Trump heads to Texas to witness destruction as Harvey tests administration

President Trump pledged his "full support" Monday to the tens of thousands of Americans displaced by the epic hurricane and flooding that has devastated parts of coastal Texas and Louisiana, warning that recovery from Harvey will be a "long and difficult road." In the short term, he told reporters in the East Room, 'protecting the lives of our people is my highest priority.

What we know about monster storm Harvey

Here is what we know about the deadly storm, which has devastated swathes of Texas and is continuing to linger over the area: Harvey made landfall on the Texas coast late Friday as a Category Four hurricane, bringing lashing rain and sustained winds of 130 miles per hour. The National Hurricane Center called it the biggest rainstorm on record, with rainfall potentially reaching 50 inches in some places, including in Houston, the fourth-largest city in America.

Houston endures more rain and chaos; 6 feared drowned in van

Officials released more water from Houston-area reservoirs overwhelmed by Harvey early Monday in a move aimed at protecting the city's downtown from devastating floods but that could still endanger thousands of homes, even as the nation's fourth-largest city anticipated more rain. Harvey, which made landfall late Friday as a Category 4 hurricane and has lingered just off the coast dropping heavy rain as a tropical storm, sent devastating floods pouring into Houston on Sunday.

Firefighter, Red Cross units deploy from Vegas area to Texas

Firefighters from a Las Vegas-based urban search and rescue team and volunteers with the American Red Cross are on the way to Texas to help with storm and flood disaster response. Clark County fire officials say components of Nevada Task Force 1 were activated during the weekend to assist in the wake of hurricane-turned-tropical storm Harvey.

The Latest: Storm could be ‘new ground’ for Louisiana parish

An emergency response official in southwest Louisiana says the threat of flooding from Harvey's torrential rains could be "new ground for us." Danny Lavergne, director of Cameron Parish's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, said about 30 roads in the parish were covered with water but remained passable Monday morning.

Rescuers pluck hundreds from rising floodwaters in Houston

Tropical Storm Harvey sent devastating floods pouring into the nation's fourth-largest city Sunday as rising water chased thousands of people to rooftops or higher ground and overwhelmed rescuers who could not keep up with the constant calls for help. The incessant rain covered much of Houston in turbid, gray-green water and turned streets into rivers navigable only by boat.

Trump meets and tweets as Texas gov praises Harvey response

President Donald Trump sought to showcase the federal government's response to Hurricane Harvey in a tweetstorm of his own Sunday, marveling over its size like a TV host and announcing a visit to Texas with the natural disaster only just beginning to take its catastrophic toll. In a series of tweets, Trump said his administration was handling its responsibilities well and, in a tangential aside, hawked a book on race and crime in America written by a supporter.

President Donald J. Trump Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Idaho

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced today that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Idaho to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by flooding, landslides, and mudslides from May 6 to June 16, 2017. Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by flooding, landslides, and mudslides in Blaine, Camas, Custer, Elmore, and Gooding counties.

Trump keeps tabs on Harvey and its aftermath from Camp David

President Donald Trump monitored Hurricane Harvey from the seclusion of his official mountaintop retreat on Saturday, sending a flurry of tweets before and after the powerful storm made landfall in Texas in an effort to reassure the public that he was fully in control of managing the first natural disaster since he took office. "Closely monitoring #HurricaneHarvey from Camp David.

‘Great Coordination’ Trump planning Texas visit, praises Harvey response

President Trump on Sunday said he is planning a trip to storm-ravaged Texas, and praised the government response to Hurricane Harvey, including the "thousands rescued" by emergency crews, as storm water rises and strands residents across the state. "Great coordination between agencies at all levels of government.