WASHINGTON, May 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama has pledged federal assistance Tuesday in the rescue and recovery of Texas' catastrophic flooding.

"I assured Gov. (Greg) Abbott that he could count on the help of the federal government," Obama told reporters in the White House, "I will anticipate that there will be some significant requests made to Washington. My pledge to him is that we will expedite those requests."

Obama noted that Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel are already on the ground in Texas, and they will coordinate with state authorities.

Rainstorms triggered floods through Oklahoma and Texas over the weekend, killing at least nine people and left 30 people missing, officials said.