Texan Governor Greg Abbott faced backlash for being overseas on a trip to the Far East during the onslaught of Hurricane Beryl in Texas. The storm’s impact near Matagorda last Monday resulted in an estimated 13 casualties in the Houston area, as per the Houston Chronicle.
With over 140,000 Texans still without power post the hurricane’s rampage through the state, criticism arose as Abbott was engaged in a preplanned nine-day economic development tour to Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.
The Houston Chronicle‘s editorial board condemned Abbott for his absence, stressing the expectation for a governor to be present during times of crisis. The piece, published on Monday, contrasted the pleasant weather in the cities Abbott visited with the ordeal Texans were enduring.
While Abbott reassured Texans from abroad that preparations were in place, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was left in charge during the crisis. However, criticism surfaced as Patrick failed to request an official disaster declaration from the White House, leaving President Joe Biden attempting to contact Abbott directly for necessary emergency federal funding.
In response to Biden’s statements, Abbott’s press secretary Andrew Mahaleris refuted the claims, labeling them as untrue. The editorial also shifted focus to Abbott and Patrick’s lack of action to address the persisting issues with the state’s power grid following the aftermath of Uri in February 2021.
The editorial concluded with a pointed comparison to George Bush’s response during Hurricane Katrina, implying Abbott’s absence during Beryl resembled Bush’s controversial visit post-Katrina. The governor was criticized for being absent as Texans endured sweltering conditions without power, leaving a reminiscent echo of Bush’s infamous “Heck of a job” comment to FEMA’s director in the aftermath of Katrina.