Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has appealed to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reassess their Flint funds' denials on Thursday. The governor is asking for financial help that would pay for water, food and other vital needs of the Flint residents during the state's lead-contaminated water crisis.
As Yahoo reported, Snyder also bid for the elimination of health and safety threats; measures to prevent further damage; activation of emergency operations centers and for the homeowners' restoration that are not covered by the insurance. In January, the agency turned down the governor's request for financial help. According to FEMA, Snyder indicated areas which were reportedly not suitable to receive financial assistance. The agency however gave non-monetary support to the state through a FEMA coordinator.
"Assistance from our federal partners could go a long way in moving Flint forward," Snyder said.
Snyder appealed for federal declarations of emergency and major disaster the same month. However, Pres. Barack Obama only favored the federal emergency declaration, but dismissed the major disaster declaration, Fortune reports. Snyder appealed on the president's decision but he was unsuccessful. The lead-contamination water crisis and the delayed response of the government caught the attention of the presidential candidates and triggered outcry among the residents and the critics.
Snyder said that Flint needed unwavering support from the local, state, federal and national level. He also announced that the federal government allowed a waiver to permit Medicaid coverage for pregnant women and children in Flint. According to Arab American News, Democratic critics and activists tried to persuade the Republican governor to resign. However, Snyder remains firm in his decision to stand by Michigan.
In 2014, Flint changed its water system source from Detroit to Flint River. However, the water from Flint was contaminated with lead which is harmful for everyone's health especially the children. The water system was returned back to Detroit in October 2015 after it was found that there's high level of lead present in the children's blood. More than 5,000 kids have been found to be poisoned by lead. The government has issued $55 million project to address the water problem.
