Trump to Visit Hurricane Harvey Victims Again October 25 2017

Homes are surrounded by floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey nearly Beaumont, Texas, on Fri. David J. Phillip/AP hide caption

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David J. Phillip/AP

Homes are surrounded by floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey near Beaumont, Texas, on Fri.

David J. Phillip/AP

Updated at 7:40 p.one thousand. ET

The Trump assistants is asking Congress for nearly $viii billion in Hurricane Harvey assist as the search-and-rescue phase is slowly giving style to recovery more than a week later the tempest slammed into southeastern Texas.

Trump visits Texas and Louisiana

President Trump made his second trip to the region Saturday, kickoff in Houston with a visit to the NRG Center, which is serving as a shelter for Harvey victims.

The president and first lady Melania Trump shook hands, hugged and took selfies with storm victims. Of the interactions with families, Trump said, "We saw a lot of happiness. It's been actually nice," according to the pool written report. "As tough as this was, it'south been a wonderful affair, I think fifty-fifty for the country to watch information technology and for the world to spotter."

When the president visited Corpus Christi and Austin on Tuesday, he did non see with victims, according to The Associated Press.

The president and first lady are greeted by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, among others, upon their arrival in Houston Sat. Dallas Morning News hide caption

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Dallas Morning News

The president and first lady are greeted by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, amongst others, upon their arrival in Houston Sabbatum.

Dallas Morning News

In assessing the situation in Texas, Trump said, "The message is that things are working out well. Really, I think people appreciate what's been done. It'due south been washed very efficiently, very well, and that's what we want."

Later Saturday, he spoke at the First Church of Pearland outside Houston. Addressing how long recovery might take, Trump said, "They say 2 years, three years. I think because this is Texas, you'll do it in six months."

He praised the piece of work of various officials and motioned for Federal Emergency Management Agency Manager Brock Long: "Brock, come here a minute, Brock. What a job you've washed!"

Trump went on to say, "We do, nosotros have a long way to go, only the water's disappearing. And you look at the neighborhoods and you meet it's — we merely saw it through there. Two days ago, even yesterday, they had water. Today it's all swept up and cleaned up."

Later Saturday, Trump met with emergency responders in Lake Charles, La., including the volunteer "Cajun Navy."

President Trump serves food to Hurricane Harvey victims at NRG Heart in Houston, Texas, on Saturday. Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images hide explanation

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Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

President Trump serves nutrient to Hurricane Harvey victims at NRG Center in Houston, Texas, on Sat.

Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

Request for federal funds

The trip comes 1 mean solar day subsequently the White Firm asked Congress to appropriate "$7.85 billion in Federal resource for response and initial recovery efforts related to Hurricane Harvey."

The alphabetic character, sent by White House Office of Direction and Upkeep Director Mick Mulvaney, said Harvey has already damaged more than 100,000 homes, left 43,500 people in shelters and resulted in nearly a half-million households registering with FEMA for help with housing and abode repairs.

The majority of the funding would go toward FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund. Near $450 1000000 is slated for the Small Business concern Administration'due south disaster loan programme to help small businesses and homeowners get back on their anxiety.

Some parts of southeastern Texas are moving toward recovery, while others, similar the west side of Houston, remain underwater. Scott Dalton for NPR hibernate caption

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Scott Dalton for NPR

Some parts of southeastern Texas are moving toward recovery, while others, like the west side of Houston, remain underwater.

Scott Dalton for NPR

Equally The Washington Post reports:

"The request is $2 billion more than White House and congressional leaders were expecting to seek every bit of Thursday. Authorities officials were continually reevaluating the impairment and how much money was needed for the short-term response."

Simply the request is substantially just a down payment on a tab that will very likely be billions more than.

The letter also calls on Congress to raise the debt ceiling apace, warning that "the debt ceiling could, unless modified, affect critical response and recovery efforts related to Hurricane Harvey."

