First responders are busy responding to emergencies and engaged in recovery efforts, but one Louisiana newspaper blasted the Commander in Chief for not cutting his vacation short to tour the flood zones.
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President Obama will visit Louisiana on Tuesday in the wake of severe flooding in the state, the White House has announced.
Even as he announced the president’s intention to travel to Louisiana, Earnest said the president remained “mindful of the impact that his travel has on first responders and wants to ensure that his presence does not interfere with ongoing recovery efforts”.
He said Obama was eager to hear more officials on the ground about the response, including how the federal government can assist in the recovery and rebuilding efforts.
The announcement of a presidential trip early next week could help lessen the sting of the growing calls for Obama to visit Louisiana.
When a woman thanked him for coming, rather than playing golf like the president has been doing during his New England vacation, Trump replied, “Somebody is, somebody is that shouldn’t be”. And with more rain forecast, the destruction could get worse.
SEE MORE: Why Aren’t We Talking About The Horrific Flood In Louisiana? He said he welcomed Trump’s visit as long as it wasn’t intended as a “photo-op” for political gain.
Twenty parishes in the state were declared major disaster areas last weekend, a declaration that makes them eligible for federal funding.
“We’re trying to get supplies and it took three hours for people to get here and help me and I noticed everybody else started trickling in behind”, Wyndham said. “Instead we hope he’ll consider volunteering or making a sizeable donation to the LA Flood Relief Fund to help the victims of this storm”.
Trump visited Louisiana earlier Friday. He said he “saw strength” and “spirit” and that “they will overcome”.
He added at an event in MI this evening: “To the people of Louisiana, we are with you and will always be with you”.
“It’s a great place”, said Trump.
The Baton Rouge-based Advocate newspaper, Louisiana’s largest, published an editorial Wednesday evening asking Obama to leave MA to tour the state, whose recent flooding is the worst natural disaster to hit the United States since Hurricane Sandy, according to the Red Cross.
“Donald Trump hasn’t called the governor to inform him of his visit”, Bel Edwards said in a statement Friday morning.
Hillary Clinton has not visited Louisiana. “The very best way this team can help is to make sure Louisianans have the resources they need”.
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Posting on Facebook, Clinton said she spoke with Edwards on the phone, urging supporters to donate to the Red Cross and and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation.
