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Tonight tracking the extreme weather. Historic Hurricane Hillary threatening the West Coast and rare tornado striking New England. The heart stopping video, a tornado crossing the highway in Rhode Island. The images showing extensive damage. It comes as Hurricane Hillary now a monster, category four storm barrels toward Mexico and the West Coast. The National Hurricane Center warning of life threatening floods and issuing the first ever tropical storm watch on record for southern California.

We have the new track. Also tonight, the wildfire devastation in Maui. Maui's top emergency official abruptly resigning a day after he defended the decision not to sound emergency sirens as the fire spread. Our team in Maui, President Biden's historic summit at Camp David with the leaders of Japan and South Korea on the agenda, confronting threats from China and North Korea.

Donald Trump deciding to skip next week's first GOP presidential debate. And new reporting tonight, when will he surrender on new charges in Georgia? NBC News reports aboard an F-16 fighter jet. The U.S. today approving the shipment of F-16s to Ukraine. But how long will it take to train Ukraine's pilots to fly them? And after losing her restaurant in the fires, the top chef still cooking with compassion for Maui.

This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt.

Good evening and welcome. Normally this time of year, people in the south and the east are keeping an eye open for potential hurricane threats. Tonight, however, in a historic weather twist, Americans on the West Coast are on alert with an eye on Hurricane Hillary as it races northward off the Baja Peninsula. Parts of California are into the first tropical storm watch ever issued for that state.

Hillary, a major category four storm now but expected to weaken by the time it reaches the U.S.. Forecasters warn, though, it could still make a direct hit on California later this weekend as a tropical storm. That would be a first in 84 years. Parts of southern California, Arizona and Nevada tonight bracing for heavy rains and flooding. FEMA tonight pre-positioning personnel and supplies in the region.

And it's not the only weather whiplash we're following tonight. After a rare damaging tornado struck New England early today. And Tony Hilton is covering it all for us tonight.

Terrifying moments during the morning commute. This tornado tearing across a Rhode Island highway, one of at least three it touched down in New England. The storm also ripping massive trees from their roofs, leaving homes drenched and backyards reduced to a tangled mess.

About 30 seconds of hell. That's what it was.

Meanwhile, another historic storm is barreling toward the West Coast.

It's a once in a lifetime event that we're going to be experiencing.

Hurricane Hillary is currently a category four storm with winds of 130 miles an hour, though it's expected to significantly weakened. Officials warn there could be extensive rainfall, flash flooding and mudslides.

FEMA has pre-positioned personnel and supplies in the region and they're ready to respond as needed.

A tropical storm watch has been issued for Southern California. For the first time.

We haven't seen hurricanes out here. And I've been calling my friends in Florida to try to get some advice on how to handle it.

California has not the best track record with driving in the rain. Some areas like Death Valley and Palm Springs could see 2 to 3 years worth of rain in 2 to 3 days. How different will the impacts of this on the West Coast be as compared to what we see happen in the East Coast? The Southeast?

In Southern California, we have a very dry desert.

Like surfaces that don't absorb that water.

So as soon as that rain starts hitting, we're going to start seeing flooding.

It's been 84 years since a tropical storm hit here, a region accustomed to fires and earthquakes. Now bracing for a different kind of natural disaster.

And Tony, how are officials there preparing?

The sheriff says swift water rescue teams and aircraft are available for immediate response. Parts of Joshua Tree National Park are closing and they're doing outreach to homeless populations here, trying to keep everyone as safe as possible.

Lester and tony, thank you. Let's get right over to bill karins now. Bill, when can we expect as far as the track and the timing of this?

Yeah, we're really focusing in on sunday evening, lester. And we have tropical moisture from a major hurricane heading into 10,000 foot peaks and desert areas of the southwest. That's a recipe for disaster. That's why they're saying this could be catastrophic for some areas. Now, the storm itself is at its peak intensity. It's going to weaken after this. It's going to move from what has been really warm water, almost like 90 degree water, and then heading over water.

