HOUSTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump handed out box lunches and hugged children in a Houston emergency shelter on Saturday, as he witnessed the devastation wrought after Hurricane Harvey unleashed apocalyptic floods on America’s fourth-largest city.

The sprawling Texas megacity was taking tentative steps back to normality after a week of flooding that damaged 40,000 to 50,000 homes and sent tens of thousands fleeing to emergency shelters.

Harvey has been blamed for at least 42 deaths. The White House has asked Congress for $7.85 billion for Harvey-related “response and initial recovery efforts,” calling it a “down payment” on the long-term cost of recovering from the record flooding, which is expected to be in the tens of billions.

“We’re signing a lot of documents now to get money. $7.9 billion,” Trump said at the giant NRG Centre exhibition space that has been turned into a shelter.

“We signed it and now it’s going through a very quick, hopefully quick process.”

Trump and his wife Melania shook hands and posed for selfies at the shelter with evacuees eager to greet the VIPs.

Accompanied by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Trump went to a section of the hall where a homemade banner that read “KID ZONE!!” hung on the wall. The president was quickly surrounded by small children who gave him hugs, handshakes and high-fives.

One young girl grabbed the president in an embrace — and the grandfather of eight responded by picking her up and giving her a kiss.

“As tough as this was, it’s been a wonderful thing. I think even for the country to watch it, for the world to watch. It’s been beautiful,” he told reporters.

Clearly enjoying himself, Trump then joined volunteers handing out box lunches. He chatted with evacuees who rushed over, while many more crowded behind security barricades with their phones aloft.

At another shelter at the city’s Convention Centre, which housed thousands at the peak of the crisis, University of Houston cheerleaders shook pom-poms and the school’s furry cougar mascots stopped by to lift spirits.

“We’re here to hang out with the kids, to cheer people up,” said one of the students in the group, as evacuees waiting in line for federal aid vouchers waved and took photos.

Downtown cafes were open and a couple was even seen jogging, though area hotels were packed with exhausted families — including many who have received vouchers to help pay for rooms. Some checked in carrying their belongings in plastic bags.

The president is in Texas for his second visit since the megastorm hit and will also visit neighbouring Louisiana later in the day.

Trump on Tuesday stopped in the coastal city of Corpus Christi and the state capital of Austin, after which he tweeted that he witnessed “firsthand the horror & devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey” — though he did not, in fact, tour any flooded areas or meet with any victims.

He has declared Sunday a “National Day of Prayer” for victims of Hurricane Harvey.