WEBVTT 00:02.171 --> 00:04.424 - Thank y'all for being with us here today. 00:04.424 --> 00:07.151 I want to update you on both yesterday 00:07.151 --> 00:09.401 as well as news from today. 00:10.739 --> 00:13.989 Yesterday I had a very productive visit 00:14.596 --> 00:18.763 with the Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence. 00:18.897 --> 00:22.980 We met in Corpus Christi and toured around that region 00:22.980 --> 00:26.397 as well as Rockport and over to Victoria. 00:27.671 --> 00:30.588 We had the opportunity to meet with 00:33.781 --> 00:37.948 people whose homes have been basically turned into rubble. 00:39.748 --> 00:43.243 We got to shake their hands and hold their babies 00:43.243 --> 00:47.410 as they were going through the repair and removal process. 00:49.397 --> 00:53.564 The Vice President and I even helped to carry away debris 00:54.977 --> 00:57.644 that is stacked up in the yards. 00:58.428 --> 01:01.928 The most incredible thing that we observed 01:02.872 --> 01:06.039 was not the rubble, but the resilience 01:06.723 --> 01:10.890 of strong-hearted Texans who are just happy to be alive. 01:12.006 --> 01:15.339 Happy to be here in the Lone Star State. 01:16.245 --> 01:20.162 Both in Rockport and Victoria the most profound 01:21.029 --> 01:25.196 thing we observed were volunteers who were stacked up 01:26.781 --> 01:30.781 one by one in the hundreds who were helping out, 01:31.931 --> 01:35.681 helping their fellow Texans with urgent needs 01:36.201 --> 01:40.368 such as supplies, with assistance in repairing their homes. 01:42.361 --> 01:45.598 I talked to some of these volunteers in Victoria 01:45.598 --> 01:47.781 and asked them how they were doing. 01:47.781 --> 01:50.448 I asked them how their home was. 01:50.933 --> 01:54.684 Many of them said that their home was out of power, 01:54.684 --> 01:58.601 but yet they were there at the volunteer center 01:58.985 --> 02:02.818 helping other people around the Victoria area. 02:03.313 --> 02:07.480 One of the most profound things that we have observed 02:07.702 --> 02:11.869 in the aftermath of this horrific devastating storm 02:12.216 --> 02:16.383 has been both the resiliency and the way that Texans 02:17.907 --> 02:21.157 have been united supporting each other. 02:23.400 --> 02:27.483 We should laud and applaud the incredible efforts 02:29.625 --> 02:31.625 of our first responders, 02:31.930 --> 02:34.427 but when you look at the average everyday Texan, 02:34.427 --> 02:36.594 neighbor helping neighbor, 02:36.610 --> 02:39.777 it's been nothing short of remarkable. 02:41.339 --> 02:44.839 Well, despite the fact that some areas are 02:46.242 --> 02:48.643 beginning the recovery process, 02:48.643 --> 02:51.060 areas such as Corpus Christi, 02:51.437 --> 02:55.604 there still remain areas that are deadly dangerous, 02:56.275 --> 02:58.692 such as in the Beaumont area. 02:59.300 --> 03:01.217 Some update from there. 03:04.901 --> 03:09.068 In the Beaumont area the Neches River continues to rise. 03:09.451 --> 03:12.784 It is about seven feet above the record, 03:15.625 --> 03:18.375 and it will continue to remain at 03:18.518 --> 03:22.018 or near that high for about the next week. 03:24.223 --> 03:27.306 This flooding poses an ongoing threat 03:27.626 --> 03:30.709 to Beaumont and the surrounding area. 03:31.945 --> 03:35.612 We are, as a state, as well as with partners 03:38.222 --> 03:40.889 working with us still driving in 03:41.684 --> 03:44.101 and flying in food and water. 03:44.786 --> 03:48.953 There are now seven points of distribution locations 03:51.010 --> 03:54.260 where people can obtain food and water. 03:54.968 --> 03:59.135 Those locations will and are determined by the county judge. 04:02.569 --> 04:06.152 One of those master locations is Ford Park. 04:09.214 --> 04:11.797 Last night 600 pallets of water 04:14.186 --> 04:17.519 and 400 pallets of meals were delivered. 