US President Donald Trump toured the devastation from catastrophic flooding in Texas and praised local authorities amid growing criticism that they failed to warn residents quickly enough that the deadly wall of water was approaching them, the Associated Press reported.
"The search for the missing continues. "The people who are doing it are incredible," Trump told first responders and other state and local officials gathered at the emergency operations center in an exhibition hall in Kerrville.
"You can't find better people, and they're doing the job like I don't think anybody else could, frankly," Trump said.
The president said his administration was "doing everything it could to help Texas" and insisted that "we have good people" running the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
In the wake of the July 4 disaster, which left at least 120 people dead and more than 170 missing, the president has been noticeably silent on his previous repeated promises to end FEMA. Instead, he has focused on the unique nature of the incident and the human tragedy. He praised Texas and local officials while downplaying the administration's crusade to cut government spending, which is popular with Trump's core supporters, the AP notes.
Before his visit to Texas, Trump approved Gov. Greg Abbott's request to expand the disaster declaration beyond Kerr County, which would allow eight more counties to receive financial assistance for recovery.
After touring the flooded areas, the president made a speech in Kerrville, expressing amazement at the scale of the disaster.
"I've never seen anything like it," he said. "A small narrow river that turns into a monster."
Trump spoke of the loss of life as a result of the floods, mentioning "dozens and dozens of precious children taken from us".