Michigan’s Snyder asks Obama to declare emergency

We’ve got to do something about it. They come back to me and say, ‘We’ve got this cleared up.’ ” Then Muchmore asked, “Why does the water smell?” and the same thing happened again. That seems like a pretty simple task- figure out which homes receive water from pipes made of lead, as those pipes are now corroded and can not safely transmit water- but as with all things bureaucratic, it wasn’t almost that simple.

The EPA was aware of the lack of corrosion control and potentially high lead levels previous year but stood by as state and local officials downplayed concerns.

The crisis in Flint is exacerbated by its economic situation-40 percent of residents live below the poverty level, according to the U.S. Census-and has hit numerous city’s poorest residents hardest.

The problems began after the city switched its water supply to the Flint River in the spring of 2014.

The Daily Caller News Foundation has confirmed that Flint is still billing people for tap water, but its unclear if they’re sending past due notices.

“We are utilizing all state resources to ensure Flint residents have access to clean and safe drinking water”, Governor Snyder said, “and today I am asking President Obama to provide additional resources”.

The Michigan attorney general and the federal Justice Department are also investigating whether any laws were broken.

Federal prosecutors are already working with the Environmental Protection Agency on an investigation into Flint’s water supply.

Gov. Rick Snyder was angry that he didn’t find out sooner about outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease in the Flint area in 2014 and 2015, Snyder’s outgoing chief of staff, Dennis Muchmore, said Friday.

The effects of lead poisoning on children’s brains are irreversible and untreatable.

Michigan Nation Guard Sgt. Steve Kiger, left, of Harrison, Mich., stacks cases of drinking water with Red Cross volunteer Franklin Dickerson of Pleasant Ridge Wednesday Jan 13, 2016 in Flint, Mich. Members of the Mi…

Dozens of people – some lugging jugs of dirty water in protest of the water crisis in Flint – have criticized Republican Gov. Rick Snyder during a demonstration Thursday inside the MI state Capitol.

Snyder spokesman Dave Murray tells MLive.com that the governor “acted aggressively” and announced an action plan after becoming aware of the lead levels.

“There are no excuses”, the presidential candidate said in a statement.

After denying that the water in Flint presented a danger to its citizens for almost two years while residents continuously complained about their water quality, Flint officials finally recognized the contamination problem.

Flint’s tap water is poisoned.

“They need to make Flint a priority”, she said of state and federal officials.

Flint has since stopped using the river for its water, but concern remains that the system’s pipes will continue to release lead.