Cher is offering assistance to the people of Flint, Michigan, whose water supply has been contaminated with lead since 2014.
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Acting upon a request from Gov. Rick Snyder, today President Obama signed an emergency declaration that would make federal assistance available for Flint in dealing with the water crisis there.
Emergency measures to be implemented by the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) include providing water, water filters and water testing kits for up to three months.
In what’s become a huge government scandal, Flint’s drinking water became contaminated with lead after the city temporarily switched its supply source from Lake Huron water treated by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department to more corrosive and polluted Flint River water, treated at the Flint water treatment plant.
Over the long term, replacing old lead service lines at Flint homes and other private properties could cost $54 million, the governor told the president. Flint has since returned to Detroit’s system for its water, but officials remain concerned that damage to the pipes caused by the Flint River could allow them to continue leaching lead. “Flint residents are the victims in this crisis and they deserve a more urgent response equal to the gravity of this crisis”, he said in a statement earlier this week.
Protesters calling for Governor Snyder’s resignation and urging president Obama to visit Flint when he is in Detroit for next week’s auto show.
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.
That omission is believed to be responsible for water that tasted, smelled and looked bad to many residents.
Lead poisoning is risky 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. The state also ignored reports of elevated lead levels in the blood of Flint children.
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The state’s top legal official, Attorney General Bill Schuette said on Friday he was investigating the water crisis to determine if any MI laws were violated, according to WTVR Richmond.
