Abbott touts state’s response during tour of flooded region

LEANDER — Gov. Greg Abbott Tuesday received a briefing and held a press conference at Donald Lewis Hisle Elementary School in Leander on Texas’ continued response to severe flooding impacting Central Texas.

Prior to the briefing and press conference, Abbott toured damage at Sandy Creek Bridge and met with local first responders to thank them for their service.

“Our No. 1 job is always saving lives, protecting lives and finding those who have lost their lives,” Abbott said. “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,” he added.

Joining the governor at the briefing and press conference were Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, Texas Department of Transportation Executive Director Marc Williams, Texas Game Wardens Lieutenant Colonel Ben Baker and Travis County ESD 1 Assistant Chief Todd Weidman, as well as other state and local officials.

Beginning his visit to Leander, Abbott toured Sandy Creek Bridge and the surrounding impacted community, where he met with volunteers, residents and first responders working to remove debris and restore infrastructure.

Residents expressed thanks for the state’s swift response and for a temporary bridge that was constructed by state and county personnel, allowing residents to reconnect their communities to major roadways.

During the press conference, Abbott expressed his deepest condolences for those who have lost a loved one and whose lives have been affected by the recent heavy rainfall and disastrous flooding.

The latest toll from the flooding shows 133 deaths with over 100 people still missing.

Abbott also thanked the 25 states that have sent resources and personnel to support Texas’ search and rescue and recovery operations.

He noted that 21 counties are included in his disaster declaration for impacted communities to ramp up deployment of all available state resources to help support local response efforts.

Additionally, Abbott and TxDOT’s Williams discussed the state’s expedited plans to restore infrastructure damaged by recent storms and flooding throughout Central Texas, including designing new bridges to replace those washed away.

As other parts of the state are expecting severe weather throughout this week, Abbott encouraged Texans to monitor the weather, make an emergency plan, and heed the guidance of state and local officials to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.