The White House announced that Obama will visit Tuesday, following days of criticism from some in the Southern state for the president continuing his New England vacation while many in Louisiana suffered.
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Clinton’s comments come after Donald Trump and his running mate Mike Pence traveled to Baton Rouge on Friday to tour the damage.
Some 40,000 homes were damaged and at least 13 people died in Louisiana after a deluge of more than 2-1/2 feet in what has been described as the worst US storm since Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
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.
Hillary Clinton, Trump’s Democratic rival in the November 8 presidential election, said in a Twitter post earlier this week she was closely monitoring the situation and directed people to the Red Cross.
Trump, sporting his trademark “Make America Great Again” cap, landed Friday morning at the Baton Rouge airport and was met on the tarmac by Republicans Rep. Steve Scalise, Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and Attorney General Jeff Landry.
His office had put out a statement earlier in the day saying he had not been informed of Mr Trump’s visit, but welcomed him as long as it was not “for a photo-op”.
President Obama is expected to travel to Baton Rouge next Tuesday to get a firsthand look at the devastating flood damage in the state.
Obama opted to stay on Martha’s Vineyard, an island off the coast of MA, for the second of two weeks of vacation with his family as he did two years ago, when riots erupted in Ferguson, Missouri, during his annual trip.
“You’re going to rebuild”, Trump told an exasperated Louisianian. She also emailed a call for donations to her list of supporters.
Ascension Parish Sheriff Jeffrey Wiley, who said he was in the official briefing Trump attended, told CNN that the candidate’s visit helped bring much-needed national attention to the disaster.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards’ office released a statement before the arrival that said Trump had not reached out to inform them of his visit.
Trump’s visit comes as his campaign continued to shake up its top ranks.
“Right now, the relief effort can’t afford any distractions”, Mrs Clinton said. “But, we’re going to get through it”, Mark said.
“I would just as soon have those people engaged in the response rather than trying to secure the president”, Edwards said. 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 Emergency Management Agency.
More than 4,000 people are still in shelters, an approximately 50-percent drop since late Wednesday, the Times-Picayune reported, though many of those leaving shelters still can not access their homes and may be going elsewhere for housing.
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Flood victims “need a lot of help”, Trump told reporters. The Red Cross has said recovery efforts will cost at least $30 million.
