President Joe Biden on Friday toured relief efforts in Houston after an unusually severe winter storm pummeled Texas, driving the state's power grid to the brink of collapse.

"Hell of an operation here. It's probably the best one in the country," Biden told staff at the Emergency Operations Center in Houston. "You're saving people's lives. As my mother would say, you're doing God's work."

Biden, accompanied by his wife Jill, was visiting for the first time since a prolonged freeze plunged Texas into chaos, with the power grid unable to keep up and Texans, far more used to heat than cold, struggling to survive.

Millions in the solidly Republican state lost power and reliable water. Mark Sloan, emergency management coordinator for Harris County, said "57,000 residents still have to boil their water" for safety.

Biden and the first lady also stopped at the giant Houston Food Bank, which serves more than a million people across south-east Texas.

Jill Biden helped pack boxes with instant oats and canned peaches, saying: "We're here to help, so put us to work!"

The president was later to visit a federal Covid-19 vaccination center to promote the government's bid to speed up a national vaccine rollout against the pandemic. The center is able to administer 6,000 shots a day.

Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
A world of storm and tempest
When the Earth Quakes

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

DHS expects troops to assist with border enforcement for 3 to 5 more years
Washington DC (UPI) Feb 25, 2021
The Department of Homeland Security wants troops to stay at the southern border of the United States for the next three to five years, officials told the Government Accountability Office during a review of its role in the region. The GAO's report examines the military's role in security operations at the U.S.-Mexico border, which the Department of Defense has provided on and off for the last 19 years. The GAO's report, which was first reported on by Stars & Stripes, recommended the D ... read more