President Joe Biden expressed frustration over the delayed distribution of emergency-relief supplies in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl due to difficulties in reaching Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Biden stated that federal officials had been unable to contact the governor for days, hindering the process of requesting aid.
Gov. Abbott, who was in Asia during the state's response to the hurricane, had Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick acting as governor in his absence. The White House confirmed multiple attempts to reach both Patrick and Abbott before receiving the formal request for assistance.
Biden emphasized the importance of a specific request from state officials to initiate the distribution of aid, despite pre-positioning resources in Texas. Lt. Gov. Patrick refuted Biden's claims of being unreachable, stating that FEMA employees were in direct contact with him throughout the response efforts.
Patrick defended the state's process of assessing needs before seeking federal assistance, highlighting the on-ground evaluations conducted by officials in impacted areas. In response, Gov. Abbott criticized Biden for questioning his accessibility during the crisis, asserting that the president had not personally contacted him during Hurricane Beryl.
The exchange between President Biden and Texas officials underscores the challenges in coordinating disaster relief efforts and the complexities of communication during emergencies. The differing perspectives on the response to Hurricane Beryl highlight the tensions between federal and state authorities in times of crisis.
