Mich. governor activates National Guard to help with lead contamination relief

Snyder declared an emergency in Flint last week, three months after his office was presented with tests showing that numerous city’s children had elevated levels of lead in their blood.

Flint police are warning people to be wary of scammers trying to prey on residents amid the city’s drinking water crisis.

On the Flint water crisis, Snyder said the request for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency wasn’t delayed, it was part of the normal process in declaring an emergency. Snyder said he may ask state lawmakers for additional money for the emergency before his budget proposal in February.

Members of the National Guard are expected to start arriving in Flint as early as Wednesday to assist with response efforts and plan to increase to over 30 personnel by Friday.

The filters were not so much aimed specifically at getting lead out of the water as improving the quality of the water generally, since residents had been complaining about the taste, smell and appearance of the water since the switch to the Flint River, Overton said.

Sheriff’s Capt. Casey Tafoya says they hope to get to 500 to 600 houses a day.

On Tuesday, braving cold temperatures and 3ins (7.62cm) of snow, eight teams of volunteers fanned out across the city under the escort of state troopers and sheriff’s deputies to deliver bottled water, filters and lead test kits. Flyers were left at homes where no one answered, giving the location of where to pick up the items later.

“Flint needs more action and less talk from Governor Snyder”, Kildee said.

Lead causes permanent brain damage in children and is linked to other health and behavior problems.

That corrosive water turned brown when it flowed through the city’s water mains, which are made from iron, and interacted with the lead that makes up about half of Flint’s service lines – and the toxic heavy metal then poured out of residents’ taps. They also want to ensure monitoring protocols are properly followed.

It was back in October that the drinking water in Flint was declared unsafe.

The director of that agency resigned last month.

“I’m responsible for the entire state and our operations, but there are many other good things going on, and we’re working hard to recover from the situation in terms of doing the right thing”. The state also has urged all Flint parents with children younger than 6 to have their childrens’ blood tested for exposure to lead.

I’m glad the State is putting in resources and we welcome the Michigan National Guard with open arms. “Sadly, myself and many leaders of my community have advocated for this type of response for months”. “It is essential for all of us to do what we can to ease the extraordinary emotional and physical toll the water crisis has taken on the fine residents of Flint”.

Eggert reported from Lansing, Michigan.