Michigan governor asks Obama to declare emergency for Flint water crisis

Earlier Thursday, dozens of people – some lugging jugs of dirty water in protest of the water crisis in Flint – criticized the Republican governor during a demonstration inside the Michigan state Capitol. MLive.com and WDIV-TV report that the protesters arrived in Lansing via buses from Flint and Detroit.

Flint’s tap water became contaminated with too much lead after the city switched its water supply in 2014 to save money while under state financial management. Local officials first declared a public health emergency in October in response to tests that showed children with elevated levels of lead.

Snyder spokesman Dave Murray told MLive.com that the governor “acted aggressively” and announced an action plan after becoming aware of the lead levels. Snyder declared an emergency in Flint earlier this month.

Michigan State University and a Flint hospital are putting a team together to keep a long-term eye on the lead problem, from offering nutrition tips to residents to health monitoring.

The effort will be led by Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, who is credited with sounding the alarm last year about high levels of lead in children. Hanna-Attisha, a doctor at Hurley Medical Center, says she wants to bring “hope” to a community that’s “traumatized.”

The Genesee County health department and the Michigan health department will also have roles.

Meanwhile, an official at the Genesee County health department says the agency has been “bombarded” with phone calls from anxious residents a day after state officials said the number of Legionnaires’ disease cases had increased.

Chief health officer Mark Valacak tells The Associated Press he “had no idea” that Gov. Rick Snyder was holding a news conference Wednesday to disclose the findings.

Valacak says his department hasn’t made a direct link between Flint water and bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease. State officials haven’t made one either. Valacak says Legionnaires’ disease isn’t associated with drinking tainted water. People can get sick if they inhale mist or vapor from contaminated water systems.

HOW YOU CAN HELP FLINT RESIDENTS

The United Way of Genesee County is taking donations to pay for bottled water, filters and prevention efforts in Flint. Donations can be made online.

GREIU – the Grand Rapids city employees’ union – says it is holding a water drive for Flint on Saturday. Donations of bottled water may be dropped off at the GREIU Union Hall, located at 917 Bridge St. NW, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Plainwell High School Interact Club is hosting a water drive through Feb. 5. Donations of gallons and bottled water may be dropped off at any Plainwell school office, as well as these locations:

• Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, located at 1289 W. M-89; from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Gun Plain Township Office, located at 381 8th St.; from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
• Ameriprise Financial, located at 102 N. Main St., Suite A; from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday.

Donations of bottled water have been coming in from around Michigan. The Flint Journal reports that Kroger Co. of Michigan and UA Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 370 of Flint worked together to donate 16 truckloads of bottled water to the city. The first four truckloads of bottled water were scheduled to be delivered Thursday.

Members of the United Auto Workers Region 1-D say they have secured 18 pallets of one-gallon water jugs and 20 pallets of bottled water to supply three community centers in Flint. The water is intended to supplement resources being provided by an emergency operations center. Details are expected to be announced Friday.

In northern Michigan, the Traverse City Record-Eagle reports that Suttons Bay Congregational Church is collecting bottles and jugs of water for a homeless shelter and soup kitchen in Flint. WHMI-FM reports Pinckney’s school district in southeastern Michigan also is collecting water.