President Trump live-tweeted on Friday updates about Hurricane Harvey, a storm that is strengthening as it makes its way through the Gulf of Mexico and is threatening the southern coasts of Texas and Louisiana.
Trump, who travelled to Camp David on Friday, said he is “closely watching” the hurricane and offered updates straight out of weather forecasts about the progress of the storm. Among the flurry of tweets, the commander in chief said the storm is strengthening to a Category 3 hurricane capable of sustained winds up to 125 miles per hour.
Just arrived at Camp David where I am closely watching the path and doings of Hurricane Harvey, as it strengthens to a Category 3. BE SAFE!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2017
Just arrived at Camp David, where I am monitoring the path and doings of Hurricane Harvey (as it strengthens to a Class 3). 125 MPH winds!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2017
“Federal Government is on site and ready to respond,” he said in one tweet, adding, “Be safe!”
Storm turned Hurricane is getting much bigger and more powerful than projected. Federal Government is on site and ready to respond. Be safe!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2017
Trump also encouraged people who live in areas in the direct path of the storm to “heed the advice & orders of their local and state officials.”
I encourage everyone in the path of #HurricaneHarvey to heed the advice & orders of their local and state officials. https://t.co/N6uEWCZUrv
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2017
Trump is facing his first major natural disaster crisis as president, and his multiple updates on the storm in the form of tweets are unprecented for president. He said he spoke to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards on Friday and offered his support.
Edwards has declared a state of emergency for the entire state of Louisiana, and Abbott did so for 30 counties in the path of the storm, which forecasters now say will be a Category 4 storm when it hits Texas. Some coastal areas where Harvey is set to make landfall have also issued voluntary and mandatory evacuations.
The storm would be the first above-Category 3 hurricane to hit the U.S. since 2005 and is expected to cause extreme damage and flooding. A Category 3 storm, according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, is considered a “major” hurricane and has sustained wind speeds between 111 miles per hour and 129 mph. A Category 4 storm has sustained winds between 130 and 156 mph.
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
While Trump has yet to issue an emergency declaration for the hurricane, White House adviser on homeland security Tom Bossert said on Friday, “That’s being contemplated.”
He also said if conditions for an emergency declaration are met, which would send federal assistance to affected areas, “the president will be very aggressive in leaning forward in declaring that disaster.”
