There’s no estimate on the cost of the long-term health effects on Flint residents who drank lead-tainted water for more than a year.
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Flint switched water supplies in 2014 while a new pipeline was under construction and the corrosive water from the Flint River leached lead from old pipes.
Efforts to be implemented by the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) include providing water, water filters, water filter cartridges and water test kits, among other supplies, for up to three months. “Together with Cher, we also hope to raise awareness to help get the families of Flint the assistance they need during this hard time“.
Flint Mayor Karen Weaver declared a state of emergency in the town on December 14, followed by the same declaration from Gov. Rick Snyder on January 6. Emergency aid of this sort is typically capped at $5 million.
“I appreciate the President approving my federal emergency request and supporting Flint during this critical situation”, Snyder said.
Snyder said on Saturday that Obama denied the disaster declaration request based on the legal requirement that such relief is intended for natural events, fires, floods or explosions.
The agency has sent officials to provide logistical and technical support, a decision that was announced on Twitter by FEMA’s Director of Public Affairs, Rafael Lamaitre.
On Thursday, House Democratic Leader Tim Greimel said Snyder should resign if he was aware of the dangers posed by Flint’s water and failed to respond appropriately. The state also ignored reports of elevated lead levels in the blood of Flint children.
The switch was made as a cost-cutting move while the city was under the control of a state-appointed emergency manager.
As part of cost-cutting, the city began drawing water from the Flint River in April 2014 rather than continuing to buy it from Detroit.
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.
State Attorney General Bill Schuette said Friday that his office was investigating if any laws were broken.
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Dozens of volunteers, including Michigan State Police, have been dispatched into the city to go door to door delivering bottled water and water filters to the residents.
