Flint – The city’s mayor said Wednesday that while she appreciates Gov. Rick Snyder’s order to activate the National Guard to help with the city’s water crisis, Flint will need more assistance.
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The city of Flint, Michigan, is getting heavy state and national attention and much-needed assistance as it deals with a drinking water crisis that began after officials switched water source in 2014 while under state financial management, and the tap water became contaminated with lead. The first half-dozen guardsmen arrived Wednesday morning.
Standing next to Fire Station #1, Major John Keelean says people have been coming into pick supplies “non-stop”.
After months of saying the state Department of Environmental Quality was following federal protocols in waiting to require corrosion control treatments in Flint, former Director Dan Wyant acknowledged the state incorrectly allowed the city to use the wrong federal standards to treat river water for 17 months.
“We plan to go every day this week, and we’ll continue until everyone has safe drinking water”, state police Lt. Dave Kaiser told the Associated Press.
A door-to-door effort is already underway by volunteers to deliver the supplies.
Snyder said that since October, about 12,000 filters have been distributed and roughly 2,000 blood tests have been done – uncovering 43 cases of elevated lead levels – but the actions aren’t “good enough”.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has also approved Snyder’s request to coordinate a recovery plan.
Meanwhile, water resource teams, including MI state police and other state personnel, started distributing bottled water, water filters, replacement cartridges, and testing kits to residents.
Because the Flint River water’s high chloride content wasn’t treated as required, it weakened the city’s aging water distribution system, which contains a high percentage of lead pipes and plumbing, the task force said.
Low exposure to lead can produce long-term health effects, particularly in young children, in the form of behavioral problems and learning disabilities.
A taskforce appointed by Snyder released a report of interim findings last month, spurring the resignation of both the state environmental department’s top official and spokesperson.
For more than a year, water drawn from the Flint River leached lead from old lines into homes after the city switched its drinking water.
“I’m glad the State is putting in resources and we welcome the Michigan National Guard with open arms”, said Weaver. That month, he also said a task force would review how everything had been handled and offer recommendations.
Snyder, who has also faced criticism, said Monday that the water situation is a “crisis” and last week declared an emergency.
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According to the governor’s office, “this request will identify federal agencies that have programs, authorities, and/or technical expertise that could be utilized in the ongoing response and recovery efforts in Flint to be made available”.