It's going to be in the eighties and eventually the seventies. That's when it gets cool enough for the storm to significantly weakened. Again, Sunday evening, the storms will be flying. It's going to be moving at like 30 miles per hour when it goes through Southern California. Those will be in and out in a hurry. But it's going to leave its mark, especially in the mountains outside of San Diego, near Palm Springs.

That's what I'm afraid. Lesser of the foot of rain communities cut off landslides. Mudslides, all possible.

We'll be watching it throughout the weekend. Thank you, Bill. Ten days after the wildfires last year in Maui, the island's top emergency official has resigned after criticism of his decision not to sound emergency alarms. As the grim search for the missing goes on. Here's Miguel Almaguer.

All right. We're going to do a full squad three down here.

As the grim search for the missing approaches its 11th day and the death toll continues to climb tonight, Maui's top emergency management official has resigned, citing health reasons. Herman Andaya has stepped down amid withering criticism he literally failed to sound the alarm. Do you regret not sounding the sirens? I do not. As the nation's deadliest fire in more than a century ripped through Lahaina, Andaya never activated the emergency sirens most often used for tsunami warnings, saying had he done so, he feared the public would have moved towards the fire in the hills.

Counties in the state.

Of Hawaii will tell you that sounds have not been used for brush fires.

But Maui County's website lists wildfires. Among the very hazard sirens can be used for.

The siren is instant immediate. It's going off. Something's going on. I'm alert. It's sort of difficult to believe that you would be compelled to run toward flame.

Amid the growing frustration. A new NBC News review of public meeting records found Andaya repeatedly downplayed the use of sirens, calling them a last resort.

If I would have had access to that button.

I would have pushed it.

Do you think the sirens going off would have saved lives?

I do. Yeah.

Andi's resignation comes as Hawaiian Electric faces multiple lawsuits alleging the utility is to blame for igniting the fires. The power company says it doesn't comment on pending litigation, stressing the causes of the fires have not been determined. It comes as the death toll balloons to well over 100 with more than half the burn zone searched. I'm heartbroken.

Bill. I'm heartbroken. Words cannot explain because I keep hearing, you know, people I know that that I care about is is still unattended.

For with upwards of a thousand people still unaccounted for, the few who have been identified so far are mostly the elderly. The latest. 71 year old Donna gowns known for her tough love and big heart. Perhaps closure for one family. As so many others brace for the same.

I want accountability. It destroyed more than half of the people we know. And just now, like we're seeing the pictures of.

Pristine, the faces, the pictures of the people we lost.

Tonight, the pain here, unimaginable as is the loss.

Miguel, it's been so long now. These stories of the missing are heartbreaking. I know behind you, the search continues in the burn zone.

It does last hour and now the ATF is on the ground. Their job is to get to the bottom of what started this fire. By the end of this weekend, authorities hope to have the entire burn zone searched. But we also expect the death toll to spike dramatically Lester.

Miguel, thank you. Meanwhile, a huge wildfire in Canada's Northwest Territory worries is threatening the capital and has forced thousands to evacuate. It's one of more than a thousand fires burning across Canada. The smoke is continuing to affect air quality in Minnesota and Wisconsin. A strong show of unity today among the United States, Japan and South Korea. As President Biden met with their leaders at Camp David as threats from China and North Korea play out in the Pacific.

Here's Kelly O'Donnell.

For the first time, President Biden hosted an international summit at Camp David. Today.

We meet this historic place to make a historic.

Moment, bringing together Japan and South Korea each long time U.S. allies, but notably the two neighbors, only recently softened their own decades of tension together. Now facing common risks from North Korea's nuclear provocations and China's more aggressive show of military strength in the region, while also recognizing all three countries trade with China.

Today is a day that is not about being against anything. It is about being for something.

Today's summit announcing a range of security and economic agreements, including a new defense partnership, to swiftly consult on urgent threats.

That means we'll have a hotline to share information and coordinate our responses whenever there is a crisis in the region.

While standing shoulder to shoulder with world leaders, a more personal matter surfaced. After one full week of silence on the appointment of a special counsel investigating his son, Hunter's business dealings. The president was pressed to respond.

