Michigan Declares State Of Emergency Over Lead Poisoning Crisis In Flint

By Mae Rice in News on Jan 6, 2016 6:07PM

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder declared a state of emergency for Gennessee County, where Flint is located, on Tuesday. Snyder did so in response to Flint’s lead poisoning crisis, a product of the city’s reliance on water from the polluted Flint Rever.

This state of emergency is part of a crescendoing sequence of states of emergencies. First, the city of Flint declared one on Dec. 14; then Genessee County declared one on Jan. 4.

This latest one from Snyder will mobilize state resources, as well as county and city ones, to combat Flint’s public health crisis. It makes assistance available from Michigan State Police’s Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD), among others.

“The health and welfare of Flint residents is a top priority and we’re committed to a coordinated approach with resources from state agencies to address all aspects of this situation,” Snyder said. “Working in full partnership with the Flint Water Advisory Task Force, all levels of government and water quality experts, we will find both short-term and long-term solutions to ensure the health and safety of Flint residents.”

Lead poisoning can have especially harmful effects on children, stunting brain development and causing ailments from anemia to hypertension.

The crisis has snowballed so much, it even reached Cher. According to her Twitter, she's furious: