President Barack Obama has signed an emergency disaster declaration for the city of Flint, in the midst of a drinking water crisis.
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Obama is authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief efforts there, the White House said in a statement.
“I appreciate the President approving my federal emergency request and supporting Flint during this critical situation”, Snyder said.
Snyder also requested federal major disaster designation, which would grant the city millions of federal dollars to rebuild its aging infrastructure.
“Mistrust in government is at a heightened level”, Snyder, a Republican, said in a request dated Thursday and released to The Associated Press.
Typically, federal aid for a state of emergency is capped at $5 million, though the president can commit more with approval from Congress.
Much of the anger over Flint’s long-running water problems has fallen on Snyder due to the fact the decision to use river water came while the city was under the control of an emergency manager he appointed.
In response, Snyder’s spokesperson says that the governor only learned of the lead issue in October, and insisted he has been doing everything in his power to address the issue since.
The financially troubled city changed its water supply from the city of Detroit to the Flint River in 2014, but since reports of contamination.
The U.S. Justice Department is helping the Environmental Protection Agency investigate the matter and state Attorney General Bill Schuette has opened his own probe, which could focus on whether environmental laws were broken or if there was official misconduct. On Tuesday, he activated the state’s National Guard to help distribute water and filters.
The American singer and actress Cher has reportedly donated 180,000 bottles of water to the city of Flint, Michigan, as they struggle to cope with a drinking water crisis. The state health department in MI apparently knew about elevated lead levels in the blood of children but did not warn the public.
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Lead poisoning is unsafe for anyone, but Flint Mayor Karen Weaver has pointed to research showing how lead exposure can affect a developing child’s IQ, resulting in learning disabilities.
