>>> BREAKING NEWS TONIGHT. PRESIDENT BIDEN IN THE BURN ZONE IN HAWAII, SEEING FIRSTHAND THE DEVASTATION FROM THE CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRES. THE PRESIDENT AND THE FIRST LADY TOURING THE DAMAGE FROM THE DEADLIEST WILDFIRE IN U.S. HISTORY MEETING WITH VICTIMS AND THANKING FIRST RESPONDERS HIS NEW MESSAGE TO MAUI AS MORE THAN 850 PEOPLE REMAIN UNACCOUNTED FOR. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, THE TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION IN CALIFORNIA FROM TROPICAL STORM HILARY. A MASSIVE MUDSLIDE BARRELING DOWN AS PEOPLE RUN FOR SAFETY. CREWS OF FIREFIGHTERS TRAPPED. A BULLDOZER RESCUING PEOPLE FROM THEIR MUD-COVERED HOMES. THE HISTORIC RAIN. MORE THAN A FOOT IN SOME AREAS PALM SPRINGS CUT OFF BY FLOODS. AND NOW THE NEW THREAT A TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR THE TEXAS COAST. WE'RE TRACKING IT ALL. >>> THE WILDFIRES BURNING OUT OF CONTROL IN WASHINGTON STATE. THOUSANDS EVACUATED. HUNDREDS OF BUILDINGS DESTROYED. OUR TEAM IS THERE. >>> IN GEORGIA DONALD TRUMP'S BOND SET AT $200,000 BEFORE HIS DEADLINE TO SURRENDER ON FRIDAY. THE TERMS HE MUST AGREE TO AND AHEAD OF THIS WEEK'S FIRST GOP PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE OUR BRAND NEW POLL AND WH >> Announcer: THIS IS NBC "NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT >>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE WE BEGIN WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN IN THE MAUI DISASTER ZONE, ALMOST TWO WEEKS AFTER THE HORRIFIC WILDFIRES THAT CLAIMED AT LEAST 114 LIVES AND LEFT 800 PEOPLE STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR TONIGHT. THE PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY GETTING A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT THE DEVASTATION ON THE GROUND IN LAHAINA. THE HISTORIC MAUI TOWN LEFT IN RUINS FROM THE DEADLIEST WILDFIRE IN RECENT U.S. HISTORY. AFTER SPENDING SOME TIME MEETING FIRST RESPONDERS, MR. BIDEN SPOKE ABOUT THE DISASTER HE CALLED THE DEVASTATION OVERWHELMING AND TOLD THE PEOPLE OF MAUI THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL STAND WITH THEM AS THEY REBUILD FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES THE PRESIDENT ALSO DEFENDED HIS ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSE TO THE TRAGEDY. SOME HAVE CRITICIZED THE PRESIDENT FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE WAS A SLOW RESPONSE. IT'S WHERE WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH NBC'S MIGUEL ALMAGUER. >> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT'S ARRIVAL IN MAUI IS HIS FIRST UP-CLOSE LOOK AT THE DEVASTATION. ON HISTORIC FRONT STREET NEAR THE FAMED BANYAN TREE AND WHERE SEARCH TEAMS HAVE SCOURED THE DEBRIS FIELD FOR THE MISSING THE HEARTBREAK IS STILL RAW. >> THE COUNTRY GRIEVES WITH YOU, STANDS WITH YOU AND