January 16, 2016 – Flint, MI Mayor Karen Weaver has just learned that President Obama has declared that an emergency exists in the State of Michigan and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts due to the ongoing water disaster in the City of Flint.
A press release from the White House states, “The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population and to provide appropriate assistance… and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in Genesee County.”
“We see a light at the end of the tunnel. This declaration means more resources and that’s what we’ve been waiting for,” said Mayor Weaver. The Mayor said, “This is something I’ve been talking about since I was campaigning. A lot of people said it couldn’t happen, but we kept working. I had a lot of grassroots supporters and pastors behind me and we made it happen. We are excited for Flint. We’re excited for the people. That’s been my focus this whole time. Thank you, President Obama!”
