Michigan Nation Guard Sgt. Steve Kiger, left, of Harrison, Mich., stacks cases of drinking water with Red Cross volunteer Franklin Dickerson of Pleasant Ridge Wednesday Jan 13, 2016 in Flint, Mich. (Dale G. Young/Detroit News via AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is appointing a Health and Human Services Department official to lead federal efforts to help the city of Flint, Michigan, deal with its water crisis.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest says he anticipates that President Barack Obama will meet with the city’s mayor on Tuesday.
Mayor Karen Weaver had already visited with the president’s senior adviser, Valerie Jarrett, earlier in the day.
Earnest says state and local officials are responsible for managing the response. He says an assistant secretary at the department, Nicole Lurie, will coordinate federal help.
The crisis began in 2014 when a state-appointed emergency manager switched Flint from Detroit water to FlintRiver water to save money. Flint returned to the Detroit system after elevated lead levels were discovered in children.
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Michigan Nation Guard Sgt. Steve Kiger, left, of Harrison, Mich., stacks cases of drinking water with Red Cross volunteer Franklin Dickerson of Pleasant Ridge Wednesday Jan 13, 2016 in Flint, Mich. (Dale G. Young/Detroit News via AP) 
