Donald Trump visits flood area in Texas: “Never seen anything like this”

A week after the devastating floods in Texas with at least 120 deaths, US President Donald Trump visited the tidal area and showed himself dismayed. “It’s hard. I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Trump in the city of Kerrville in the particularly severely affected administrative district of Kerr County on Friday. Trump, who was accompanied by his wife Melania, met first aiders, members of victims and officials. Meanwhile, the criticism of the national civil protection authority was multiplied.

“The hearts of the Americans are broken across the country,” said Trump. He compared the rapidly rising flood with a “huge wave in the Pacific, of which even the best surfers in the world were afraid.” In his speech, Trump sat at a table with a black banner with the inscription “Texas Strong” (Texas strong).

Previously, the president and the first lady from Texas’ governor Greg Abbott near the Texas River Guadalupe were received, where they could get an idea of the extent of the destruction between uprooted trees and devastated vehicles.

After heavy rainfall, the water level of the Guadalupe rose meter high in the night of last week. In the popular holiday region, many people had campaigned on the river bank on the long weekend of the US National Day. There are numerous children among the victims who took part in holiday camps. They were surprised by the water masses during sleep. More than humans are still missing.

Since the catastrophe, the United States has been discussing who is responsible for the devastating consequences of the catastrophe. The White House rejected media reports as a “lie”, and Rumps ordered by Trump played a role. Many experts see the main responsibility among the local authorities who did not pass on storm warnings in time.

Shortly before the visit of Trump, the debate focused on the national civil protection authority Fema, which is subordinate to Trump’s Minister of Homeland Protection Kristi NoEM. The US broadcaster CNN reported that federal aid for Texas had only started 72 hours after the flood. Noem spoke of “quick and efficient” help.

Trump had a sharp criticism of media representatives who had questioned the reaction of the authorities after the flood disaster and said that nobody could expect such a disaster.