President Obama Approves Emergency Aid to Flint, Mich.

The White House declared a federal emergency in Flint, Mich., Saturday to alleviate the city’s lead contaminated water crisis, the Detroit Free Press reports.

President Barack Obama’s response releases up to $5 million and authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate relief efforts. This action will cover 75 percent of the costs for providing clean water, filters and other items to residents.

The president rejected Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder’s appeal for a disaster declaration, which would have allocated more federal funds and resources. Under Federal law only catstrophes caused by natural disasters are eligible for a disaster declaration, compared to the lower-level federal emergency declaration.

Unlike a disaster caused by a hurricane, Flint’s water emergency is manmade. In 2014, officials switched the city’s water source from Lake Huron to the Flint River to save money. The more polluted river water, treated at the Flint water treatment plant, turned out to be corrosive to the city’s pipes and caused toxic levels of lead to seep into drinking water.

Snyder released a statement Saturday expressing appreciation to the president for the federal aid “and supporting Flint during this critical situation.”

Meanwhile, the governor is under pressure to resign over what has become a scandal. Critics say that state officials knew for months that the water supply was unsafe before Snyder declared a state of emergency and sought help from Washington.

Many residents of Flint, a predominantly African-American city, complained about their water’s odor, taste and color shortly after the water supply switch.

But officials ignored those complaints, according to the Free Press. They also downplayed medical reports of elevated lead level in children.

Read more at the Detroit Free Press.

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