WILL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO HELP YOU RECOVER, REBUILD AND RESPECT CULTURE AND TRADITIONS >> Reporter: THE OFFICIAL DEATH TOLL HERE STANDS AT 114, BUT TODAY WE LEARNED 850 ARE STILL MISSING, ACCORDING TO THE MAYOR OF MAUI COUNTY QUIRO FUENTES WOULD HAVE TURNED 15 YESTERDAY. HIS FAMILY SAYS HIS BODY WAS DISCOVERED WRAPPED AROUND HIS BELOVED DOG. >> I'LL MISS HIS -- EVERYTHING HIS PRESENCE HIS -- HIS SMILES. HIS LAUGHTERS. >> Reporter: AS THE PRESIDENT MEETS WITH SURVIVORS, ONLY 27 VICTIMS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED SO FAR. MOST ARE SENIORS, BUT MANY WHO PERISHED ARE BELIEVED TO BE CHILDREN AS MR. BIDEN ALSO SPENDS TIME WITH FIRST RESPONDERS, NEW HARROWING VIDEO OF WHAT THEY FACED IS STILL SURFACING. MAUI FIREFIGHTER AARON GRIFFITH SHOT THIS VIDEO. HE SAYS 17 OF THE 18 FIREFIGHTERS WHO LIVED IN LAHAINA LOST THEIR HOMES. >> IT WAS LITERALLY LIKE WALKING THROUGH WHAT YOU WOULD IMAGINE HELL TO BE >> Reporter: EXPECTED TO SPEND HOURS ON THE GROUND, THE PRESIDENT'S VISIT WAS NOT WELCOMED BY ALL. >> TWO WEEKS LATER WE'RE OKAY ALREADY WE MADE IT HAPPEN ON OUR OWN. >> Reporter: SOME HAVE CRITICIZED FEMA'S RESPONSE, INCLUDING THE INITIAL $700 CRITICAL NEED PAYMENTS INTENDED TO COVER IMMEDIATE NECESSITIES LIKE FOOD, WATER AND CLOTHING >> IT'S A HUGE SLAP IN THE FACE >> Reporter: BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS THEY'RE BRINGING IN MORE RESOURCES, APPROVING MORE THAN $8 MILLION IN RELIEF TO VICTIMS SO FAR, AS SO MANY OTHERS DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY >> DO I WISH THOSE SIRENS WENT OFF? OF COURSE I DO >> Reporter: STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS NOW ALSO SAY THEY REMINDED MAUI EMERGENCY MANAGERS THE SIRENS COULD BE ACTIVATED BEFORE THE FIRES SWEPT THROUGH LAHAINA. >> IT'S NOT ABOUT AT THIS POINT TRYING TO POINT FINGERS. IT'S ABOUT WHAT WENT WRONG AND HOW DO WE FIX IT SO THAT MORE LIVES IN THE FUTURE AREN'T NEEDLESSLY LOST >> Reporter: TONIGHT, AUTHORITIES HOPING TO PREVENT THE NEXT TRAGEDY AS THE SORROW FROM THIS ONE MAY NEVER EASE >> MIGUEL, YOU MENTIONED THEY'VE UPDATED THE NUMBER OF MISSING TO 850 TELL ME WHAT THE STATUS OF THE SEARCH IS RIGHT NOW >> Reporter: WELL, LESTER, RIGHT NOW WE KNOW SEARCH TEAMS HAVE SCOURED ABOUT 85% OF THAT AREA. THEY STILL HAVE MORE WORK TO DO THEY HOPE TO WRAP THAT UP OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DO FEAR THE DEATH TOLL WILL CLIMB. LESTER >> MIGUEL, THANK YOU >>> ALSO TONIGHT, THE STORM ONCE KNOWN AS HILARY CONTINUES TO SPREAD RAIN ACROSS PARTS OF THE WEST LEAVING MILLIONS UNDER FLOOD WATCHES TONIGHT AFTER MAKING HISTORY AS A DAMAGING TROPICAL STORM IN A PART OF THE COUNTRY WHERE TROPICAL STORMS ARE A RARE EVENT. ERIN McLAUGHLIN IS IN CALIFORNIA TONIGHT >> Reporter: TONIGHT ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST THEY'RE