President Obama is facing a backlash for continuing his annual Martha’s Vineyard vacation as widespread flooding has damaged tens of thousands of homes and killed at least 13 people in Louisiana. Louisiana’s Democratic governor, John Bel Edwards, has said that a visit by Obama soon after the disaster would divert resources needed in relief efforts, and Lt. Gov. Edwards that his administration will continue to stay in close touch with local officials and mobilize federal resources, and has asked his team to make sure all available federal resources are being utilized to assist in the response and recovery effort,” said Jennifer Friedman, a White House spokeswoman. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump plans to visit the state Friday, and opened his Thursday evening rally by talking about the flooding. ALSOIn a flooded Louisiana parish, a 3-mile journey down the river to answer the question: Did our house survive?

Source: Los Angeles Times August 19, 2016 02:03 UTC