Photo: Texas National Guard) / Wikimedia Commons
Compiled by Views and News Desk
Texas has activated the state’s entire National Guard to deal with flooding and disaster conditions created by Hurricane Harvey, making the total deployment 12,000.
In Houston, Hurricane Harvey caused swelling in water reservoirs, prompting the Army Corps of Engineers to open them as part of the strategy to minimize disaster implications for people and property.
“If we don’t begin releasing now, the volume of uncontrolled water around the dams will be higher and have a greater impact on the surrounding communities,” Col. Lars Zetterstrom, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District, said, according to National Public Radio.
Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said “it is imperative that we do everything possible to protect the lives and safety of people across the state of Texas as we continue to face the aftermath of this storm.
“The Texas National Guard is working closely with [the Federal Emergency Management Agency] and federal troops to respond urgently to the growing needs of Texans who have fallen victim to Hurricane Harvey, and the activation of the entire Guard will assist in the efforts already underway,” the governor said.
National Guard units from across the country will provide cargo aircraft, helicopters and other resources to help with rescue and recovery efforts, The Hill said in a report.
On Friday, President Donald Trump had issued a disaster proclamation to allow federal aid in rescue efforts,
On Monday, Trump today declared that an emergency exists in the state of Louisiana and ordered federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Tropical Storm Harvey.
The president’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate all disaster relief efforts, the a news release said.
Harvey is the strongest storm to hit Texas since 1961.
According to Texas Governor Abbott . the federal government has provided all the assets the state has asked for.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is the lead federal agency working with the state and local officials — 19 counties in the region have been declared disaster areas, a Pentagon report said
During a National Incident Communication Conference Call on Hurricane Harvey yesterday, FEMA requested the Defense Department to provide a search and rescue package to the area, according to a Department of Defense news release.
The Pentagon says this consists of two planners, nine helicopters, two fixed wing aircraft and refuelers, and includes pararescue teams to operate from Joint Reserve Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas. In addition, DoD was asked to provide 11 generators and 50,000 gallons of gas and 50,000 gallons diesel to Fort Hood, Texas.
