Hurricane Harvey-ravaged Houston is "open for business," with drinking water "safe," housing repair underway and transit up and running, Mayor Sylvester Turner said Sunday.
In an interview on NBC News' "Meet The Press," the Democratic mayor said the goal is "return to a full, functional day" at City Hall on Tuesday, and public schools open on Sept. 11.
The airport, transit system and port are all functioning again, he reported.
"Let me be very, very clear: the City of Houston is open for business," the mayor told CBS News' "Face The Nation."
"The water system is safe," he told CBS. "The electric grid is pretty much sound. There are only about 12,000 people in the city of Houston without power. … We've started picking up heavy debris."
"Anyone who was planning on a conference or convention or a sporting event or a concert coming to this city, you can still come. We want you to still come. "
He added, in his NBC interview, that "over 95 percent of the city is now dry, and I'm encouraging people to get up and let's get going."
"I'm saying to people, if you can open, let's open up and let's get started," he said.
President Donald Trump's visit to Houston Saturday "was very positive," he added.
"The goal for this week for me, we'll take it one week at a time and that's housing, housing, housing," he said. "Checking on people especially in these communities that don't necessarily get all of the attention… where senior citizens exist and people with disabilities and low-income communities."
"It's a can-do city," Turner declared. "Come and visit us in one year and I'll show you a better city than it was before the storm."
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