Watch CBS News

Louisiana Parish Pres. Critical Of White House Response To Isaac

BOSTON (CBS) - President Obama touches down in Louisiana Monday afternoon, as the slow recovery continues for the Gulf Coast, specifically parts of Louisiana.

Thousands were driven from their homes and ended up in faraway shelters. Flood waters are just now starting to recede, in the hardest hit parts of Louisiana.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Drew Moholland talks to Nungesser

Podcast

President of Plaquemines Parish in Louisiana, Billy Nungesser, who was set to meet with President Obama, was critical of the White House and its handling of levee money during an interview on WBZ NewsRadio 1030 on Monday.

"We have four levees. And this storm topped those levees and flooded in between them. The water was up to the roofs on a lot of the homes on both sides of the river," Nungesser said. "Fast tracking levee projects could avoid situations like this."

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Rod Fritz reports on groups who are helping with the clean-up

Podcast

Nungesser said there is more than $1.5 billion designated to building new levees, but those projects aren't scheduled to begin until next month.

"Had we been able to expedite that, those levees could have been in place," he said.

Nungesser adds the people of Plaquemines, believe Isaac was 'much stronger than a Category 1 storm,' and if federal cash was put to use faster, "levees could have been in place."

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.