It was the Michigan Republican’s first visit to the 99,000-resident city since October, when he called for a switch back to Detroit’s water after more corrosive Flint River water leached lead from 15,000 service lines and into homes.
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Starting on Tuesday, Police officers in Flint, Michigan will begin delivering bottled water and water filters door-to-door in response to the city’s water crisis.
MI officials have yet to ask the federal government for emergency assistance, but the White House’s chief of staff told Meet the Press they are keeping a close eye on the situation.
“We also have engaged FEMA in this process”, the governor said at a news conference in Flint. Exposure to lead can cause behavior problems and learning disabilities in children.
Since October, more than 12,000 filters have been distributed, more than 2,000 blood tests have been done – uncovering 43 cases of elevated lead levels – and more than 700 water tests have been conducted, Snyder said.
“It will take some time but we will get to that point”, Snyder said. He said residents should continue to use filters and bottled water, and the state doesn’t want people to assume anything is good with their water until extensive testing has been done. “We have not made a specific request of assistance yet, but we are in dialogue with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and talking to them about how we can best work together”.
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.
Said the state will look for new opportunities to expand assistance to Flint, including economic and community development, education, and “whatever else we can do”.
When asked if he was surprised that city officials have not requested federal help, Pastor Jackson explained, “We just got a new mayor elected and she filed a petition to declare it an emergency and the governor just did and he said that before we can receive help, they have to do an assessment”.
Flint’s switched from Detroit’s water system to Flint River water in a cost-cutting move in 2014, while under state financial management.
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Last week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Detroit said it was investigating the lead contamination of Flint’s water and Snyder declared a state of emergency in Gennessee County, which includes Flint, authorizing additional state resources to address health and safety issues. The e-mail, sent to Department of Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon, was among a large number of e-mails and other records obtained under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act by Virginia Tech researcher Marc Edwards, a drinking water expert who helped expose the crisis.