DOING THEIR BEST WITH THE DESTRUCTION TROPICAL STORM HILARY LEFT BEHIND IN SAN BERNARDINO NATIONAL FOREST PANIC AND DEVASTATION. A MASSIVE MUDSLIDE BARRELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY SUNDAY EVENING. FIREFIGHTERS STRANDED. THE DEBRIS NARROWLY MISSING RESIDENT VICKY ROSS'S HOUSE >> ALL THE WAY ACROSS AND ALL THE WAY DOWN THE STREET >> Reporter: WHAT DID IT SOUND LIKE? >> WORSE THAN THUNDER. I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS GOING TO COME OVER THE TOP OF THIS HILL OR INTO THE HOUSE. >> Reporter: NOW THE RACE IS ON TO CLEAR THE ROADS AND FREE A TOWN TRAPPED BY THE MUD. RESIDENTS SAY THE MOUNTAIN JUST GAVE WAY AND CAME POURING DOWN THIS ROAD. WHAT'S LEFT OF SIX FEET OF MUD. YOU CAN SEE JUST -- THIS IS LIKE QUICKSAND. AND OFFICIALS SAY THAT UNTIL THIS IS CLEAR AN ENTIRE TOWN IS CUT OFF. ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST OFFICIALS ASSESS THE DAMAGE IN THE MOJAVE DESERT AN 18-WHEELER UP TO ITS WINDOWS IN MUD WITH RAINFALL RECORDS SET ACROSS THE REGION PALM SPRINGS NARROWLY AVOIDING DISASTER AFTER THE 911 EMERGENCY LINES TEMPORARILY WENT DOWN, AS 50% OF THEIR AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL FELL IN ONLY SIX HOURS. ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS BLANKETED IN SLUDGE. RESIDENTS EVACUATED BY BULLDOZERS >> THE 10 BEING WASHED OUT IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, THAT'S NOT A GOOD SIGN. >> Reporter: IN MEXICO WATER RUSHED THE ROADS. WHILE LOS ANGELES AVOIDED THE WORST OF THE STORM, THE RAPID RAIN DID LEAVE FIREFIGHTERS PULLING THIS CAR FROM THE L.A. RIVER. ELSEWHERE OTHERS LOOKED ON IN DISBELIEF. >> AND THEN YOU COME AND OUT OF NOWHERE YOUR CAR'S FLOATING. >> Reporter: INCREDIBLY NO INJURIES OR DEATHS REPORTED IN THE U.S. TONIGHT A SIGH OF RELIEF THIS COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH WORSE. >> ERIN JOINING ME NOW. AND ERIN, CLEANUP CONTINUES WHERE YOU ARE AS MANY LOCALS ARE APPARENTLY STILL STUCK IN THEIR HOMES >> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT, LESTER. THE WATER RUSHED DOWN THAT MOUNTAIN AND CARVED INTO THIS FIELD. THOSE ROCKS YOU SEE, THEY WEREN'T THERE BEFORE FURTHER UP THE MOUNTAIN, CREWS ARE WORKING TO FREE HOMEOWNERS FROM THE MUD. LESTER >> ERIN McLAUGHLIN, THANK YOU. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, WE'RE WATCHING A DEPRESSION IN THE GULF OF MEXICO THAT IS EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN SOON INTO A TROPICAL STORM. IT'S MOVING WEST AND IS FORECAST TO MOVE INLAND OVER SOUTH TEXAS TOMORROW UP TO FIVE INCHES OF RAIN COULD LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS AND WATCHES ARE IN EFFECT ALONG THE TEXAS GULF COAST >>> IN WASHINGTON STATE FIREFIGHTERS ARE BATTLING A SERIES OF LARGE WILDFIRES, FORCING THE EVACUATION OF THOUSANDS AND THAT DESTROYED HUNDREDS OF PROPERTIES JESSE KIRSCH