The request for federal aid after Beryl opens rift between White House and Texas

Top Points:

1. Tensions Over Federal Aid: President Joe Biden and Texas GOP leaders, Governor Greg Abbott and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, clashed over the state's request for federal aid following Hurricane Beryl, with conflicting accounts of communication attempts during the recovery efforts.

2. Governor Abbott's Response: Abbott, speaking from Japan, accused Biden of lying about attempts to contact him, asserting that Biden could have reached him on the same number used in past disasters. Lt. Governor Patrick confirmed speaking with Biden and explained the need to assess state requirements before formally requesting aid.

3. Widespread Power Outages: Hurricane Beryl left over 1.4 million customers and businesses in the Houston area without power, highlighting the urgency and severity of the recovery efforts needed to restore normalcy in the affected regions.

Full Report:

HOUSTON (AP) — The aftermath of Hurricane Beryl has intensified tensions between the White House and Texas GOP leaders as they grapple over federal aid for storm recovery.

President Joe Biden expressed frustration in trying to reach Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who was in Asia on a trade mission during the hurricane. Biden stated in an interview with the Houston Chronicle that he also attempted to contact Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, who has been acting as governor since Beryl's landfall on Monday, to facilitate the state's request for a major disaster declaration necessary for federal aid.

Both Governor Abbott and Lt. Governor Patrick have vehemently contested Biden's account amidst the ongoing recovery efforts. Many coastal residents are bracing for prolonged power outages, with millions affected in the Houston area.

“I’ve been trying to track down the governor to see — I don’t have any authority to do that without a specific request from the governor,” Biden told the Chronicle on Tuesday.

From Japan, Abbott responded in an interview with Austin's KTBC station, accusing Biden of fabricating the narrative. Abbott insisted that Biden could have easily contacted him on the same number used in previous disaster responses, stating, “I know for an absolute 100% certainty, the only person to drop the ball is Joe Biden by making up some bizarre lie. And why he would do that? I have no idea.”

Lt. Governor Patrick confirmed speaking with Biden on Tuesday, stating the president granted Texas’ disaster declaration request. Patrick explained that Texas first needed to assess its needs before making a formal request. Texas has previously sought federal aid ahead of hurricanes, as seen with Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

Rafael Lemaitre, former FEMA national director of public affairs, clarified that major disaster declarations do not require exhaustive on-the-ground assessments beforehand. Governors can adjust their requests as new information emerges, Lemaitre said. FEMA usually prepositions responders and aid in anticipation of hurricanes, according to Beverly Cigler, a Penn State public policy professor specializing in emergency management. Cigler explained that a president must wait for a state's disaster request to fully mobilize federal aid.

As of Wednesday evening, over 1.4 million customers and businesses in the Houston area remained without power, according to Poweroutage.us.

Original Story by The Associated Press, Breitbart.