Vidalia — With hurricanes Ike and Gustav nearly a month in the past, Gov. Bobby Jindal was at a luncheon at the Vidalia Conference and Convention Center Sunday discussing the impact of the two storms with public officials from Ferriday, Vidalia and Concordia Parish.

Jindal said while Louisiana’s residents are strong-willed and determined to recover from the storms, funding in the form of federal dollars is needed to aid recovery efforts.

“They don’t want a handout,” Jindal said. “They just want help.”

And of those areas needing help, Jindal pointed to farming, including ranching and fishing, as one aspect that was in particular need of funding.

Jindal said the need to help the state’s farmers with post-storm recovery was especially great since farming impacts several other areas of the economy.

“These storms hit Louisiana hard,” he said. “Our people just want to get back on their feet.”

And even while Jindal stressed the state’s need for financial aid, he said he was inspired by the people and parishes he visited after Gustav and Ike.

“Our people are strong and resilient,” he said.

Jindal said while touring the state he visited with people who left their own damaged homes to help those in even greater need and witnessed several acts of selfless giving.

“I have never been more proud of our state than in the last few weeks,” he said.

And while the state has been battered by four storms in the past three years, Jindal said he’s confident the state could weather another.

“We’re absolutely ready,” he said.

After lunch, Jindal took time to meet with local officials and even posed for a few photos.

Concordia Parish Police Jury President Melvin Ferrington attended Sunday’s event and said he liked Jindal’s optimistic outlook on the state’s future.

“He’s got a good attitude,” he said. “And that’s important.”