By Lorenzo Salinas

l.v.salinas@panews.com

 

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott visited Port Arthur to get an update on recovery efforts and to continue his tour of areas affected by Harvey.

Abbott held a brief press meet Wednesday at City Hall where he commended the city’s relief efforts, gave an update on further relief aid and expressed his sympathies for all those affected by the storm. He said he was visiting the county judge and the mayors of Port Arthur and Beaumont.

Abbott acknowledged the plights of homeowners and businesses in the area, saying he knew the need for debris removal.

Accordingly, Abbott wanted to make sure the city had all the resources it needed to rebuild; and, more importantly, that the restoration efforts would be sustainable.

“We want to be very smart about the way to rebuild,” he said.

Abbott touched upon some details of current repair work, including inspection of bridges, water facilities and infrastructural needs.

He said Congress was in the middle of an important vote pertaining to the second round of federal funding for Harvey relief.

Last week, Abbott and the Texas delegation requested $18.7 billion in Harvey relief and recovery funding from the federal government.

In commending the work that’s already been done, Abbott said he has seen improvements already in relief and recovery efforts across the state, particularly in debris removal.

He compared Rockport, the town where Hurricane Harvey first made landfall in Texas, to Port Arthur. He said the debris piles were higher in Rockport.

Abbott concluded by assuring locals that state aid would also be available. He said Texas’ Economic Stabilization Fund, the so-called Rainy Day Fund, would be used to shore up school funding.

Schools are given state funds according to student populations. When populations drop, school funding usually drops—but not this time.

Abbot said districts would be “made whole by the loss of attendance from students.”