President Barack Obama, followed by daughter Sasha Obama, returns from a 16-day vacation to Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., arriving at the White House in Washington, late Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016. On top of a competent federal response, it’s critical for political leaders to demonstrate compassion and a reassuring sense of engagement.
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But the flooding is drawing Obama in, although the visit will come later than some would have liked.
Edwards had previously said that he hoped Obama would wait a few weeks before making his visit to the state, given the entourage and Secret Service personnel that comes with presidential trips that would have strained resources while officials were coping with the floods. An editorial headline in the Baton Rouge Advocate last week read: “Our Views: Vacation or not, a hurting Louisiana needs you now, President Obama”.
“There’s an all too common temptation to focus on the politics and to focus on the optics”, White House spokesman Josh Earnest told a news briefing.
Obama has declared a major disaster in 20 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes – the state’s equivalent of counties – streamlining federal assistance. “And the federal government has certainly done our part in the first eight to 10 days after this disaster, but there’s a long road ahead”.
Trump and his running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, visited Baton Rouge on Friday.
He’s also expected to campaign aggressively in October to help Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. At least 40 state highways remained closed.
The deluge that dumped more than 2-1/2 feet (76 cm) of rain on parts of Louisiana has been described as the worst USA disaster since Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
Despite the criticism about the timing of Obama’s visit, Earnest said FEMA had received bipartisan praise for its work in the aftermath of the flooding, unlike the criticism the agency faced following Hurricane Katrina in 2005 under then-President George W. Bush.
The White House has batted away Trump’s criticism and comparisons with Katrina, calling the government’s response to the flooding robust.
“I can say from personal experience how frustrating, how unconscionable it is, that it has been so hard to get medical supplies to those in need quickly enough”, Obama – then a senator – says from the Senate floor in the video.
Obama declared a major disaster for Louisiana on August 14, making federal resources available to help with home repairs, temporary housing, low-priced recovery loans for uninsured property losses and other programs to assist individuals and business owners recover.
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Obam has speaked with Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, who has visited to Louisiana last week, from his vacation home to get an update on the situation. “I would anticipate that the president will have the opportunity to speak to officials in Louisiana who have been managing the response effort, including the governor and lieutenant governor”, Earnest said.
