The Biden administration has sent 60 generators, thousands of blankets, and other supplies to Texas to help tackle massive power outages amid a rare period of extreme winter weather.
Homeland security adviser and deputy national security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall told reporters Thursday afternoon that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided 60 generators to support critical locations such as hospitals and water supplies, 729,000 gallons of water, more than 10,000 wool blankets, 50,000 cotton blankets and 225,000 meals.
Officials are also preparing for the possibility of further requests from Texas and preparing to supply diesel to power plants, she said.
President Biden
Joe BidenFeds Investigates Cuomo’s Approach to Nursing Home Outbreaks Overnight Defense: One Third of Service Employees Refuse Coronavirus Vaccine | Biden to take executive action in response to Solar Winds hack | US And Japan Reach Agreement To Share Costs On The Money: Biden Faces Left Backlash On Student Loans | Where things stand on the COVID-19 relief measure | Retail sales are recovering MORE, speaking with governors of states affected by the winter storm earlier this week, also approved disaster statements for Oklahoma and Louisiana on Thursday.
Jill and I keep Texas, Oklahoma, and other affected states in our prayers. I have declared a state of emergency, authorized FEMA to provide generators and supplies, and am ready to comply with additional requests, ”Biden tweeted. Follow the instructions of local officials and stay safe.
Sherwood-Randall, who appeared at a White House conference call, said one million or more Americans continue to experience power outages, but she said the number has fallen “significantly” from their peak, with about 600,000 people without power in Texas. .
“Because of the nature of this storm, citizens in some communities will experience power outages,” said Sherwood-Randall.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki
Jen Psaki On The Money: Biden Faces Backlash From The Left On Student Loans | Where things stand on the COVID-19 relief measure | Retail Sales Restore Overnight Health Care: Biden Officials Announce Funding to Detect Virus Variants | Senate Dems announces public option proposal | White House: Teachers Vaccinations Not Required For School Reopening Harris Says Teachers Should Prioritize COVID-19 Vaccine MORE said national security officials regularly inform Biden, who has no public events Thursday after a trip to Michigan is canceled amid inclement weather in the Washington, DC area.
“The president is kept abreast of developments in Texas and surrounding states and receives updates every day, but more than once a day,” Psaki said. “It is certainly a focus”
Psaki said Biden has instructed his team to “make quick decisions and respond to the needs of the states ahead.”
Millions of people were without power amid severe weather that started late last week. While the outages have improved, they have caused water and food shortages. Biden declared a state of emergency in Texas on Sunday. At least 23 people died as a result of the storm.
Sherwood-Randall told reporters that the government would make an effort to “strengthen and harden” critical infrastructure to ensure that the federal government and states can better prepare for severe weather incidents.