Joins Fox News CNBC and MSNBC to discuss rescue and recovery efforts
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. (HOUSTON Texas) U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today visited with Houstonians displaced by the impacts of Tropical Storm Harvey at the George R. Brown Convention Center. During his visit Sen. Cruz spoke with anchors and correspondents on Fox News Outnumbered CNBCs Halftime Report and MSNBCs Live With Katy Tur.
Still photos of Sen. Cruzs visit may be viewed
here.
On Fox News Sen. Cruz urged those in harms way to stay safe and avoid all high water areas. He also thanked first responders:
This is an incredibly challenging time for my hometown of Houston and the entire state" Sen. Cruz said. A lot of people are hurting. Let me say first of all to those of you who are still in harms way if water is rising I would advise you to stay safe. Get to save ground get to high ground if water is rising. Do not go up in your attic unless you have an ax or other equipment to get to the roof. One of the most dangerous things you can do is be trapped in your attic with no way to get out. And let me say also dont drive unless its absolutely necessary. The most frequent cause of loss of life is people in cars thinking they can make it through water and getting carried away from swift water. Dont jeopardize your life and your family."
Sen. Cruz continued Right now Im at the George R. Brown Convention Center where weve got about 3000 people providing shelter. People whove lost their homes lost in many cases everything and people are hurting but at the same time Ive got to tell you it is inspirational to see Texans just coming together giving sacrificially. Weve got hundreds of Texans getting on boats and rescuing people rescuing their neighbors from high water. Weve got people driving up to the convention center here with bags of diapers and food and clothes. This is a time of crisis we need prayers we need support but were also coming together and were immensely grateful for that."
On CNBC Sen. Cruz praised first responders and Texans who have sacrificed to help and rescue fellow Texans.
Texas will rebuild Houston will rebuild" Sen. Cruz said. We are a strong and resilient city. I will say one of the most amazing things is watching Texans come together. In the face of disaster in the face of adversity Texans come together and are strong. There are hundreds of individual citizens who have just gotten on their boats and are rescuing their neighbors. You know the city put out a call if youve got a flat bottom boat and you can help come do it."
Sen. Cruz continued I visited with a woman in the shelter who was an older woman who was on oxygen and using a walker she described having to walk down her street in waist high water pushing the walker. My mom uses a walker. I cant imagine how difficult that was. And she was picked up by a big truck from Gallery Furniture. A big furniture store here in Houston terrific furniture store. The furniture store truck gave her a ride here. Were seeing that kind of spontaneous generosity and citizenship. You know you asked the message to business. One message I would give particularly to big companies is theres a real need for relief here and if you have the ability to donate whether it is food or clothing or medicine or other emergency supplies or as we shift into the coming weeks rebuilding thats going to take an enormous investment as well and Im hopeful that we will have a lot of good citizens in the business community stepping up to meet those needs."
On MSNBC Sen. Cruz discussed his efforts to mobilize assets and coordinate with local state and federal officials to conduct rescue and recovery operations.
The city of Houston and the Texas Gulf Coast is reeling" Sen. Cruz said. This storm has done historic damage. Here in Houston in my hometown there have been over 2000 high water rescues and the flooding has exceeded anything this city has ever seen before. The George R. Brown Convention center where I am now is a shelter that has been set up with 5000 beds. We were at 3000 this morning were expected to hit capacity by the end of the day and other shelters are being stood up."
Sen. Cruz continued And Ill tell you right now the highest priority still remains on the preservation of life. On high water rescues people who are still trapped. It is still raining like crazy outside and the flooding continues to rise. I think were headed towards getting through this and were going to get through this. But right now theres been an incredible coordination of assets of local and state and federal assets all working together first responders risking their lives to pull people out of harms way."
