'Nonstop heroic efforts': Abbott visits Texas town ravaged by tornado
AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott visited tornado-ravaged Perryton on Saturday.
The town was hit by an EF3 tornado Thursday that killed at least three people and injured more than 100 others.
There is the ability to rebuild homes, rebuild buildings, rebuild city structures. The one thing that cannot be rebuilt is a life," said Abbott. "Unfortunately, this devastating storm took three lives that cannot be rebuilt."
Abbott said Ochiltree General Hospital – a hospital with 25 beds – treated 160 people.
"Nonstop heroic efforts by health care providers healing people and letting them go as quickly as possible so they could address the health needs of others," said Abbott. "Probably something that (Ochiltree General) has never encountered before in the history of that hospital."
Abbott got update on recovery efforts and held a news conference about the state's response.
The governor was joined by Representative Four Price, Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, Perryton Mayor Kerry Symons, Police Chief Nick Yara, Fire Chief and EMS Director Paul Dutcher, Ochiltree County Sheriff Terry Bouchard, and other state and local officials.
Abbott said he knows Perryton will be build because the people who live there are resilient.
There is a remarkable strength and resiliency in this community," said Abbott. "I know that they are going to rebuild because they have the spirit and the drive and the determination that is needed for a community like this to rebuild from such an unprecedented amount of decimation."
Mayor Kerry Symons said the city will be stronger because of what happened.
“It’s a tough time for Perryton, but we are tough and we are resilient," said Symons. "We will overcome this and we will be stronger than ever.”