While Louisiana is reeling from its worst natural disaster since Hurricane Katrina, President Barack Obama is facing harsh backlash for continuing his vacation in Martha’s Vineyard.
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The White House insists Obama is not indifferent to the suffering of thousands who were washed out of their homes in the Baton Rouge and Lafayette areas of the state.
“FEMA understands that this is a very large disaster impacting tens of thousands of people”, Fugate said. In 2015, the average price on Chilmark was about $2,900 for a week in a two-bedroom cottage – and can rise as high as $20,000 a week for a four-bedroom beachfront property, Boston.com reported.
That’s why The Advocate, the newspaper of record in Baton Rouge, issued an editorial Thursday requesting Obama’s presence in a “hurting Louisiana”.
More than 70,000 people had registered for individual assistance since the federal disaster was declared, and more than 9,000 had filed flood insurance claims, according to the federal disaster agency.
“We have to be aggressive in our campaign for 80 days, and that’s not a lot”, Obama said.
The President played a round at Vineyard Golf Club in Edgartown, one of three golf courses he has frequented while the First Family vacations on Martha’s Vineyard. “But he should pack his bags now, and pay a call on communities who need to know that in a national catastrophe, they are not alone”, read the column.
The stunner came late on Sunday when the President assembled his security and press entourage to go out at almost 11 pm.
Residents in Louisiana are reminded of the Bush administration that failed to act to the damage in the state caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. “But we don’t see that as a factor now that flood waters are subsiding, even if at an agonizing pace”, the editorial said.
Jeh Johnson, Homeland Security Secretary, will visit the region on Thursday to assess the ongoing response, according to the White House.
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“As the president told Gov. Edwards over the weekend, the community of Baton Rouge has faced a hard, even tragic, summer but can count on the ongoing prayers and unwavering support of the president and their fellow Americans in their time of need”, Friedman said.
