2-1-1 Update Flint Water Response for Monday, March 28, 2016

Note:  Beginning today the 2-1-1 summary is moving to a three day per week distribution schedule (Monday/Wednesday/Friday).  In the event of a major announcement or issue, Michigan 2-1-1 will send out special alerts.  Questions, meeting dates and outreach/awareness materials for inclusion in the summary can be sent to tpage@uwmich.org.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • The Flint Water Crisis Community Partners Workgroup Meeting Schedule
    The Community Partners Workgroup met on Thursday, March 24.  Notes from the meeting are provided as an attachment to today’s update.

    • Coordination Workgroup: Tuesday, March 29th, 2:00 p.m., American Red Cross
    • Education Workgroup: Tuesday, March 29th, 8:30 a.m., Special Services North (5075 Pilgrim Rd., 48507)
    • Flint Community Resilience Group (FCRG) Mental Health Workgroup: TBA
      FCRG Sub-workgroups

      • FCRG Data & Gap Analysis: Every Thursday, 1:30 p.m., Genesee Health System Board Room
      • FCRG Planning & Coordination: Every other Wednesday (NEXT: April 6th), 10:30 a.m., Genesee Health System Board Room
      • FCRG Faith: TBA
      • FCRG Stress Management: Every other Wednesday (NEXT: March 30th), 12:00 p.m., Genesee Health System 4th Floor Conference Room
      • FCRG Outreach to Special & Vulnerable Populations: Meeting on-line, via e-mail (to become part of this workgroup, please e-mail rkeswick@genhs.org)
      • FCRG Psychological First Aid (PFA): TBA (for more information, please e-mail nkirsh@genhs.org)
    • Physical Health Workgroup: TBA, Greater Flint Health Coalition (3rd Floor, Suite 301)
    • Resource Recovery Workgroup: Tuesday, March 29th, 9:00 a.m., Food Bank of Eastern Michigan

    Flint Water Crisis Community Partners General Meeting: Thursday, March 31st, 3:00 p.m., TBA

  • Michigan Chapter of VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster) is hosting weekly coordination calls every Wednesday, 4:00 p.m.
    Conference Call-In Number:  641-715-3274    Access Code:  632713#

  • Snyder’s office sent a message out on the FLINT text alert system with the reminder “If you’re homebound & don’t have transportation to a water resource site, call United Way 211. More info at http://helpforflint.com.”
    • Approximately 25,000 Flint residents have registered for the text alerts. Sign up by texting FLINT to 444-999.
  • The Detroit Free Press today reported on a 79 year old Flint resident with a heart condition who pushes a grocery cart a mile back and forth twice a week to pick up water. freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2016/03/17/photo-blog-living-without-clean-water-flint-story/81863088/
    • United Way 2-1-1 coordinates free home water delivery to elderly and homebound Flint residents. Dial 2-1-1 to make arrangements.

CALL VOLUME
2-1-1 call summary for the week of March 21-27

Call volume from Flint and Genesee County residents remained essentially unchanged from the past two weeks further indication that demand is stabilizing.

  • 526 callers used the Flint Water prompt to reach a 2-1-1 agent. Nearly identical to the past week’s 528 calls.  Flint Water calls accounted for 7.5% of the 6,912 calls to 2-1-1 last week.
  • A total of 862 Genesee County residents (including Flint residents) called 2-1-1, down from 922 calls a week ago.
  • 634 referrals were provided, a slight decrease from 660 the previous week. The average number of referrals was 1.2 referrals per caller.
    • 35% of calls were for drinking water, followed by water filters (12%) and tap water testing (9.3%) were the most common referrals requested.
    • 3 calls were for water heater replacement.
    • There were 3 callers seeking to volunteer and 4 asking about donations.
  • There were 34 unmet needs.

SPECIAL NEEDS/REQUESTS
No special needs or requests were reported today.

RUMOR/SCAM CONTROL

UNRESOLVED

  • From 3/8/16:The Community Partners Communications Workgroup is asking for guidance from the State of Michigan on the following issues: 
    • What affects does heat/time have on the plastic water bottles?
    • Regarding the side-effects of lead: On average how soon do symptoms appear?
    • Who is testing the samples provided by residents? Is more than just lead and coper levels being tested? If so what is being tested?
    • Will lead be passed on to recipients that received blood, organs or plasma from Flint donors?
  • From 3/8/16:The Communications Workgroup requested a diagram or org chart of the crisis response mechanism and how all parties work together, including JIC, EOC, SECO, UCG,CHECC, ACE, CDC, EPA, DEQ, HHS, DHHS, FEMA.
  • From 3/8/16:The Communications Workgroup requested coordination by state, federal and local governments on thedistribution of information related to the Flint Water situation and the response, emphasizing the community doesn’t want multiple information documents for every department. They are asking for one consistent document on key issues and a mechanism to provide feedback to government entities prior to releasing information.
  • From 3/23/16: Follow up from Governor Snyder’s Tele Town Hall with Flint residents
    • Appliance and water heater replacement
      • 2-1-1 is following up with the governor’s office for information on any other options to address appliance repair and/or replacement.
    • Hair loss and painful scalp condition attributed to water were reported by an elderly woman
      • 2-1-1 is following up with DHHS to verify if reports of hair loss/scalp problems should follow the same referral process that is in place for skin rash referrals.
    • Pet safety was addressed
      • 2-1-1 is following up to determine of the MSU Veterinary School will be offering additional free pet testing following the pet testing event on March 19.

Click here to read the meeting notes from March 24th.

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