Abbott says he's giving Houston 'everything they've asked for' on Harvey 'We stand ready to provide even more,' governor says

Gov. Greg Abbott hears from state operations personnel in Austin about the latest weather predictions and flooding concerns early afternoon Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, before Hurricane Harvey was downgraded from a Category 1 Hurricane to a tropical storm. less Gov. Greg Abbott hears from state operations personnel in Austin about the latest weather predictions and flooding concerns early afternoon Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, before Hurricane Harvey was downgraded from a ... more Photo: Andrea Zelinski Photo: Andrea Zelinski Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Abbott says he's giving Houston 'everything they've asked for' on Harvey 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN -- The state has deployed 20 helicopters, 60 boats, 92 ambulances and "countless" high water vehicles to respond to devastating flooding inundating Houston, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Sunday.

"Everything they've asked for has been provided and we stand ready to provide even more on top of hat," Abbott told reporters after he was briefed on rescue operations at the Texas emergency operations center in Austin.

But Abbott acknowledged he still has not talked to Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner personally.

"I have a called the mayor several times, I have his cell number," Abbott said. "I've left messages for him repeatedly to let him know that whatever he needs the state of Texas will provide."

Abbott says there has been no trouble getting emergency assistance into Houston.

"Not at all," Abbott said.

Abbott and Houston officials have already differed on whether to start evacuations days earlier. While Abbott called on people to leave, Turner gave opposite directions.

Asked about the conflicting messages Sunday, Abbott said he was focused on the emergency at hand.

"Now is not the time to second-guess the decisions that were made," Abbott said.

Abbott said the federal government has already provided an emergency declaration for 19 counties and is now preparing to expand that list to cover Harris County, which was not on the original disaster declaration.

Statewide, Abbott said that state has responded aggressively with 3,000 members of the National Guard and State Guard deployed, 1,750 Department of Public Safety workers in the field, 400 Texas Department of Transportation workers helping clear roads and 400 people the Department of Emergency Management doing search and rescue operations.

"Our top priority is to protect human life," Abbott said during a 25 minute press conference. "We are working with local officials to do everything we can to protect our fellow Texans."

Abbott said more than 250 highways are closed because of flooding and more than 300,000 homes are out of power without even with complete reports from the Houston area.

Officials said there have been so many rescues that they haven't been able to track them all.

Abbott repeatedly praised the cooperation he is getting from the federal government and President Donald Trump. Before speaking with reporters, Abbott said he received call from both Brock Long, the administration for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Elaine Duke, the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

"We have a very effective federal partner working with the state of Texas," Abbott said. "One thing that I am very proud of is that the federal government has so quickly responded to all of the aid the state of Texas has needed."