Devastating Flooding in Texas: A National Disaster
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump will be visiting the devastating flooding in Texas “later this week.”
She called what happened a “once in a generation national disaster” and urged “everyone in the area to remain vigilant, listen to all warnings and respond accordingly.”
Visit to Texas
Leavitt said the visit would likely come Friday, but that no final decision had been made.
The number of fatalities connected to the Kerr County floods has risen to 75, local officials said Monday as search-and-rescue efforts continue and Camp Mystic grieved “the loss of 27 campers and counselors.”
Response to the Flooding
She also rebuffed suggestions that deep Trump administration cuts to federal services may have affected authorities’ response to the flooding.
She blamed Democrats and said that faulting “President Trump for these floods is a depraved lie” and insisted that the National Weather Service “did its job” in spreading warnings about possible catastrophic flooding.
Role of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Asked if Trump may delay his promise to close the Federal Emergency Management Agency and leave disaster response up to the states, Leavitt said, “The president has always said he wants states to do as much as they can.”
She added that Texas officials are doing a “tremendous job” in response to the flooding.
Pressed in a subsequent question about phasing out FEMA, Leavitt said she’d already answered the question.
Investigations and Aftermath
The Associated Press reported on the devastating flooding in Texas, with many questioning the response to the disaster.
Related: Did Texas officials do enough to prevent flood devastation?
Conclusion
In conclusion, the devastating flooding in Texas has been declared a national disaster, with President Trump set to visit the affected areas later this week.
The response to the flooding has been questioned, with some blaming the Trump administration for cuts to federal services.
However, the White House has defended the response, saying that the National Weather Service did its job in spreading warnings and that Texas officials are doing a tremendous job in responding to the disaster.
FAQs
Q: When will President Trump visit Texas?
A: President Trump is expected to visit Texas later this week, with the exact date likely to be Friday.
Q: How many fatalities have been reported in the Kerr County floods?
A: The number of fatalities connected to the Kerr County floods has risen to 75, with 27 campers and counselors from Camp Mystic among the victims.
Q: Will the Trump administration delay its promise to close FEMA?
A: The White House has not indicated that it will delay its promise to close FEMA, with the president saying that he wants states to do as much as they can in responding to disasters.
