President Biden said Friday he plans to visit Texas while the state struggles with a weather crisis that has left hundreds of thousands of residents powerless, prompting him to declare a state of emergency.
Biden told reporters on Friday that he would visit Texas, but the timing of his visit was unclear.
OFFER REITERATES SUPPORT FOR TEXAS IN CALL WITH GOV. ABBOTT ON WINTERSTORM CRISIS, WHITE HOUSE SS
“It depends – the answer is yes,” Biden said. “The question is, I would be in Texas at the beginning of next week, but I do not want to be a burden. If the president lands in any city in America, it has a long tail.”
Biden said: “If it comes to the conclusion that I can do it without creating a burden, I plan to go.”
He added: “We will probably start making the decision next week.”
Temperatures this week have dropped to dangerous record lows in Texas and overwhelming power grids, leaving millions without power. According to the Associated Press, at least thirty people in the U.S. have died as a result of the extreme winter weather.
About 7 million people in Texas have been told to boil their water or stop it altogether while homeowners, hospitals and businesses struggle with broken water pipes and burst pipes, many in areas not accustomed to the persistently icy temperature.
The president spoke with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday after approving a federal state of emergency in the state, amid storming resources and supplies moving to Texas.
TEXAS NOW JOKES WITH WATER CRISIS AS POWER BACK TO 2 MILLION HOUSES
During the call, the president reiterated that the federal government will continue to work with authorities in Texas “to bring relief and address the critical needs of the families affected,” reads a White House reading.
Biden “also shared his intentions to instruct additional federal agencies to investigate any immediate steps that could be taken to support Texans at this time,” the White House said, adding that the government is ready to provide further assistance. to Texas and other states affected by the winter storm.
Biden wrote in a tweet after the call that he had told Abbott that he would “work relentlessly” to help Texans.
In an earlier tweet Thursday, he writes: ‘Jill and I hold Texas, Oklahoma and other affected states in our prayers. I have declared a state of emergency, authorized FEMA to supply generators and supplies and am ready to comply with additional requests. Observe the instructions of local officials and stay safe. ‘
The Associated Press contributed to this report.