The aftermath of Hurricane Beryl in Texas has led to a dispute between the White House and Texas GOP officials, as the storm caused significant damage and left many residents without power in the Houston area. President Joe Biden attempted to contact Governor Greg Abbott and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick to urge them to formally request a major disaster declaration for federal aid, but faced challenges in reaching them as both leaders were unavailable at the time due to various reasons.
President Biden expressed his efforts to contact Governor Abbott in an interview with the Houston Chronicle, stating his inability to provide aid without a specific request from the governor. In response, Governor Abbott, who was on a trade mission in Asia, refuted Biden’s claims and asserted that he was never contacted directly by the president during Hurricane Beryl. Lt. Governor Patrick confirmed speaking with President Biden and acknowledged that Texas’ request for a disaster declaration was granted following their conversation.
While the process of requesting federal aid typically involves governors leading the initiative, experts like Rafael Lemaitre, former FEMA national director of public affairs, explained that disaster declarations do not always require a thorough on-the-ground assessment beforehand. FEMA usually prepositions responders and aid ahead of a hurricane’s landfall to ensure a swift response once the disaster strikes. Public policy professor Beverly Cigler emphasized the importance of a formal request from the state to initiate significant aid efforts from the federal government.
As the recovery efforts continue in Texas, over 1.4 million customers and businesses in the Houston area remained without power as of Wednesday evening, according to Poweroutage.us. The situation highlights the significance of coordinated efforts between state and federal authorities in responding to natural disasters and ensuring timely support for affected communities.
