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U.S. NEWS Friday 1 September 2017
Rescuers start block-by-block search of flooded Houston

Fire Department. Houston also ignited a 30-
The confirmed death toll to 40-foot flame and sent
stood at 31, though it is up a plume of smoke that
expected to rise. But by the head of the Federal
midday, the temporary Emergency Management
command center in a J.C. Agency initially described
Penney parking lot had re- as “incredibly dangerous.”
ceived no reports of more FEMA later backed away
bodies from the searches, from that statement, say-
which are expected to ing that Administrator
take up to two weeks. Brock Long spoke out of
Unlike during Hurricane Ka- an abundance of caution.
trina’s aftermath in New Or- An Environmental Protec-
leans, crews used GPS de- tion Agency analysis of
vices to log the homes they the smoke showed that
checked rather than spray it posed no immediate
painting neon X’s on the threat to public health, the
homes, which also avoided agency said.
alerting potential thieves to The French operator of the
vacant homes. plant feared that up to
Elsewhere, the loss of pow- eight more chemical con-
er at a chemical plant set tainers could burn and ex-
off explosions that prompt- plode. The latest damage
People launch boats from an overpass into floodwaters in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Harvey ed a public health warn- surveys revealed the stag-
in Kountze, Texas, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017. ing. The blasts at the Arke- gering extent of the de-
(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) ma Inc. plant northeast of struction. q

Continued from front “We don’t think we’re go-
ing to find any humans, but
The streets were dry but
heaped with soggy furni- we’re prepared if we do,”
ture, carpet and wood. said District Chief James
Pennington of the Houston
Pence surveys Harvey’s

wreckage

Continued from front During a 45-minute drive to
the church, Pence’s mo-
“It’s a long way to go. It’s torcade drove past a long
not months, but it’s years,” row of utility poles that re-
Pence said of the recov- mained standing but at an
ery effort as First Baptist angle. He saw scattered
Church. “The challenges debris and some downed
will be great but we know power lines. Residents of
that the generosity and the Rockport were among the
prayers and the faith of the first in the U.S. hit by Harvey.
people of Texas and the The vice president, wear-
American people will be ing jeans and cowboy
greater still.” boots, was joined by Texas
He added: “We are with Gov. Greg Abbott, Energy
you and we will stay with Secretary Rick Perry, a for-
you until Rockport and all mer Texas governor, and
of southeast Texas come other Cabinet members.
back.” Trump had traveled Tues-
Pence’s wife, Karen, led day to Corpus Christi and
community members in Austin for briefings with of-
prayer outside the church. ficials. He plans to return to
The couple shook hands Texas on Saturday and pos-
with residents as the crowd sibly visit Louisiana, parts of
sang “God Bless America.” which are being lashed by
Pence wore work gloves Harvey’s remnants.
and helped clear away The president drew criticism
tree limbs and debris. He for not directly mentioning
had a ready hug for one the loss of life and suffering
elderly resident, offering of hurricane victims during
a more personal touch his visit, and for tweeting
than did President Donald Wednesday that after see-
Trump, who was in Texas ing “first hand the horror &
earlier in the week to at- devastation” wrought by
tend briefings with emer- Harvey “my heart goes out
gency management offi- even more so to the great
cials. people of Texas!”q