Daijiworld Media Network - Houston

Houston, Jul 12: US President Donald Trump toured flood-ravaged central Texas on Friday, defending his administration’s handling of the catastrophic July 4 floods that have so far claimed at least 121 lives and left more than 150 others missing. The disaster, one of the deadliest in recent US history, has left behind a trail of destruction across at least 20 counties.

Rescue operations continue, but officials from Kerr County—one of the worst-hit areas—confirmed that no survivors have been found since July 5. More than 2,100 personnel from local agencies, 20 US states, and various federal organizations are participating in ongoing search and recovery efforts.

After surveying the extensive damage, President Trump commended the multi-tiered response effort. “We just took a look around the area. It’s unbelievable—the devastation, the loss. I’ve seen a lot of disasters, but nothing like this. You’ve all done an incredible job,” he said during a roundtable briefing with local and federal officials.

He praised the collaboration between local, state, and federal teams as “swift, coordinated, and effective,” and added, “Trees over 100 years old have been ripped out—homes, businesses, gone overnight. The destruction is something I’ll never forget.”

When pressed by a reporter on delayed alerts ahead of the flooding, Trump responded sharply: “Only a very evil person would ask a question like that.”
The president also lashed out at critics, particularly Democratic lawmakers who have demanded a probe into the federal government’s response. “All they want to do is criticize,” Trump said. “The public sees through it.”

Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who accompanied Trump on the visit, echoed the president’s sentiments and called the federal response “timely and effective.”
However, the administration is facing growing scrutiny. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer raised concerns earlier this week over possible impacts from staffing cuts to the National Weather Service under the Trump administration. He questioned whether these reductions compromised forecasting and early warnings about the storm.

A CNN report alleged that FEMA rescue teams were delayed by more than 72 hours due to new spending approval procedures introduced by the Trump administration—potentially hampering early response efforts.

In a letter to FEMA and the National Weather Service, a group of House Democrats labeled the situation an “unforced disaster” and called for congressional hearings into the handling of the crisis.

The criticism echoes past political clashes over natural disaster responses. During his 2024 campaign, Trump sharply condemned the Biden administration over its handling of deadly flooding in September and also targeted California Governor Gavin Newsom for wildfire mismanagement.

Preliminary assessments from AccuWeather suggest the Texas floods could lead to economic damages between $18 billion and $22 billion, with entire communities grappling with the monumental task of rebuilding.

As families search for missing loved ones and homes remain submerged, the state continues to wrestle with both grief and the complex questions of accountability, preparedness, and climate resilience.