A controlled release of water from the Barker Reservoir is causing flooding on the west side of Houston. Scott Dalton for NPR hide caption

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Scott Dalton for NPR

A controlled release of water from the Barker Reservoir is causing flooding on the west side of Houston.

Scott Dalton for NPR

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin has said that if the debt ceiling is not raised, the government only has until the cease of the month earlier running out of cash.

In response to the letter, Senate Bulk Leader Mitch McConnell said, "The Senate stands ready to human action quickly to provide this much-needed assistance to those impacted communities, and back up showtime responders and volunteers."

Merely, as is often the case in Washington, a funding fight may be inevitable. Another complicating gene is that the National Overflowing Insurance Programme, which many storm-ravaged residents are relying on, is fix to expire Sept. 30, unless Congress acts.

In a series of tweets on Saturday, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said his meeting with President Trump "was productive."

"Asked @POTUS for expedited @FEMA application process for flood insurance claims from start responders. He gave a big thumbs upward," he tweeted.

Trump also authorized an increase in the amount of federal funding for debris removal from 75 percent to ninety percent, the White House said.

"Today, President Trump increased cost sharing to 90 percent Federal funding for droppings removal, including direct Federal assistance, and a 100 percentage Federal funding for emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance," the White House said in a argument.

National Guard vehicles drive downwards a flooded street in Wharton, Texas, on Fri. Scott Dalton for NPR hide caption

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Scott Dalton for NPR

National Baby-sit vehicles drive down a flooded street in Wharton, Texas, on Fri.

Scott Dalton for NPR

Some areas nevertheless 'deadly unsafe'

As the pelting has subsided and the focus has moved from rescue to rebuilding, chemical plant fires, lack of drinking h2o and still-swollen waterways mean many residents are still focused on simply surviving.

The region is grappling with areas that are "deadly unsafe," according to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

Meanwhile, memorial and funeral services accept already begun for some of Harvey'due south known 42 victims. That number could notwithstanding ascension as floodwaters recede and reveal Harvey's true toll.

Mandatory evacuation

On Saturday, Houston Mayor Sylvester Tuner ordered a mandatory evacuation, effective Lord's day, for homes in westward Houston. In the mandatory evacuation zone, he said, 4,600 apartments and houses were flooded, and that "most have already left."

I'm ordering this mandatory evacuation of west Houston zone with my authorization granted by state law.

— Sylvester Turner (@SylvesterTurner) September 2, 2017

After he asked residents to go out the expanse on Friday, 300 inundated homes in the zone remain unevacuated.

Beaumont struggles

Beaumont, Texas, is still in "crisis way," reports NPR's Debbie Elliott. While the Neches River is expected to crest Saturday, the main water pump on the river has been knocked out of commission, leaving the city without clean water.

"Information technology is nearly 7 feet above the record," Abbott said Friday of the Neches River. "This flooding poses an ongoing threat to Beaumont and the surrounding expanse."

North Land Public Radio's Brian Mann told Weekend Edition's Scott Simon: "I saw cars and trucks backed up on Highway twenty for miles, people only fleeing their homes, trying to get out of Beaumont and some of these surrounding towns."

Beaumont-expanse resident Nikki Stanner told Isle of man: "My family unit's been in this area for more a hundred years, and this never flooded."

"This time it did. It'southward a mess and it stinks."

Houston schools

Houston's schoolhouse superintendent said Saturday that while classes are yet set to resume on Sept. eleven, up to 12,000 students will accept to relocate "to other facilities," according to The Associated Press.

Richard Carranza said effectually 75 schools have been damaged enough past the storm that they will not reopen for months. About 115 schools accept been examined and cleaned upward and volition exist set to welcome students dorsum on time. 40 schools still need to be assessed.

NPR's Emma Bowman contributed to this report.

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Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/09/02/548100168/trump-asks-congress-for-7-85-billion-in-harvey-relief-ahead-of-second-trip-to-re

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