FEMA 'on standby' to respond to Toledo water crisis

[alp227]

Source: Toledo Blade

Steve Fought, an aide to U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo), said a conference call was planned for early afternoon involving Miss Kaptur, U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R., Bowling Green), U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R., Ohio) and representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Governor Kasich‘‍s office.

FEMA had an emergency-response team “on standby” to respond to Toledo but needed a gubernatorial request for aid before it could be dispatched, Mr. Fought said.

”The governor has to request assistance first,” he said. “We were in communication with them [FEMA] quite early this morning.”

Joe Andrews, a spokesman for the Ohio Department of Public Safety, said the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections had converted its milk-bottling plant near Columbus to package drinking water in large bladders -- the kind typically used milk dispensers in restaurants.

Read more: http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2014/08/02/FEMA-on-standby-to-respond-to-Toledo-water-crisis.html

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Also by the Blade: State of emergency declared in Lucas County after toxins found in Toledo water

Cleveland Plain Dealer: More than 400,000 people without water in Toledo

Detroit Free Press: Toledo, Monroe Co. told not to drink water; Toledo areain state of emergency

Jackson (MI) Citizen Patriot: Water supply in southeastern Michigan stores dwindling after toxins found in Toledo's water supply

AP: Don't drink the water, says 4th-largest Ohio city

[Louisiana1976]

1. That sounds terrible--not having drinkable water. Hope they get the toxins out of the water soon.

[wordpix]

4. they will not get the toxins out soon

The toxin is cynobacterial algae blooms caused by nutrient loading. Stopping nutrient loading throughout the watershed is what has to happen but that involves ending industrial fertilizer and pesticide use, runoff from manure piles, fixing septic systems and sewage treatment plant discharges, etc.

This is what happens when you let corporate polluters including agribiz do whatever they want with impunity and don't appropriate $$ to fix infrastructure.

[freshwest]

6. +1. A systemic problem that requires tax dollars to regulate and protect the public and environment.

[jwirr]

8. I saw some of this in NW IA some years ago. Does this type of pollution effect the ground water?

[wordpix]

17. all pollution on land either runs off to surface waters or infiltrates the ground

Many of these pollutants will enter groundwater, yes

[hedgehog]

11. I know in New York no detergent can be sold that contains any phosphate -

this is done to keep phosphate out of surface waters. I'm not sure what the law is in Ohio.

I do know that when we lived in the Columbus area 30 years ago, every spring there was a warning about high nitrate levels in the water due to agricultural run-off - but you only had to worry if you were an infant or elderly person.

[wordpix]

18. nutrient loading is killing the Chesapeake Bay but no one learns anything

It seems elected officials get in on sound bites that mean nothing and then they do nothing. Most of them, anyway.

[jwirr]

21. Or a fetus like my daughter was.

[hedgehog]

12. Gee, do you suppose new sewer systems might be part of that infrastructure improvement

the Republicans keep blocking?

[wordpix]

19. they will twist it all and blame the bacteria/algae as "natural"

Then they'll cry they need to reduce regulations.

Yes it's natural after industrial/agribiz polluters + bad infrastructure rule the day and politicians care about nothing but getting into office and getting reelected with their legalized bribes

[WhiteTara]

23. It's worse than not being able to drink the water

you can't let it touch your skin either. I have no idea what they're doing about livestock, but this is a real disaster.

[DocwillCuNow]

2. Terrorism, our greatest threat.... NOT. n/t

[wordpix]

3. just keep dumping those poisons & not updating sewage treatment plants

that will help

[RufusTFirefly]

5. What a wonderful business opportunity! Welcome to the Shock Doctrine!

We may be witnessing the end game of neo-liberalism.

[freshwest]

7. Brought to you by Nordquist, Koch and Libertarians. Don't tax me, bro!

And sooo many agree with it due to media brainwashing that they vote for it! Many expect to line their pockets by privatization, too. Some of us oppose it though...

[jwirr]

9. When it hits home instead of some foreign country we may actually start paying attention. At least

those of us who are part of the 99%.

[jmowreader]

10. I think we all know Monday's headlines

"Republicans demand repeal of Obamacare before approving Toledo relief funds."

[blkmusclmachine]

14. I wouldn't be surprised by any Republican dirty tricks. Cuz "Freedumb!"

And "Lib-ur-tee."

[wordpix]

20. definite possibility

[blkmusclmachine]

13. FRACKING

?

[AngryDem001]

15. I'm just waiting for the teabagger morans to

to scream and flail cuz the Governor brought in the ebil FEMA!!!

I can just hear Alex Jones screaming about "FEMA camps" and that the algae bloom is a conspiracy by the Obama admin. to cut people off from water and that water needs to be privatized.

[marble falls]

16. Who needs regulators and EPA?

[wordpix]

22. update from Toledo Day 2

http://online.wsj.com/articles/toledos-drinking-water-ban-reaches-second-day-as-officials-seek-cause-1407081385

Precious quote:

"Everything is trending in a positive direction" ---Toledo Mayor Collins

Really? You solved all those pollution problems in one day? And why are volunteers handing out water in that photo, instead of the National Guard or state emergency dept?