SAN ANTONIO — Congressman Henry Cuellar met with officials from FEMA, Customs and Border Protection, and first responders to discuss the extensive cleanup efforts and the ongoing search for those still missing after the recent floods.
Cuellar described the images he witnessed as “jarring” and expressed his commitment to supporting the affected area.
“I want to make sure that we appropriate the monies to not only provide the assistance from the first responders, but it’s going to cost a lot of money for the damage of the homes of the places and the assistance to the families,” said Cuellar.
Cuellar also addressed the issue of accountability regarding the flooding and whether there was sufficient warning. He emphasized that now is not the time to assign blame but to learn from the disaster.
“What is it about the eye policy or the one of the systems that they had? They actually had two systems. Why did they not go out?… How do we prevent this type of situation?” he said.
In light of President Trump’s earlier remarks about potentially eliminating FEMA, Cuellar highlighted the importance of improving the agency’s efficiency. He expressed his desire to collaborate with the administration to enhance FEMA’s resource distribution.
“I want to work with the President, with the Homeland Secretary, because it’s under her, I certainly want to work with them to make FEMA better, streamline it, get rid of the bureaucracy, make a faster, faster response,” Cuellar said.