body Anything that it does not need but of course, i think, the debate is how do we define who needs it and who doesnt . Reporter with the Delta Variant surging, a debate thats only intensifying Kathy Park, Nbc News still ahead, tonight. The desperate situation for firefighters across the west there was a major Tour Bus Accident in upstate New York today. More than 50 people are being treated in hospitals after the bus carrying them rolled over while on its way to niagara falls. There were 57 people in total aboard, including the driver and children outgoing new York Governor, andrew cuomo, gave his first interview since resigning. He tells new York Magazine that he did the right thing by stepping down and not dragging the state through an impeachment. He also says this does not mean hes disappearing he says he still has a voice and a perspective. And in sports, a fan at the Metsdodgers Baseball Game friday shined a green Laser Pointer into the face of dodger First Baseman max muncy. The incident caused the umpires to momentarily pause the game the dodgers went on to win it in extra innings. And tonight, more small towns are at risk of destruction as the massive Dixie Fire tears through the west the u. S. Forest system warns resources are stretched thin, as exhausted Firefighters Battle multiple fires across the region. Emilie ikeda is there. Reporter tonight, the largest single wildfire in California History on the doorstep of more historic small Towns Everything that i own is now ashes or twisted metal. Its just all it is. Reporter Lightning Strikes fueling more flames and powerful winds up to 50 miles per hour spreading the Dixie Fires grip across bonedry grounds. 540,000 acres in size, the Dixie Fire has more than 29,000 people under evacuation and has already destroyed at least 1,100 structures. The scale of the Dixie Fire is just so unique, the Extremefire Behavior that were seeing here and across a number of incidents in the west. Um, does continue to make it unique reporter it is currently the biggest blaze of more than 100 wildfires nationwide resources stretched thin in the heat of wildfire season. Nearly onequarter of all Wildfire Response in the u. S. , 6,000 people, tied to a single blaze we do have a shortage of critical positions, like division supervisors, like our Dozer Operators and even line medics. Thats a critical gap and a concern in terms of just how stretched thin we are nationally Reporter Exhaustion is setting in on the frontline. A firefight to save thousands of homes at risk fire chief, bob orange, even facing a close call at his own house. The house was just it was a vibrant, glowing red from all the embers on It Reporter he worries about where this fire goes next. I said, the other day, it was a monster and it continues to be a growing monster. Reporter still, Chief Orange considers himself lucky. Some of his colleagues, like volunteer firefighter, george wally, head to battle every day with no home to return to i didnt know where i was, whose house is what and it was just a wasteland. Reporter amid choking conditions and at times tripledigit temperatures, firefighters call this blaze a marathon, not a sprint the Dixie Fire raging on for more than a month and is less than onethird contained. Jose emily in greenville, california, Thank You. When we come back. How sticky notes gave a window of hope to one young cancer patient. Theres good News Tonight about how hope can appear in the most unusual places, even at the worst of times. 5yearold meyer is a fighter. Hes just conquered cancer but the past few months have not been easy. Im going to show you my room. In may, when he was undergoing treatments for a Brain Tumor at Childrens Mercy kansas city, his parents, liz and cori, helped him find new ways to pass the time. To lift his spirits, we, just for fun, put a smiley Face Postit Note up on the window. And then the next day, a surprise. Yes, yes, the next day, there was a Winky Face. What did you think when you saw that Winky Face made me go, like, happy. The mysterious message appearing on another Hospital Window right across the street it was the handy work of medicalstaff coordinator. I saw the Smiley Face up on the window and i thought thats cute maybe i should put something back. I have a window buddy. Reporter for meyers parents, it was a sign of hope during a desperately uncertain time. When we saw a response, it was just another thing to make the day a little bit better its over there. But that was only the beginning. For months, the strangers exchanged postit art. Spiderman. Batman even Super Mario the game becoming a lifeline for meyer the images taking on a new meaning, when johnna realized meyer was a cancer patient. I thought this was a child and his family, who are facing something and its touching them. So we got to keep this going. And they did. Finally meeting in person last month after meyers last day of treatment. It was really good to see meyer up and out and about and to see liz and get get to hug her we both kind of had tears and felt the love and the friendship. A simple show of support. Hi, johnna. Hi, meyer. Making a lifechanging impact. Im just wondering if theres a bigger lesson here . With everything going on in the world, its really important for people to be present. Those people who are in the hallway, give Em A Smile because you dont know what whats going on and everybody needs it thats Nbc Nightly News for this saturday im Jose Diazbalart Thank You for the privilege of your time and good night right now at 6 00, getting an extra shot. The Bay Area County thats already giving out third doses of the covid19 vaccine. And the haze is sticking around. What you need to know about our Air Quality as wildfires continue to rage up north. And then theyre excited to be back. Well take you to levi stadium as fans return to the first Niners Game since the pandemic started. The new rules fans will have to follow. The news at 6 00 starts right now. Good evening, thanks for joining us. Im terry mcsweeney. People with weakened Immune Systems are already getting their third dose of the Pfizer Vaccine in the south bay. Sergio quintana has more. Reporter terry, with the cdc giving the green light for those third shots, some medical organizations and Drugstore Chains are publishing their guidelines and directions as to how people can go ahead and get those shots. At the County Fairgrounds in san jose, a clinic began offering those third doses to people who are eligible today. The