Flint, Michigan, Water Crisis: Obama Signs Emergency Declaration

Gov. Rick Snyder, who already has declared a state of emergency, on Thursday asked President Barack Obama to do so at a federal level – a move the governor says could provide aid such as grants for temporary housing and home repairs as the city deals with damage done to its water system.

In 2014, to cut costs, an unelected official in Flint switched the city’s water supply from Detroit’s water system to get water from the Flint River.

“This emergency assistance is to provide water, water filters, water filter cartridges, water test kits, and other necessary related items for a period of no more than 90 days”, a White House statement declared.

FEMA said emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.

State Attorney General Bill Schuette said Friday that his office was investigating if any laws were broken.

“I have pledged to use all state resources possible to help heal Flint, and these additional resources will greatly assist its efforts under way to ensure every resident has access to clean water resources”. The corrosive water wasn’t adequately treated and caused lead to leach from old pipes in homes and schools.

A state task force recently faulted Snyder’s Department of Environmental Quality for not requiring Flint to treat the river water for corrosion and for its derisive response to the public’s fears.

Additionally, Flint residents were dealt another blow on Wednesday when Governor Snyder announced there had been a surge in the number of cases of legionnaires disease in Flint over the past year, possibly linked to the tainted water in Flint.

It was revealed a month ago that the water was poisoned with lead, prompting Mr. Snyder to declare a state of emergency and mobilize the national guard.

The limitation to natural disasters “would seem to preclude the crisis in Flint, which could still qualify for a designation as an emergency”, writes Todd Spangler for the Detroit Free Press.

But after the switch, residents complained the water looked, smelled and tasted amusing. Lead exposure can lead to learning disabilities and behavioral problems in children.

Some Flint residents sued Snyder, other officials, MI and the city on January 7 in Genesee County court and are seeking class action status covering all residents.