The Texas Tribune, a non-profit, nonpartisan media organization that keeps Texans informed and engaged on public policy, politics, government, and statewide issues, originally reported that Texas officials were blamed by Biden for the delayed federal response to Beryl.
According to the Houston Chronicle, President Joe Biden stated that Texas is receiving federal assistance for Hurricane Beryl later than necessary due to the delayed request for an official disaster declaration from state leaders.
As Gov. Greg Abbott is currently on an economic development trip in Asia, the role of acting governor has fallen to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick during this time of crisis. As such, it is his responsibility to submit the state’s request for aid.
According to a spokesperson from the White House, attempts were made to contact Governor Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Patrick multiple times. President Biden also confirmed that he only spoke with Patrick on Tuesday before declaring the disaster. The effects of Hurricane Beryl were felt early Monday morning as it made landfall on the Gulf Coast of Texas, resulting in severe rains and winds that caused extensive damage to Houston and other areas in southeast Texas.
On social media, Patrick refuted Biden’s statement, accusing the president of falsely claiming that he was unreachable.
Patrick expressed his disappointment with President Biden’s decision to politicize Hurricane Beryl. However, he did mention having a cordial conversation with the president earlier that day. During the conversation, President Biden granted Patrick’s request for a major disaster declaration.
According to Patrick, the state officials must identify the outstanding needs before they can proceed with an official request.
“When we were traveling through the impacted areas, we collaborated with local officials regarding that matter,” stated Patrick. “During my briefing earlier today, the President reached out to me.”
According to an Abbott representative, Biden’s remarks were “completely false.” The spokesperson also stated that the president and his team have had multiple opportunities in the past to reach out to the Governor and know how to do so effectively.
In a statement, Andrew Mahaleris, press secretary for Governor Abbott, stated that Texas has been collaborating with FEMA and other federal partners to ensure that the necessary support is provided ahead of and during the storm. Mahaleris also clarified that Texas had already declared all necessary disaster declarations well in advance, despite President Biden’s recent comments.
As Beryl was heading towards the Texas coast, Governor Patrick declared a state disaster and authorized the use of all available resources of the state government to respond to the impending storm. However, on Tuesday, the main concern was the state’s request for federal aid, which Patrick had already made earlier in the day. Biden’s announcement of a major disaster declaration will enable federal officials to assist Texas in paying for debris removal, emergency supplies, and goods.
According to a statement released by Biden on Tuesday evening, FEMA had been present in Texas “well before the storm.” The statement highlighted that the agency had readied 500,000 meals and 800,000 liters of water, which were available for distribution at the state’s request, as per FEMA officials’ statement on Monday. Additionally, the agency had sent out 60 generators to provide power to critical infrastructure, if required.
During a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Chief Nim Kidd of the Texas Division of Emergency Management announced that Beryl-affected areas in southeast Texas, including Harris County, are among the 121 counties covered by the disaster declaration.
According to a spokesperson from TDEM, all requests made by local officials have been successfully fulfilled by the state. Furthermore, FEMA officials were present in briefings with Kidd and Patrick “before, during, and after” Beryl and have a permanent seat in the State Emergency Operations Center.
Texas GOP leaders, such as Abbott and Patrick, have often clashed with Biden, a Democrat, on matters related to immigration policy and other issues. Political tensions have also played a role in the response to previous storms that hit Texas. For instance, during Hurricane Harvey, the then-Republican Land Commissioner George P. Bush and Democratic Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner engaged in a public feud over aid distribution. Bush even accused the Biden administration of impeding aid distribution through bureaucratic red tape and complex regulations.
As temperatures soared into the 90s in some areas of the state, millions of Texans were left without power. The ongoing political bickering continued while the damage caused by Beryl’s fierce winds and rain remained widespread.
