'We’ve Not Seen a Better Response': Abbott Praises San Angelo

SAN ANGELO, TX — Governor Greg Abbott addressed the public Thursday at the Spur Arena in San Angelo, offering an update on Texas’ response to the devastating July flooding and praising Tom Green County’s local leadership as a “model” for disaster response.

Abbott confirmed that 135 people statewide have died as a result of flooding this month, including 116 in Kerrville — surpassing the number killed in Hurricane Harvey.

“This may be the largest flood in the history of Texas,” Abbott said. “More people lost their lives in Kerrville than in Harvey, just to understand the magnitude of it.”

While Kerr County continues search and recovery efforts — with about 100 people still missing — the governor focused Thursday on Tom Green County, where he said preparations began as early as July 3, one day before the flooding hit. The state deployed Texas Task Force 1 boat crews in advance and requested a federal disaster declaration for the county, which was granted on July 11.

Federal aid is now available for both individual and public assistance, including funds to repair roads and public infrastructure. Abbott said more than a dozen state agencies are currently working at San Angelo’s Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) to assist residents.

“We’re not taking our eye off of Kerrville,” Abbott said. “But we also began working with Tom Green County before the storm hit and have been present every step of the way.”

Abbott commended the cooperation between local, state, and federal agencies and said San Angelo’s coordinated response saved lives.

“Had it not been for those rescues, dozens of people in this community would have lost their life,” he said.

Local officials, including Mayor Tom Thompson, Police Chief Travis Griffith and Fire Chief Patrick Brody, joined Abbott at the event, alongside Senator Charles Perry, Representative Drew Darby, and Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd.

Thompson emphasized how quickly city, state, and federal responders unified: “There were no egos in the room. It was: do what we need to do to get it done.”

Chief Kidd echoed those comments, noting that San Angelo had pre-positioned debris contracts in place — a rare level of preparedness.

“If the rest of the state worked like this, I’d probably be out of a job,” he said.

The governor also highlighted the role of volunteers and private donations in accelerating recovery, from clearing homes to providing temporary housing. He said housing is a top concern going into next week’s special legislative session, where lawmakers will evaluate early warning systems, mitigation strategies, and disaster response policy statewide.

“We want people back in their homes as quickly as possible,” Abbott said.

More information about aid — including housing and agricultural recovery assistance — is available at the Disaster Resource Center. You can find more information about that HERE.