Snyder Calls up National Guard to Aid in Flint Effort

Pushing this decision – and the responsibility to pay for refunding Flint’s water customers – to the city essentially puts the cost on the backs of Flint’s taxpayers, a galling move after the state’s actions in this crisis.

The city’s water supply is contaminated with toxic levels of lead, and residents are unable to drink the water that comes through their taps. MI governor Rick Snyder announced the Guard units’ activation on Tuesday, as protesters chanted calls for his resignation.

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.

State officials downplayed the risks until a local pediatrician reported elevated lead levels in Flint kids’ blood at the end of September.

“We recognize the urgency of getting water resources to the residents of Flint”, Capt. Chris Kelenske, deputy state director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and commander of the Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division, said in a statement Monday.

Residents of Flint, Mich., in need of drinking water will be receiving aid from the National Guard in response to a months-long water crisis in the city.

Mr Snyder has described the situation as a “crisis” and declared an emergency last week. “Lead can cause permanent brain damage in children”.

Flint police are warning people to be wary of scammers trying to prey on residents amid the city’s drinking water crisis.

Gov. Rick Snyder late Tuesday activated the National Guard, and some members were expected to arrive as soon as Wednesday. Chief James Tolbert said his department has received reports of people selling water filters even though filters are being distributed for free. Members of the American Red Cross, as well as other volunteers and police have been going door-to-door. The water was later discovered to be corrosive with the river leaching lead from old pipes into residents’ homes.

Since then, officials have struggled to ensure residents have safe drinking water.

Last week Snyder declared a state of emergency in Genesee County, which surrounds Flint, and this week he created a second task force to work on solutions for the city’s long-term water woes.

Flint, about 60 miles (100 km) northwest of Detroit, returned to using Detroit water in October after tests found some children had elevated levels of lead in their blood and lead was found in higher-than-acceptable levels in the water. “Sadly, myself and many leaders of my community have advocated for this type of response for months”.