Standing amid piles of waterlogged debris, President Barack Obama on Tuesday promised a sustained national effort to rebuild flood-ravaged southern Louisiana even after the TV cameras leave on a visit aimed in part at stemming campaign-season criticism that hes been slow to respond to the disaster. “This is not a one-off”, said Mr. Obama, who said that Americans should make sure that the state is still being helped three to six months from now.
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“W$3 hat I want the people of Louisiana to know is that you’re not alone on this”, Obama said.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who was in Louisiana on Friday, said on Twitter, “President Obama should have gone to Louisiana days ago, instead of golfing”.
Trump is accusing President Obama of neglecting his duty in not making a personal visit during the flooding.
“I think the president is used to people trying to score political points even in situations where they shouldn’t”, White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters traveling with Obama.
On Aug. 14, Obama signed a major disaster declaration that made federal funding available to resident and local governments affected by the flooding.
People in the Pelican State have been battling flood waters for two weeks now, and that includes first responders, some of whom are now asking for a little help.
So far, more than 115,000 residents have registered for FEMA assistance and $127 million has been distributed, which can help afford temporary housing or home repairs. “The second thing I have seen historically is that when a disaster does strike, it is one of the few times when Washington tends to not get political”.
Two days later on CNN’s State of the Union, in fact, Edwards said that it was he who asked the White House that Obama not visit immediately.
Timing of a presidential visit can be “tricky, ” particularly so it’s not disruptive to the recovery operation, said Kieserman.
“I pulled in this street this morning and a wave hit me and it just, I broke down, you know (what) I’m saying”, Krichel said outside his house.
Obama said that Americans are heartbroken by the loss of life and said that the floods have cost survivors more than property.
A large group of officials met the president at the airport, including Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat; Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, a Republican; and Republican Sens.
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.
Obama said his visit was not about image.
That ambush came almost two weeks after a police officer shot and killed Alton Sterling, an African-American resident of Baton Rouge, outside a convenience store in the city on July 5.
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Obama surveyed the damage in Louisiana’s capital, which has seen more than 100,000 residents and households register for federal assistance.
