Michigan’s Flint to get U.S. aid on lead crisis

Obama’s decision to issue the emergency declaration on Saturday frees up the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate relief efforts, help with emergency measures “and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in Genesee County”, according to a White House announcement.

He pleased many of those on hand by calling for Gov. Rick Snyder to step down – following his online petition a week ago urging the arrest of the Republican leader.

“I welcome the president’s quick action in support of the people of Flint after months of inaction by the governor”.

U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, a Democrat who represents the Flint area, has consistently criticized Snyder’s response to the issue and advocated for greater federal assistance.

Snyder declared a state emergency on Tuesday and activated the National Guard to assist in distributing water, filters, and other supplies.

President Obama has declared a state of emergency in Flint, Michigan because of water contamination.

Flint’s drinking water became contaminated in 2014 after the city temporarily switched its supply source from Lake Huron water to more corrosive and polluted water from the Flint River in a cost-cutting move.

The harmful Flint River water allowed lead to leach into the water system from service pipes.

“Flint’s mayor estimates the cost of fixing the city’s water infrastructure at more than a billion dollars”. Emergency funding is initially limited to $5 million, and the president must alert Congress if additional resources are needed. Lead, which causes brain damage and other health problems in children, leached into the town’s water from pipes.

Attorney General Bill Schuette said Friday he will investigate the water crisis to determine whether any MI laws have been violated. He pledged this week that officials would contact every household in Flint to check whether residents have bottled water and a filter and whether they want to be tested for lead exposure while his administration works on a long-term solution. Now that all the players have finally entered the arena, we will watch and wait to see if the citizens of Flint will get what they deserve; some sort of justice for the unspeakable situation they have had to go through. Residents began to report brown tap water, hair loss and skin rashes nearly immediately, though government officials largely ignored their concerns, and the concerns of doctors and researchers who said the lead levels were toxic.