Louisiana Flooding: President Obama Tells Americans to Stay Focused on Disaster

BATON ROUGE, LA — After touring flood-ravaged Louisiana and meeting with families who have been uprooted from their homes, President Obama had a simple message for Americans as the state recovers from the above-average rainfall that left a significant part of the state underwater. His message was for all Americans to stay focused on the flooding and not lose sight of the damage three to six months from now.

The flood-ravaged state was one of the first stops on the president's post-vacation schedule, a visit that some said was already too late, though Gov. John Bel Edwards said late last week he preferred the president wait before making the visit. Obama toured East Baton Rouge Parish, one of the regions that has been the most hard hit by the flooding that has damaged to varying degrees some 60,000 homes and left 13 people dead.

At least 21 parishes in the state are under a federal disaster declaration, including Ascension and Livingston, which are also among neighborhoods most severely affected by the flooding.

Speaking around 1 p.m. central time, Obama delivered a statement to the press in which he praised the efforts of state and federal officials. "I just want to say thank you to the outstanding officials behind me who have been on the ground working 24/7 since this flood happened, it begins with outstanding leadership from the top with Governor John Bel Edwards," he said.

The president said that the damage from the flooding had upended people's lives as anyone could tell by just looking at a flooded street, and it wasn't just a physical loss people were experiencing but a loss of their roots. He used the example of a woman he met with who recently lost her husband and whose daughter scrambled to collect things from their flooded home that reminded her of her father.

Obama's absence in the state was criticized by The Baton Rouge Advocate, which printed an editorial with the headline, "Our Views: Vacation or not, a hurting Louisiana needs you now, President Obama." When the White House announced the president will be making a visit, the paper published a second editorial welcoming the visit. The White House has maintained that the president has received regular briefings on the flooding from both the Department of Homeland Security and was mindful of the impact his visit would have on local and state law enforcement resources.

He reminded the residents of Louisiana that even once the TV cameras leave the state, they would not be forgotten. "Once flood waters pass, peoples' attention spans pass," Obama said.

More than 100,000 people have applied for FEMA assistance, but just assistance from the federal government would not be enough, the president said. He urged Americans to help in any way they could, directing them to volunteerlouisiana.gov for opportunities to volunteer and donate. He said both the state and the federal government would tell Americans how they could and only asked that they stay focused on the flooding. He vowed to the people of Louisiana that the country will support them till lives are rebuilt.

"I know how resilient the people of Louisiana are and I know you will rebuild again," Obama said.

The president's visit comes after GOP nominee for president Donald Trump visited the state along with his running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence on Friday. Trump apparently did not inform Edwards he would be visiting the state. Edwards issued a statement saying Trump was welcome in the state but not for a "photo-op." The governor later spoke on CNN's "State of the Union," saying the visit was helpful because it helped shine a spotlight on the disaster.

As tens of thousands of residents have been displaced from their homes, FEMA is working to rehabilitate residents in temporary housing before offering a long-term solution. While officials have not offered a plan on a long-term rehabilitation, at a press conference on Saturday Edwards said officials would offer a plan by the middle of this week. Along with providing residents with housing, the state has opened DSNAP (disaster food stamp) centers and is offering resources to help small businesses recover.

This report will be updated.

Image Credit: NASA