ROCKPORT, Texas – Gov. Greg Abbott activated the entire Texas National Guard, an organization of 12,000 men and women, on Monday in response to Hurricane Harvey.
He also toured the Coastal Bend areas damaged by the storm’s 130-plus mph winds.
“Our No. 1 goal from Corpus Christi to Houston is still protecting life and rescuing every person that we can find,” Abbott said.
The governor was joined by FEMA administrator Brock Long.
“We have already they brought in two million liters worth of water. Two million liters worth of meals, ready to back up the needs of the citizens here,” Long said.
Rockport and Port Aransas were two of the areas most damaged by the storm's winds. There Abbott and Sen. John Cornyn saw what residents have spent the past three days trying to clean up.
“Homes and neighborhoods, and churches, and businesses have been hammered by this furious storm,” the governor said.
It was a sentiment shared by Bridget Brundrett. She stayed behind, a decision she will never make again.
“We just couldn’t believe the amount of devastation we saw, and people’s homes. Our lives are going to change forever,” she said.
President Donald Trump is expected to tour the area on Tuesday.