President Barack Obama declared a federal state of emergency in Flint, Michigan in response to the water crisis that led to elevated lead levels in children, the White House announced Saturday afternoon.
The assistance will provide water, water filters, water filter cartridges, water test kits and other items for no more than 90 days, according to the White House. The order also authorizes the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate relief efforts.
Gov. Rick Snyder (R) submitted the request Thursday after declaring a state of emergency for Genesee County, where Flint is located, on Jan. 5, according to MLive.com.
The water crisis can be traced to 2014 when the city switched its water supply in an effort to save money. It has resulted in elevated lead levels in residents, particularly children.
Snyder also deployed the Michigan National Guard to Flint to help with distribution of bottled water and other supplies to residents.
The state health agency also said Wednesday that it found an increase in Legionnaires’ disease cases over the past two years in Genesee County. It can’t be concluded if the spike is related to the contaminated water.
Once again the Dems have to come in and clean up a mess the GOP created. What the GOP did to the people of Flint is criminal.
And they’ll probably get re-elected. Look at Kansas.
One would hope Snyder and other Republicans would get the bill, not the taxpayers of Michigan and other states. Yes, indeed, one might hope that …
So President Obama once again bails out a Republican Governor. I remember after Hurricane Sandy how folks from Staten Island who had voted for Mitt Rommery in the 2012 election pleaded with President Obama for Federal help.
This kills me, of course the people of Flint deserve the aid, but oh how I wish the assholes that did this to them had to directly pay for the aid they get… And not just with money by the way, I would like to see some time in prison for the worst offenders.