President Obama predicted Tuesday that "resilient" Louisianans would rebuild their flood-ravaged communities with the help of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other help from around the country, "even after the TV cameras leave."

"I know how resilient the people of Louisiana are and that you will build again, and what I've seen today proves it," he said.

During his brief remarks after touring the state's battered capital, Baton Rouge, Obama also gave credit to FEMA Director Craig Fugate, who is "someone I can't brag about enough, one of the best hires I made as president."

Obama extolled Fugate and FEMA several times, which stands in stark contrast to how Fugate's predecessor, Michael Brown, was perceived after the federal government's bungled response to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005.

Obama also took a shot at Donald Trump, whose Friday visit to Louisiana prompted many to criticize Obama for not cutting his vacation short to survey the flood damage. "This is not a one-off; this is not a photo-op" situation, Obama said.

After landing, Obama said, "we need all Americans to stay focused" on the clean up and recovery. "We're going to need to stay on this because these are some good people down here," he said, noting that 100,000 residents have already applied for federal aid.

"There are people who are still desperately trying to track down family and friends" more than a week after the deluge of water claimed at least 13 lives and left tens of thousands homeless.

"Sometimes when these kinds of things happen, it can seem a little too much to bear," Obama said. The country will help them rebuild their lives because "that is what Americans do," he said.