Snyder activates National Guard to help with Flint

Governor Snyder says residents should use filters and bottled water until Flint’s switch back to Detroit’s water is assessed. Snyder declared a state of emergency in Flint and Genesee County over the water issue on January 5.

The state Department of Environmental Quality has acknowledged it failed to require Flint to add needed corrosion control chemicals to the water, causing lead to leach into the drinking water from pipes and fixtures. The agency’s director stepped down last month. They also want to ensure monitoring protocols are followed properly this time. Dave Kaiser says the weather isn’t stopping them but did cause a bit of a delay. “I think he knew”.

Denis McDonough, the White House chief of staff, would not give a direct answer when Todd asked whether FEMA was going to intervene further. Unfortunately, that turned out to be incorrect, Snyder said.

Residents were skeptical because the water in the river Flint had a reputation for being filthy and contaminated. “We’re continuing to work hard” to communicate with residents, Snyder said.

Thousands of bottles of water await distribution in a county warehouse as volunteers accompanied by Michigan State Police and Gennessee County Sheriff’s Deputies work their way through Flint neighborhoods, bringing residents water filters and bottled water on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016. “In terms of saying, here’s an opportunity for filters, bottled water, testing and ways to help them out”.

“There is no excuse for what’s happening in Flint”, she said in a statement. “We certainly share their concern that everyone in Flint should have safe, clean water”.

As Rhonda Kelso, Flint resident and a plaintiff in the lawsuit, told CNN, “You’re paying for poison”.

State officials downplayed the risks until a local pediatrician reported elevated lead levels in Flint kids’ blood at the end of September. The governor, speaking during a visit to Flint on Monday, didn’t specify how much money he might need, but acknowledged that actions taken by the state have not been good enough.

The latest moves, though welcomed by advocates for Flint, did not halt criticism of Snyder’s emergency response. “I think we’re trying to be proactive in a partnership context”.

Despite growing concern, city officials insisted the water was safe.

While faulting Snyder for not ordering a more thorough investigation, Harris said he believes Snyder would have acted sooner had he received better information. Officials in MI first declared a public health emergency in Flint on October 1 in response to tests that showed children with elevated levels of lead.