Bafflement about why the president has not yet addressed the week-old disaster is the cherry at the top of the conversation about whether the flood-affected region has gotten enough attention. While a White House spokeswoman said the president also spoke with FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate to get an update after Fugate’s visit to the area, there are now no confirmed plans for Obama to end his vacation early. Also attending the party is the Obama family. Even Hillary Clinton drew some attention to the situation on Twitter.
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After intense backlash, and a visit to Louisiana from GOP candidate Donald Trump, it was announced that President Obama will tour the state on Tuesday, two days after the conclusion of his vacation.
Actress Kirstie Alley set Twitter ablaze on Friday with statements criticizing President Barack Obama’s responses to the recent flood crisis in Louisiana.
At least 40,000 homes have been damaged by the August 12 storm, according to news reports, and at least 13 people have been reported dead.
The largest newspaper in Louisiana, The Advocate, stated “A disaster this big begs for the personal presence of the President at ground zero”.
Right now, experts estimate $30 million in repairs are necessary, and that number will only rise. I refused to do that during Hurricane Sandy and I put the people of New Jersey first.
The total damages from the floods, though, is likely to climb into the billions.
On Thursday, Louisiana Gov.
Although President Obama approved the necessary measures for disaster relief by phone, he was criticized for not interrupting vacation for at least one day to visit Louisiana. He claimed it would divert resources that were needed for the recovery. Obama will go on Tuesday.
“Where is the national media outrage that we saw during Hurricane Katrina?”.
Such concerns have been nearly entirely absent from media coverage of the Louisiana floods in recent days.
The administration guidance cited instances of discrimination in Gulf Coast states after Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita in 2005, such as “numerous media reports [that] showed images of African Americans stranded on roofs in New Orleans”.
At least 13 people have died across five parishes in the state, and with more rain still in the forecast, the disaster could be far from over.
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But, really? What does a storm need to get the attention it deserves?
