Storm Harvey: White House says President Donald Trump will pledge $1m of personal money for relief effort

Donald Trump during a visit to Texas's emergency operations centre on Tuesday.
REUTERS
Francesca Gillett1 September 2017

Donald Trump has said he wants to pledge $1 million of his personal money to the relief effort working to help victims of Storm Harvey.

The White House issued the note on Thursday after days of catastrophic flooding which has killed at least 37 people and left thousands of others homeless.

Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders made the announcement at a briefing, adding that the Preisdent was calling on reporters to help decide which specific organisation he will give to.

Trump has been criticised in the past for giving far less of his income to charitable causes than many other multi-billionaires.

Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive in Corpus Christi.
AFP/Getty Images

Harvey hit Texas last weekend as a category four hurricane before being downgraded to a tropical storm as it drenched the Gulf Coast including parts of south west Louisiana.

Harvey's flood waters have heavily damaged tens of thousands of homes across Texas.

Homes and businesses have been destroyed after the severe flooding.
AP

On Thursday, soldiers and police in helicopters and special high-water trucks continued to rescue Texans stranded by the dangerous floodwater as the storm threatens the region near the Louisiana state line.

President Trump and First Lady Melania touched down in Corpus Christi and Austin on Tuesday where he spoke to officials dealing with the relief effort.

He told crowds “Texas can handle anything” as he promised the recovery would be “better than ever before”.

On Thursday, White House homeland security adviser Tom Bossert announced the Trump government will request funds from Congress to help the recovery effort.

Storm Harvey

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The administration would then issue a second request for money later when more details emerged about the exact recovery needed.

It comes after a fundraising campaign was launched to raise money for a British mum and daughter lost everything as the floods destroyed their entire home and possessions.

The pair, who moved to Dickinson in Texas from Scotland six years ago, are now stranded five hours away from each other as family members appeal for donations to help them rebuild their lives.

Firefighters in Houston – one of the worst hit cities and home to 6.8 million people – are continuing to search thousands of flooded homes to ensure no one is left behind. Authorities expect the death toll to rise.

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