 to survey the flood damage firsthand. The trip comes as the administration faces renewed scrutiny over previous promises to shutter or dramatically reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the federal body responsible for disaster response. While the White House has recently walked back plans to abolish FEMA, officials continue to dodge questions about the agency’s long-term future, instead emphasizing the need for “serious reforms” and greater reliance on state-level disaster management. Trump, who has made government downsizing a centerpiece of his administration, has so far focused on the magnitude of the disaster rather than his earlier pledges to cut FEMA. “Nobody ever saw a thing like this coming,” Trump told NBC News on Thursday (10). “This is a once-in-every-200-year deal.” He added that he delayed his visit to avoid burdening local authorities still searching for the missing. Scenes of Loss and Community Resilience The scale of the destruction is staggering. In Kerr County alone, 96 people have died, including at least 36 children. Families have been left searching for missing loved ones, sifting through the wreckage of homes and summer camps. Volunteers and first responders, including the Texas National Guard and NASA aircraft, are assisting in the search and recovery efforts, often using horses to navigate waterlogged terrain. Residents like RickyRay Robertson, whose property straddles the river, have found themselves helping grieving families search for their children. “They’re not just numbers, you know. They’re young girls, men, mothers, and fathers. What is this … just a big box full of belongings, you know,” Robertson said, reflecting the profound personal losses suffered by the community. Political Tensions and the Future of Disaster Relief Trump’s visit highlights the political complexities of disaster response. While he praised the speed of the federal response—telling Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, “You had people there as fast as anybody’s ever seen”—his administration is still pushing for a streamlined FEMA, with more responsibilities shifted to state governments. Noem, who is co-chairing a FEMA review council, said, “We’re cutting through the paperwork of the old Fema. Streamlining it, much like your vision of how Fema should operate.” Pressed on whether the White House still plans to shutter FEMA, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “The president wants to ensure American citizens always have what they need during times of need. Whether that assistance comes from states or the federal government, that is a policy discussion that will continue.” As Texas mourns its dead and continues the search for the missing, the disaster is testing both the state’s emergency preparedness and the federal government’s evolving approach to disaster management. The debate over FEMA’s future remains unresolved, even as the agency coordinates a massive relief effort in one of the deadliest U.S. flood events in decades For More Interesting News Follow Us on Instagram){kind=link}
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Central Texas is grappling with the aftermath of catastrophic flooding that started on July 4, leaving at the least 120 folks lifeless and greater than 170 nonetheless lacking.
The catastrophe, centered across the Guadalupe River, has devastated communities, destroyed properties, and claimed the lives of dozens of kids, together with at the least 27 at Camp Mystic, a widely known all-girls summer time camp.
Search and rescue operations proceed, with native and federal crews combing by way of debris-strewn neighborhoods and riverbanks in hopes of discovering survivors or recovering our bodies.
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Trump’s Go to and the FEMA Debate
President Donald Trump is visiting Texas on Friday (11) to survey the flood injury firsthand. The journey comes because the administration faces renewed scrutiny over earlier guarantees to shutter or dramatically reform the Federal Emergency Administration Company (FEMA), the federal physique chargeable for catastrophe response.
Whereas the White Home has not too long ago walked again plans to abolish FEMA, officers proceed to dodge questions concerning the company’s long-term future, as an alternative emphasizing the necessity for “severe reforms” and larger reliance on state-level catastrophe administration.
Trump, who has made authorities downsizing a centerpiece of his administration, has thus far targeted on the magnitude of the catastrophe relatively than his earlier pledges to chop FEMA. “No person ever noticed a factor like this coming,” Trump informed NBC Information on Thursday (10). “This can be a once-in-every-200-year deal.” He added that he delayed his go to to keep away from burdening native authorities nonetheless looking for the lacking.
Scenes of Loss and Neighborhood Resilience
The size of the destruction is staggering. In Kerr County alone, 96 folks have died, together with at the least 36 kids. Households have been left looking for lacking family members, sifting by way of the wreckage of properties and summer time camps.
Volunteers and first responders, together with the Texas Nationwide Guard and NASA plane, are aiding within the search and restoration efforts, usually utilizing horses to navigate waterlogged terrain.
Residents like RickyRay Robertson, whose property straddles the river, have discovered themselves serving to grieving households seek for their kids.
“They’re not simply numbers, you recognize. They’re younger ladies, males, moms, and fathers. What is that this … only a huge field filled with belongings, you recognize,” Robertson stated, reflecting the profound private losses suffered by the group.
Political Tensions and the Way forward for Catastrophe Aid
Trump’s go to highlights the political complexities of catastrophe response. Whereas he praised the velocity of the federal response—telling Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem, “You had folks there as quick as anyone’s ever seen”—his administration remains to be pushing for a streamlined FEMA, with extra duties shifted to state governments.
Noem, who’s co-chairing a FEMA evaluation council, stated, “We’re reducing by way of the paperwork of the outdated Fema. Streamlining it, very like your imaginative and prescient of how Fema ought to function.”
Pressed on whether or not the White Home nonetheless plans to shutter FEMA, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, “The president needs to make sure Americans at all times have what they want throughout instances of want. Whether or not that help comes from states or the federal authorities, that may be a coverage dialogue that can proceed.”
As Texas mourns its lifeless and continues the seek for the lacking, the catastrophe is testing each the state’s emergency preparedness and the federal authorities’s evolving method to catastrophe administration.
The controversy over FEMA’s future stays unresolved, even because the company coordinates an enormous aid effort in one of many deadliest U.S. flood occasions in a long time
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