Partnering with Icelandic Global, I Got You Babe, legend and one of OSF’s favorite girls Cher may not be able to “turn back time” as, what’s done is done: The water crisis and conditions in Flint Michigan is at disrespectful and inhumane levels but the superstar did indeed and in deed “find a way.”
As per a press release announced this past weekend, beginning today, more than 181k bottles of CLEAN water will be high tailing it to the federal state of emergency declared town of Flint given the badly contaminated water being piped to its residents.
Via the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, the water is scheduled to arrive and begin immediately distributing it to those most in need for drinking, cooking and washing.
“The water will go directly to community centers, food banks and fire houses focusing in on low income housing areas,” said the release.
Cher stated: “This is a tragedy of staggering proportion and shocking that it’s happening in the middle of our country. I cannot wait for the water to get there to help these people who have been poisoned.”
As we reported, President Barack Obama’s declared a federal emergency will send send $5 million in federal aid in support of a solution to the crisis, according to the Detroit Free Press.
In addition to the state of emergency granted by the president, the Michigan state government asked that the crisis be declared a disaster but the request was denied as, federal law disallows man-made catastrophe’s be declares disasters.
In an effort to cut costs (and corners), the water became contaminated when city switched its water source to the Flint River-a significantly more corrosive source which was not properly treated when flowing through the city’s pipes. As a result, the Flint River leached lead from the pipes that in turn ran right through to resident’s homes and so it began.
Thus far, a tally of people who’ve been poisoned has not been released as yet but we do know that effects of being exposed to lead are irreversible.
This, according to the NIH:
Symptoms:
There are many possible symptoms of lead poisoning. Lead can affect many different parts of the body. A single high dose of lead can cause severe emergency symptoms.
However, it is more common for lead poisoning to build up slowly over time. This occurs from repeated exposure to small amounts of lead. In this case, there may not be any obvious symptoms. Over time, even low levels of lead exposure can harm a child’s mental development. The health problems get worse as the level of lead in the blood gets higher.
Lead is much more harmful to children than adults because it can affect children’s developing nerves and brains. The younger the child, the more harmful lead can be. Unborn children are the most vulnerable.
Possible complications include:
- Behavior or attention problems
- Failure at school
- Hearing problems
- Kidney damage
- Reduced IQ
- Slowed body growth
- The symptoms of lead poisoning may include:
- Abdominal pain and cramping (usually the first sign of a high, toxic dose of lead poison)
- Aggressive behavior
- Anemia
- Constipation
- Difficulty getting pregnant
- Difficulty sleeping
- Headaches
- Hearing loss
- Irritability
- Loss of previous developmental skills (in young children)
- Low appetite and energy
- Reduced sensations
- Very high levels of lead may cause vomiting, staggering walk, muscle weakness, seizures, or coma
Here is more information about lead in tap water, what can be done to prevent it, and how to recognize if your water is contaminated.
In the celebrity world, Flint, Michigan natives include R&B family DeBarge.
Other Michigan natives alive, kicking and poppin’ right now include:
