Snyder Could Have Declared Emergency in Flint Much Earlier

Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press
5:46 a.m. EST February 29, 2016

LANSING -- Gov. Rick Snyder could have declared a state of emergency in Flint months earlier than he did, according to an e-mail sent to the governor's office from a Michigan State Police emergency expert and released by the Snyder administration over the weekend.

Snyder acknowledged lead poisoning of Flint's drinking water around Oct. 1, but faced strong criticism for not declaring a state of emergency in Flint and Genesee County until more than three months later, on Jan. 5.

Snyder officials have repeatedly said Snyder couldn't take the action until local officials declared an emergency, and Genesee County did not take that action until Jan. 4.

But in a Nov. 13 e-mail, Capt. Chris Kelenske of the MSP, who is the deputy state director of emergency management and Homeland Security, told an official in Snyder's office: "As you know, the Governor can declare at any time for any reason" ...

http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2016/02/28/emails-snyder-could-have-declared-flint-emergency-sooner/81085672/