Abbott: Harvey recovery may reach $180 billion

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Sunday said it may cost as much as $180 billion to rebuild the state in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

“The geographic area and the population affected by this horrific hurricane and flooding … is far larger than the population and geographic area of Katrina,” Abbott said on “Fox News Sunday.”

Abbott said Katrina recovery cost more than $120 billion.

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“When you look at the number of homes and businesses affected by this, I think this will cost well over $120 billion,” he said. “Probably $150 [billion] to $180 billion.”

Abbott said President Trump has made an initial request to “get things up and running.”

“I think Congress understands this is a down payment on something that will cost far more,” Abbott said.

Abbott said there is a long road ahead for Texas to rebuild. He and FEMA’s director have both indicated it will take years.

He added that Trump has told him that whatever Texas needs, it is going to get.

During an interview that aired Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” Abbott said the recovery and rebuilding efforts are “going to take a long time.”

“We are still in operational mode where we’re working to save every life,” said Abbott.

Noting on CNN’s “State of the Union” that only 15 percent of Houston-area homeowners have flood insurance, Abbott said, “We are working on multiple levels to make sure that these homeowners are taken care of.

“We are working on strategies to help these homeowners have an effective response for all of them”

His comments come after devastating flooding from Harvey displaced thousands of people in the region.

Trump visited the region on Saturday for the second time after an initial trip there last Tuesday.

–Mallory Shelbourne and Julia Manchester contributed to this report, which was updated at 10:18 a.m.