This is the daily 2-1-1 summary on the Flint Water Response for Thursday, March 17, 2016
Note: The daily 2-1-1 summary will not be published on Friday, March 18. After 10 weeks with only one day missed, the editor is taking a break and encourages everyone involved in the Flint response to take care of yourselves and get some rest. Publication will resume on Monday, March 21.
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Governor Snyder and EPA Director testified in front of the Congressional House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
- CSPAN video of full 3½ hours of testimony: c-span.org/video/?406540-1/hearing-flint-michigan-water-contamination
- Detroit Free Press Coverage: freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2016/03/17/snyder-defends-emergency-manager-flint/81905614/
- MLive coverage at: mlive.com/flintwater/
- USA Today Report “Lead taints drinking water in hundreds of schools, day cares across USA”: usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/03/17/drinking-water-lead-schools-day-cares/81220916/
- EPA has shared a summary on their testing activities in Flint
- Sequential Samples: Collected at 100 sites of suspected lead contaminated lines all over the distribution system. Testing for Lead/Copper/Zinc, Total Metals, Phosphorous, Anions (chlorides, nitrates, sulfates), and Alkalinity.
- Grab Samples: Collected at over 200 sites all over the distribution system. Collected in both filtered and unfiltered water. Testing for Total Metals.
- Commercial Chlorine/System optimization: Thirty-four sites specifically located to evaluate disinfection distribution within the system. Testing for Chlorine, Disinfection bi-products, pH, Turbidity, and Conductivity (an indication of different salts in the water).
- Rash/Medical Samples: Collected at over 50 locations where medical complaints have been reported to health agencies. Testing for Full metals list (24 different metals), Chlorine, pH, Anions, Total Dissolved Solubles, Turbidity and Conductivity.
CALL VOLUME
Call volume remains manageable with existing staffing levels.
SPECIAL NEEDS/REQUESTS
- DHHS coordinated with the Sheriff’s office to provide delivery of 20 cases of water to the residential nursing home referenced in yesterday’s update.
RUMOR/SCAM CONTROL
- The Attorney General’s Office investigates reports of potential scams. These can be reported to the Charitable Trust Section at ct_email@michigan.gov. The AG has tips on how to avoid falling victim to con artists at http://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,4534,7-164-17337_20942-375279–,00.html.
UNRESOLVED
- From 3/8/16: The Community Partners Communications Workgroup requested additional information on safe gardening practices to disseminate to the community.
RESOLUTION: MSU Extension has produced a flyer ”Lead Safety for the Home Gardener” available on the Edible Flint homepage at: www.edibleflint.org/uploads/9/3/8/1/9381222/lead_safety_for_the_home_garden_info_sheet.pdf - From 2/29/16: The City of Flint Water Plant can no longer handle water sample pick-up/drop-off for homebound residents due to increasing demand. 2-1-1 is coordinating with the Water Plant to identify another option for serving these residents and will provide updates until we confirm a solution. In the meantime, please do not refer homebound callers to the Water Plant for assistance. Have them call 2-1-1.
From 3/8/16: CAN SEOC OR THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE PLEASE ASSIST WITH A RESPONSE TO THE FOLLOWING COMMUNITY REQUESTS:
- The Community Partners Communications Workgroup is asking for guidance from the State of Michigan on the following issues:
- What affects does heat/time have on the plastic water bottles?
- Regarding the side-effects of lead: On average how soon do symptoms appear?
- Who is testing the samples provided by residents? Is more than just lead and coper levels being tested? If so what is being tested?
- Will lead be passed on to recipients that received blood, organs or plasma from Flint donors?
- From 3/8/16:The Communications Workgroup requested a diagram or org chart of the crisis response mechanism and how all parties work together, including JIC, EOC, SECO, UCG,CHECC, ACE, CDC, EPA, DEQ, HHS, DHHS, FEMA.
- From 3/8/16:The Communications Workgroup requested coordination by state, federal and local governments on the distribution of information related to the Flint Water situation and the response, emphasizing the community doesn’t want multiple information documents for every department. They are asking for one consistent document on key issues and a mechanism to provide feedback to government entities prior to releasing information.
