Flint water crisis: MI governor makes appeal to Washington for help

– Reuters pic, January 17, 2016.US President Barack Obama declared a state of emergency in MI yesterday, freeing up federal aid to help an area affected by contaminated water, the White House said.

Acting upon a request from Gov. Rick Snyder, today President Obama signed an emergency declaration that would make federal assistance available for Flint in dealing with the water crisis there.

Emergency measures to be implemented by the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) include providing water, water filters and water testing kits for up to three months.

The city switched its water source from the city of Detroit to the Flint River in 2014. FEMA has been authorized to provide water, filters, cartridges and other items for 90 days.

Michigan’s attorney general has said he will investigate the water crisis to see whether any state laws were violated.

However it was just four years ago that the governor named a state-appointed manager to take control of Flint’s troubled finances.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said she was outraged by the water crisis and the handling of the crisis by Snyder, a Republican. The corrosive water wasn’t adequately treated and caused lead to leach from old pipes in homes and schools.

The Iceland-based company said the water would go directly to community centers, food banks and fire stations in the city, with empty bottles returned to the food bank and recycled to provide a donation.

Officials with the Flint Water Response Team said water distribution efforts were expanded Saturday with more than 20 water response teams going door to door to distribute safe water resources to the homes of Flint residents.

“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”.

Democratic presidential contender, Bernie Sanders has stepped into the fray, joining outraged Flint residents and calling for the resignation of Governor Snyder, reports CBS News. “I can not wait for the water to get there to help these people who have been poisoned because the water they’ve been getting out of their taps has been polluted for so long and remains that way without the state or federal government stepping in with any substantial plan to resolve this problem”.