As he toured a battered neighborhood, Obama reassured residents that the federal response would be robust and tried to buck up beleaguered residents, many of whom have said they feel their plight has been ignored both by national officials and the mainstream media.
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“Sometimes once the flood waters pass, people’s attention spans pass – this is not a one-off, this is not a photo-op issue. This is, how do you make sure a month from now, three months from now, six months from now, people still are getting the help that they need”, Mr Obama said.
Obama says he wants Louisianans to know they’re not alone in recovering from the flood, even after the news cameras leave.
Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton released a statement on Monday to respond to questions about why her campaign had not made the same trip that President Obama made Tuesday and her rival Donald Trump made last week.
Obama told reporter he doesn’t “worry too much” about politics and said he saw Americans coming together to help.
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.
At least 40 state highways still remained closed.
President Barack Obama has arrived in Louisiana’s capital city where he’ll get a first-hand view of the damage from flooding that killed 13 people and forced thousands from their homes.
Mr Trump fired back on Tuesday, tweeting: “President Obama should have gone to Louisiana days ago, instead of golfing”.
“Too little too late”, Mona Gaspard said of Obama’s visit.
Pearson called it a smart move for Trump to visit Louisiana, a state he said the NY businessman expects to win in November.
Gov. John Bel Edwards, Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, Senators David Vitter and Bill Cassidy, Congressman Garret Graves and Cedric Richmond, as well as other Louisiana officials, joined the president on his tour to see the damage up close and personal.
Bonner said Obama can direct officials to send federal funds and his visit could highlight “how serious the moment is and what’s needed here”.
The president heaped praise on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) and its administrator, Craig Fugate, which he said had been “exemplary” in its reaction to the multiple natural disasters that have occurred during his presidency – a stark contrast to the criticism the agency received for its inadequate response in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which struck Louisiana in 2005. Individuals can reportedly apply for assistance that could be fully covered by the federal government, up to 33,000 USA dollars per person.
Before departing Baton Rouge, the president will meet with the family of Alton Sterling, who was shot and killed by a police officer there in July, as well as with the families of local law enforcement officers who were killed and injured by a gunman later that same month.
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In Baton Rouge, standing outside her flooded brick home, Kejuana Sibley said she hoped Obama’s visit would open the door to more federal aid. Obama is traveling to the area to survey the flood damage. Obama also met with the families of officers killed or injured almost two weeks later by a gunman, apparently in response to Sterling’s killing, the White House said.
