Hurricane Harvey Texas: Sunday Is Day Of Prayer

AUSTIN, TX — Texas has set aside a day for prayer as the state reels from historic Hurricane Harvey rainfall and flooding.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and Vice President Mike Pence visited a church in Rockport on Thursday that was damaged when the storm made landfall last week as a Category 4 hurricane.

Abbott issued a proclamation Thursday announcing Sunday as a "Day of Prayer" in Texas. In the proclamation, Abbott encouraged Texans of all faiths, religious traditions and backgrounds to pray for the safety of first responders, public safety officers and military personnel, as well as for the "healing of individuals, rebuilding of communities and the restoration of the entire region struck by this disaster."

"Throughout our history, Texans have been strengthened and lifted through prayer, and it is fitting that Texans join together in prayer in this time of crisis," Abbott said in a release. "Throughout this disaster, we have seen the power of Texans helping Texans, and I am hopeful this proclamation will bring people together once more. We have remained strong throughout this ordeal, and this Day of Prayer will make us even stronger together."

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Harvey caused record flooding in parts of the state and led to more than 30 deaths. (For more hurricane news or local news from Austin, click here to sign up for real-time news alertsand newsletters from Houston Patch, and click here to find your local Texas Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Thanks to the @USMC for the ride today as we visited Victoria, Rockport, & the Aransas Co. areas hit by #Harvey. pic.twitter.com/yP9BBXYyra
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) August 31, 2017

Photo credit: Office of the Governor Greg Abbott