Pentagon: Military Response In Texas For Harvey May Increase Tenfold Or More

An overhead view of the flooding in Houston, from Buffalo Bayou on Memorial Drive and Allen Parkway, as heavy rains continue falling from Tropical Storm Harvey, Monday, Aug. 28, 2017. Houston was still largely paralyzed Monday, and there was no relief in sight from the storm that spun into Texas as a Category 4 hurricane, then parked itself over the Gulf Coast. (Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via AP)
Rain continues to fall in Houston from Tropical Storm Harvey, Monday, Aug. 28, 2017. Floodwaters reached the roof lines of single-story homes Monday and people could be heard pleading for help from inside. (Karen War... Rain continues to fall in Houston from Tropical Storm Harvey, Monday, Aug. 28, 2017. Floodwaters reached the roof lines of single-story homes Monday and people could be heard pleading for help from inside. (Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via AP) MORE LESS

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Pentagon official says the military’s contribution to Harvey rescue and recovery efforts could soon increase by tenfold or more.

Air Force Maj. Gen. James Witham told reporters Tuesday there currently are about 3,500 National Guard troops involved, including about 3,000 from the Texas National Guard. He estimated that the Texas guard number could rise to 8,000 to 10,000 in coming days, possibly joined by 20,000 to 30,000 from other states.

Witham is the director of domestic operations for the National Guard Bureau.

He said the military is providing everything that has been requested by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, although the response is constrained by the stormy weather and by flooding that limits use of roadways.

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  1. I hope Alex Jones is on top of this story.

    Military takeover, FEMA body bags – it’s all happening just like we were warned it would!!

  2. Chiselin’ Trump: “We have many options for Venezuela Hurricane Harvey. And by the way, I am not going to rule out a military option.”

  3. Military personnel are well trained and provisioned to help disaster victims. It’s pretty much standard practice to send available troops and equipment to help during a natural disaster. Mexico has offered to help as well. I’m far more concerned about us failing to accept Mexico’s help (military and otherwise) than I am about us sending our own.

  4. CT guardsmen(people?) don’t know the correct term, are en route.

  5. Obama’s plot to put Texas under military rule had a delay built in.

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