HAS LATE DETAILS. >> Reporter: WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE UNDER EVACUATION ORDERS AND DOZENS OF HOMES DESTROYED, TONIGHT UNPREDICTABLE WILDFIRES ARE TESTING EASTERN WASHINGTON STATE. >> AS I TURN 180 IT'S JUST FROM HERE -- IT'S GONE >> Reporter: OUTSIDE SPOKANE THE GRAY FIRE DEVASTATING MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES. >> WE HAD ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR MAYBE TO GET OUT. >> Reporter: SANDY HASTINGS AND HER HUSBAND FLED THEIR VACATION HOME. >> WHEN YOU SAW THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME -- >> DID I CRY YEAH >> Reporter: NOW THEY'RE STAYING IN A RED CROSS SHELTER WAITING TO SEE WHAT'S LEFT IN THE RUBBLE >> YOU GET UPSET THINKING ABOUT ALL THE STUFF THAT YOU HAD MEMORYWISE AND THE BEFORE PICTURES OF IT STARTING OUT AND THEN THE AFTER PICTURES OF IT JUST BEING GONE >> Reporter: AND IN NEARBY MEDICAL LAKE OFFICIALS ESTIMATE ROUGHLY 100 HOMES ARE GONE IN THIS CITY ALONE AT THE PEAK ROUGHLY 5,000 PEOPLE ORDERED TO EVACUATE >> I JUST SEE A FIREBALL UP BEHIND THE WHITE BUILDING, AND I WAS JUST -- AND MY REACTION WAS LIKE OH, CRAP, I NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE EVACUATING >> Reporter: AMONG THOSE IN DANGER, A GROUP OF ROUGHLY 50 RESIDENTS WHO USE WHEELCHAIRS. JOSH BARTHOLOMEW SAYS HE AND OTHERS PUSHED THE GROUP UPHILL FOR ABOUT A QUARTER MILE TO SAFETY. >> IT WAS SCARY. >> YOU NEEDED TO GET PEOPLE OUT >> IT WAS -- IT WAS DIRE LIFE OR DEATH BECAUSE IT WAS COMING. >> Reporter: TONIGHT AUTHORITIES SAY HUNDREDS OF FIREFIGHTERS IN THE REGION ARE STILL RACING TO CONTAIN THE FIRES, IMPLORING PEOPLE TO FOLLOW EVACUATION ORDERS. >> NOT EVERYONE CHOSE TO LEAVE AND SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING BACK THE PROBLEM IS AT ANY POINT IN TIME FIRE CAN CHANGE, ESPECIALLY WITH WIND. >> AND JESSE, THAT WIND IS EXTENDING FAR BEYOND SPOKANE >> Reporter: YEAH, OFFICIALS WORRY WINDS COULD REIGNITE HOT SPOTS EVEN IN ALREADY HARD-HIT AREAS LIKE THIS ONE BUT WINDS ARE ALSO SENDING SMOKE FAR BEYOND THE FIRE ZONE, AND THAT'S CONTRIBUTING TO DANGEROUS AIR QUALITY ACROSS THE NORTHWEST LESTER >> JESSE KIRSCH, THANK YOU. >>> IN GEORGIA A JUDGE HAS SET BOND FOR FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, ACCUSED OF TRYING TO OVERTURN THE 2020 ELECTION RESULTS IN THAT STATE. BLAYNE ALEXANDER IS IN ATLANTA AND BLAYNE, THERE WAS AN INTERESTING CAVEAT FROM THE JUDGE >> Reporter: WELL, LESTER, THAT'S RIGHT UNDER THE TERMS OF HIS BOND AGREEMENT THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS BARRED FROM INTIMIDATING OR MAKING ANY DIRECT OR INDIRECT THREATS AGAINST CO-DEFENDANTS, WITNESSES OR THE COMMUNITY. NOW, THAT DOES INCLUDE ANY POSTS OR REPOSTS THAT MIGHT BE MADE ON SOCIAL MEDIA NOW, THIS IS ALSO NOTABLE BECAUSE THAT LANGUAGE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN