Hurricane Harvey is the first natural disaster of Mr. Trump’s presidency, and the White House is keenly attuned to the political risks of handling it poorly. The agency’s current administrator, Mr. Long, was head of FEMA’s hurricane program at the time of Katrina. “This is right up President Trump’s alley,” he said. Mr. Trump’s presidency has been unusual so far in the lack of major external crises, either at home or abroad. Critics have questioned how he would handle a major test, and his response to Hurricane Harvey may offer a blueprint.

Source: New York Times August 27, 2017 20:34 UTC