John Bel Edwards says people around the US are just starting to pay attention to the extent of flooding that killed at least 13 people in the state.
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That’s the question facing a Louisiana state government that has been staggering from one budget crisis to the next.
Bel Edwards said last week that while his state is struggling to recover from the catastrophic floods that have killed dozens, caused billions of dollars in property damage and displaced tens of thousands of families, officials should not plan to visit unless they are bringing direct aid. “I have not been critical of Mr. [Donald] Trump’s visit”.
Edwards tells CNN’s “State of the Nation” on Sunday that the disaster has received less attention because it wasn’t a hurricane or named storm.
After floods devastated pockets of south Louisiana, mental scars are already showing on the youngest victims of a disaster that prompted more than 30,000 rescues and left an estimated 40,000 homes damaged.
More than 70,000 people had registered for individual assistance since the federal disaster was declared, and more than 9,000 had filed flood insurance claims, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “Everything’s filthy. I’ve never been through a flood, so I really didn’t know”.
“The vault was completely gone”, Brooks said.
Pickup of curbside debris will begin Monday in Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes, and Tuesday in East Feliciana, west Feliciana, East Baton Rouge, Ascension and St. James parishes, the state Department of Transportation and Development announced Saturday.
“Is there a double standard here?” she asked Edwards.
“For the reasons that I stated earlier, because it helped to shine a spotlight on Louisiana and on the dire situation that we have here, that it was helpful”, Edwards said.
“I heard he wants to stay under par while we are under water”, said Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council and Trump supporter, who met with Trump at the church.
Governor Edwards has also defended President Obama on his absence in Louisiana saying it would leave Louisiana drained to necessary resources.
But Governor Edwards says the White House has been proactive in reaching out.
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While the Democratic governor told Trump to not come merely for a photo op, he is welcoming a delayed visit of President Obama this week – which has permitted a vacationing President to complete a pre-planned vacation to Martha’s Vineyward.
