This is the daily 2-1-1 summary on the Flint Water Response for Friday, February 26, 2016
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Governor Snyder signed a $30 million bill to provide credits to Flint water customers for the estimated 65% of their water bills that went to customers’ personal use (drinking, cooking, bathing). Reimbursement will be retroactive to April 2014 when the water supply was switched to the Flint River. See mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2016/02/snyder_signs_30_million_water.html
- The Detroit Free Press will distribute a special section in Flint this weekend with resources and information for residents about the water response.
- A Senate bill is pending to provide at least $850 million to address Flint water infrastructure and support health programs for residents. More information at: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/ted-cruz-flint-aid-219787
- REMINDER: A text alert notification has been set up for Flint residents to receive real-time updates on response efforts.
- Sign up by texting the word FLINT to 444-999.
REMINDER: The MDHHS lead and Legionella information line will suspend operation on Monday February 29 due to low demand in recent weeks. 2-1-1 will refer calls with Legionella, lead and general health questions to the Genesee County Health Department. The MDHHS number for reporting rashes and other skin conditions will continue operating Monday-Friday 8am – 5pm. Reports of skin condition concerns can also be emailed to checcepi@michigan.gov.
CALL VOLUME
Call volume continues to remain stable and manageable.
SPECIAL NEEDS/REQUESTS
- Where to get free lead testing for adults: Shortly after last night’s summary was distributed, United Way of Genesee County and MDHHS confirmed a resource for adult residents to receive free lead tests.
- The Genesee County Health Department at its downtown McCree location at 630 Saginaw St is offering FREE lead testing to adults who are unable to get one free of charge from their primary care. The State of Michigan is now covering the lab fees that were once charged at the health department. If the resident has health coverage it will bill the insurance but NO charges will be passed to the resident.
RUMOR/SCAM CONTROL
- A John Russo has contacted a number of officials involved with the Flint response with a mix of information about various programs and actions he is proposing to assist in Flint. He has set up a web site at http://onelovefund.net/ with links to a donation page at https://www.tilt.com/tilts/victims-of-the-flint-water-crisis that has received around $1,400 in pledges. None of the individuals contacted are familiar with Mr. Russo and are concerned there is potential for a scam. Michigan 2-1-1 and individuals who have been contacted by Mr. Russo are forwarding his information to the Attorney General’s office. Please contact tpage@uwmich.org if you have any additional information about this individual and I will forward it to the AG’s office.
- 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 2/23/16: Social workers are looking for volunteer opportunities: The National Association of Social Workers-MI Chapter has identified several hundred members who are looking to make their professional services available to Flint residents as volunteers. They have been working with canvassers with political campaigns who have identified residents with unmet needs. The canvassers passed the needs back to the coordinator who is dispatching volunteers to deliver basic goods and offer material and emotional support. The volunteers would like to coordinate more formally with the organized response efforts and is looking for a local contact to help identify residents seeking social assistance and support. Can SEOC or Michigan Community Service Commission provide a contact or lead?
- From 2/25/16: On the governor’s 2/25/16 Tele Town Hall, a resident asked what to do about water test results showing lead levels of 2 parts per billion in her home.
- The response to the resident stated, “When water was from Detroit, 2 ppb was average. This is probably normal background level.”
- A participant on the call asked 2-1-1 how does this statement align with other published information that no level of lead is safe. CAN DHHS/SEOC PROVIDE CLARIFICATION?
