HOUSTON, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Texas Governor of the United States Greg Abbott said Friday that a relief package of 15.3 billion U.S. dollars will help reinforce the ongoing recovery in Texas from Hurricane Harvey.
"We will continue to work with both local and federal leaders to ensure all needs continue to be met through the rebuilding process," Abbott said after U.S. President Donald Trump signed the bill.
Observers said it would refill depleted emergency accounts, as the state of Florida is bracing for Hurricane Irma which is even more powerful, and Texas is picking up the pieces after the devastation of Harvey.
It's the first installment of a federal aid package that could rival or exceed the 100 billion-plus dollars provided after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Future installments are likely to be more difficult to be approved by the Congress.
Harvey blew ashore on Aug. 25 as the most powerful hurricane to hit Texas in more than 50 years, displacing more than 1 million and damaged some 200,000 houses in a path of destruction that stretches for more than 480 km. The Houston area was hit by severe flooding, after receiving about 1.4 meters of rain.
