Now Legionnaire's Disease, Too
On top of the lead crisis, Legionnaire's disease is breaking out in Flint, also apparently a consequence of the problems with Flint's water. So far 87 cases of Legionnaire's Disease, 10 of them fatal, have turned up.
Federal Emergency
Saturday President Obama declared a federal emergency in Flint. This means the federal government, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other agencies can start to help the people there. FEMA will provide water, filters and cartridges and other items, up to $5 million. However, he did not declare Flint and its county, Genesee, to be disaster areas, which would bring additional funds and assistance, because that status has always been used for natural disasters rather than man-made (in this case we should say Republican-made) ones.
This crisis is terrible news for Flint. It comes as Flint was entering a period of revival. The University of Michigan had opened dormitories for its Flint campus and the result was new restaurants and shops springing up. Housing prices were finally stabilizing and increasing.
What Must Be Done
Michael Moore wrote a public letter to President Obama (with a petition, click through) asking for President Obama to provide federal assistance:
"-- The CDC here at once to truly assess all of the disease and damage that has been forced upon the people of Flint.
"-- FEMA has to supply large water containers in every home in Flint -- and they must be filled by water trucks until the new infrastructure is resolved.
"-- The EPA must take over matters from the State (can the governor be removed and replaced like he did to the mayor of Flint?) Immediately.
"-- You must send in the Army Corps of Engineers to build that new water infrastructure. Otherwise, you might as well just evacuate all the people from Flint and move them to a white city that has clean drinking water -- and where this would never happen."
The people in Flint are going to need complete health evaluations and care for any problems that show up. But this is also a long-term public health crisis. People will need evaluation and care for years.
Flint's children that have been affected are going to need special teaching and other assistance, as well as other help for the rest of their lives.
Rachel Maddow
The reason this story has come to the attention of the nation is because Rachel Maddow has been pounding on it and making people listen. Here are links to some of the segments Maddow has shown. (If you only watch one, watch this one.)
-- Dec. 15, 2015 Lead-poisoned children prompt emergency declaration from mayor
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