BOND ORDERS FOR AT LEAST FOUR OTHER DEFENDANTS THAT WERE MADE PUBLIC TODAY. NOW, TO BE CLEAR, MR. TRUMP HAS NOT YET TURNED HIMSELF IN. WE SAW HIS LAWYERS LEAVING THE COURTHOUSE AFTER MEETING WITH THE D.A.'S TEAM. WHEN I ASKED, THEY WOULD NOT TELL ME WHEN THE FORMER PRESIDENT PLANS TO COME TO THE FULTON COUNTY JAIL FOR PROCESSING REMEMBER, LESTER, HE HAS UNTIL NOON ON FRIDAY TO DO SO. LESTER >> BLAYNE ALEXANDER, THANK YOU. >>> JUST TWO DAYS BEFORE THE FIRST REPUBLICAN PRIMARY DEBATE, WHICH MR. TRUMP PLANS TO SKIP, OUR NEW NBC NEWS POLLING FINDS THAT HE HOLDS A COMMANDING LEAD AMONG POTENTIAL CAUCUSGOERS IN IOWA. KRISTEN WELKER IS THERE FOR US TONIGHT >> Reporter: WITH JUST UNDER FIVE MONTHS UNTIL IOWANS HAVE THEIR SAY, WE CAME HERE TO GET A NEW SNAPSHOT OF THE REPUBLICAN RACE. >> WE NEED A PERSON THAT CAN UNITE THE NATION >> I THINK I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE EVEN THOUGH IT'S JUST ONE VOTE >> I THINK WITHOUT A QUESTION OF A DOUBT HE IS GOING TO BE OUR REPUBLICAN NOMINEE >> Reporter: FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S LEAD IN IOWA IS DOMINANT. ACCORDING TO A NEW POLL OF LIKELY REPUBLICAN CAUCUSGOERS, MR. TRUMP IS CURRENTLY 23 POINTS AHEAD OF HIS NEAREST RIVAL, GOVERNOR RON DeSANTIS >> WHO ARE YOU BACKING FOR PRESIDENT IN 2024? >> 100% DONALD TRUMP >> Reporter: JORDAN VAN DER MOLEN IS ONE OF SEVERAL POLL RESPONDENTS WE SPOKE WITH HE'S A CATTLE FARMER AND FATHER OF TWO WHO SAYS HIS MIND IS MADE UP FOR FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. >> HE JUST IS 100% SUPPORTER BEHIND A LOT OF THINGS WE DO IN THE MIDWEST. >> Reporter: AND WHILE MR. TRUMP HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO CHARGES IN SEVERAL INDICTMENTS, 2/3 SAID THEY DON'T BELIEVE HE HAS COMMITTED SERIOUS CRIMES ACCORDING TO THE POLL, INCLUDING VAN DER MOLEN. >> I THINK IT'S BLOWN WAY OUT OF PROPORTION. >> Reporter: RACHEL MURDOCH, A COLLEGE PROFESSOR AND SELF-DESCRIBED MODERATE, SAYS SHE'S DISAPPOINTED WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN BUT DOES NOT BELIEVE MR. TRUMP IS RIGHT FOR 2024 >> PRESIDENT TRUMP CAUSED CHAOS AND WAS SELF-SERVING IN HIS OFFICE >> Reporter: MORE THAN HALF OF LIKELY GOP CAUCUSGOERS SAID THEIR MINDS AREN'T MADE UP, INCLUDING MURDOCH. >> IF SOMEONE HAS A GOOD POINT, I'M WILLING TO HEAR OTHER PERSPECTIVES BUT NOT IF YOU'RE YELLING AT ME. >> Reporter: AND WHILE THE NEW POLL SHOWED 41% THINK THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE LED BY FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, WHITEY STANG IS NOT ONE OF THEM. >> DO YOU THINK FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP SHOULD BE THE LEADER OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY >> NO. NOT AT ALL >> WHY >> I DON'T THINK HE'S TRUSTWORTHY. >> Reporter: STANG, A FATHER AND GRANDFATHER, VOTED FOR MR. TRUMP IN 2016 AND 