04:20.459 --> 04:24.126 Last night about 1,000 people were evacuated 04:25.859 --> 04:30.026 from the Beaumont area, many of them going to Dallas, 04:30.370 --> 04:32.537 some going to San Antonio, 04:32.988 --> 04:35.405 and we anticipate evacuations 04:36.176 --> 04:39.926 from the Beaumont area will continue to rise. 04:41.022 --> 04:43.279 A lot of people in Beaumont are very concerned 04:43.279 --> 04:47.112 about the water system and Beaumont is working 04:47.471 --> 04:49.371 aggressively at a fast pace 04:49.371 --> 04:52.454 to try to get the water system fixed. 04:53.296 --> 04:56.713 One thing that it requires are some pumps 04:57.149 --> 04:59.691 to get the water system back up, 04:59.691 --> 05:03.024 which may be the most expeditious route. 05:03.846 --> 05:08.013 There are weather concerns also in the Richmond area 05:11.175 --> 05:13.258 in the Lower Brazos area. 05:17.487 --> 05:21.404 The Brazos River will crest at an all time high 05:22.186 --> 05:23.936 near Richmond, Texas. 05:25.342 --> 05:28.509 There may be some people who live near 05:29.385 --> 05:32.628 the Richmond, Texas area who have not yet 05:32.628 --> 05:35.378 been impacted by flooding waters. 05:36.403 --> 05:39.129 You need to understand about the possibility 05:39.129 --> 05:41.020 that you could be impacted 05:41.020 --> 05:44.187 by flooding waters in the coming days. 05:44.643 --> 05:48.393 You need to remain vigilant about being aware 05:48.725 --> 05:51.576 of any type of warning by local officials 05:51.576 --> 05:54.243 about the necessity to evacuate. 05:55.394 --> 05:57.599 Just observe what has happened to your 05:57.599 --> 05:59.522 friends and neighbors in Harris County 05:59.522 --> 06:01.515 and other parts of Fort Bend County 06:01.515 --> 06:04.231 knowing this water can rise suddenly 06:04.231 --> 06:07.314 seemingly from nowhere causing people 06:08.396 --> 06:10.813 to be stuck if not overtaken. 06:11.262 --> 06:14.151 So please heed all warnings and make sure 06:14.151 --> 06:16.234 that you maintain safety. 06:24.270 --> 06:28.437 In working with the Red Cross combining information 06:29.229 --> 06:32.812 (male speaking off camera) 06:33.648 --> 06:35.946 I thought I recognized that voice. 06:35.946 --> 06:37.110 (chuckles) 06:37.110 --> 06:40.693 In working the Red Cross we now have across 06:40.916 --> 06:45.083 the State of Texas 258 shelters that are now open. 06:47.144 --> 06:50.727 107 of those shelters are shelters that are 06:51.041 --> 06:53.931 partnered with or in collaboration with the state 06:53.931 --> 06:57.764 in some form or fashion and 151 are considered 06:57.790 --> 06:59.472 to be independent shelters, 06:59.472 --> 07:02.448 which would be the type of shelter, that say, 07:02.448 --> 07:04.365 a church would provide. 07:04.819 --> 07:07.188 Last night the overnight population 07:07.188 --> 07:09.855 in shelters in Texas was 42,399. 07:12.323 --> 07:15.740 Of those amount 6,000 are in state parks. 07:17.107 --> 07:21.126 In addition to that our great friend and neighbor, 07:21.126 --> 07:24.959 Louisiana, has about 3,000 Texans in shelters. 07:27.077 --> 07:31.077 I want to express my deep gratitude to Louisiana 07:31.133 --> 07:34.229 and to the governor of Louisiana for helping 07:34.229 --> 07:36.855 with search and rescue missions, 07:36.855 --> 07:39.442 helping to save the lives of Texans, 07:39.442 --> 07:43.103 and also express my gratitude to both individuals 07:43.103 --> 07:46.200 as well as first responders from Louisiana 07:46.200 --> 07:49.533 for being such tremendous humanitarians. 07:50.896 --> 07:54.979 The pressing issue in Texas is the issue of fuel. 07:56.280 --> 08:00.030 Now this is an issue that is pressing in part 08:00.559 --> 08:04.142 because of a reaction to some media reports 08:05.827 --> 08:09.827 where the facts are that there's plenty of fuel, 08:12.215 --> 08:16.382 plenty of gasoline in the United States of America. 08:16.537 --> 08:20.287 There's plenty of gasoline in the State of Texas. 