The question of who knew about the danger – and when – has led to a political crisis in Flint, with protesters calling for the governor’s resignation.
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The White House has not hinted at making on side trips outside the Motor City. We need the (Centers for Disease Control).
Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Sen.
Authorities in the state have been dealing with a major health crisis over lead-contaminated water that arose from cost-cutting measures implemented in the city of Flint, home to some 100,000 people.
The Michigan attorney general and the federal Justice Department are also investigating whether any laws were broken.
The Flint native appeared outside city hall Saturday afternoon, drawing a crowd of roughly 200 despite frigid temperatures. “It featured a photo of the former Flint residents holding a pair of handcuffs with a sign that read “#ArrestGovSnyder”. “Gov. Snyder should resign”.
Officials with the Flint Water Response Team said water distribution efforts were expanded Saturday with more than 20 water response teams going door to door to distribute safe water resources to the homes of Flint residents.
Other Flint residents late previous year filed a federal lawsuit. The state is now handing out filters and bottled water. The mayor followed suit in mid-December, followed by the governor earlier this month.
Other celebrities have made even harsher calls for action.
Singer Cher is trying to help.
“I appreciate the president approving my federal emergency request and supporting Flint during this critical situation”, Snyder said in a news release.
FEMA has been authorized to identify, mobilize and provide equipment and resources necessary to alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the contaminated water in Flint and avert the threat of a catastrophe.
Residents complained about the taste, odor and appearance of the water immediately after the switch, but those complaints were largely ignored by city officials.
The city switched its water source from the city of Detroit to the Flint River in 2014. The head of the department and his spokesman resigned.
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A state-appointed task force preliminarily found that fault lies with the state DEQ, and on December 29 director Dan Wyant stepped down. “I can not wait for the water to get there to help these people who have been poisoned because the water they’ve been getting out of their taps has been polluted for so long and remains that way without the state or federal government stepping in with any substantial plan to resolve this problem”. “It failed in that responsibility and must be held accountable for that failure”.
