Chad Santiago, who lost his family home when a wildfire destroyed most of Lahaina, explains how he got out and what it's like helping others in the wake of such a tragedy.
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00:00 As wildfires race through Lahaina last week,
00:02 State Farm insurance agent Chad
00:03 Santiago was able to escape and
00:05 Chad joins us now from Hawaii to
00:07 recount how he got his family to safety.
00:10 Chad, thank you so much for making time for us.
00:15 My pleasure, my pleasure.
00:17 Thank you for having me.
00:19 Well, Chad, we're thankful that
00:20 you are safe in your family is.
00:22 We understand that as fires were spreading,
00:23 they moved into your neighborhood.
00:25 So when did you and your wife
00:26 know you had to leave your home?
00:28 We got a phone call from a friend
00:30 that was a block away from us whose
00:33 home was already engulfed in flames.
00:35 She quickly gave my wife a call and told her,
00:39 hey, you need to.
00:40 Evacuate as soon as possible.
00:42 Luckily, we somewhat prepared a bag for
00:45 all of our important items to just pick
00:48 up and go. They were able to take that.
00:51 Leave me behind.
00:52 I said, hey,
00:53 I'll be 30 minutes behind you folks.
00:55 I need to get the dogs and some
00:57 other things in place.
00:58 Became a point where I could feel the heat,
01:01 but the intense heat on my back and.
01:05 Black smoke coming through my garage
01:07 and that was my cue to say hey.
01:10 I'll be back at some point to pick up
01:12 what I need and I never thought it
01:13 was going to be the last time I ever
01:15 drove out of my driveway and see my home.
01:17 You were able to meet a few minutes later.
01:23 Family met me at my office and
01:27 we were able to reconnect.
01:30 Start to follow the convoy through
01:32 the access road that took us out
01:34 to one of the shelters on the
01:36 West side of the island.
01:38 So barely made it out.
01:40 Well, we are so thankful that you did
01:42 make it out and that's the important
01:44 thing we understand that you were able to
01:46 film the speed of the wildfire from your phone.
01:48 So what were you thinking in those moments?
01:53 Speechless we were speechless and you
01:55 know the magnitude of the fire was
01:57 something that we've never ever experienced.
02:00 I mean the speeds of the wind is what
02:03 really really picked up the fires and in.
02:06 That's why no one really able to gauge.
02:11 When it would be safe for them to leave.
02:13 And after the fire,
02:16 we understand that you shared video as
02:18 you were driving through Lahaina to see
02:20 the damage. How would you describe
02:22 that part of the process coming back
02:24 to your neighborhood driving through
02:25 the town? Very heartbreaking,
02:27 unrecognizable.
02:27 It's just reminding me of a cemetery.
02:30 You know, with tombstones.
02:34 Very sad and disheartening.
02:36 And you did lose your home as
02:39 you communicated with us,
02:40 but you're also a state farm agent
02:42 and you have homeowners insurance
02:44 clients who have lost so much as well.
02:46 So how do you help your family and
02:48 help others in moments like these?
02:51 Oh yeah, it's it's difficult.
02:53 It's hard, you know,
02:55 now that the family.
02:56 Is is safe and they're comfortable.
02:59 I can now put on my state farm hat
03:02 and start to help. My team,
03:06 you know the state farm family start
03:08 to execute all the promises that we've
03:10 that I've made to all my policyholders
03:12 on the forefront, you know.
03:14 So being able to do that being here
03:17 and having a presence in the community
03:20 is is helping a lot of people.
03:22 They give people the peace of
03:24 mind that they that that they need.
03:26 I absolutely believe that.
03:28 Well, we appreciate your time and your story.
03:30 State Farm insurance agent and survivor
03:33 Chad Santiago. Thank you again.
03:35 Thank you.
03:36 [BLANK_AUDIO]