That clears the way for federal aid to a city that’s been battling contaminated water since 2014.
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FEMA has been authorized to provide water, filters, cartridges and other items for 90 days. “Together with Cher, we also hope to raise awareness to help get the families of Flint the assistance they need during this hard time“.
US President Barack Obama has declared a state of emergency in Flint, Michigan over contaminated drinking water.
Moore, surrounded on Saturday by dozens of flag-waving and sign-toting Flint residents in front of the city’s municipal complex, said he must “insist” that Obama visit on Wednesday, the same day the president is scheduled to tour the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Republican Gov. Rick Snyder requested emergency and disaster declarations late Thursday, saying needs “far exceed the state’s capability”, and added that emergency measures could cost $41 million.
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said Friday he will investigate the water crisis to determine whether any Michigan laws have been violated.
According to the Detroit Free Press, by declaring a state of emergency, Obama has made $5 million in funding available to Flint.
Meanhwile, Cher is donating water to the residents of Flint.
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. Concerns over Flint’s water were raised months before the state called a state of emergency or provided bottled water.
Flint, which is about 60 miles (100 km) northwest of Detroit, returned to using that city’s water in October after tests found elevated levels of lead in the water and in the blood of some children.
But after the switch, residents complained the water looked, smelled and tasted amusing.
However, they did not treat the water properly, which led to lead and other metals leaching from old pipes.
A class action lawsuit has been filed against the state, arguing that the state Department of Environmental Quality was negligent for not treating the Flint River water with an anti-corrosive agent.
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As Sanders pointed out in his statement, although lead poisoning presents health risks to everyone, officials in Flint are particularly anxious about the city’s children due to research revealing that lead exposure can seriously affect a developing child’s IQ and result in learning disabilities.