2020 BUT SAYS JANUARY 6th WAS A TURNING POINT FOR HIM. >> THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT HE HELPED INCITE THOSE PEOPLE, THAT HE DID LITTLE TO STOP THEM. >> Reporter: THAT'S SOMETHING MR. TRUMP DENIES AND WHILE STANG SAYS HIS TOP PICK RIGHT NOW IS FORMER U.N. AMBASSADOR NIKKI HALEY, HE COULD STILL CHANGE HIS MIND. AND FOR ALL THEIR DIFFERENCES, THESE THREE IOWA VOTERS AGREE, THEIR NUMBER ONE ISSUE IS THE ECONOMY. >> THE ECONOMY'S STRONG BUT INFLATION IS STILL HIGH AND THINGS ARE NOT EASY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. >> FARM FUEL IS EXTREMELY HIGHER TODAY, ALMOST FOUR TIMES HIGHER THAN MY BILL USED TO BE FOUR YEARS AGO. THINGS ARE JUST A LOT HARDER TO MAKE WORK. >> KRISTEN, WHERE DO THE OTHER CANDIDATES STAND IN THE IOWA POLL >> Reporter: WELL, LESTER, IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, GOVERNOR DeSANTIS IS THE ONLY OTHER CANDIDATE WHO EVEN GETS DOUBLE DIGITS AND A REMINDER, MR. TRUMP LOST THE IOWA CAUCUSES IN 2016 BUT NOW HAS THE LARGEST REPUBLICAN LEAD IN THE POLL SINCE GEORGE W. BUSH WON HERE IN 2000. LESTER >> KRISTEN WELKER, THANK YOU. >>> IN 60 SECONDS, PROTECTING THE HEALTH OF YOUR FAMILY THE NEW VACCINES BEING ROLLED OUT FOR RSV, COVID AND THE FLU. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW, RIGHT AFTER THIS >>> WE'RE BACK WITH BREAKING HEALTH NEWS AND NEW EFFORTS TO PREVENT A TRIPLEDEMIC THIS FALL WITH A NEWLY APPROVED VACCINE AGAINST RSV IN BABIES AND NEWLY UPDATED VACCINES COMING FOR COVID AND THE FLU. KRISTEN DAHLGREN HAS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW. >> Reporter: TONIGHT A NEW TOOL IN THE FIGHT AGAINST RSV JUST APPROVED BY THE FDA. THE PFIZER VACCINE, THE FIRST GIVEN TO PREGNANT WOMEN, TO PROTECT THEIR BABIES FROM THE DANGEROUS RESPIRATORY VIRUS FOR THEIR FIRST SIX MONTHS. >> A LOT OF KIDS GET SICK WITH RSV LIKE EVERY WINTER, AND IT'S KIND OF SCARY. >> Reporter: GWEN MARAZUKO WAS ONE OF 7,000 PREGNANT WOMEN IN THE STUDY. SHE STILL DOESN'T KNOW IF SHE WAS GIVEN THE VACCINE OR PLACEBO BUT SAYS HER NOW 20-MONTH-OLD IS DOING WELL. >> I WILL SAY THAT THIS PAST WINTER WHEN A LOT OF FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY WERE AFFECTED BY RSV OUR FAMILY WAS NOT. >> Reporter: A NEW MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY FOR RSV ALSO RECENTLY APPROVED FOR USE IN BABIES AND CHILDREN AS WELL AS A NEW VACCINE FOR THE ELDERLY. >> TOGETHER WE THINK THIS IS GOING TO HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON THE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS. >> Reporter: DOCTORS ARE ALSO HOPEFUL ABOUT NEW COVID BOOSTERS, EXPECTED TO BE AUTHORIZED SOON AS THE COUNTRY SEES AN UPTICK IN CASES. EG.5, ALSO KNOWN AS ERAS, IS NOW THE DOMINANT STRAIN, BUT IS CLOSELY RELATED TO PREVIOUS MUTATIONS. SO UNLESS ANOTHER VARIANT POPS UP EXPERTS PREDICT NEW BOOSTERS