Obama signs emergency order over Flint water

The emergency declaration means that the government will help pay for water, water filters, filter cartridges, water test kids and other related items for up to 90 days. 16, 2016, the president signed emergency declaration and ordered federal aid for Flint, Mich., authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Homeland Security Department to coordinate relief efforts. A boil order went into effect in October 2014, and last September, doctors began urging the city to stop using the river water after high levels of lead were found in the blood of children.

The suit accuses the parties of “breaching the contractual obligation” to supply about 30,000 households with potable water.

Many are saying Snyder’s actions wreak of criminal negligence, and federal and state probes have already been launched into the crisis.

Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding. The National Guard is distributing water, filters and other supplies. He also offered $10m in aid for Flint. 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.

Under a federal disaster declaration, normally reserved exclusively for natural disasters rather than man-made ones such as the one in Flint, much larger sums are available. Additionally, Flint residents were dealt another blow on Wednesday when Governor Snyder announced there had been a surge in the number of cases of legionnaires disease in Flint over the past year, possibly linked to the tainted water in Flint.

“EPA knew about this in April a year ago…” The city is undergoing a drinking water crisis.

“The primary blame is clearly the MDEQ, but the EPA played an unconscionable role in covering up what was occurring”. “The Michigan Congressional delegation is committed and dedicated to working in a bipartisan manner to support those who have championed this issue for the residents of Flint”, Rep. Debbie Dingell said in a press release on Saturday. The new supply, from the Flint River, was saltier and flowed through corroded pipes, pulling lead into the system. “EPA immediately conveyed those concerns to MDEQ – because MDEQ is the agency responsible for implementing and enforcing federal drinking water regulations in MI”, it said. It has since switched back to Detroit’s water.

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.