Image via Twitter
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday held a press conference on the government’s response to Hurricane Harvey.
Abbott graded the federal government's response an "A+," after having been in contact with President Trump and his cabinet on a daily basis since at least seven to 10 days before the hurricane even hit.
He said that he spoke with the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, Transportation, the Department of Energy, FEMA, and so on, to coordinate a response to the crisis.
“I would have to grade the federal government’s response as an A+,” he said. “This is, if not the largest … disasters America has every faced. And to see the swift response from the federal government is pretty much unparalleled.”
Abbott called the response by local leaders “immeasurable, courageous, and heroic.”
“I got to tell you, the way that the leaders of the coast of the great state of Texas responded to this hurricane is immeasurable, courageous, and heroic,” he said. “I’m grateful about the way they were able to evacuate so many people and minimize the loss of life.”
“We are just beginning the process of responding to the storm,” Abbott went on. “We are still involved in the search and rescue process. Our number one goal … is still protecting and preserving life and rescuing every person that we can find. Our second goal is ensuring that our fellow Texans have access to necessities: food, water, supplies, and power.”
He said that power is in the process of being restored in certain areas “that desperately need it.”
On the rescue efforts by Texans to save people using their own boats and other heroic acts of kindness in the face of the storm, Abbott said, “Texans helping Texans. That is what we do as a state. And I don’t think anybody does it better.”
He added, “I’m so proud to be a Texan and proud to be associated with the men and women who have helped their friends and neighbors during this catastrophe.”
At least five people have been killed and more than dozens injured since Hurricane Harvey made landfall Friday night.
“This event is unprecedented & all impacts are unknown & beyond anything experienced,” the National Weather Service tweeted Sunday morning.
Vice President Pence on Monday said that he is “very confident” that with reserves in FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund and the support in Congress, the Harvey victims will have the relief they need.
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will be traveling to Texas on Tuesday.
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