SHOULD BE A GOOD MATCH. >> WE SHOULD START TO THINK ABOUT THE UPDATED COVID VACCINE ALMOST LIKE OUR ANNUAL FLU VACCINE. NOW IS THE TIME TO FILL UP THAT IMMUNOLOGIC GAS TANK TO PROTECT US AS WE MOVE INTO THE WINTER. >> Reporter: DOCTORS ALSO EXPECT A GOOD MATCH FROM THIS YEAR'S FLU VACCINE. AMERICANS OF ALL AGES BEING ENCOURAGED TO ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES FOR WHAT MAY BE NEW TOOLS AGAINST A TRIPLEDEMIC. KRISTEN DAHLGREN, NBC NEWS, NEW YORK. >>> AND OFFICIALS IN FLORIDA ARE WARNING ABOUT A RARE FLESH-EATING BACTERIA THAT HAS KILLED FIVE PEOPLE IN THE STATE THIS YEAR. IT'S CALLED VIBRIO AND IT'S FOUND IN WARM BRACKISH WATERS. IT CAN AFFECT PEOPLE WHO HAVE CUTS OR WOUNDS. YOU CAN ALSO GET IT EATING RAW SHELLFISH, ESPECIALLY OYSTERS. DEATHS HAVE ALSO BEEN REPORTED IN NEW YORK, CONNECTICUT AND NORTH CAROLINA. >>> UP NEXT, THE SURGE IN AIRPLANE CLOSE CALLS AND OUR NEW >>> JUST IN TONIGHT, NBC NEWS HAS LEARNED THE FAA IS PUSHING AIRPORTS NATIONWIDE TO DRILL DOWN ON RUNWAY SAFETY AFTER A TROUBLING NUMBER OF CLOSE CALLS BETWEEN PLANES BOTH ON THE GROUND AND IN THE AIR. HERE'S TOM COSTELLO. >> Reporter: AT MORE THAN 90 AIRPORTS NATIONWIDE NBC NEWS HAS LEARNED THE FAA IS ORDERING URGENT RUNWAY SAFETY MEETINGS AFTER A SURGE IN VERY CLOSE CALLS. TEN DAYS AGO IN SAN DIEGO. >> GO AROUND. MISSED APPROACH. >> Reporter: A CITATION BUSINESS JET NEARLY LANDED ON TOP OF A SOUTHWEST 737. IN AUSTIN LAST FEBRUARY A FEDEX PLANE NEARLY LANDED ON A SOUTHWEST FLIGHT, BOTH CLEARED FOR THE SAME RUNWAY. AT JFK AIRPORT IN JANUARY -- >> DELTA 1946 CANCEL TAKEOFF PLANS. >> Reporter: AN AMERICAN PLANE CUT OFF A DELTA FLIGHT ALREADY SPEEDING TOWARD TAKEOFF. AND THIS PHOTO TAKEN FROM A JETBLUE COCKPIT LANDING IN BOSTON AS A BUSINESS JET SUDDENLY PULLED ONTO THE SAME RUNWAY WITHOUT PERMISSION. MORE CASES IN SARASOTA, BURBANK, MIAMI AND SAN FRANCISCO. NOW "THE NEW YORK TIMES" HAS COMPILED ITS OWN LIST, CITING 46 CLOSE CALLS IN JULY ALONE. THE FAA INSISTS MOST WERE NOT AS SERIOUS BUT DOES REPORT NEARLY 1700 RUNWAY INCURSIONS LAST YEAR, 985 SO FAR THIS YEAR, UP 33% IN A DECADE. >> EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE MORE VIGILANT AND DOUBLE DOWN ON SAFETY. >> Reporter: ONE BIG FACTOR, THE COUNTRY IS SHORT SOME 1200 CONTROLLERS, FORCING MANY TO WORK SIX-DAY WEEKS. THE FAA INSISTS THE U.S. AVIATION SYSTEM IS THE SAFEST IN THE WORLD, BUT ONE CLOSE CALL IS ONE TOO MANY. >> ANYWHERE BETWEEN 300 LIVES OR MORE WERE PUT AT RISK IN THESE NEAR COLLISIONS. >> Reporter: THE FAA'S RUNWAY SAFETY PUSH WILL FOCUS ON THE BASICS, SITUATIONAL AWARENESS IN COCKPITS AND TOWERS, DOUBLE-CONFIRMING RADIO INSTRUCTIONS, AND STERILE COCKPITS. PILOTS SHOULD ONLY BE HAPP. >> Reporter: FOR HIS FANS AND FAMILY IT WAS. ANNE THOMPSON, NBC NEWS. >> THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS" FOR THIS MONDAY. THANK YOU FOR