Rick Snyder has activated the National Guard to help distribute bottled water and filters in a city that is confronting a drinking water crisis.
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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 also on Tuesday asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate responses to the Flint crisis by other federal agencies.
“We also have engaged FEMA in this process”, the governor said at a news conference in Flint.
Gov. Rick Snyder late Tuesday activated the National Guard, and some members were expected to arrive as soon as Wednesday. Snyder said he may ask state lawmakers for additional money for the emergency before his budget proposal in February.
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. Lead is known to cause permanent mental and physical disabilities. 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.
“We see the consequences of lead poisoning a lot later”, Hanna-Attisha, told ABC News last month.
Independent scientists eventually discovered high levels of lead in the water, and the state health department confirmed the findings October 1. “I’m not going to speculate” about Flint water billing issues, he said.
Jake May/AP Flint resident Andrew Watson (back right) drops to the floor in tears as Flint police stand guard at the City Council chamber doors on Monday.
Records show a Genesee County Circuit Court judge in August ordered the city to remove unlawful charges, and Washington said the city has been found in contempt, in part because it hasn’t made the required reductions to water charges. He says Michigan’s recent response to the crisis wasn’t good enough and he’s responsible.
“During the course of the week or early next week we hopefully will be coming out with more public action steps”, some of which are already under way, and others to be implemented, Snyder said.
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In December, Congressman Kildee spoke at the White House about the Flint water crisis and the need for critical investments in our nation’s older, industrial cities like Flint.
