http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/03/hurricane-harvey-texas-governor-242293
Abbott suggests Harvey recovery could cost $180 billion
By KELSEY TAMBORRINO
09/03/2017 11:43 AM EDT
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said on Sunday the nearly $8 billion requested by the White House for Hurricane Harvey relief was only a small down payment to fuel recovery efforts.
"That aid will not be [enough]," Abbott said when asked about the amount by CNN's Dana Bash on "State of the Union." "However, it is very clear, the president has made it clear, Congress is making it clear, this is just a down payment."
Instead, Abbott compared Harvey, which brought destructive winds and deadly flooding to the Texas Gulf Coast, to Hurricane Katrina.
"Let's not compare it to Sandy, let's compare it to Katrina," Abbott said. "Listen, the population size and the geographic size is far larger than Katrina and, I think, Sandy combined.
"We have over 5 million people who were affected by this. It's not just the flooding in Houston, it's the hurricane swath all the way from Corpus Christi over to Beaumont," the Republican governor said. "So, it's going to require even more than what was funded for Katrina, which was about $120 billion."
Earlier "Fox News Sunday." Abbott had predicted the cost could total as much as $180 billion.
"This will cost well over $120 billion," he said. "Probably $150 to $180 billion."
Already, the Harvey recovery is forecast to take years, Abbott said.
"When you look at the number of homes that have been mowed down and destroyed and damaged, this is going to be a huge catastrophe that people need to come to grips with," he said. "It's going to take years for us to be able to overcome this challenge."
Abbott suggests Harvey recovery could cost $180 billion
By KELSEY TAMBORRINO
09/03/2017 11:43 AM EDT
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said on Sunday the nearly $8 billion requested by the White House for Hurricane Harvey relief was only a small down payment to fuel recovery efforts.
"That aid will not be [enough]," Abbott said when asked about the amount by CNN's Dana Bash on "State of the Union." "However, it is very clear, the president has made it clear, Congress is making it clear, this is just a down payment."
Instead, Abbott compared Harvey, which brought destructive winds and deadly flooding to the Texas Gulf Coast, to Hurricane Katrina.
"Let's not compare it to Sandy, let's compare it to Katrina," Abbott said. "Listen, the population size and the geographic size is far larger than Katrina and, I think, Sandy combined.
"We have over 5 million people who were affected by this. It's not just the flooding in Houston, it's the hurricane swath all the way from Corpus Christi over to Beaumont," the Republican governor said. "So, it's going to require even more than what was funded for Katrina, which was about $120 billion."
Earlier "Fox News Sunday." Abbott had predicted the cost could total as much as $180 billion.
"This will cost well over $120 billion," he said. "Probably $150 to $180 billion."
Already, the Harvey recovery is forecast to take years, Abbott said.
"When you look at the number of homes that have been mowed down and destroyed and damaged, this is going to be a huge catastrophe that people need to come to grips with," he said. "It's going to take years for us to be able to overcome this challenge."