08:20.287 --> 08:24.454 All that said, we are ensuring an even greater supply 08:24.758 --> 08:28.258 of gasoline so we can tap down any concern 08:28.479 --> 08:31.729 about accessibility to fuel that people 08:31.750 --> 08:33.720 may want to access over the course 08:33.720 --> 08:36.387 of the coming Labor Day weekend. 08:36.884 --> 08:41.051 Working with all sectors of the oil and gas community, 08:43.765 --> 08:46.182 from refineries to pipelines, 08:46.284 --> 08:49.603 from operators, trucking companies and retailers, 08:49.603 --> 08:53.020 we have worked in the past 24 to 48 hours 08:53.755 --> 08:57.588 to alleviate concerns about access to gasoline 08:57.730 --> 09:00.436 and to ensure more gasoline will be coming 09:00.436 --> 09:04.019 or is already coming to the State of Texas. 09:04.434 --> 09:07.358 Working with our neighbors and great friends 09:07.358 --> 09:10.137 Oklahoma, Louisiana, and New Mexico, 09:10.137 --> 09:12.760 fuel is being shipped from each of those states 09:12.760 --> 09:15.927 to the State of Texas to get fuel into 09:16.371 --> 09:18.721 the Dallas-Fort Worth area and then into 09:18.721 --> 09:22.388 the surrounding areas in the State of Texas. 09:25.669 --> 09:29.160 The pipeline of gasoline that had been going 09:29.160 --> 09:32.577 from Texas to Oklahoma has been reversed, 09:33.777 --> 09:37.944 and that is now sending gasoline from Oklahoma to Texas. 09:42.041 --> 09:45.541 We have refineries that are coming back up 09:46.262 --> 09:49.095 in Corpus Christi and Three Rivers 09:49.977 --> 09:52.477 that will quickly be providing 09:53.016 --> 09:55.541 a much greater supply of gasoline. 09:55.541 --> 09:58.932 The Port of Corpus Christi has now opened 09:58.932 --> 10:02.278 with barges coming in already with gasoline 10:02.278 --> 10:04.513 that came into today and will be coming in 10:04.513 --> 10:06.346 in the following days, 10:07.380 --> 10:11.463 and also I signed a waiver of certain regulations 10:13.456 --> 10:17.539 on fuel truckers to ensure that gasoline supplies 10:20.889 --> 10:23.139 can be more swiftly brought 10:24.196 --> 10:27.377 to the State of Texas from other states. 10:27.377 --> 10:29.726 The bottom line is that the State of Texas 10:29.726 --> 10:32.804 will have plenty of gasoline showing up 10:32.804 --> 10:36.538 at gasoline stations across the State of Texas. 10:36.538 --> 10:37.788 So don't worry. 10:38.303 --> 10:41.970 We will not run out and we will be back into 10:42.246 --> 10:45.413 our normal pattern before you know it. 10:47.250 --> 10:50.311 One of the most important things we can do 10:50.311 --> 10:53.280 when we have times of weather challenges 10:53.280 --> 10:56.088 like hurricanes and floods is to make sure 10:56.088 --> 11:00.255 we can ensure an ongoing supply of food and water. 11:02.112 --> 11:04.210 I want you to know that we have established 11:04.210 --> 11:07.127 points of distribution in all areas 11:07.713 --> 11:10.713 between Corpus Christi and Beaumont. 11:11.173 --> 11:13.407 We are relying upon local officials, 11:13.407 --> 11:15.597 typically the county judge, 11:15.597 --> 11:18.514 on the announcement of the location 11:18.743 --> 11:21.243 of the points of distribution. 11:21.317 --> 11:24.317 If you reside in any of the counties 11:24.881 --> 11:26.616 that are in the affected area between 11:26.616 --> 11:29.150 Corpus Christi and Beaumont and you are looking for 11:29.150 --> 11:32.400 food or water contact your county judge 11:32.896 --> 11:36.109 or look for notifications from your county judge 11:36.109 --> 11:39.041 about where those points of distributions are. 11:39.041 --> 11:42.252 Also there are law enforcement officials 11:42.252 --> 11:44.790 as well as emergency operation centers 11:44.790 --> 11:47.470 in each of those counties who should be able to 11:47.470 --> 11:49.887 provide you that information. 11:50.388 --> 11:54.388 We are proud to have worked very collaboratively 11:54.472 --> 11:56.722 with all military branches. 