Vice President Mike Pence Visits Rockport, Texas

Aug. 31--Vice President Mike Pence arrived Thursday morning in Rockport, where a prayer service was held at a church damaged by Hurricane Harvey.

"After difficult days, here in Rockport and across Southeast Texas, President Trump sent us here to say we are with you," Pence said. "The American people are with you. We are here today, we will be here tomorrow, and we will be here every day until this city, and this state and this region rebuild bigger and better than ever before."

Second lady Karen Pence led the crowd in prayer outside the church. After, the Pences and other officials spoke with survivors. Pence could be heard telling survivors that everything would be OK.

"We love our president, we love you," a woman told Pence.

"Hey, Mike, we're praying for you too," a man yelled at the vice president.

Pence and some members of President Donald Trump's cabinet, including former Gov. and current Energy Secretary Rick Perry, are along to survey damage and meet with survivors. The Pences were greeted by Gov. Greg Abbott, who accompanied the couple and other officials to Rockport.

As Pence met with survivors, sections of the crowd could be heard singing "God Bless America."

During the stop, Abbott announced that Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017, will be a day of prayer in Texas.

"I urge Texans of all faiths and religious traditions and backgrounds to offer prayers on that day for the safety of our first responders, public safety officers, and military personnel, healing of individuals, rebuilding of communities and the restoration of the entire region struck by this disaster," the governor said in the proclamation.

___

(c)2017 Austin American-Statesman, Texas

Visit Austin American-Statesman, Texas at www.statesman.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.