The latest efforts come “as Governor Rick Snyder faced a growing crescendo of criticism over the weekend on the state’s handling of the crisis”, Michigan Radio reports.
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Residents are urged to use filtered water for drinking, food preparation, brushing teeth and watering pets. The city switched back to a less corrosive water source last fall, but the damage was done. Former DEQ Director Dan Wyant resigned last month.
Following the resignation of Michigan’s top environmental official, as well as sustained community demands, the Department of Justice announced this week it is launching an investigation into the water crisis.
“We need to focus on improving Flint for the longer term”, Snyder said.
A group of protesters have called for the firing of Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder over a deepening crisis over contaminated water.
As the governor and mayor of Flint try to figure out how to deal with the crisis, protesters continued to call for Snyder’s dismissal over the handling of the water crisis. “It’s nearly like a stepladder – you start from the top and you go all the way down to the bottom”, she said.
“We know that we have kids that have been impacted by this, impacted in a negative way”, she said.
“High levels of lead are especially harmful to children and pregnant women, and can cause ‘learning disabilities, behavioral problems and mental retardation, ‘ the World Health Organization says”.
“We wanted in”, said Gladyes Williamson, 61, of Flint.
The cost-cutting move – which was to be a stopgap move while the city waited for the new Karegnondi Water Authority pipeline to Lake Huron to be built – resulted in a spike in lead levels in children.
The Governor declared an emergency on January 5 to put in place distribution of water, water filters and water tests for residents.
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Chris Kelenske, deputy director of emergency management and homeland security for the state police, asked FEMA on Wednesday to send the officials “to provide support if we have any questions” about the emergency response process, MSP spokeswoman Nicole Lisabeth told the Free Press on Saturday. The Flint water is safe to drink if a properly installed and a properly maintained lead filter is used, Wells said. Snyder’s emergency declaration sets the stage for seeking federal assistance and can be renewed beyond its February 1 expiration if the state cannot stop the lead contamination.
