Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump visited Louisiana on Friday, as rescue crews and residents of the USA state worked to recover from historic floods that left 13 people dead. Trump’s motorcade drove past the devastation as it made it way to Greenwell Springs Baptist Church in East Baton Rouge Parish to visit with volunteers.
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“It’s a great place”, Trump said.
Edwards, a Democrat, was diplomatic when asked about Trump’s visit and defended Obama’s response.
As entire communities now gut out their homes, weather forecasters warned that the weekend could see more rainfall through Monday, which could trigger some localized flooding.
Earlier Thursday, Trump moved to invest almost $5 million (U.S.) in battleground state advertising to address daunting challenges in the states that will make or break his White House ambitions.
“You’re going to rebuild”, said Trump, who also wrapped Morgan in a hug. “It’s going to be so handsome”.
Trump and Pence met with disaster relief volunteers, toured damaged structures, met an elderly couple who said they had to climb to the roof of their home to escape floodwaters, and joined a short briefing with emergency officials.
“The flooding there is bigger than anyone expected – more than 40,000 homes have been damaged and more than 100,000 people have been affected”, Clinton said. It also came after Friday’s visit to the region by Republican nominee Donald Trump, who called for a more robust national response. He’s now set to arrive in Baton Rouge on Tuesday, August 23rd.
Edwards said the Republican nominee’s visit to the state was positive for Louisiana.
Trump signed a few autographs and continued talk with officials like Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser and Senator Bill Cassidy. He flew into the state after cancelling a planned NY event.
“We welcome the president anytime he wants to visit, and I’m glad he waited until Tuesday because the recovery will be started in earnest”, Edwards said.
“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”.
Renee Deal still hopes to salvage the wedding photo album placed out to dry on Saturday in the carport of her flood-ravaged house in southern Louisiana.
The floods, which have put underwater large parts of Louisiana, have been described as the worst natural disaster known to the United States since the super-storm Sandy in 2012.
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After Trump and Pence toured the flood damage, they went to Greenwell Springs Baptist Church, to meet with Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, and Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse, an worldwide Christian relief organization.
