Kerrville residents who turned out in force Friday to welcome President Donald Trump said his visit brought hope and comfort — and marked an important step in the town’s long road to healing and rebuilding.

Mr. Trump and Abbott promised to rebuild the devastated region, although the president recognized that what was lost can never be recovered.

"It’s hard to believe the devastation," Trump said. "Trees that are 100 years old just ripped out of the ground. I've never seen anything like this, and I've seen a lot of bad ones."

President Donald Trump toured the devastation from catastrophic flooding in Texas and lauded local officials amid mounting criticism that they failed to warn residents quickly enough that a deadly wall of water was coming their way.

President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and visited Kerrville, Texas, following massive floods.

First Lady Melania Trump paid tribute to victims of the Texas floods by wearing a charm bracelet gifted by a family.

"The first lady and I are here in Texas to express the love and support and the anguish of our entire nation in the aftermath of this really horrific and deadly flood," Trump said as he spoke at a roundtable event with first responders and local officials.

Just weeks ago, President Donald Trump said he wanted to begin “phasing out” the Federal Emergency Management Agency after this hurricane season to “wean off of FEMA” and “bring it down to the state level.

As President Trump surveys flood damage in Texas, several congressional Democrats have signed a letter demanding an oversight hearing into his administration’s response. One of them, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas),