Where is Flint, Michigan?

Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, located along the Flint River, 60 miles (97 km) northwest of Detroit. It is the county seat of Genesee County. The 2010 census recorded its population as 102,434, making it the seventh largest city in Michigan.The Flint metropolitan area is located entirely within Genesee County. It is the fourth largest metropolitan area in Michigan with a population of 425,790 in 2010.

What is the Flint Water Crisis?

In April 2014, Flint changed its water source from Lake Huron (treated by the Detroit water system) to the Flint River (treated at the Flint Water Treatment Plant), to save money. The Flint River water had more chloride and was more corrosive than Lake Huron water.

The Flint River water caused lead to leach from pipes, joints and solder into Flint households’ drinking water, resulting in extremely elevated levels of lead in the blood of Flint children. A study released in September 2015 showed that the number of Flint children with high levels of lead in their blood had nearly doubled since the switch to Flint River water.

The Flint water crisis is considered one of the worst man-made environmental disasters in United States history.

What Are The Solutions to Flint Water Crisis?

In the meantime, Flint residents are advised to use filtered tap water for drinking, cooking and bathing. Flint Mayor Karen Weaver has said that the city will provide free water filters and bottled water to Flint residents until all of the lead pipes are replaced.

The state of Michigan has also provided $97 million to Flint to pay for bottled water, filters and other resources. An additional $87 million has been allocated to Flint by the federal government.

What Are The Flint Water Crisis’s Aftermath?

Flint’s water crisis has had a number of economic, social and political impacts.

• The Flint water crisis has been linked to an increase in Legionnaires’ disease in Flint. There were 91 cases of Legionnaires’ disease in Flint from June 2014 to November 2015, including 12 deaths.
  
• The Flint water crisis has also been linked to an increase in infant mortality rates. A study published in the journal Pediatrics found that Flint’s infant mortality rate rose by 58% from 2014 to 2015, while the rest of Michigan saw a 5.6% decrease.

• The Flint water crisis has also led to a decline in property values in Flint. A study by the University of Michigan found that Flint’s property values declined by an average of 4.9% from 2014 to 2015, while the rest of Michigan saw an average increase of 3.1%.

• The Flint water crisis has also had political impacts. In December 2015, Flint Mayor Karen Weaver declared a state of emergency in Flint.In January 2016, Governor Rick Snyder declared a state of emergency in Flint. In December 2016, President Barack Obama signed a $170 million aid package for Flint.
  
• The Flint water crisis has also resulted in criminal charges against 15 current and former state and local officials.

Are you a victim of the Flint water crisis?

If you or someone you know was harmed by the Flint water crisis, you may be eligible for compensation. A $641 million settlement has been proposed to resolve Flint water crisis lawsuits. The settlement would create a fund to pay for medical treatment, property damage, lost income and other claims related to the Flint water crisis. Contact a Flint water crisis lawyer at Napoli Shkolnik PLLC to discuss your legal options.