President Joe Biden claimed he tried contacting the top two elected officials in Texas to offer federal assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. However, Texas officials deny receiving any such communication.
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick accused Biden of turning the hurricane response into a political issue, stating that the White House falsely accused him of being unreachable. Patrick emphasized that top FEMA administrators were in close contact with him throughout the crisis.
Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbott was out of the state on an economic-development trip in Asia, leaving Lt. Gov. Patrick in charge during the hurricane's impact.
The storm, initially a category 1 hurricane, hit southeast Texas and caused widespread damage as it moved through the Gulf Coast, Houston, and into Louisiana and Arkansas. The aftermath left nearly 3 million Texans without power, with reports of downed trees, flooded neighborhoods, and disrupted infrastructure.
Despite the conflicting accounts between the Biden Administration and Texas officials, a major disaster declaration was eventually granted following a call between President Biden and Lt. Gov. Patrick. The White House spokesperson mentioned that Biden had been attempting to reach out to Governor Abbott for several days but required a specific request from the governor to provide federal assistance.
The situation highlights the challenges and complexities of coordinating disaster response efforts between federal and state authorities during natural disasters like Hurricane Beryl.
