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Donald Trump to visit Houston to meet Storm Harvey survivors Donald Trump to visit Houston to meet Storm Harvey survivors
(35 minutes later)
Donald Trump will travel to Houston and the Louisiana city of Lake Charles on Saturday to meet survivors of Storm Harvey, one of the worst natural disasters in US history.Donald Trump will travel to Houston and the Louisiana city of Lake Charles on Saturday to meet survivors of Storm Harvey, one of the worst natural disasters in US history.
Trump first visited the region on Tuesday but stayed clear of the disaster zone, saying he did not want to hamper rescue efforts. Instead, he met state and local leaders and first responders. He was criticised, however, for largely focusing on the logistics of the government response rather than the suffering of residents.Trump first visited the region on Tuesday but stayed clear of the disaster zone, saying he did not want to hamper rescue efforts. Instead, he met state and local leaders and first responders. He was criticised, however, for largely focusing on the logistics of the government response rather than the suffering of residents.
The White House said Trump would first travel to Houston to meet survivors and volunteers who assisted in relief efforts, and then move on to Lake Charles, another area hit by the storm.The White House said Trump would first travel to Houston to meet survivors and volunteers who assisted in relief efforts, and then move on to Lake Charles, another area hit by the storm.
The Trump administration has asked Congress for $7.85bn (£6bn) for response and initial recovery efforts. The White House homeland security adviser Tom Bossert has said aid funding requests would come in stages as more became known about the impact of the storm. The Trump administration has asked Congress for $7.85bn (£6bn) for response and initial recovery efforts. The White House homeland security adviser Tom Bossert has said aid funding requests would come in stages as more became known about the storm’s impact.
The Texas governor, Greg Abbott, has said that his state may need more than $125bn. He said 440,000 Texans had already applied for federal financial disaster assistance, and $79m had been approved so far. The Texas governor, Greg Abbott, has said his state may need more than $125bn. He said 440,000 Texans had already applied for federal financial disaster assistance, and $79m had been approved so far.
Harvey came ashore last Friday as the strongest storm to hit Texas in more than 50 years, and lingered around the Gulf of Mexico coast for days, dumping record amounts of rain.Harvey came ashore last Friday as the strongest storm to hit Texas in more than 50 years, and lingered around the Gulf of Mexico coast for days, dumping record amounts of rain.
The storm has displaced more than 1 million people, and 50 people are feared to have died in the flooding More than two-thirds of Harris county in Texas, which encompasses Houston, was at one point covered with 45cm (18ins) or more of water, officials have said. The storm has displaced more than 1 million people, and 50 are feared to have died in the flooding. More than two-thirds of Harris county in Texas, which encompasses Houston, was at one point covered with 45cm (18ins) or more of water, officials have said.
As the water receded, many returned to survey the damage. In Orange, Texas, about 125 miles (200km) east of Houston, Sam Dougharty, 36, found waist-high water in his backyard and barn. His family’s house smelled like raw sewage and was still flooded to the ankles. As the water receded, many returned to survey the damage. In Orange, about 125 miles (200km) east of Houston, Sam Dougharty, 36, found waist-high water in his backyard and barn. His family’s house smelled of raw sewage and was still flooded to the ankles.
“We never had water here. This is family land. My aunt’s owned it for 40 years and never had water here,” he said.“We never had water here. This is family land. My aunt’s owned it for 40 years and never had water here,” he said.
Jeff Lindner, a meteorologist with the Harris County flood control district, said the nearly 127cm rainfall in Clear Creek was a once in a 40,000-year event. Jeff Lindner, a meteorologist with the Harris County flood control district, said the nearly 127cm of rainfall in Clear Creek was a once in a 40,000-year event.
The Houston Astros baseball team will play their first home game since Harvey on Saturday. Some of the tens of thousands of people forced into shelters by the storm will attend the game against the New York Mets, where the Houston mayor, Sylvester Turner, will throw out the first pitch and a moment of silence is planned for those who died.The Houston Astros baseball team will play their first home game since Harvey on Saturday. Some of the tens of thousands of people forced into shelters by the storm will attend the game against the New York Mets, where the Houston mayor, Sylvester Turner, will throw out the first pitch and a moment of silence is planned for those who died.
Harvey came on the 12th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which killed about 1,800 people around New Orleans. George W Bush’s administration was roundly criticised for its botched early response to the storm. Harvey came on the 12th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which killed about 1,800 people in and around New Orleans. George W Bush’s administration was roundly criticised for its botched early response to the storm.
Meanwhile, a new storm, Irma, strengthened on Friday into a category 3 hurricane hundreds of miles from land but forecast to possibly hit Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Haiti by the middle of next week. A new storm, Irma, strengthened on Friday into a category 3 hurricane. It is currently hundreds of miles from land but is forecast to possibly hit Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Haiti by the middle of next week.