11:57.280 --> 12:00.697 From our military branch we have received 12:11.439 --> 12:13.439 I can't read my writing, 12:13.995 --> 12:17.912 we have received air support, meaning aircraft, 12:19.296 --> 12:22.213 from 43 states helping our mission. 12:23.618 --> 12:27.551 I want you to know we have received offers of help 12:27.551 --> 12:31.718 from all 50 states, but we have accepted it from 43, 12:31.928 --> 12:35.078 and we leave ourselves open to accepting it 12:35.078 --> 12:37.911 from the other seven if necessary. 12:38.412 --> 12:42.079 The primary focus of the aircraft remains on 12:42.309 --> 12:45.059 evacuation and search and rescue. 12:46.879 --> 12:49.136 We've had a tremendous partnership 12:49.136 --> 12:51.755 with the United States Coast Guard. 12:51.755 --> 12:54.455 They've done a fabulous job up and down our coast 12:54.455 --> 12:58.622 assisting in countless ways and among other things 12:59.396 --> 13:02.396 they reported today that they are getting 13:02.396 --> 13:05.313 our ports open as fast as possible, 13:06.403 --> 13:10.570 and I think there will a lot of good news to report 13:10.703 --> 13:13.780 here perhaps today and in the coming days 13:13.780 --> 13:16.780 about the success that's being made. 13:17.674 --> 13:20.757 Some important information from FEMA. 13:21.321 --> 13:24.988 Already about 440,000 Texans have registered 13:27.510 --> 13:29.593 for assistance from FEMA. 13:30.709 --> 13:33.126 And already FEMA has approved 13:33.459 --> 13:36.459 more than $79 million in assistance. 13:37.987 --> 13:41.654 One thing that we focus on is trying to move 13:41.884 --> 13:45.112 evacuees from these evacuation locations 13:45.112 --> 13:49.279 into a more semi-permanent location such as a hotel room. 13:49.699 --> 13:51.712 We want you out of convention centers 13:51.712 --> 13:53.479 into a place where you have a living room 13:53.479 --> 13:55.741 and a bedroom and your own bathroom. 13:55.741 --> 13:57.875 And we'll get you there as quickly as possible. 13:57.875 --> 14:00.739 Let me clarify when I say we, that is FEMA, 14:00.739 --> 14:03.769 get you there as quickly as possible. 14:03.769 --> 14:07.543 FEMA has been very proactive and has been moving 14:07.543 --> 14:10.429 this process very quickly and I want to thank them 14:10.429 --> 14:12.656 for all that they are doing. 14:12.656 --> 14:14.572 Also, however, maybe the most important thing 14:14.572 --> 14:16.489 I can say to you today, 14:16.761 --> 14:20.928 if you are a Texan who's been impacted and dislocated 14:21.230 --> 14:25.397 because of the hurricane or because of the flooding, 14:25.639 --> 14:29.139 or because of any consequence of the storm 14:29.917 --> 14:33.250 that has hit Texas please contact online 14:34.854 --> 14:36.771 disasterassistance.gov. 14:38.169 --> 14:40.086 Disasterassistance.gov. 14:41.575 --> 14:45.325 You can join now the more than 440,000 Texans 14:45.744 --> 14:48.994 who've already accessed help from FEMA. 14:52.933 --> 14:56.933 One thing that has led to an effective operation 14:58.525 --> 15:02.692 in response to this challenge of the hurricane and the flood 15:05.210 --> 15:08.210 is the collaboration that we've seen 15:08.510 --> 15:11.843 at the local, state, and national level. 15:14.135 --> 15:18.218 I cannot thank enough the men and women who serve 15:18.416 --> 15:22.249 in our armed forces and what they have done to 15:22.389 --> 15:25.806 aid Texans in this very challenging time. 15:26.595 --> 15:28.567 Whether it's army, navy, air force, marines, 15:28.567 --> 15:32.734 or coast guard, they've stepped up and come to our aid, 15:33.047 --> 15:36.130 and have worked seamlessly as we have 15:36.899 --> 15:40.164 worked every single day to keep our state 15:40.164 --> 15:41.997 and our citizens safe. 15:42.832 --> 15:45.306 I'm proud that we have with us today 15:45.306 --> 15:48.973 the leader of this effort, General Robinson, 15:49.095 --> 15:51.242 who is the Commander of NORTHCOM, 15:51.242 --> 15:53.513 and I would like to ask her to come up 15:53.513 --> 15:55.180 and say a few words. 