Obama to Travel to New Orleans for Hurricane Katrina Anniversary

Residents are rescued from the floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina, in this Sept. 1, 2005 file photo, in New Orleans.

/ AP

President Obama is traveling to New Orleans on Sunday, Aug. 29 to mark the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the White House announced today.

While there, the president will deliver remarks at Xavier University of Louisiana. Members of the president's cabinet who have worked on recovery and restoration efforts in the Gulf region will also be in New Orleans to mark the anniversary.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, leaving about 1,600 people dead. President George W. Bush was criticized at the time for not responding quickly enough to the disaster.

Five years later, the Gulf region is once again reeling in the wake of an enormous catastrophe -- this time the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Some have called the oil spill "Obama's Katrina," but the White House has dismissed such comparisons.

The president is also traveling to Florida tomorrow on a family trip intended to show solidarity with the region.

BP and government workers are still in the process of permanently plugging the leaking well. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said today, "a successful relief well would end this phase of, but would not end our commitment to this region."

[brnfream]

First of all the government of Louisana knew for years they were in jeporady if a hurricane came their way. They didn't do anything to protect themselves. And then when it happened, the do nothings all started screaming HELP! Obama, it's old news. Stay in your darned office and figure out ways to create job. Oh I have an idea! Finish building the fence along the southern border between the US and Mexico. There are quite a few jobs there. Save our money! Stay in DC and order the fence built. It will be alot cheaper and take less manpower to guard the border if you build the dang fence!! You wouldn't have to pay all those lawyers. And once you have all the illegals deported you can reduce the size of ICE. Get it??? No body wants to see you parading around New Orleans.

[brnfream]

First of all the government of Louisana knew for years they were in jeporady if a hurricane came their way. They didn't do anything to protect themselves. And then when it happened, the do nothings all started screaming HELP! Obama, it's old news. Stay in your darned office and figure out ways to create job. Oh I have an idea! Finish building the fence along the southern border between the US and Mexico. There are quite a few jobs there. Save our money! Stay in DC and order the fence built. It will be alot cheaper and take less manpower to guard the border if you build the dang fence!! You wouldn't have to pay all those lawyers. And once you have all the illegals deported you can reduce the size of ICE. Get it??? No body wants to see you parading around New Orleans.

[brnfream]

First of all the government of Louisana knew for year they were in jeporady if a hurricane came their way. They didn't do anything to protect themselves. And then when it happened the do nothings all started screaming HELP! Obama, it's old news. Stay in your darned office and figure out ways to create job. Oh I have an idea! Finish building the fence along the southern border between the US and Mexico. There are quite a few jobs there. Save our money! Stay in DC and order the fence built. It will be alot cheaper and take less manpower to guard the border if you build the dang fence!! You wouldn't have to pay all those lawyers. And once you have all the illegals deported you can reduce the size of ICE. Get it??? No body wants to see you parading around New Orleans.

[brnfream]

First of all the government of Louisana new for year they were in jeporady if a hurricane came their way. They didn't do anything to protect themselves. And then when it happened they the do nothings all started screaming HELP! Obama, it's news. Stay in your darned office and figure out ways to create job. Oh I have an idea! Finish building the fence along the southern border between the US and Mexico. There are quite a few jobs there. Save our money! Stay in DC and order the fence built. It will be alot cheaper and take less manpower to guard the border if you build the dang fence!! You wouldn't have to pay all those lawyers. And onece you have all the illegals deported you reduce the size of ICE. Get it??? No body wants to see you parading around New Orleans.

[MikeOnTheRightAZ]

100,000 gallons of oil a day spewing into the gulf, and he waits 42 days to even show up, walks along a beach for a few hundred feet, and asks "whose ass do I kick?"

Now he heads to "the big easy" to CELEBRATE the fifth anniversary of the worst hurricane to ever hit the place.

Does this man HATE Louisiana or what?

[barbaram99]

He is the President..Yet I can't believe 5 years. Bush did handle it poorly. I member a senior lady on national TV asked for help for others. She later died. It was a pity a person had to go on TV an beg for help. I was floored.

[tsigili]

Just another taxpayer paid vacation.