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Instructions: PR CHALLENGE POLS 4860 Public Relations for Public Administrators

It all began June 2012 – April 2013 as Flint, Michigan began looking for cheaper water sources. The crisis is one of the most devastating public health crises in the U.S. in recent years. There are still repercussions.

Analyze the Crisis Response and Public Communications

of the State of Michigan in the Flint, Michigan Water Crisis

1. There is enough blame to go around in this case, from the City of Flint to the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA). However, your task is to analyze what occurred at the state government level (including

the Office of the Governor at the time, Rich Snyder) and analyze its crisis response strategies and

communication actions.

2. Research the Flint Water Crisis, using credible sources. Some recent updates are available under Content/ PR Challenge. Consider the mission of state government and its responsibility to assure public health and safety. A brief timeline is included as a starting point below.

How well did the State of Michigan handle public communications during the crisis?

A. INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH (Brief statement of your assessment) B. ANALYSIS: Examine the state government’s communication response and recovery, in terms of:

• The type of crisis • Crisis communication and strategies employed • Evaluation (What went wrong and what went right?) • Ethical considerations

C. CONCLUSIONS D. REFERENCES

APPROACH:

• Concentrate on analysis. Please do not restate history details of the crisis in your paper. • Support arguments/positions with course materials and other credible sources. • Include specific examples.

• Must have at least 4 credible sources, including the textbook. Proper citations; no stand-alone URLs.

FORMAT: Approximately 3 full pages, double-spaced; numbered. Title page and reference page are not included in page count. Attach paper as a Word document in the Assignment section (under Assessments tab) in BlazeView. GRADING: 20 points.

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Timeline of the Flint, Michigan Water Crisis

2011 – 2013 Bankrupt Flint MI is placed under a state-appointed emergency manager, authorized to make decisions for the city.

To save money, Flint seeks a cheaper water supply than its current source of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD). A temporary water source to the Flint River is proposed while a

pipeline is built to connect the city to Port Huron Lake.

2014

April 25: Flint switches to the Flint River temporarily and water begins to flow.

May: City residents complain about smell, color and odor of water.

Aug: E. coli and coliform bacteria are detected in Flint water.

Oct: General Motors halts use of Flint River water due to corrosion of machinery.

2015

Jan: Violation of Safe Drinking Water Act in Flint is cited.

Feb: High lead levels in Flint homes are detected. Lead, a known neurotoxin, is particularly

harmful to young children.

April: EPA is notified that Flint’s water supply from the Flint River was not treated with anti-

corrosion chemicals. Lead from old pipes leeched into the city’s water.

Sept: Virginia Tech finds “serious” lead levels; Hurley Medical Center finds elevated

lead levels in children.

Oct 2: City and state provide free water filters and testing.

Oct 16: Flint switches back to Detroit Water and Sewerage Department for water supply.

Dec. 14: Flint mayor declares state of emergency.

2016

Jan Michigan governor declares state of emergency.

President declares federal emergency, authorizing FEMA assistance.

EPA issues emergency order.

Feb: U.S. House of Representatives holds hearings on Flint MI water crisis

March: Michigan governor presents action plan to mitigate crisis.

April 12: Flint water still deemed unsafe by researchers

April: Michigan attorney general files criminal charges against three officials

June: Michigan files lawsuits against corporations involved in crisis

July: Michigan files criminal charges against more officials.

SOURCES – Feel free to add your own. Avoid clearly political or slanted viewpoints.

State of Michigan https://www.michigan.gov/som/.

Michigan Governor’s Office https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/ Search “flint water” for latest entries.

Final Report, Flint Water Advisory Task Force, March 2016 -

https://www.michigan.gov/documents/snyder/FWATF_FINAL_REPORT_21March2016_517805_7.pdf

3 Updates on Flint, Michigan Water Crisis: There are several media updates available online. Search “flint Michigan

water crisis update.” These were some of the best recent articles – they are available in Content/PR Challenge.

• Renwick, Dustin. “Five years on, the Flint water crisis is nowhere near over.” April 25, 2019. National Geographic

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/04/flint-water-crisis-fifth-anniversary-flint-river-

pollution/#close.

• Taddonio, Patrice. “Takeaways From FRONTLINE’s Investigation of the Flint Water Crisis.” September 11, 2019.

Frontline, NPR. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/flints-deadly-water-8-key-takeaways-from-frontlines-

investigation-of-the-flint-water-crisis/

• Smith, Mitch Smith; Bosman, Julie Bosman and Monica Davey. “Flint’s Water Crisis Started 5 Years Ago. It’s Not

Over.” April 25, 2019, The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/25/us/flint-water-crisis.html

• Tow, Karen Pinchin. “The EPA Says Flint’s Water is Safe — Scientists Aren’t So Sure.” September 10, 2019,

Frontline, NPR. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/epa-says-flints-water-is-safe-scientists-arent-so-sure/