Texas Governor Greg Abbott visited San Angelo and held a press conference at the Spur Arena on Thursday, addressing Texas’ ongoing response to severe flooding that impacted the state earlier in July.
Prior to the press conference, Abbott received a briefing on the flood recovery efforts in Tom Green County and visited the Disaster Recovery Center at the Concho Valley Transit Annex to meet with families, first responders and volunteers.
State Sen. Charles Perry, State Rep. Drew Darby, Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Tom Kidd, Tom Green County Judge Lane Carter, San Angelo Mayor Tom Thompson, San Angelo Fire Department Chief Patrick Brody and other state officials joined Abbott for the briefing and press conference.
“In a disaster, saving lives is the first and foremost thing that anybody should prioritize,” Abbott said. “Our first responders have stepped up and saved so many lives across the entire region. We will continue the search for everybody that was affected by these devastating floods.
“At the same time, we are working with local officials and the community to go through the many stages of the recovery process. Texas is going to remain working in Tom Green County and across the state until the recovery is complete.”
Abbott noted the individual and public assistance available from the state and federal government for Texans who have been impacted by the recent devastating flooding.
During the press conference, Abbott mentioned the agenda for the upcoming special session, which includes legislation to improve early warning systems and emergency response communities across the state.
“We’re gathering information that helps us understand the way the response was undertaken here,” Abbott said. “And I gotta tell ya, we’ve not seen a better response in the state of Texas (than Tom Green County), and there are articulated reasons for that. One, there was a great deal of collaboration at all levels from the very first minute, all the way until this moment in time. The response by local officials was extraordinary.”
“In talking to TDEM Chief Kidd, we consider the way Tom Green County, and I say the County, and it obviously involves the city, your mayor, every local official at every level. We consider (the response) to be a model for the way that communities need to respond to disasters like this.”
Paul Witwer covers high school sports and Angelo State University sports for The San Angelo Standard-Times. Reach him at sports@gosanangelo.com. Follow him on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, @Paul_Witwer.
This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: Gov. Greg Abbott visits San Angelo, praises flood response, promises continued recovery aid
Reporting by Paul Witwer, San Angelo Standard-Times / San Angelo Standard-Times
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