U.S. President, Donald Trump visited parts of Texas on Friday that were severely impacted by flash floods that struck on July 4.
The disaster, triggered by a river overflowing its banks, has so far claimed the lives of at least 120 people, many of them children. Entire homes, cabins, and vehicles were swept away, and over 170 people remain missing.
Trump and first Lady Melania Trump traveled to Kerrville in Kerr County, the area hit hardest by the floods.
They met with local officials, emergency workers, and families of the victims.
Trump acknowledged the scale of the disaster during a meeting at the local emergency operations center, describing the scene as something he had never witnessed before despite having visited many disaster sites in the past.
The floodwaters, which rose rapidly, overwhelmed several communities along the Guadalupe River.
Some emergency alerts reportedly did not reach residents in time.
This has led to growing concern over the timeliness of the official response.
The president, known for his past calls to downsize or eliminate federal agencies including FEMA, praised the work of first responders in Texas.
He declined to directly address concerns about the effectiveness of the federal response or the reported delay in evacuation messages.
One of the worst tragedies took place at Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls, where 27 lives were lost.
As the search continues into its second week, hopes of finding survivors are fading.
Despite questions from the press about potential gaps in preparedness, Trump defended those involved in the rescue and recovery efforts.