Texas Governor Greg Abbott with U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, State Rep. Todd Hunter, State Sen. Chuy Hinojosa and other officials at a news conference Aug. 28, which was followed by a tour of the damage in Rockport. President Donald Trump is expected later today, August 29. Photo by Jane Kathleen Gregorio
Hurricane Harvey, which hit the Texas Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm, is one of the most destructive storms in the nation’s history according to weather experts. In response, all 12,000 members of the Texas National Guard were activated by Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday, August 28, after Hurricane Harvey tore through the Texas Gulf Coast on Saturday, Aug. 26. Damage in Corpus Christi was minimal compared to Port Aransas, Rockport and Aransas Pass, which took the brunt force of Harvey’s 130-mph winds.
“We are just at the beginning of the process of responding to this storm,” Abbot said. “There is much to do. The state of Texas and FEMA will be here for a long time. We will be here until we can restore this region back to normal — as normal as possible.”
Abbott and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn joined U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, State Rep. Todd Hunter, State Sen. Chuy Hinojosa and other officials at a news conference Aug. 28, which was followed by a tour of the damage in Rockport. President Donald Trump was due to visit the city the following, after Corpus Christi Business went to press.
Head FEMA administrator Brock Long was also on hand to reassure residents that help was here. Some 8,500 FEMA personnel have been brought into the area to help provide assistance, he said. Of those, 1,100 are actively involved in search and rescue. He called on everyone to be patient throughout what would be a long process.
“You are going to be frustrated, you are going to be tired, your routine will be disrupted for weeks,” he said. “But we are here for you, and we will be here for several years helping you guys recover.”
Activating the guard is only the beginning of the response, Abbott said. By the time of his visit Aug. 28, the governor had already officially declared 54 counties as disaster areas. Of those, 18 qualified for FEMA assistance as federal disasters, Nueces and San Patricio included.
Long emphasized the importance of the federal disaster declarations, which were quickly approved by President Trump.
“The first step you want to take is to register now, online if you can,” Long said. “If you can’t go online, call (800) 621-FEMA (3362).”
The website to register for assistance, including help with renting temporary and long-term replacement housing is disasterassistance.gov. Long added that the list of 18 counties on the federal list is likely to increase over time.
“The state of Texas is about to undergo one of the largest recovery housing missions the nation has ever seen,” he said.
PORT CLOSED UNTIL SEPT. 5
An oil drilling ship broke from its mooring Aug. 26 as Hurricane Harvey hit Corpus Christi. A tugboat sank and is breached in the Corpus Christi Ship Channel’s entrance to the Gulf of Mexico near Port Aransas.
The port closed on Aug. 24 in preparation for the storm, but officials had hoped to return to the business of moving its estimated $100 million worth of goods a day immediately thereafter. The earliest that could happen is Sept. 4, according to the Army Corps of Engineers, which has to inspect and remove the ship.
CCISD, FLOUR BLUFF DELAY SCHOOLS
While most area schools had already started, Corpus Christi and the Flour Bluff Independent School Districts planned to begin the 2017-18 school year on Aug. 28. That was postponed until after the Labor Day holiday. School will begin in both districts on Tuesday, Sept. 5.
HOW TO DONATE
The City of Corpus Christi will connect those offering assistance with those in need. Call the city at (361) 826-CITY (2489) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to provide contact information and resources and services offered. This information will go to organizations that have mobilized for distribution of donations and volunteer services in Corpus Christi, Rockport, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass and other neighboring communities.
Donate online to the Coastal Bend Community Foundation’s Coastal Bend Recovery Group at cbcfoundation.org.
The Red Cross is offering help and taking donations at redcross.org or text the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation. For help, click on the red GET HELP tab in the navigation bar across the top of the page. You can also call (800) RED-CROSS.
To donate to the Salvation Army, visit givesalvationarmy.org or call (800) 725-2769.
To volunteer through either the Red Cross or Salvation Army, visit redcross.org/volunteer or salvationarmyusa.org/usn/volunteer.
