The American Press

The powerful symbolism of your visit to Texas and now to our neck of the woods is advancing relief and recovery efforts across the region. Your trip today will go a long way in making Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas whole again. 

President Donald Trump and Melania Trump meet people impacted by Hurricane Harvey during a visit to the NRG Center in Houston, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017. He lifted this girl into his arms to give her a kiss. It was his second trip to Texas in a week, and this time his first order of business was to meet with those affected by the record-setting rainfall and flooding. He’s also set to survey some of the damage and head to Lake Charles, Louisiana, another hard-hit area.

Susan Walsh

We are grateful for the priority you have placed on the region and for taking time out of your schedule to meet with our residents and public officials.

Thank you also for so generously pledging $1 million of your personal money to aid victims of Tropical Storm Harvey and for the commitment to helping the region rebound.

The substantial help you have already deployed to Louisiana by ordering federal assistance to supplement response efforts is needed. Your action has helped alleviate the hardship and suffering Harvey inflicted on the local population and is saving lives, protecting property, and ensuring public health and safety.

There is a voluntary evacuation in place for the residents of the western part of Calcasieu Parish and areas of La. 109 west to the Sabine River and north from Interstate 10 to the parish line. Local officials are also taking in thousands of Orange, Texas, evacuees who have lost everything. 

Thousands of displaced homeowners are critical in helping our region recover and we appreciate your voice in championing them. The size of the devastation argues for a massive marshaling of federal resources. 

We have no illusions about the challenges of the recovery, but your visit today provides us with hope. 

You are always welcome here.