Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, center, and his running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, listens to flood victims Jimmy and Olive Gordan during a tour of their flood damaged home in Denham Springs, La., Friday, Aug. 19, 2016.
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The governor also made a similar appeal to the Republican nominee upon hearing that he planned to visit with Vice Presidential candidate Mike Pence, but the Republican ticket chose to ignore the wishes of the state’s leadership.
As Louisiana recovers from historic levels of flooding, that has been described by the Red Cross as the worst natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy, impacting thousands of homes and leaving at least 14 people dead, President Obama has announced plans to visit the state on Tuesday and get a first-hand look at the damage.
The White House has said Obama received regular updates about the flooding during his vacation in Martha’s Vineyard and has argued that a visit to Louisiana could interfere with recovery efforts by drawing away first responders.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate have already visited the flooded state.
The president signed a Louisiana disaster declaration five days ago, making federal funding available for the parishes of East Baton Rouge, Livingston, St. Helena and Tangipahoa.
“I came here to help”, Trump told victims, according to the Advocate newspaper. But we don’t see that as a factor now that flood waters are subsiding, even if at an agonizing pace.
Democrat Hillary Clinton called Gov. John Bel Edwards, but has not visited, suggesting that there shouldn’t be any visits just yet – saying the relief effort doesn’t need “distractions”. It’s past time for the president to pay a personal visit, showing his solidarity with suffering Americans… Barack Obama slammed George W. Bush as “a president who only saw people from the window of an airplane instead of down here on the ground, trying to provide comfort and aid”.
“We welcome him (Louisiana), but not for a photo operation”, said the governor’s office in a statement asking the NY to help by volunteering or making “a substantial donation”.
The governor of Louisiana said Sunday that Donald Trump’s trip to his state was “helpful” in getting the country’s attention on the devastating flooding around Baton Rouge.
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Bash observed that former Louisiana Sen. “And, so, we really need help”. She said “my heart breaks for Louisiana” and urged people to donate to the relief effort.
