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He said there was more structural damage from winds than anticipated, but the water damage was less than feared.
The tracking of the storm slightly further east meant it avoided creating a storm surge in the shipping channel, he said.
Power lines, roads and bridges were a big concern, he said, with many having to be repaired or checked.
A barge had collided with a bridge in the city of Lake Charles, quite close to where a suspected "chlorine chemical fire" at an industrial plant was being attended by emergency services.
Mr Edwards said people should stay off the roads where possible, as outer bands of the storm were still causing high water levels and winds.
Some 1,500 people, including National Guard troops, are being deployed in rescue and clean-up missions.
Vice-President Mike Pence, who joined Mr Trump at Fema, said: "While this was a major storm with devastating impact it was not as bad as it could have been."
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