Michigan Governor Takes ‘Full Responsibility’ to Fix Flint Water Crisis

“Government failed you – federal, state and local leaders – by breaking the trust you place in us”, Snyder continued, reports The New York Times.

Bottled water, filters, replacement filters; Assistance to Flint to help with utility-related issues; Testing and replacing fixtures in schools and other high-risk locations; Treatment of children with high lead levels; Services for the treatment of potential behavioral health issues; Support for children and adolescent health centers; An infrastructure integrity study for pipes and connections.

The Detroit Free Press reported earlier this month that Flint residents are still being billed and facing water shut-offs for drinking water that the state now deems to have been unsafe to drink without a filter since April 2014, when the city began drawing its water from the Flint River.

Snyder said he will also appeal President Barack Obama’s denial of a federal disaster declaration for the area.

Previously, the city used Lake Huron water treated by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. The river had a reputation for nastiness, and after the switch, residents complained their water looked, smelled and tasted amusing.

“I think we had people in the organization that we’re being too technical, being too literal and basically just following kind of the manual of activities rather than asking tougher questions, using more common sense”. “We want to see Snyder go and be held accountable for what he’s done to our city”.

His announcement came after meeting with Flint Mayor Karen Weaver to hear firsthand how residents are dealing with the crisis.

He says an assistant secretary at the department, Nicole Lurie, will coordinate federal help.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Tuesday it was reviewing its handling of the crisis and also acknowledged it did not respond fast enough.

Florida Senator and presidential contender Marco Rubio told reporters Monday night that he has not been “focusing on” the lead contamination crisis in Flint, Michigan, which has left tens of thousands of residents without drinkable water and with possibly irreversible damage to their health. The governor, who has apologized for regulatory failures and for an underwhelming initial response, has rejected calls for his resignation. You deserve to know that the buck stops here with me. Some Flint homes tested had water more than 10 times more contaminated than the EPA limit, and some much higher than, meeting the legal definition of “toxic waste”.

Three lawsuits have also now been filed against the authorities on behalf of Flint residents as they ask the “state of MI to step up”.

As for members of his administration, Snyder said the FOIA exemption covers his entire executive staff, “and they had the perspective that they were under the umbrella and shield because they’re part of the executive office”.

Protesters in the state capital of Lansing ahead of the speech Tuesday placed the blame squarely on Snyder, and said the town’s appointed emergency manager put the budget over the health of the town’s children.

But officials remain concerned that damaged pipes could continue to leach lead, which can cause behavior problems and learning disabilities in children as well as kidney ailments in adults.