BATON ROUGE (AP) — The first out-of-state congressman to survey Louisiana's damage from catastrophic flooding says the Federal Emergency Management Agency response has been "pitiful."
U.S. Rep. John Mica, a Florida Republican, toured the destruction Monday with U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, a Republican who represents much of the most heavily damaged region.
Mica chairs a subcommittee with jurisdiction over FEMA and blasted the federal agency's response. He says housing aid has been sluggish and FEMA has been too slow to set up mobile homes that give people somewhere to stay while they repair their houses.
Graves echoed the concerns.
Only one manufactured housing unit has been set up so far. FEMA regional director Gerard Stolar says the agency is working to speed aid to people displaced by the flooding.
– by AP Reporter Melinda Deslatte
