Vice President Mike Pence put on work gloves and pitched in moving debris from Hurricane Harvey during his visit Thursday, August 31 in Rockport. one of the hardest hit communities in Texas. He reported that President Donald Trump would return to the state on Saturday as damage assessment and clean up continues. 
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who also worked moving debris, introduced Pence to an audience of the media and about 150 people gathered outside the First Baptist Church in Rockport. The church was heavily damaged during the storm which hit the city late Friday night and into Saturday morning, August 25-26. 
Before Pence spoke, Abbott signed a proclamation declaring Sunday, Sept. 3 A Day of Prayer in Texas. 
“This is a day we will pray for all those affected, will pray for the first sponders, for those who volunteer to help others,” he said. “We will pray for everyone regardless of your church, your faith or your background. We will pray for the future of this state and country and for healing and hope and for rebuilding this great state for the next generation of Texans.” 
Dressed in blue jeans and a chambray shirt, Pence promised Rockport the full support of the U.S. Government in its recovery. 
“We are with you,” he said. “The American people are with you. We are here today, we will be here tomorrow and we be here everyday until this city and this region and this state rebuild bigger and better than every before.” 
He then thanked first responders, emergency personnel and volunteers who “stepped forward and shown their work in this dark hour in the life of this community and state.” 
The event closed with a prayer from his wife, Second Lady Karen Pence. Also dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, head bowed, she ended with a powerful prayer “for these amazing people who are an inspiration to us all across the world and the U.S.” 
As the group began to disband, Pence, with the microphone back in his hand, concluded with “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain,” from Psalms 127, verse 1.
Attending the event with Pence were Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta, Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke, Governor Greg Abbott, Congressman Blake Farenthold and State Rep. Todd Hunter. The Rev. Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham, opened the proceedings with prayer.