LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder activated the National Guard Tuesday evening to help distribute bottled water and filters in Flint, according to the governor's office.
In an effort to coordinate an interagency recovery plan, the governor requested support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In doing so, other federal agencies could be utilized in the ongoing response and recovery efforts. These may include the Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Army Corps of Engineers.
"As we work to ensure that all Flint residents have access to clean and safe drinking water, we are providing them with the direct assistance they need in order to stretch our resources further," Snyder said. "The Michigan National Guard is trained and ready to assist the citizens of Flint."
The National Guard is expected to start arriving in Flint on Wednesday to assist with response efforts.
The governor declared a state of emergency for Genesee County on Jan. 5 due to the ongoing health and safety issues caused by high levels of lead in the city of Flint's drinking water.
The mayor of Flint, Karen Weaver, declared a state of emergency on Dec. 14, 2015.
Dennis Muchmore, former chief of staff, sent a concerned email to the state health agency this past July fearing the state of Michigan was blowing off Flint residents' water system concerns. He has since resigned.
Synder was at the auto show in Detroit on Tuesday where he said that they took prompt action when they got the right information.
"This is part of my legacy," Snyder said. "I'm responsible for the entire state and our operations, but there are many other good things going on, and we're working hard to recover from the situation in terms of doing the right thing."
This is the second time Snyder has activated the National Guard. The first time was in May 2012 for the massive Duck Lake Fire in the Upper Peninsula.