Flint Water Crisis: Businesses Provide Help, City to Receive USD$28 Million in Aid

Michigan State Gov. Rick Snyder has passed a bill providing USD $28 Million in aid to those families who have suffered from the Flint water crisis.

According to CNN, Snyder calls out to all Michiganders to stand up and work together to fix the problems that have happened.

The bill approves State funds that will help affected residents with their water bills, as well as paying for bottled water. The bill will also help pay for the nine school nurse's salaries as well as treatment for the children who have been found with high levels of lead in their blood.

But, is it too late to help? CBS News already has reported that the water levels in Flint have tested to contain dangerous levels of lead.

The level of lead in the water was caused when the city changed its water supply from the Great Lakes to the Flint River in 2014 in a cost cutting attempt by the local and state governments.

Government officials claim that it wasn't known that the river contained dangerous amounts of lead and that it was because the city failed to add standard anti-corrosion chemicals to the water.

CBS News also reported that at least 100 children have already tested positive for high levels of toxic lead in their blood. Some children have begun to see the effects of the toxic lead, with reports of hair loss and troubled blood test results.

The good news for residents of Flint and Michigan is that local, state and national officials have begun to approve emergency budgets to address the water issue.

Crain's Detroit Business reported that Congress is currently in the process of approving a USD $400 million budget in efforts to help the city.

However, while the budget congress is trying to approve will help, it's only a small bump in the road. Some experts are estimating that the cost to fix Flint's water problem could be as high as USD $750 million.

Snyder has also come under a lot of fire because of his handling of the situation and many are calling for his resignation. However, the state governor has said that he will see this crisis through first before making any decisions on his career.

Experts are claiming that it might take several months to years before Flint's water supply is safe for human consumption again. Until then, residents of the area will have to be diligent and adhere to the government's advice about the water.