AIRPORT FOR THE REUNION. IT MAY BE THE BEST BIRTHDAY YET. CAN WE FINALLY GOT THE CALL WITH LIKE 3% LEFT ON HIS PHONE AND WE WERE SCREAMING, YOU KNOW, I JUST WE’RE JUST CAN’T THEY JUST CAN’T DESCRIBE HOW WE FELT AS CAROL DELONG AND COURTNEY JOHNSON HUGGED THEIR LOVED ONE ONE MORE TIME. GOING TO SOUND SILLY, BUT I PROMISED MY MOM I’D BE HOME FOR HER BIRTHDAY JUST TODAY. JUST TODAY. DUSTIN JOHNSON WAS STAYING AT LAHAINA FOR A WEEK BEFORE FLAMES QUICKLY SPREAD THROUGH MAUI. SO 3:00 IN THE MORNING, WINDS COMING IN. THE TOWERS ARE GOING DOWN LIKE THE STREETS LOOK LIKE SPAGHETTI WITH ALL THE POWER LINES DOWN. EXPERIENCING THE DEVASTATION FIRST HAND, LIKE THE ENTIRE HARBOR WAS JUST GETTING KNOCKED AROUND LIKE BUMPER CARS. DUSTIN DESCRIBED THE SITUATION AS A FIRESTORM. THERE IS MULTIPLE LEVELS OF PERFECT STORM FOR HELL TO BREAK OUT. AN INSTANT CONCERN FOR HIS FAMILY, WHO WAS UNABLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HIM. I MEAN, IT WAS WEIRD, BUT I JUST ASSUMED HE WAS IN HAWAII AND THAT WAS THAT. BUT IT WASN’T UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING WHEN WE WERE HAVING BREAKFAST THAT I WAS LIKE, OH, SOMETHING IS GOING, SOMETHING’S GOING ON. DESPITE THE DEVASTATION THAT WAS UNFOLDING BEFORE HIS EYES, DUSTIN SAYS HE DIDN’T RUN OFF THE ISLAND IMMEDIATELY. I’VE GOT MY, MY, MY SUNGLASSES ON SO I CAN SEE THROUGH THE SMOKE A LITTLE BIT BETTER. IT’S LIKE KEEPING THE SMOKE OUT OF MY EYES. AND I’M RUNNING THROUGH. AND I WAS LIKE, GO THAT WAY. GO TO THE BEACH, GO DOWN TO THE BEACH AND JUST DON’T STOP UNTIL YOU HIT THE PALM TREES. AND FOR HOURS HELPED OTHERS GET AS FAR AWAY AS THEY COULD FROM THE FLAMES. I HAD THIS MOMENT WHERE I HAD THE CHOICE OF DO I GET ON THE BOAT OR RUN BACK AND HELP THOSE PEOPLE?
Family reunites at California airport after loved one flees Maui wildfires
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Updated: 8:50 AM CDT Aug 11, 2023
It may be Karol Delong's best birthday yet, as she hugged her son Dustin Johnson Thursday morning at the Sacramento International Airport.Johnson flew back from Kahului late Wednesday as devastating wildfires spread through Maui."It's going to sound silly, but I promised my mom I'd be home for her birthday, which is today," Johnson told sister station KCRA.He had been staying at Lahaina for a week before flames quickly spread through Maui. Experiencing the devastation firsthand, Johnson described the situation as a "firestorm."Video above: Fires wreak havoc on historic town of Lahaina"So 3 a.m. wind's coming in, the towers are going down, the streets look like spaghetti with all the power lines down ... the entire harbor was getting knocked over like bumper cars," Johnson said, adding, "there are multiple levels of a perfect storm for hell to break out."Learning about the wildfires and not being able to get in touch with Johnson was an instant concern for his family."When we finally got the call with like 3% left on his phone, we were screaming. Words just can't describe how I felt," Delong said.But despite the devastation that was unfolding before his eyes, Johnson said he didn't run off the island immediately. "I had this moment where I had the choice of 'do I get on the boat or do I run back and help those people?'" said Johnson, who for hours helped others get as far away as they could from the flames.This birthday, Delong said they'd be spending it on a boat, celebrating another year together.More Maui Wildfire CoverageFuture unclear for Hawaii residents who lost it all in fire Help is needed as wildfires ravage Hawaii. How to know your donation is going to a legitimate charity What to know about Hawaii travel right now
It may be Karol Delong's best birthday yet, as she hugged her son Dustin Johnson Thursday morning at the Sacramento International Airport.
Johnson flew back from Kahului late Wednesday as devastating wildfires spread through Maui.
"It's going to sound silly, but I promised my mom I'd be home for her birthday, which is today," Johnson told sister station KCRA.
He had been staying at Lahaina for a week before flames quickly spread through Maui. Experiencing the devastation firsthand, Johnson described the situation as a "firestorm."
Video above: Fires wreak havoc on historic town of Lahaina
"So 3 a.m. wind's coming in, the towers are going down, the streets look like spaghetti with all the power lines down ... the entire harbor was getting knocked over like bumper cars," Johnson said, adding, "there are multiple levels of a perfect storm for hell to break out."
Learning about the wildfires and not being able to get in touch with Johnson was an instant concern for his family.
"When we finally got the call with like 3% left on his phone, we were screaming. Words just can't describe how I felt," Delong said.
But despite the devastation that was unfolding before his eyes, Johnson said he didn't run off the island immediately.
"I had this moment where I had the choice of 'do I get on the boat or do I run back and help those people?'" said Johnson, who for hours helped others get as far away as they could from the flames.
This birthday, Delong said they'd be spending it on a boat, celebrating another year together.
More Maui Wildfire Coverage
