'Unthinkable tragedy': Trump visits Texas after catastrophic flooding kills more than 100
President Donald Trump met with first responders and relatives of those killed in the catastrophic flooding in Texas on Friday, describing the devastation as an "unthinkable tragedy".
At least 120 people were killed and 160 are still missing after flash floods were triggered by heavy rain a week ago.
His visit comes amid serious concerns over flood preparedness and a lack of immediate alerts notifying residents about the floods.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Trump told first responders and other state and local officials gathered at an emergency operations centre in Kerrville.
He described the floodwaters as a "little narrow river that becomes a monster" and "like a giant, giant wave in the Pacific Ocean that the best surfers in the world would be afraid to surf.”
Among the dead are 27 girls and counsellors who were staying at Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp in one of the worst-hit regions.
Speaking about those who died from the camp, he said "they were there because they loved God".
"And as we grieve this unthinkable tragedy, we take comfort in the knowledge that God has welcomed those little beautiful girls into his comforting arms in heaven," he said.
Trump was joined by First Lady Melania, who gave rare public remarks alongside the president.
She said she received a special bracelet from the girls' summer camp that was devastated in the deadly flooding.
“We are here to honour them,” she said.
Trump first saw the aftermath from the air, then met privately with first responders and relatives of flood victims.
Roads in the centre of Kerrville were shut down for Trump’s visit, and people lined the streets, some wearing Trump hats and T-shirts and waving American flags.
Green ribbons recognising the lives lost at Camp Mystic were tied around trees, poles and along bridges, and marquees featured slogans such as “Hill Country Strong” and “Thank you first responders.”
The trip marks the White House’s latest show of support for Texas’ recovery effort, even as Trump officials continue to push for downsizing the government’s emergency preparedness operations – or even eliminating the Federal Emergency Management Agency altogether.
Local officials have also faced questions about how well they were prepared and how quickly they acted.
Asked about such concerns, Trump called a reporter posing the question “evil” and said he thought “everyone did an incredible job under the circumstances.”
“I admire you, and I consider you heroes,” Trump said of the state and local officials around him.
Trump approved Texas's request to extend the major disaster declaration beyond Kerr County to eight additional counties, making them eligible for direct financial assistance to recover and rebuild.
Before the Texas flood, the president pledged - and as recently as last month -to begin “phasing out” FEMA and bring disaster response management "down to the state level.”
However, when pressed this week on whether the White House will continue to work to shutter FEMA, press secretary Karoline Leavitt would not say.
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