15:55.837 --> 15:57.344 - Sir, thank you very much. 15:57.344 --> 15:59.011 Thank you very much. 15:59.481 --> 16:01.412 Governor, I can't tell you how excited I am 16:01.412 --> 16:03.735 to be here and how proud and honored 16:03.735 --> 16:05.953 that you would have me be here with you. 16:05.953 --> 16:09.554 On behalf of Secretary Mattis, Chairman Dunford, 16:09.554 --> 16:12.848 and all the men and women in our active duty armed forces 16:12.848 --> 16:15.233 I would like to offer our heartfelt thoughts 16:15.233 --> 16:17.292 and prayers to all of those 16:17.292 --> 16:19.388 who have been affected by Hurricane Harvey. 16:19.388 --> 16:20.240 - Thank you so much. 16:20.240 --> 16:21.073 - Yes, sir. 16:21.073 --> 16:21.906 Yes, sir. 16:22.272 --> 16:23.506 It is my role as the Commander of NORTHCOM 16:23.506 --> 16:25.506 to be responsible, okay, 16:27.272 --> 16:30.428 to be responsible to deploy active duty soldiers, 16:30.428 --> 16:33.463 sailors, airmen, and marines to support FEMA requests 16:33.463 --> 16:36.517 and the State of Texas for assistance 16:36.517 --> 16:40.062 to local, county, state, and federal civil authorities 16:40.062 --> 16:43.687 in devastating times like this, just like Harvey. 16:43.687 --> 16:45.753 When disasters of this magnitude strike, 16:45.753 --> 16:48.160 a whole of government response is necessary 16:48.160 --> 16:50.910 and DOD is a part of all of that. 16:52.774 --> 16:55.296 You know, one of the things that we've learned over time 16:55.296 --> 16:58.330 is how important it is to have the right capability 16:58.330 --> 17:01.330 at the right place at the right time 17:01.735 --> 17:04.344 to support the needs of the citizens. 17:04.344 --> 17:07.844 As we know, sir, I can't tell you how much 17:08.375 --> 17:10.353 we appreciate your leadership and the things 17:10.353 --> 17:12.760 that you've done and the leadership of FEMA, 17:12.760 --> 17:14.573 and the things that we are able to do 17:14.573 --> 17:17.750 to support the two of you each and every day. 17:17.750 --> 17:20.140 Our military has unique capabilities 17:20.140 --> 17:22.309 to support disaster relief. 17:22.309 --> 17:24.403 Those same capabilities that make our armed forces 17:24.403 --> 17:27.793 so effective in combat make our forces uniquely 17:27.793 --> 17:30.726 effective in disaster relief efforts. 17:30.726 --> 17:33.600 We have been and we will continue to deploy 17:33.600 --> 17:36.646 any and all capabilities requested by FEMA, 17:36.646 --> 17:38.563 and sir, of course you. 17:39.341 --> 17:41.324 I want to tell you, I had a conversation yesterday 17:41.324 --> 17:44.615 with Secretary Mattis and he made the comment to me, 17:44.615 --> 17:47.865 "Lori, Texas gets everything they need, 17:48.182 --> 17:51.765 "and we'll get it there as fast as we can." 17:51.978 --> 17:54.664 I have to say I'm so proud of the soldiers, sailors, 17:54.664 --> 17:56.746 airmen, and marines that have deployed 17:56.746 --> 17:59.272 in the effected area and that will continue to deploy 17:59.272 --> 18:01.939 as long as requested and needed. 18:02.124 --> 18:05.493 You know, the Army has provided 200 high-water vehicles 18:05.493 --> 18:07.577 to support Red Cross in the movement 18:07.577 --> 18:09.530 of personnel and the patients. 18:09.530 --> 18:11.661 Army helicopters with hoisting capability 18:11.661 --> 18:14.830 are providing to help rescue and transport 18:14.830 --> 18:17.315 the survivors and the Army is also overseeing 18:17.315 --> 18:20.059 the receipt and issue of life support items. 18:20.059 --> 18:22.436 The Air Force is providing strategic airlift, 18:22.436 --> 18:24.560 fixed wing airlift, medical evacuation, 18:24.560 --> 18:27.154 airborne command and control and helicopters 18:27.154 --> 18:29.792 to transport people and supplies. 