Donald Trump went to Texas on Friday, a week after the sudden floods that struck the center of the state, caused by torrential rains on July 4. Currently, the floods have killed 121, including 36 children. Over 170 people are still missing. The county of Kerr, a republican bastion, is the most affected, including 27 dead in a holiday camp for girls.
“Devastation is hard to believe, hundred -year -old trees were simply torn from the ground,” said the president during a round table with local officials and first aid. He praised “the incredible spirit of affected families”. “Everyone here has done an incredible job, and people know it,” he said.
Trump sweeps all criticisms
While the controversy swells on the alleged delay in sending emergency alerts, Donald Trump swept the criticism: “Only a harmful spirit could ask such a question. According to the Texan KSAT channel affiliated with ABC News, a firefighter would have asked at 4:22 am the issue of a “red code” message to alert the inhabitants of Hunt, but the Sheriff’s office would have demanded to wait for the authorization of a superior. Result: the alert would not have been sent until 6 am, sometimes with several hours of delay before receipt.
Donald Trump, usually quick to point out democratic governors in the event of a disaster, this time avoided any criticism of Texan officials, welcoming their effectiveness: “Texas, number. They do things well. “He insisted on the responsiveness of the emergency services:” They were fully funded in the minutes following the alert. The president also recalled having quickly approved a major disaster declaration, extended to other areas on Friday.
More than 2,000 rescuers in the field
On the ground, the emergency services continue to search the flooded areas with the help of cynophile teams and helicopters. More than 2,100 rescuers are mobilized, but the chances of finding survivors are diminished. “We pray for the families behind,” said Donald Trump, evoking the “incredible spirit” of those who have lost everything. The president has also promised an improvement in the alert system: “They will find something. »»
Our file on the United States
At the same time, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) remains under the fire of criticism. The CNN channel says that delays in the mobilization of the agency are linked to a budgetary rule recently imposed by the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem. This pleads for an in-depth overhaul of the Federal Emergency Management System. Asked about a possible dismantling of FEMA, Donald Trump elected: “Now is not the time to talk about it. »»
