President Obama declares emergency in Flint over contaminated water

The emergency declaration will unlock $5m (£3.5m) in federal funding.

In an announcement January 16 on her Twitter page, singer Cher said thousands of bottles of water secured through working with Icelandic Glacial will be heading to the city of Flint.

FEMA said Saturday in a statement that federal emergency aid has been made available to the state of MI to supplement state and local response efforts in the area affected by contaminated water beginning on April 25, 2014, and continuing. The corrosive water from the Flint River lacked adequate treatment and caused lead to leach from old pipes in homes and schools.

Moore, surrounded by dozens of flag-waving and sign-toting Flint residents in front of the city’s municipal complex, said he must “insist” that Obama visit Wednesday, the same day the president is scheduled to tour the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

“Although many individuals and entities at state and local levels contributed to creating and prolonging the problem, (DEQ) is the government agency that has responsibility to ensure safe drinking water in MI”, the task force summary reads.

Flint, about an hour’s drive from Detroit, is home to 100,000 people.

Lead poisoning is risky for anyone, but Flint Mayor Karen Weaver has pointed to research showing how lead exposure can affect a developing child’s IQ, resulting in learning disabilities.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is in the process of reviewing whether the Flint, Mich., water crisis qualifies to receive federal assistance.

Despite residents complaining about the water, and a pediatrician presenting a report about elevated levels of lead in the blood of children living in Flint, the problem was not publicly acknowledged until October 2015.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said Friday he will investigate the water crisis to determine whether any Michigan laws have been violated.

Bernie Sanders called for Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder to resign on Saturday over Flint’s drinking water crisis.

The National Guard is distributing free water, filters and other supplies. “But aid under that designation tends to be far less and far more limited, allowing, for instance, for debris removal and emergency measures, not the kind of permanent work Snyder is seeking to have done replacing water lines with lead in them”.

That omission is believed to be responsible for water that tasted, smelled and looked bad to many residents.

Other Flint residents late a year ago filed a federal lawsuit accusing the city and state of endangering their health.