Hurricane Harvey is churning toward the southern coast of Texas and is expected to make landfall as a Category 3 hurricane late Friday or early Saturday. As Texans brace for the storm, eyes are on President Trump and his administration as he faces his first test of handling a national disaster as commander in chief.
The National Hurricane Center said Friday morning that Hurricane Harvey is “dangerously approaching” the Texas coast. The storm, which strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane overnight, is expected to bring with it 35 inches of rain and “catastrophic life-threatening flooding” when it makes landfall, the agency said.
The National Weather Service warned the storm could leave parts of south Texas “uninhabitable for an extended period” because of its heavy rain, storm surge, flooding and strong winds, and the Department of Homeland Security said the effects of Hurricane Harvey could be felt hundreds of miles inland, as well as along the coastal areas of southern Texas to eastern Louisiana.
Forecasters expect Hurricane Harvey to strengthen to a Category 3, making it the first Category 3 hurricane to hit the U.S. in 12 years, with winds topping 111 mph when it makes landfall near Corpus Christi.
In preparation for Hurricane Harvey’s landfall, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, declared a state of disaster for 30 Texas counties. The Texas Division of Emergency Management activated 700 members of the Texas Army Guard, Air National Guard, and State Guard.
While South Texas braces for the storm, the Trump administration is urging those in Hurricane Harvey’s path to remain safe.
“I have spoken w/ @GovAbbott of Texas and @LouisianaGov Edwards. Closely monitoring #HurricaneHarvey developments & here to assist as needed,” Trump tweeted Friday.
I have spoken w/ @GovAbbott of Texas and @LouisianaGov Edwards. Closely monitoring #HurricaneHarvey developments & here to assist as needed.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2017
“For those living near the path of #HurricaneHarvey stay safe! Thoughts & prayers of an entire country are with you,” first lady Melania Trump tweeted.
“We’re monitoring Hurricane #Harvey closely and we’re working around the clock to prepare and support state’s efforts,” FEMA Director Brock Long tweeted Friday morning.
We’re monitoring Hurricane #Harvey closely and we’re working around the clock to prepare and support state’s efforts. pic.twitter.com/t15dKJiHpy
— Brock Long (@FEMA_Brock) August 25, 2017
In the administration, however, several vacancies in key posts remain as hurricane season ramps up.
The selection of John Kelly, who was Trump’s secretary of homeland security, to serve as White House chief of staff last month left an opening at the helm of the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Elaine Duke, who was Kelly’s deputy, has since taken over as acting secretary of the agency.
Additionally, Trump has yet to nominate someone to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which studies oceanic and atmospheric conditions and oversees the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center.
The National Hurricane Center also doesn’t have a permanent director after its former leader, Rick Knabb, resigned in May for a position at The Weather Channel.
Despite the vacancies, the White House dismissed any notions that the lack of permanent agency leaders would pose a problem for dealing with Hurricane Harvey.
“There’s certainly someone at the helm,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters Thursday. “You’ve got Acting Secretary Elaine Duke, who’s watching this closely — very involved in the process along with the acting director for FEMA. And again, I think that we are in great shape having Gen. Kelly sitting next to the president throughout this process, and probably no better chief of staff for the president during the hurricane season.”
In addition to Kelly’s expertise, Trump’s homeland security adviser, Tom Bossert, oversaw emergency preparedness for former President George W. Bush and served in FEMA’s legislative affairs office.
Bossert, along with Long, Kelly, and Duke, briefed Trump on the hurricane Friday morning.
Received a #HurricaneHarvey briefing this morning from Acting @DHSgov Secretary Elaine Duke, @FEMA_Brock, @TomBossert45 and COS John Kelly. pic.twitter.com/cnkRZd6D6Z
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2017
Trump is scheduled to head to Camp David on Friday afternoon, and as the president prepares to depart Washington, some of his fellow Republicans are offering advice to Trump.
“@realDonaldTrump #hurricane keep on top of hurricane Harvey dont mke same mistake Pres Bush made w Katrina,” Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, tweeted Friday morning.
@realDonaldTrump #hurricane keep on top of hurricane Harvey dont mke same mistake Pres Bush made w Katrina
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) August 25, 2017
Bush was criticized for his response to Hurricane Katrina, a Category 3 storm, during which the president was on vacation at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. The former president ended his trip early and took a detour on his way back to Washington to observe Hurricane Katrina’s damage from Air Force One.
Some said Bush appeared “aloof” as he surveyed the wreckage and marked Bush’s response to Hurricane Katrina as the “beginning of the end” for his presidency.
