Gov. Snyder Wants $41 Million From Feds For Flint Water Fix
FLINT (WWJ/AP) - Gov. Rick Snyder is asking for $41 million in federal government funding to help a Michigan city poisoned by lead in the water.
The governor said Friday that the needs of people in Flint "far exceed the state's capability" — and Michigan needs help.
He said emergency measures could cost $41 million, including $10 million for a three-month supply of clean drinking water and millions more for filters, filter cartridges and water testing kits.
The White House says the federal government is responding on several fronts to the water crisis in Flint and is considering a request from the Snyder to declare the city both a Federal Disaster Area and a Federal Emergency.
While nothing has been promised yet, White House spokesman Josh Earnest says Snyder's requests will be considered "expeditiously."
"Both the EPA and the department of justice indicated that they're taking a close look at...this situation in terms of the science, and in terms of the impact that it has had and could have on local populations," Earnest said.
He said FEMA has already sent bottled water to Flint — where a switch to river water contaminated the system with lead that showed up at high levels in children's blood tests.
"FEMA has a regular process where they stockpile commodities for use in responding to emergency situations," Earnest said. "There was also FEMA staff that was sent to Michigan to provide some logistical and technical support to...state and local officials that are on the ground responding to the situation."
Flint Mayor Karen Weaver has been calling for federal help with the water issues, so she's happy about these latest developments.
Speaking live on WWJ Newsradio 950 Friday morning, Weaver said she's hoping to get answers to a lot of questions including why she just learned this week about 10 deaths and 87 cases of Legionnaires Disease in 2014 in Genesee County and if his could be related to the water crisis.
Meantime, Weaver said the Michigan National Guard continues to help in the city.
"We needed help on the ground as far as going door-to-door and getting this water and these filters delivered," Weaver said. "And that's another way for use to ensure, because we're tracking, you know, have we covered all areas?"
Weaver said she's working to prevent water shutoffs in Flint since residents have been paying for water that isn't fit to drink.
Flint's tap water became contaminated with lead after the city switched water supplies in 2014 while a new pipeline was under construction. Corrosive water leached lead from old pipes, officials said.
Flint is now back on the Detroit system.
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