18:29.792 --> 18:32.821 The Navy amphibious ships USS Kearsarge 18:32.821 --> 18:34.955 and USS Oak Hill along the Marines 18:34.955 --> 18:37.807 with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit 18:37.807 --> 18:40.557 are enroute should you need them. 18:41.765 --> 18:43.973 Our defense logistics agency has provided 18:43.973 --> 18:47.449 fuel, sand bags, generators, and incident support bases, 18:47.449 --> 18:51.366 and is delivering meals to dislocated citizens. 18:51.379 --> 18:54.129 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has deployed experts 18:54.129 --> 18:57.515 to the state and FEMA response nodes to help provide 18:57.515 --> 19:01.515 technical assistance with the power restoration. 19:01.890 --> 19:04.416 Sir, these are just a few things that the men and women 19:04.416 --> 19:06.609 in uniform are doing to help with the larger 19:06.609 --> 19:08.943 relief effort and we are committed to assist 19:08.943 --> 19:11.250 as local, state, and federal agencies 19:11.250 --> 19:14.750 throughout the trying time for our nation. 19:15.028 --> 19:17.037 So Governor Abbott, Mr. Robinson, 19:17.037 --> 19:19.204 Administrator Long, again, 19:19.714 --> 19:21.752 thank you so much for your leadership. 19:21.752 --> 19:24.752 We look forward and we will be there 19:25.883 --> 19:30.020 steady, ready, and to support at a moments notice. 19:30.020 --> 19:30.853 Thank you, sir. 19:30.853 --> 19:31.686 - Thank you, General. 19:31.686 --> 19:32.603 - Yes, sir. 19:37.531 --> 19:38.708 - Thank you General Robinson. 19:38.708 --> 19:41.974 Again, I cannot thank you or those who serve 19:41.974 --> 19:43.957 under you enough for what they've done 19:43.957 --> 19:46.271 to make Texas a better place. 19:46.271 --> 19:49.416 If you would, please, pass along my deepest 19:49.416 --> 19:51.916 gratitude to Secretary Mattis. 19:52.795 --> 19:56.128 We have had a seamless, and really daily 19:56.375 --> 19:59.274 collaboration with members of the DOD 19:59.274 --> 20:00.594 throughout this process 20:00.594 --> 20:02.583 and that collaboration will continue. 20:02.583 --> 20:06.618 I have expressed to our Commander in Chief directly 20:06.618 --> 20:08.918 my gratitude to all that the DOD 20:08.918 --> 20:11.020 and the United States military has done 20:11.020 --> 20:14.103 to help Texas in this very dire time. 20:14.777 --> 20:18.487 With that, I'll be happy to take a few questions. 20:18.487 --> 20:19.596 - [Male Reporter] You talked about gas runs 20:19.596 --> 20:21.831 that are happening right now, 20:21.831 --> 20:23.961 people are going out seeing lines 20:23.961 --> 20:25.951 snaking around their block, 20:25.951 --> 20:29.034 and then those red tags on the pumps. 20:29.378 --> 20:33.545 How do we instill confidence in that supply is on its way? 20:33.622 --> 20:36.411 - We have already heard today about one way 20:36.411 --> 20:39.277 that people are still with confidence, 20:39.277 --> 20:42.632 as they are the roadway and they see these big 20:42.632 --> 20:46.394 tanker trucks filled with gasoline coming down the way. 20:46.394 --> 20:48.111 The best thing they can do is when they see 20:48.111 --> 20:50.004 on of those tanker trucks of gasoline, 20:50.004 --> 20:52.160 move out of that lane and let that truck 20:52.160 --> 20:54.155 get on down the road faster. 20:54.155 --> 20:58.155 We have been working literally overnight nonstop 20:58.371 --> 21:00.105 to line up tanker trucks 21:00.105 --> 21:02.369 to be coming in from other states. 21:02.369 --> 21:05.007 That in addition to the pipeline reversal, 21:05.007 --> 21:07.523 and these other actions, the barge coming in. 21:07.523 --> 21:11.011 We are being, I started to say flooded with gasoline, 21:11.011 --> 21:14.511 but we have a bunch of gasoline coming in. 21:14.889 --> 21:17.806 So there's a perception of concern. 21:18.516 --> 21:22.173 The reality is we're gonna have plenty of gasoline. 