National Guardsmen to join water effort in Flint

Rick Snyder (R) has called in the National Guard to help hand out bottled water in Flint, where risky lead levels have made municipal water unsafe to drink.

In addition, Snyder today issued an Executive Order activating the Michigan National Guard to assist with distributing supplies at the five water resource sites established in Flint.

Snyder declared a state of emergency in Flint over problems with lead in the city’s drinking water, the same day federal officials confirmed they’re investigating the matter that prompted a local public health emergency.

She said while she was relieved that the Michigan Legislature approved more than $9 million to help Flint reconnect to the Detroit water system, “I’m calling on the state of Michigan to finance water purchases from Detroit until safe drinking water is fully restored in Flint”.

Snyder on Tuesday also requested and was granted support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate a recovery plan with other federal agencies that have the programs, authorities or technical expertise to help.

While the process has begun, the state needs to determine the full extent of the needs in Flint before a request for federal aid is made and that could take a period of time that he did not specify, said Dave Murray, press secretary for the governor.

Flint’s drinking water became contaminated with lead in 2014 after its supply source was switched from Lake Huron water treated by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department to water from the Flint River treated at the city water treatment plant.

Exposure to lead can cause behavioral problems and learning disabilities in young children. The agency’s director stepped down last month.

Flint has since returned to Detroit’s system for its water, but officials remain concerned that damage to the pipes caused by the Flint River could allow them to continue leaching lead.

Flint residents have filed a federal lawsuit accusing the city and state of endangering their health.

Asked to follow up on the Muchmore email, state officials “came back and reaffirmed they didn’t believe there was an issue”.

We’ve heard stories of many Metro-Detroiters loading their cars with bottled water and driving to Flint. The Flint Community Schools, the Genesee County…

Asked if he and other pastors were asked to keep quiet about the role of the governor’s office in delivering the filters, Overton said that Hollins told him: “Listen, the donor did not want to be announced”. She said she would reduce the temperature of the water as much as possible since heat increases the concentration of lead.