This is what the poisoned water in Flint, Michigan, looks like

A class action lawsuit has been launched against the state of MI and its governor Rick Snyder for allegedly ignoring a lead-poisoned water crisis that has affected the city of Flint’s nearly 100,000 residents, with children suffering the most, since it started more than 18 months ago. The governor also asked President Barack Obama to declare Flint’s crisis an emergency and major disaster.

State officials also disclosed this week that in 2014 and 2015, there was a spike in Legionnaire’s disease cases in Genesee County, which includes Flint. The National Guard is distributing water, filters and other supplies.

A study conducted by scientists at Virginia Tech tested the water in 271 Flint homes last summer found some contained lead levels so high that they fell under the EPA’s definition of “toxic waste”. Emergency funding is initially limited to $5 million, and the president must alert Congress if additional resources are needed. They will, of course, be providing water and water filters to all residents. The problems began after the city switched its source to the corrosive Flint River and failed to treat the water properly.

Jake May/AP Gov. Snyder has been criticized for waiting three months to call on the federal government for help after learning that there was lead in Flint’s drinking water. “Flint residents are the victims in this crisis and they deserve a more urgent response equal to the gravity of this crisis”, he said in a statement earlier this week.

Chief health officer Mark Valacak tells The Associated Press he “had no idea” that Gov. Rick Snyder was holding a news conference Wednesday to disclose the findings. A White House spokesperson said that the request would be considered “expeditiously”, according to Lake Placid News.

The Republican governor is facing criticism for the state’s regulatory failures and relief efforts, and has apologized for lead-tainted water in Flint.

On Friday morning, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced an investigation to determine whether the state or its civic servants violated any laws along the way to Flint’s water disaster. It can harm a child’s brain, kidneys, bone marrow and other body systems.

Environmentalists believe the salt corroded lead pipes that supplied the city’s water, putting almost everyone in flint at risk for lead poisoning, which can cause brain damage. The EPA and Department of Justice are now investigating as well. I know you don’t want that image of flying over us as you “fake-sad” look down on Flint just as Bush did in that never-to-be-forgotten photo-op over New Orleans.

“If indeed it is true, that this can be linked to the water system – and there is a pretty strong likelihood that it is and that it will be – yes, unfortunately people will have died because of this decision”, Edwards said.