A visit from the president would be too premature and would divert resources needed elsewhere. The president can help by ensuring that the military, Energy Dept, and the private sector can work with the impacted local governments in providing the manpower, food, water and developing sites for sheltering tens of thousands who have lost everything for a period that may very well exceed 1 year.

He can also help by ensuring we obtain the refining capabiltities to ensure the national energy needs are provided.

He can accomplish this from Washington and not be in the way in the stricken areas. This is about logistics, it is not poiltical.