Lawrence Hall
Dispatches for the Colonial Office
Children Die; The Authorities Babble
The governor’s Press
Conference
In Which the Press
were Shut Down Pretty Quickly
I just can’t
say enough about our colleagues I just can’t say enough about we are Texans and
we come together as one as a family we come together community share
quintessential Texas we unite they could have fallen apart double-down
relentless when the job is completed 24/ 7 day and night Texans and Americans
everyone what I’m going to sign today every asset magnitude process
proclamation immediate and ongoing gratitude in advance to President Trump and
all his administration his love for Texas I want to thank Governor Abbott
absolutely devastating he loves Texas grieving beautiful children all the
resources of the federal government walking alongside each other community I’ve
visited with the president already he will honor that assets on the ground
crisis weather event alerted airframe coasties Texas assets request customs and
border protection skill set resource Department of Homeland Security response
flying acronyms entities utilized FEMA standing at an enhanced level plugged in
engaged fulfil role amazing you are an example to the nation hearts are with
you and walking beside you fixed-wing aircraft airframe helicopters fixed-wing
helicopters efforts engaged talking to the president throughout the day
families folks number one priority is people process public infrastructure strong
you are an example responding helping neighbors hurting grieving God process
help prayers are with you President Trump and Melania are praying for you prayer
amazing multiple stage agencies partners my thanks to and to and request and
thank you for being here an important message I’ve been to a number of
disasters impressed with Governor Abbot’s leadership proud grateful for men and
women standing behind us here we are all reacquainted rejoined with their
family members it’s who your family is we come together as a family as Texas
this is who our family is we owe it to them the governor and his team will be
relentless family it means a lot we appreciate President Trump and you before I
was crazy enough to run for congress ha ha we came down here to blah blah it
hits home personally I can’t say enough about extraordinary I can’t say enough
I can’t say enough leadership this unfortunate circumstance reached out
responding Army corps support and other stuff teamwork collaboration far from
finished the job prayerful stuff we’re dealing with finger-pointing and
second-guessing and Monday-morning quarterbacking circumstances I understand
that parents and media heroic efforts finish the job be with the people pray
I’m the only one at this table who lives on the Guadalupe River I barely got
home I ushered in a crew fifty-year lawyer I saw first-hand the body bags
helicopter ride nobody saw this coming arm in arm hand in hand process time now
for recovery toilsome task stay together and we’ll get this done thank you on
the behalf of as I look around the room I don’t see differences I see one team
working together our community one team those in peril those who are lost sees
this day prayer thank God my heart is broken we will not stop Madame Secretary
your federal team life saving we will our teams FEMA border patrol partners
Coast Guard work forward state personnel one last thing most common word prayer
prayers are answered in so many ways prayer might be the reason the water
stopped rising prayer does work your prayers have made a difference continued
prayers pray so much never imagined prayers matter we thank God almighty God
has blessed Texas…
(A few
reporters were then allowed to ask a few questions which were, at best,
answered only with vagaries and filler-language.)
