Flood-damaged pews from the Christian Fellowship Church sit on the roadside for trash pick up in Walker, La., Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016.
Advertisement
Officials said about 40,000 homes were impacted by the floods, and more than 86,000 people had so far registered for federal aid – with that number expected to grow.
Trump and vice presidential running mate Indiana Governor Mike Pence traveled to the state capital Baton Rouge separately.
Some Republicans had criticized the president for playing golf instead of interrupting his vacation to go to Louisiana.
Friday, the president asked his team to coordinate with state officials to plan a visit.
With up to $150,000 in flood damages to his southeast Louisiana vehicle fix shop and no flood insurance, Lap Nguyen wasn’t sure how he was going to fix his life.
Trump criticised Obama’s absence after his motorcade drove past piles of possessions and building materials ripped out of flooded homes en route to Greenwell Springs Baptist Church in a hard-hit portion of East Baton Rouge Parish.
Trump and Pence also met volunteers and were cheered by the crowd in front of Samaritan’s Purse mobile kitchen.
U.S. President Barack Obama reacts after missing a putt on the first green at the Farm Neck Golf Club at Oak Bluffs on Marthas Vineyard, August 11, 2013. They told Trump they spent Jimmy’s 79th birthday on a roof. “Though words can not express the sadness one feels at times like this, I hope everyone in Louisiana knows that our country is praying for them and standing with them to help them in these hard hours”.
A submerged vehicle in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. He spoke to those affected by the disaster and helped hand out relief supplies.
“I spent my birthday on the roof”, said Jimmy Morgan, who turned 79 the day water inundated his house.
The real estate mogul responded, “Somebody is”.
At least 13 people have died and tens of thousands have been displaced by the floods.
As a result of the devastating flood in Louisiana and MS, more than 80,000 people have sighed up for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“We welcome him to LA, but not for a photo-op”, said his spokesman Richard Carbo in a statement. “We implore anybody to come down and bring attention to this catastrophe because it’s going to take a lot of help from across the country in the way of donations and volunteers to make Louisiana whole”. And she said the state’s relief effort “can’t afford any distractions”.
“Let’s show those in Louisiana the way Cleveland and Bradley County cares, and help them in this major time of need”, she said.
Advertisement
“These are our friends, our family members, our community-and they’re counting on us to reach out with open arms right now”.