I have no comment on any investigation that's going on. That's up to the Justice Department, and that's all I have to say.

Today's setting here at Camp David is itself a message about the significance of the meetings. Presidents past have also used this retreat at pivotal moments.

A place that has long symbolized the power of new beginnings and new possibilities.

KELLY joining us now from Camp David. Kelly both visiting leaders acknowledge the Hawaii fires.

They did last year. Japan and South Korea are each donating $2 million in relief efforts for Maui. And on China, President Biden says he expects to speak with Xi Jinping again this fall. Lester.

All right, kelly O'Donnell, thank you. With the first Republican primary debate days away, there's word former President Trump will skip it as we learn more about the timing of his expected surrender in Atlanta. Blayne Alexander joins us now. Blayne, what more do we know?

Well, Lester, Mr. Trump will not be on that debate debate stage next week. That's according to two people familiar with his thinking. Instead, he's seeking a sit down interview with Tucker Carlson. Now, this would be a snub to both the RNC and Fox News, which is broadcasting this debate. Meanwhile, we're getting new guidance tonight on when former President Trump might come to Georgia and turn himself in after being indicted here earlier this week.

Three senior law enforcement sources and officials tell NBC News that officials are preparing for the former president to come down and surrender at the Fulton County Jail late next week. No earlier than Thursday, though they stress plans have not been finalized yet. Now, remember, the district attorney here has given Mr. Trump and his 18 co-defendants until next Friday at noon to turn themselves in.

Lester, Wayne Alexander, thank you. Now to Kentucky, where the second day of school came. More than a week after the first in Louisville. It's because of what's being called a transportation disaster. And the bus driver shortage impacting schools nationwide. Here's Maggie Vesper.

Busses are rolling once again in Louisville with an estimated 40,000 elementary and middle school students riding to their second day of classes in Kentucky's largest district. This after last week's so-called transportation disaster fueled by a shortage of drivers.

Still waiting on this bus. At 910.

It slowed routes so much, some students didn't get home until after dark. Parents called police fearing kids were missing. School canceled for more than a week, resumed today.

It was bad.

But the shortage looms. Some parents drove their kids after busses were late again this morning. You're inconveniencing us all around. But others say the bus came on time. How nervous were you going into today?

Pretty nervous. I did go out and cause some hair tags just so I could keep track of their backpacks.

Jefferson County superintendent notes the district has close to 600 drivers down from 900 a decade ago.

We've dramatically increased the pay over the past several years. I mean, we have bus drivers making in upwards of $30 an hour. We're going to have to look at some deeper issues.

For now, the district leaning on short term fixes like cutting stops, even tapping delivery giant ups for help, streamlining routes and soon releasing an app letting parents track a bus's location. Similar scrambles underway coast to coast with a staggering 92% of school leaders nationwide. Short on bus drivers.

It has now reached crisis levels. It was really exacerbated by the pandemic.

Back here in Louisville today actually marked the start of a staggered return next week. High schoolers will also come back testing this district even more.

Lester, Maggie Smith, thank you. In 60 seconds, a pioneering treatment for people who have lost vision from an eye injury. The remarkable way it works using the body's own cells. Right after this.

We're back now with a potential medical breakthrough giving new hope to people with blindness. A study just out on an experimental surgery to restore vision to one damage II with stem cells from the other. Kristen Dahlgren explains. And I.

Said in DuPont Circle.

In Nicaragua, always dreamed of being a pilot.

I figured that would be perfect career path for me.

And he was well on his way until a freak accident on July 4th, 2020, near his home in California.

We were watching the fireworks. Instead of shooting up in the air, it exploded on the floor. I unfortunately took a direct hit to my left eye dead center.

The eye blinded.

Thought my life was done. I didn't really know if it was going to ever get better.

Until he heard about a completely new procedure being done at mass eye and ear. It looks very good, Doctor. Although your Kunis and her team pioneered a procedure they call Catholic, using stem cells to restore the cornea in the damaged eye of patients with severe injuries.

It is possible to take a small biopsy of these stem cells, grow them in the laboratory, and then transplant them onto the patient's eye. Taking it from healthy to the disease die.

