Trump visits Texas: US President in flood-ravaged state; gets briefed by emergency responders
arrived in central Texas on Friday to survey the catastrophic damage caused by flash floods that have killed at least 120 people, including dozens of children, and left over 170 missing.
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Touching down in Kerrville - the heart of the disaster zone- Trump was accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump and Texas Governor Greg Abbott. The president could be seen meeting with first responders, local officials, and grieving families at a briefing site near uprooted trees and emergency vehicles.
Wearing a white 'USA' ballcap, Trump received situational updates from emergency personnel alongside Governor Abbott, as reported by Associated Press.
The First Lady, dressed in a khaki jacket, olive pants, and Converse sneakers, joined him in meeting rescue crews and posing for photos with hardhat-clad officials.
'I'm going to be with some of the great families,' Trump had told reporters before departing Washington, calling the floods a 'terrible thing' and a '100-year catastrophe.'
Trump will also reportedly conduct an aerial tour of the worst-affected areas later today (local time) aboard Marine One.
The flyover is expected to give him a firsthand view of the flood's toll, particularly along the Guadalupe River, which surged rapidly on July 4, sweeping away summer camps, homes, and vehicles.
At least 36 children were among the dead, with 27 fatalities at Camp Mystic alone. Officials fear the toll may still rise as search efforts continue into their eighth day.
While Trump has expressed support for installing improved flood warning systems, he brushed aside criticism that federal agency cuts may have hampered the response.
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'The local officials were hit by this just like everybody else,' he told NBC News.
Kerr County Commissioner Jeff Holt, who met the president Friday, said the visit sends an important signal. 'He's here to pledge federal support, like he already has with FEMA. That's what a leader does,' said Holt who also serves in the local fire department, as quoted by AP.
Trump's visit comes as the response- including delayed evacuation alerts- faces scrutiny.
A House Oversight Committee inquiry is underway, and lawmakers have requested records from FEMA and other agencies to assess whether staffing cuts or internal changes contributed to the crisis.
The president has not directly addressed the future of FEMA, despite his administration's broader push to devolve disaster management to states. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the federal response as 'swift and efficient.'
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