BREAKING: Trump departs for Austin

Aug. 29--1:59 p.m update: President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump departed Corpus Christi International Airport for Austin, where the couple will meet with state leaders for another briefing on Hurricane Harvey devastation and relief efforts.

Before Trump left, he told a cheering crowd that "Texas can handle anything."

"Thank you, everybody. I just want to say we love you, you are special," he said. "We're here to take care, it's going well, and I want to thank you for coming out. We're going to get you back and operating immediately. Thank you, everybody. What a crowd. What a turnout."

Trump ended the short speech by throwing a single fist in the air and waving the state flag.

12:15 p.m. update: Gov. Greg Abbott praised President Donald Trump for the federal government's response during a stop at a Corpus Christi fire station, where the president is being briefed on damage and relief efforts. Trump and first lady Melania Trump sat with the governor and Texas first lady Cecilia Abbott, members of Congress and recovery officials.

"We want to do it better than ever before. We want to be looked at in five years, in 10 years from now as 'this is the way to do it,'" Trump said of relief efforts. "This was of epic proportion. Nobody's ever seen anything like this."

Trump refrained from congratulating Abbott on a successful response.

"We'll congratulate each other when it's all finished," Trump told Abbott, before telling him that Abbott has always been a friend to the president.

The Trumps are scheduled to leave at 1:30 p.m. for Austin, where the couple will tour the Texas Department of Public Safety's Emergency Operations Center and receive another Harvey briefing with state leadership.

11:38 a.m. update: President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump spoke briefly with Gov. Greg Abbott and his wife, Cecilia. Also spotted with the Trumps were cabinet members Ben Carson, Housing and Urban Development secretary, and Linda McMahon, head of the Small Business Administration.

After brief conversation, the Trumps departed.

Earlier: President Donald Trump has landed in Corpus Christi to survey Hurricane Harvey damage.

Harvey struck the Texas coast near Port Aransas as a Category 4 hurricane late Friday, with winds of 132 mph. The brutal storm has devastated numerous coastal and rural communities, and left parts of Houston under more than two feet of water. At least five flood-related deaths have been reported in Houston.

Harvey reportedly has claimed 15 lives, including a Houston police officer.

Trump will also make a stop in Austin later Tuesday.

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