00:00Thank you. Thank you everyone for being here today and I want to thank Governor
00:05Abbott for his leadership and know that President Trump is absolutely
00:11heartbroken by what has happened here in Texas and the loss of life is absolutely
00:16devastating to him and Melania. This morning I talked with him several times
00:20and he wanted to make sure that all of you know how much he loves Texas, how
00:24much he's grieving for your families that have lost someone and the beautiful
00:29children that we're still looking for and hoping to return to their families and
00:33that he is absolutely committed to using all the resources of the federal
00:36government to help unify families rescue all those that we're still missing and
00:41return those who maybe we will recover back to their families as soon as
00:46possible and that we will be here walking alongside each other and helping
00:51throughout this entire crisis and know that I'm extremely grateful as well for
00:56the leadership of Nim Kidd who's fantastic emergency operations manager and has
01:02been well known throughout this country for leading through such a time as this
01:06and this tragic situation is something that is unprecedented we recognize that at
01:12the federal level we also recognize that when something like this happens to a
01:16community happens to a state that the best responders are those locally because
01:21it's your family members it's your community members that are being impacted and you can
01:26respond quickly and the role of the state is to run and manage that emergency but
01:32the federal government needs to be here for the support and extra resources on the
01:36ground as well and that is what we are doing and what President Trump has
01:39dedicated to continue to do I've visited with the president already about this
01:44federal disaster declaration that the governor was going to sign here this
01:48morning and he has indicated that he will honor that and that he will accept that so
01:52that response and that relief will be coming and we also have had assets here on the
01:58ground since the beginning of this crisis started since this weather event did start
02:04and even before it came we were alerted we did have Coast Guard assets here that
02:10were helping to rescue people we're thankful for the airframe that showed up in those
02:15Coasties that were here walking alongside our DPS and the emergency responders that were here the Texas
02:22assets that were deployed already and that coordination was seamless and I
02:27appreciate them for putting that request in right away we also had our BORTAC team
02:31from Customs and Border Protection out here helping with rescues they are a
02:35specialized trained force to come in in these types of situations and bring
02:40their skills skill set to bear that is a resource that's incredibly important to the
02:46Department of Homeland Security but also in these types of situations when we need
02:50emergency management response we also did have a CBP advisory interdiction
02:57specialist here that was helping with some coordination of air assets that has
03:01been present and then we are looking at the other entities that are under the
03:05Department what can be utilized and of course FEMA standing at an enhanced level
03:09right now which means that they are plugged in to the State Operations Center we are
03:16engaged and then as this response goes forward that their role will continue to be
03:20filled as it always is in these situations and will be timely and
03:23responsive as to what the governor requests and what is needed here on the
03:27ground I do know that the state of Texas is amazing in how it responds to disasters
03:36not every state is like that many states do not do what the people of Texas do and
03:44you are an example to the nation of getting through these difficult times but also know
03:48that you're not alone that you have the entire country's hearts and are with you and are
03:54walking alongside you and at the department we will continue to bring more resources we
03:59just at the request of a previous conversation less than an hour ago in visiting with him
04:04and with the governor requested more fixed-wing aircraft from Coast Guard to come and help us
04:09making sure that we're going out and locating individuals as fast as possible that we know are
04:14still missing and that we also will send more airframe as far as helicopters that have the ability
04:20to come in and some will be equipped and the fixed wings with thermals so they can continue to
04:24work all night long some of the assets that other agencies may offer don't have that kind of
04:29equipment but the Coast Guard does have it and so that will be deployed so that the search and
04:33rescue efforts don't stop even when it does get dark at night we'll continue to stay engaged and I'll be here I'm going to go up to the camp
04:41Mystic and I'm going to go around town and spend some time here today and make sure that when I am calling and talking to the president
04:49throughout the day that he has timely information that the requests that are coming here from the leadership on the ground are met immediately and that we can take care of these families and take care of these folks right away.
05:01away we do know the number one priority now is is people is is making sure we're
05:07finding people as fast as possible and we're returning them to their families
05:11and then also you know throughout the process we'll get into what damage was
05:15done to public infrastructure what may have been done to I know we have 1800
05:19people they're still without power and understand what I understand is people
05:23still have water but we do have damage to bridges and to roads thankfully dams
05:27held but all of that is an assessment that will continue to work with you on
05:31to make sure that you recover as quickly as possible so again thank you all for
05:36being strong and being an example for people there someone told me a long time
05:45ago over 30 years ago that to never get angry on behalf of yourself get angry on
05:51behalf of the other other people to always go out and get up every day and go work
05:55for other people and help them and so I know many of you that are out there
05:59responding and helping your neighbors had losses to you're hurting because you're
06:04grieving somebody that may have been lost we were created to serve people God
06:09created us to serve each other and now is a wonderful time to go find somebody you
06:14can help somebody that you can take care of and get them through this process and
06:20that will make us stronger and better into the future so our prayers are with you
06:24president Trump wants you to know that he and Melania are praying for you and love
