President Barack Obama will visit Louisiana on Tuesday following devastating floods that have killed at least 13 people and displaced tens of thousands, the White House said Friday.
Obama will visit Baton Rouge Tuesday, the White House said. Obama has been criticized for continuing his vacation on Martha’s Vineyard as Louisiana suffered its worst disaster since Hurricane Katrina.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and Federal Emergency Management Administrator Craig Fugate have visited Louisiana and the White House said Obama has been in communication about the situation there.
The time of the visit has not been determined.
"The President is mindful of the impact that his travel has on first responders and wants to ensure that his presence does not interfere with ongoing recovery efforts," the White House said.
"He is also eager to get a first-hand look at the impact of the devastating floods, hear from more officials about the response, including how the federal government can assist and tell the people of Louisiana that the American people will be with them as they rebuild their community and come back stronger than ever," the White House said.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and vice presidential candidate Mike Pence visited Louisiana Friday. They met with victims of the disaster and helped pass out supplies to affected communities. Trump donated a tractor trailer of the supplies that were handed out at a church, Trump spokesperson Hope Hicks said.
"What's happened here is incredible. Nobody understands how bad it is," Trump said.
Related: One Extended Family Loses 13 Homes in Louisiana Flooding
A supporter in Denham Springs in Livingston Parish east of Baton Rouge, a woman thanked Trump for visiting the region.
"We're glad you're not playing golf in Martha's Vineyard. That's all we can say. We're glad you're not playing golf," she said.
Trump responded: "Somebody is. Somebody is that shouldn't be."
Obama signed a disaster declaration on Sunday and ordered federal aid to help in recovery efforts.
More than 95,000 people have registered with FEMA for assistance and more than $16.7 million has been approved, the emergency management agency said. Approximately 3,000 Louisiana National Guard personnel are assisting in rescues and support operations.
Johnson at a news conference in Louisiana Thursday pledged, “we will be here as long as it takes to let this community recover.”
