Zinke on Irma: ‘Leave no neighborhood behind’

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on Monday said it’s important no neighborhood is forgotten in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

“Leave no neighborhood behind,” Zinke said on Fox News.

“We have devastation starting with the territories. Virgin Islands got especially hit.”

Zinke added that the power grid in the Virgin Islands might need to be rebuilt as a result of the storm.

{mosads}”We’re not sure that we can repair the power grid in the Virgin Islands,” he said.

“Of course, today, we’ll look at the assessment of the Keys as it goes up.”

Tampa and northern Florida do not appear to have been hit as hard as was previously expected, Zinke said.

“But certainly, the president’s focus is leave no neighborhood behind,” he said.

His comments come as Irma continues to devastate Florida.

Irma was downgraded Monday to a tropical storm after making landfall twice on Sunday, first as a Category 4 storm and later as a Category 3.

The storm is bringing heavy winds and flooding to the Southeast region and has left millions of people without power.

President Trump told reporters Sunday he and first lady Melania Trump would be visiting the area “very soon” 

The House announced it would postpone votes Monday due to a large number absences because of Irma.

“Due to the large number of absences as a result of Hurricane Irma, no votes are expected in the House tomorrow, Monday, September 11th,” House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said in a statement.

The lower chamber will instead have its first votes of the week at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.