21:22.173 --> 21:23.637 - [Male Reporter] Regarding federal funding 21:23.637 --> 21:26.723 going forward for recovery, do you have any concern 21:26.723 --> 21:29.479 that politics, such as an open border wall, 21:29.479 --> 21:31.954 or effective government shutdown will interfere with that? 21:31.954 --> 21:32.787 - I don't. 21:33.672 --> 21:35.358 - [Male Reporter] Governor, you (mumbles) 21:35.358 --> 21:36.985 discussion referring to what Congress is doing 21:36.985 --> 21:38.924 to provide (mumbles) at this point. 21:38.924 --> 21:40.614 What do you expect from state legislature 21:40.614 --> 21:42.153 at this point and do you think it would be necessary 21:42.153 --> 21:44.713 to bring them back for yet another special session? 21:44.713 --> 21:47.011 - No, we won't need a special session for this. 21:47.011 --> 21:50.594 We have smartly provided a lot of resources 21:50.914 --> 21:54.747 at my disposal to be able to address the needs 21:55.179 --> 21:58.810 between now and the time the next session will begin. 21:58.810 --> 22:01.235 We have smartly kept a lot of money 22:01.235 --> 22:03.598 in our rainy day fund that we will be able 22:03.598 --> 22:06.598 to tap into as needed going forward. 22:07.426 --> 22:09.675 - [Male Reporter] Governor, we heard a lot of folks 22:09.675 --> 22:11.820 that have been inundated about 80% 22:11.820 --> 22:14.325 did not have flood insurance because they're areas 22:14.325 --> 22:17.325 that just were not prone to flooding 22:18.320 --> 22:20.022 that we now know flooded. 22:20.022 --> 22:22.636 What can the state do, if anything, to help these people, 22:22.636 --> 22:25.301 because in Katrina we had a lot of folks 22:25.301 --> 22:26.889 that just let their homes just go, 22:26.889 --> 22:28.147 go into foreclosure. 22:28.147 --> 22:30.170 What can prevent that from happening? 22:30.170 --> 22:33.082 - Sure, let me allow part of the response 22:33.082 --> 22:35.714 come from people who are experts at this. 22:35.714 --> 22:37.697 And Nim, I'll let you or Tony decide 22:37.697 --> 22:40.114 who should best address this. 22:40.479 --> 22:41.312 - Sure. 22:42.609 --> 22:46.192 - Let me back up, let you guys get up here. 22:46.406 --> 22:48.019 - So Chief, primarily while y'all get situated, 22:48.019 --> 22:49.810 I'll just kind of restate. 22:49.810 --> 22:51.865 What can the state do to prevent a repeat 22:51.865 --> 22:55.618 of Katrina where people lost their homes to foreclosure 22:55.618 --> 22:58.262 because they were inundated and did not have insurance 22:58.262 --> 23:00.677 and they just didn't have the funds or help 23:00.677 --> 23:02.408 to save their homes and they lost their homes. 23:02.408 --> 23:03.865 And now we've got entire neighborhoods 23:03.865 --> 23:06.842 in New Orleans that are just ravaged. 23:06.842 --> 23:08.277 - Rudy, it's a good question. 23:08.277 --> 23:09.449 It's a tough question. 23:09.449 --> 23:11.419 I think the thing that we're gonna continue to need to do 23:11.419 --> 23:13.843 is to work with those financing entities 23:13.843 --> 23:15.854 and figure out how we get people back up on their feet, 23:15.854 --> 23:17.382 bringing the jobs back in so that they can 23:17.382 --> 23:19.965 return to work and the repairs. 23:20.038 --> 23:22.197 FEMA has offered individual assistance 23:22.197 --> 23:23.976 for all of those that will qualify, 23:23.976 --> 23:25.808 which is about $33,000. 23:25.808 --> 23:27.978 Now, that doesn't repair or replace a home. 23:27.978 --> 23:30.065 But to continue to work and find strategic means 23:30.065 --> 23:31.615 to work with those local 23:31.615 --> 23:33.398 and volunteer assets that come in. 23:33.398 --> 23:35.973 The backbone of the Texas individual assistance 23:35.973 --> 23:39.129 to get families back is our faith-based organizations, 23:39.129 --> 23:42.936 our churches, and our volunteers to get them back in. 23:42.936 --> 23:45.097 When we get jobs coming back like we already 23:45.097 --> 23:46.386 have right now I think we will see 23:46.386 --> 23:47.862 this turn around quickly. 