2-1-1 Update Flint Water Response for Wednesday, April 6, 2016

This is the 2-1-1 update on the Flint Water Response for Wednesday, April 6, 2016

This update is produced by Michigan 2-1-1 three times a week (M-W-F) with special updates as needed.  Organization updates, information and announcements can be sent to tpage@uwmich.org.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) has announced the opening of several neighborhood-based water resource distribution sites. Emergency responders refer to these as Community PODS or CPODS.
  • Additional CPOD sites will be announced as agreements are reached with community partners.
  • Fire Station #6 on Pierson Road is set to close as a distribution site on Sunday, April 10 although National Guard members will be on-site until April 12. The closest new site to this one is CPOD 1 listed below.
  • The following sites are now operating and distributing water, filters, replacement cartridges, and water test kits. Water bottles, PUR and Brita filters, and water samples from test kits can also be returned at these locations:
    • CPOD 1, Ross Plaza, 2320 W Pierson Rd
    • CPOD 3, Greater Holy Temple, 6702 N Dort Highway
    • CPOD 6, West Court Street Church of God, 2920 W Court St
  • Hours of operation for the sites above are:
    12-6pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday
    12-8pm Tuesday, Friday
    Closed Sunday
• NBC News reported a new water heater replacement program funded by a $500,000 grant from MDHHS to the Genesee County Community Action Resource Department (G-CARD). The fund will replace up to 250 water heaters for residents through G-CARD’s Weatherization program.
  • G-CARD informed 2-1-1 they are waiting for final eligibility guidelines from MDHHS
  • G-CARD has created a waiting list and residents are encouraged to call (810) 232-2185 to get on the list
  • Program will be income-qualified but is open to both homeowners and renters
  • Water heaters will be inspected to determine if they need to be replaced.
  • New water heaters will be installed in homes on a first come first served basis.
  • Full story at: nbc25news.com/news/local/new-program-will-replace-hundreds-of-damaged-water-heaters-for-residents-in-flint
• Detroit News reports government aid slow to reach Flint residents. Through mid-March only  $14.1 million of $67 million earmarked for Flint had been spent.  Full story at detroitnews.com/story/news/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2016/04/05/government-aid-slow-reach-flint-residents/82682732/
• The Flint Water Crisis Community Partners Workgroup Meeting Schedule:
  • Flint Community Resilience Group (FCRG) Mental Health Workgroup: TBA
    • Sub-workgroups
    • FCRG Data & Gap Analysis: Every Thursday, 1:30 p.m., Genesee Health System Board Room
    • FCRG Outreach to Special & Vulnerable Populations: Meeting on-line, via e-mail (to become part of this workgroup, please e-mail rkeswick@genhs.org)
    • FCRG Psychological First Aid (PFA): TBA (for more information, please e-mail nkirsh@genhs.org)
  • Physical Health Workgroup: TBA, Greater Flint Health Coalition (3^rd Floor, Suite 301)
• Community Partners Meeting: Thursday, April 7^th, 3:00 p.m., Food Bank of Eastern Michigan at 2300 Lapeer Rd, Flint, MI 48503.  Elizabeth Burtch of the Genesee Health System will facilitate
• Mobile Food Bank Schedule
  This week’s remaining delivery dates and sites are:
  • Thursday, April 7, at 9 a.m. – Flint First Wesleyan Church, 3825 Davison Road.
  • Thursday, April 7, at 4 p.m. – West Court Street Church of God, 2920 W. Court St.
  • Friday, April 8, at 4 p.m. – Vermont Christian Church, 1201 Lippincott Blvd.
  • Information about additional food distribution dates will be announced as they are scheduled. For more information, visit the Food Bank website at www.FBEM.org or call 810-239-4441.

CALL VOLUME
2-1-1 call summary for the week of March 28-April 3

Total call volume from Flint and Genesee County residents remained essentially unchanged from the past three weeks, although use of the Flint Water prompt for expedited service did drop about 8%.

• 486 callers used the Flint Water prompt to reach a 2-1-1 agent. Nearly identical to the past week’s 526 calls.  Flint Water calls accounted for 6.8% of the 7,176 calls to 2-1-1 last week.
• A total of 854 Genesee County residents (including Flint residents) called 2-1-1, essentially unchanged from 862 calls a week ago.
• 622 water referrals were provided, also essentially unchanged from 634 the previous week. The average number of referrals was 1.3 referrals per caller.
  • 42% of calls were for drinking water, followed by water filters (9%) and tap water testing (also 9%) were the most common referrals requested.
  • There were 3 callers seeking to volunteer and 4 asking about donations.
• There were 13 unmet needs, a major drop from the previous week’s 34 unmet needs. 12 of the unmet needs were for (shower) water filters.

SPECIAL NEEDS/REQUESTS
No special needs or requests were reported since the last 2-1-1 update.

RUMOR/SCAM CONTROL

• A Flint resident contacted 2-1-1 today regarding a rumor that funding for blood lead testing will run out on April 30^th.
  • CAN DHHS OR GENESEE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PROVIDE INFORMATION ON ANY ANTICIPATED END DATE FOR FREE BLOOD LEAD LEVEL TESTING?

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 www.michigan.gov/ag/0,4534,7-164-17337_20942-375279–,00.html.

UNRESOLVED

• From 3/8/16:The Community Partners Communications Workgroup is asking for guidance from the State of Michigan on the following issues: 
  • 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 copper levels being tested? If so what is being tested?
• From 3/23/16: Follow up from Governor Snyder’s Tele Town Hall with Flint residents
  • Appliance and water heater replacement
    RESOLUTION: See above under General Information for announcement of $500,000 grant to Genesee County Community Action Resource Department (G-CARD) to replace water heaters.