Waters rising in the wake of record rainfalls have killed 13 Louisianians, displaced another 85,000-plus and damaged more than 40,000 homes.
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He said Obama was eager to hear more officials on the ground about the response, including how the federal government can assist in the recovery and rebuilding efforts.
The Feds who can actually do something to ease Louisiana’s suffering, FEMA Director Craig Fulgate and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, are already in state.
Before meeting volunteers at a church in north of Baton Rouge, Trump said: “The president says he doesn’t want to go, he is trying to get out of a golf game”.
“We’re in the process of assessing longer term options”, said Edwards, who said he will announce that plan Wednesday.
More than 86,000 people have already applied for federal aid due to the last floods.
“Sometimes in the heat of debate and speaking on a multitude of issues, you don’t choose the right words or you say the wrong thing”.
The White House said Friday afternoon that Obama would travel to Louisiana on Tuesday.
The National Weather Service reported that almost 26 inches (66 cm) of rain have fallen at the Baton Rouge airport this month, making August the wettest on record since 1893.
Speaking at a rally Thursday night, Trump said he was praying for those affected by the floods.
“It’s hypocritical for Governor John Bel Edwards to espouse DNC-Clinton talking points by saying that Donald Trump would be a distraction”, Dore said.
Governor Edwards, a Democrat, did not greet Trump today, but a spokesman from governor’s office warned Trump to do more than pose for a photo-op for political gain. “And, so, we really need help”.
Mary Landrieu, former Democratic Louisiana senator, told CNN Friday she welcomed Trump’s visit because it helped call attention to the devastation in the state.
The newspaper noted that Obama interrupted his two-week vacation on Martha’s Vineyard earlier this week to attend a fundraiser for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on the MA island.
To those who criticize his late arrival, Barack Obama, who ended his vacation Sunday reported via the White House that he wanted to ensure that his presence did not interfere with relief operations and clearing.
“In all honesty, if he’s going to visit, I would just as soon it be a week or 10 days or 14 days from now”, Edwards told MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow.
The prominent Christian conservative says he wants Trump to “let the country know” about the extent of the damage. “I asked them to let us get out of a response mode where we were still conducting searches of houses and still making rescues”.
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The first financial analysis of the disaster was released on Friday (local time) by the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, an economic development group.