In a phase one study of the first four patients all saw a marked improvement to saw significantly better without additional treatment. And the other two were able to go on to get artificial corneas, look a.

Little bit up and down.

Nick moved to Boston and is now one of a new group of patients receiving the surgery. At what point did you realize it had worked?

Not too long after the first surgery, I was able to see it was this whole thing and it was crying.

While still in its early stages. Doctors consider this a stepping stone and say stem cell therapies may someday go beyond corneal injuries to things like glaucoma, maybe even other parts of the body. Nick is now flying again for fun.

Especially to see even just the blue sky out of the left side. It's so crazy because I never thought I would ever see that ever again.

For the first time in a long time. Seeing hope. Kristen dahlgren, nbc news, boston.

And up next here tonight, an update on an american f-16s headed for Ukraine as we ride inside a fighter jet.

Months after President Biden pledged F-16s for Ukraine, the U.S. today gave the final okay, but it could be next year before they see action. Alison Barber with our report from the Air.

It's the jet. Everyone seems to be talking about.

We should sell them. The F-16 jets, the.

Ukrainian F-16 pilots.

The F-16.

F-16, F-16s, F-16.

Ukrainian officials thought they'd have pilots training on American made F-16s by now, but it has not happened yet. A spokesperson with Ukraine's Air Force says the first group of pilots will begin training in Denmark, but that training might not be complete before summer 2024, according to a U.S. official who spoke to NBC News on the condition of anonymity, saying Ukraine only recently submitted names of pilots who will undergo training and over half need English language training.

First, the delays have confused and frustrated Ukrainian officials, as well as rank and file military members who spoke to NBC News privately. Major Jeffrey Downey Zimmer flies F-16s almost every day.

The G-forces that are concerted on your body are immense. You know, you've got the blood rushing from your head to your feet and you're having to strain to keep the blood up in your head so that you don't pass out.

Simmer is part of the U.S. Air Force's Thunderbirds. In peacetime, they're known for dazzling crowds. Why are F-16s so esteemed around the globe?

It's a multi-role fighter. So does air to air and air to ground suppression of enemy air defenses. It's got it.

All to get a sense of their capabilities. I went along for a flight. The power, the seamless turns, it's hard to describe. Ukraine still believes this type of fighter jet is vital for the country's defense. And tonight, U.S. officials maintain Ukraine will get F-16s as soon as training is complete Alisyn Barber, NBC News.

Coming up, when her kitchen was destroyed, one top chef knew her next mission was to feed her island.

Finally tonight, she's caring for her neighbors in Maui, showing them what it really means to be a Top Chef. Steve Patterson.

As those ravenous flames consumed LA Street by street, some say it felt like the very soul of Maui was being swallowed.

It is the heart.

Of Hawaiian culture and history. There's so much.

That's been lost.

Somewhere, buried among the ruins. Chef Lee-Ann Wong's pride and Joy. Her restaurant, Papa Ina.

Lost an entire town.

She says 80% of her staff lost their homes. Did you bring that to the mainland? Wong is an exciting culinary personality. A frequent contestant on cooking competition shows like NBC's sister network Bravo's Top Chef here. She's a local treasure and now head chef of the island's effort to feed hot meals to people who've lost everything.

We're here to.

Say, hey, we see you. We want to cook for you. We want to feed you.

Every day since the fire. This group of dedicated chefs, cooks and volunteers serve about 10,000 meals. Alchemy, another Top Chef alum, Maui's Sheldon Simeon, is heading up the kitchen. We take it for.

Granted when we have it right that that nourishing meal. And, you know, if we could do our part by giving food, you know, food is medicine.

It's hard. But Wong says serving others is healing. Have you had time to reflect and think about Lahaina? No.

Everybody on this island is our family and we're all doing together to see what we can do to how to lift each other up.

And hold each other up.

Truth is, Hawaii. So was never in the bones of old buildings, but in the beating hearts of its people. Steve Patterson, NBC News, Maui.

That's what community is all about. That's Nightly News for this Friday. Thanks for watching. I'm Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Goodbye. I know.

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