At least 13 deaths have been attributed to flooding and more than 60,000 homes have been damaged.
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Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has said she will visit the state later, in an implicit criticism of Trump. “They shouldn’t have to do it alone”. Edwards, who had urged the president not to visit the state when the rescue operation was in full swing, said the federal government so far has been “responsive to all of our requests”.
“I supported that and built good relationships with those senators affected and others, so I’m not concerned with it”, said Sen.
“This is not a one-off, this is not a photo-op issue”. Many people did not have flood insurance. “But the survivors of the flooding in Louisiana are not well served by a political discussion, they’re well served by a competent, effective, strong, coordinated government response”. “What they care about is making sure they’re getting the drywall out, the carpet out, there’s not any mould building”, he said.
The disaster brought back painful memories of Hurricane Katrina, which 11 years ago inundated nearby New Orleans and brought searing criticism of the federal government’s response. Her campaign said in a statement that she would come to the state at an unspecified time in the future.
President Obama declared the flooding a major disaster on August 14th and made $127 million dollars in assistance available.
U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, the Republican House Majority Whip who represents Louisiana’s 1st D… Obama signed a declaration just over a week before his trip calling the flooding in Louisiana a disaster.
“I think. because it helped shine a spotlight on Louisiana and the dire situation that we have here that it was helpful”, Edwards said on CNN after Trump’s visit.
The governor estimated flooding has ravaged “well over 100,000 homes” across south Louisiana – on top of 29,000 homes that received damage in a March flood in northern parts of the state.
The president’s travel requires a huge retinue of Secret Service agents and assistance from local and state law enforcement officials, so the White House usually waits to visit disaster zones to avoid tying up police and emergency resources needed elsewhere.
“I am committed to visiting communities affected by these floods at a time when the presence of a political campaign will not disrupt the response to discuss how we can and will rebuild together.” said Mrs. Clinton in a prepared statement.
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Before leaving Baton Rouge, the White House said Obama met the family of Alton Sterling, a black man whose shooting by a white police officer triggered protests and a Justice Department investigation.
