In New London, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal calls for a unified and immediate response to the disaster by Congress.

New London — With catastrophic floodwaters in Texas rising and the humanitarian crisis growing, Sen. Richard Blumenthal on Monday called for a unified and immediate response from Washington to help rebuild the Gulf Coast and other parts of Texas impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

Blumenthal joined with New London Mayor Michael Passero and other city officials at Greens Harbor Beach, one of several stops along the Connecticut shoreline, to deliver the message. The beach off Pequot Avenue was damaged by the storm surge and storm water runoff associated with Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and later rehabbed with federal funds.

The federal dollars aimed at the rebuilding effort in areas of the Northeast ravaged by Sandy, however, were delayed for months. Blumenthal said there was some irony in the fact that Texas Republican senators were among others to vote against the multi-billion-dollar Sandy relief package.

“We had to fight tooth and nail. We had to battle for that aid during the aftermath of Sandy,” Blumenthal recalled. “It took months longer than it should have. I am committed to avoid that destructive delay when it comes to Harvey.”

This time around, Blumenthal said, there should be no partisan divisions.

“I will support immediate and all necessary investment to rebuild the Gulf Coast,” Blumenthal said. “This moment ought to be a pivotal historic turning point for our nation when we come together and overcome any political differences or any geographic boundaries and address this humanitarian crisis.”

The ripple effects of Harvey could have a lasting impact on the country’s fuel costs and economy as a whole, he said. Blumenthal said the spirit of unity for Texas should also be expanded into Connecticut and across the rest of the country with a push for broader infrastructure improvements.

As Blumenthal lobbied for a unified response to Harvey, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Monday announced that the state had deployed a C-130H cargo plane and eight airmen from the 103rd Airlift Wing of the Connecticut National Guard to help with Hurricane Harvey response and recovery efforts.

The unit, which departed from the Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby on Monday, included C-130H pilots, crew members, loadmasters and maintainers.

“We know what it’s like to experience extreme weather events, and we know how vital it is for local and state governments to work together and provide assistance during times of natural disasters or other emergencies,” Malloy said in a written statement.

Connecticut–based Americares has responded to Texas with a delivery of medicine and relief supplies to support health facilities servicing low-income and uninsured patients in affected areas.

“We have a team on the ground in Texas performing needs assessments, visiting shelters and have already delivered four truckloads of bottled water and a shipment of tetanus vaccines to protect first responders and residents helping to clean up the damage,” said Americares spokeswoman Karly Kolaja.

Donations to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund will support Americares response to the storm. To make a donation, go to www.americares.org/Harvey.

In addition to using federal funds to rebuild the sea wall at Greens Harbor Beach damaged by Sandy, New London recently secured a $1.4 million grant, to be used with $500,000 of its own funds, to address the flooding issues in the area.

Public Works Director Brian Sear said the area acts as a funnel for a 70-acre watershed area and that heavy rains not only flood the roadway but cause costly erosion.

“The storm water ends up here,” Sear said, pointing toward the public beach. “The system in place is inadequate to handle it.”

A drainage system is in the design phase and is likely to include a series of catch basins and drain pipes.