Houston Daily

Governor Greg Abbott visited Central Texas to assess the damage caused by severe flooding and provided an update on the state's response efforts. The Governor held a press conference at Donald Lewis Hisle Elementary School after touring Sandy Creek Bridge, where he met with local first responders.

"Our No. 1 job is always saving lives, protecting lives, and finding those who have lost their lives," said Governor Abbott. "That is a 24/7 operation that we are unrelenting in continuing to pursue. We as a state are going to be able to respond and recover from this. We are community. We are Texas strong."

The briefing included officials such as Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, Texas Department of Transportation Executive Director Marc Williams, and others.

During his visit, Governor Abbott met with volunteers and residents working to clear debris and restore infrastructure. Residents expressed gratitude for the temporary bridge constructed by state and county personnel.

Governor Abbott extended condolences to those affected by the flooding and thanked 25 states for their support in search, rescue, and recovery operations. He mentioned that 21 counties are under a disaster declaration to enhance resource deployment for local response efforts.

Additionally, plans were discussed for restoring damaged infrastructure across Central Texas, including designing new bridges to replace those washed away.

As other areas face potential severe weather this week, Governor Abbott urged Texans to stay informed about weather conditions, make emergency plans, and follow official guidance for safety.