Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana, a state in which at least 13 people lost their lives in the unprecedented flooding.
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Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate arrived in the flood-damaged city of Baton Rouge on Friday, Aug. 19, but the state’s Democratic governor advised against touring areas affected by recent deadly rains.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, said he encouraged Obama not to visit yet because a presidential tour could divert resources needed to focus on the recovery.
Kimberly said those who wish to volunteer to help rebuild housing or donate money directly to flood victims can contact the First New Testament Church in Baton Rouge at 225-293-2222 or Christ’s Community Church in Denham Springs at 225-791-9333. Obama is vacationing in Martha’s Vineyard, where he has golfed several times.
The White House insists Obama is not indifferent to the suffering of thousands who were washed out of their homes in the Baton Rouge and Lafayette areas of the state.
NPR reports that, as of Friday, more than 86,000 people have registered for FEMA assistance.
Republicans and some in Louisiana slammed the President for not visiting the flood-damaged area, criticizing him for not cutting short his vacation to deal with the crisis.
The first stop was a Baptist Church in a heavily-damaged portion of East Baton Rouge Parish, where Trump met the Rev. Franklin Graham; Tony Perkins, president of the conservative Family Research Council, whose own home was flooded; and a group of volunteers cooking meals and helping the elderly gut their homes.
In an interview with Fox News Friday, Trump’s son Eric said that Manafort “was unbelievable”, but his father didn’t want to be “distracted by whatever things Paul was dealing with”.
Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate defended Obama’s decision not to visit.
O’Connell said the contrition and swing through the deep South was a calculated play for a campaign that is struggling to connect with black voters and suburban white voters.
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”. McGrew says, “A disaster doesn’t impact Louisiana, a disaster impacts everybody, and it’s all of our responsibility to pitch in and help where we can”.
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Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton issued a statement Friday on the Louisiana flooding and the flood relief effort on her Facebook page. “My heart breaks for Louisiana, and right now, the relief effort can’t afford any distractions”, she wrote.