23:47.862 --> 23:49.656 My next message out, Rudy, though is all of those 23:49.656 --> 23:52.244 that are not impacted and that is, 23:52.244 --> 23:54.772 even if you don't live in a flood zone, 23:54.772 --> 23:57.148 you need to seek flood insurance. 23:57.148 --> 23:59.466 This is the reason that we keep pushing this message 23:59.466 --> 24:01.227 to have the right level of insurance 24:01.227 --> 24:02.810 to protect your properties. 24:02.810 --> 24:04.525 - [Male Reporter] State law for renters, 24:04.525 --> 24:06.434 I think this is also with FEMA, 24:06.434 --> 24:08.968 says that if there's just one room in that apartment 24:08.968 --> 24:11.541 that you have that's viable, you have to still 24:11.541 --> 24:13.786 keep on making that monthly payment. 24:13.786 --> 24:14.975 Here we are at the first of the month. 24:14.975 --> 24:15.975 Rent is due. 24:16.599 --> 24:19.102 A lot of people in Houston are looking at, 24:19.102 --> 24:20.171 I can't get to that phone. 24:20.171 --> 24:21.921 What are we gonna do? 24:22.006 --> 24:23.210 Are those checks going out now? 24:23.210 --> 24:25.450 Or is there something that they can do to say 24:25.450 --> 24:28.248 hey, landlords, back off for a little bit. 24:28.248 --> 24:29.415 What do we do? 24:29.804 --> 24:31.368 - Rudy, we'll just keep working with our partners 24:31.368 --> 24:32.913 and I'll have to figure out a smart answer. 24:32.913 --> 24:34.228 And we owe you and we owe them that answer. 24:34.228 --> 24:35.825 Let us work on that a little bit. 24:35.825 --> 24:38.282 - We got time for two more before we gotta go. 24:38.282 --> 24:41.115 - Rudy, I would say first thing is 24:41.343 --> 24:43.524 people need to apply for disasterassistance.gov 24:43.524 --> 24:44.579 if they're impacted. 24:44.579 --> 24:46.310 That's the first thing. 24:46.310 --> 24:47.423 We get them rental assistance to be able 24:47.423 --> 24:48.680 to take care of their immediate housing needs. 24:48.680 --> 24:49.922 As Nim said, if you're without flood insurance, 24:49.922 --> 24:51.653 that's gonna make your recovery a little tougher. 24:51.653 --> 24:53.130 We're gonna have to work with our partners 24:53.130 --> 24:54.466 at the Small Business Administration. 24:54.466 --> 24:56.013 Another federal partner is our Housing and Urban 24:56.013 --> 24:57.669 Development Department to help with that. 24:57.669 --> 24:58.618 The first thing you can do, 24:58.618 --> 25:00.164 can apply for assistance. 25:00.164 --> 25:01.746 And I can't emphasize enough what Nim said, 25:01.746 --> 25:03.886 you do not have to live in a special flood hazard zone. 25:03.886 --> 25:06.554 But from this event you need to get flood insurance. 25:06.554 --> 25:07.387 Thanks. 25:07.667 --> 25:08.569 - One more question. 25:08.569 --> 25:10.025 One more question. 25:10.025 --> 25:10.858 Mike. 25:11.529 --> 25:12.632 - [Male Reporter] What was that $1 million donation 25:12.632 --> 25:14.337 from President Trump (mumbles)? 25:14.337 --> 25:16.338 Have you talked to him about it? 25:16.338 --> 25:17.421 - I have not. 25:17.986 --> 25:21.069 - [Male] What's it gonna be used for? 25:21.079 --> 25:22.329 - I don't know. 25:24.649 --> 25:26.363 - [Male] (mumbles) 25:26.363 --> 25:28.326 (laughter) 25:28.326 --> 25:31.772 - [Male Reporter] (mumbles) Two Navy ships enroute (mumbles) 25:31.772 --> 25:35.033 what are those vessels and what potentially could they 25:35.033 --> 25:37.164 be used for here should the state need them? 25:37.164 --> 25:38.081 - Yes, sir. 25:38.275 --> 25:39.797 There's air there that's capable. 25:39.797 --> 25:41.276 They're and ARG and MEU, 25:41.276 --> 25:43.464 and they're on their way steaming here. 25:43.464 --> 25:45.256 So there about four days out. 25:45.256 --> 25:46.555 - Guys we have to go. 25:46.555 --> 25:49.106 - And search and rescue is the best way, yes, sir. 25:49.106 --> 25:51.356 - Very good, thank you all. 25:52.793 --> 25:55.174 General, thank you again - Sir, thank you. 25:55.174 --> 25:56.440 very much. - Yes, sir. 25:56.440 --> 25:57.273 Yes, sir.