Obama in Big Easy to mark Katrina

President Obama traveled Sunday to New Orleans to mark the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s landfall on the Big Easy.

At
the end of the First Family’s weeklong vacation on Martha’s Vineyard,
Obama was met at the airport by Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R), New
Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu (D), Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao (R-La.) and
Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-La.).

The president’s motorcade took a lunch break at the Parkway Bakery and
Tavern, a 100-year-old restaurant in the Mid-City neighborhood. Katrina
dumped six feet of water in the bar and 10 feet on the street. The
restaurant was able to reopen 46 days after the hurricane struck, and
the owners built the rear of the building 19 feet higher to prevent
flooding damage.

Obama, who apologized for cutting in line at the restaurant, ordered a shrimp sandwich and mingled with customers.

“We’re
still here and we’re just gonna keep on building. We’re going to keep
on working, all right?” Obama said, according to reports.

Obama was due to speak at around 3 p.m. at Xavier University.