Johnson added it was important Obama eventually visit the region because where the president goes, the cameras go. They did so after this month’s unprecedented flood. The gunman, Gavin Long, was shot dead at the scene. John Bel Edwards said. He also met with families of police officers who were killed in an ambush two weeks later in the wake of angry protests.
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“You never think you’re going to meet the president and to have him come into my little old home”, Naketa Woods said. “And so I think it was appropriate”.
Donald Trump and Mike Pence speak with Louisiana flood victims outside Greenwell Springs Baptist Church.
Others welcomed Obama and the spotlight he brought.
He also expressed hope that the recent flooding, which the National Weather Service estimates should theoretically occur only once every 1,000 years, will persuade more homeowners to take advantage of federally subsidized flood insurance programs.
“That’s fine. All these public officials need to see how bad the devastation is so that we can get the government mobilized to come out and give us as much assistance as we can”. They snapped a photo with the president as he looked at their home.
Michelle Singleton Dyer, a Zachary resident, didn’t have flood damage to her home but four of her siblings and her nephew saw their houses destroyed. Her family emptied the house over the weekend and her husband planned to start gutting it Tuesday afternoon.
The president said that $120 million in federal aid has already been approved and is starting to be paid out to those impacted by the floods.
Some local and state officials have praised FEMA’s response in the wake of the flooding.
“The response has been quick for me, and I’m very grateful for that”, she said.
“It means a lot to know you have that support from the highest level”, said Chrisena Brown, as the president surveyed the piles of discarded mattresses, broken appliances and heaps of clothing that line the curbs of her street. Bill Cassidy, R-La., handed out his cards to residents. Edwards, Sen. David Vitter, R-La., and Rep. Garret Graves, R-Baton Rouge, also made the rounds in the blazing sun.
Hillary Clinton, Trump’s Democratic opponent, said Monday that she too plans a trip to the flood site.
As he later addressed the media, Obama said Louisiana’s plight would not be forgotten as he deflected criticism that his visit could be seen as political in nature.
“W$3 hat I want the people of Louisiana to know is that you’re not alone on this”, Obama said.
That would have to come from Congress, he said.
“This is not a one-off”, Obama said. “I need all Americans to stay focused on this”, he said.
Obama has declared 20 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes disaster areas which, in effect, streamlines the process of delivering federal aid. “I’ve got no help from the federal government”.
Governments and certain nonprofit groups can apply for “public assistance”, which comes with a 25 percent cost share that must be covered by the state or local governments under the law.
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On Aug. 14, Obama declared a major disaster for Louisiana, 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. And it may not be something that colleagues of Louisiana’s elected officials readily agree to.
