UAW members donating drinking water to Flint residents

Lemott Thomas carries free water being distributed at the Lincoln Park United Methodist Church in Flint, Michigan, on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015.

The water resource sites will be open from 9 a.m.to 4 p.m. each day. This week, governor Snyder declared a state of emergency and the federal government opened an investigation into the city’s contaminated water.

“My children’s lead levels have been normal and I haven’t experienced any illnesses, which is mainly due to not using the water I have available.”

They wanted the governor’s arrest for the role which he played in the water crisis.

She said kids will have mental health issues, behavior issues, physical health issues, learning disabilities and some kids will end up in the juvenile justice system as a result.

Flint Mayor Karen Weaver met in Lansing with Snyder on Thursday and said preliminary estimates to fix Flint water distribution infrastructure damaged by corrosive water from the Flint River have ranged from millions of dollars to as high as $1.5 billion. The chief of staff to President Barack Obama said the White House is watching the Flint situation “very closely”.

At the firehouses, “residents can pick up all of the resources they need to ensure their drinking water is safe, including bottled water, water filters, replacement cartridges and water testing kits”, Kelenske said.

Gov. Rick Snyder is creating a committee to work long term on resolving Flint’s drinking water crisis and public health concerns.

He cites “major issues” at the Department of Environmental Quality, whose director recently resigned. It does take some time for us to put a request together for specific assistance, and we’re undergoing that process.

“It’s ridiculous we have to live in such a way”, said Colette Brown, a Flint native who months ago stopped drinking tap water.

“Flint has been a challenged community for some time”, Snyder said. “This is a situation that no one wished would have ever happened, but it has happened, and we want to be open and honest and say, ‘Let’s address it, proactively”.

Some residents are quick to point out that it was an emergency manager appointed by the governor who approved the 2014 switch away from Lake Huron water to save money.

Flint residents have filed a federal lawsuit accusing the city and state of endangering their health. Snyder said he may ask state lawmakers for additional money for the emergency before his budget proposal in February.

“We wanted in”, said Gladyes Williamson, 61, of Flint.