FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CORRECTED: City of Benton Harbor residents urged to pick up free, bottled water today by 6 p.m. due to impending weather conditions

Press Release CORRECTED DATE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 1, 2022 CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112,  SutfinL1@michigan.gov City of Benton Harbor residents urged to pick up free, bottled water today by 6 p.m. due to impending weather conditions LANSING, Mich. – With many Michigan communities expected to get several inches of snow over the next couple days followed by freezing temperatures, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is urging City of Benton Harbor residents to stock up on bottled water by 6 p.m. today. Weather conditions could disrupt water distribution at the high school and Southwest Community Action Agency (SWCAA) on Wednesday, Feb. 2 and Thursday, Feb. 3. Travel conditions may be dangerous due to ice and snow and wind chills could pose health and safety threats for volunteers. To ensure Benton Harbor volunteers and families stay safe and have water available, we are urging residents to pick up water by 6 p.m. today. Water distribution is available until 6 p.m. today at Benton Harbor High School, 870 Colfax Avenue. City of Benton Harbor residents are asked to check websites for Michigan.gov/MiLeadSafe and Southwest Community Action Agency before traveling to the high school or SWCAA sites on Feb 2 and Feb. 3. Updates on water distribution will be posted on those sites. Free bottled water continues to be provided by MDHHS and distributed by local, paid residents of the City of Benton Harbor. Residents are being encouraged to use bottled water for cooking, drinking, brushing teeth, rinsing foods and mixing powdered infant formula as part of an accelerated, across-the-board effort to reduce the risk of exposure to lead in drinking water while the city replaces all lead service lines. To arrange water delivery to homebound or residents without transportation in the City of Benton Harbor, contact 211, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Phones that cannot contact 211 should contact 844-875-9211. Community volunteers from the following organizations are available to assist City of Benton Harbor residents pick up water at Benton Harbor High School, 870 Colfax Avenue as follows: Wednesday, Feb. 2 12 – 2 p.m. – Volunteers from Purpose Church Ministries - CHECK WEBSITES BEFORE TRAVELING 4 – 6 p.m. – Volunteers from Purpose Church Ministries - CHECK WEBSITES BEFORE TRAVELING Thursday, Feb. 3 12 - 2 p.m. - Volunteers from Ebenezer Baptist Church - CHECK WEBSITES BEFORE TRAVELING 4 – 6 p.m. – Volunteers from Brotherhood of All Nations - CHECK WEBSITES BEFORE TRAVELING Saturday, Feb. 5 12 – 2 p.m. – Volunteers from Boys & Girls Club of Benton Harbor 2 – 4 p.m. – Volunteers from New Covenant Community Baptist Church Sunday, Feb. 6 2 – 4 p.m. – Volunteers from Abundant Life C.O.G.I.C. 4 – 6 pm – Volunteers from Brotherhood of All Nations  Monday, Feb. 7 12 – 2 p.m. – Volunteers from Abundant Life C.O.G.I.C. 4 – 6 p.m. – Volunteers from New Covenant Community Baptist Church Southwest Community Action Agency, 331 Miller Street, will host self-serve water pickup as follows: Wednesday, Feb. 2, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. – CHECK WEBSITES BEFORE TRAVELING Thursday, Feb. 3, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. - CHECK WEBSITES BEFORE TRAVELING Friday, Feb. 4, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 7, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.  Additional dates and locations for bottled water pick up will be added to make sure community needs are met. Information will be posted on Michigan.gov/MiLeadSafe. The ongoing response in Benton Harbor includes the city, Berrien County Health Department, local community organizations, MDHHS and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called for the replacement of lead service lines in Benton Harbor in 18 months and the Whitmer-Gilchrist Administration has provided just under $20 million to Benton Harbor to speed up their service line replacement timeline.   There is no cost to City of Benton Harbor residents for lead service line replacement. To assist with assuring the work can be completed as soon as possible, residents are encouraged to complete the Water Service Line Replacement Agreement available online. Contractors cannot begin work on any property without property owner authorization. Completed forms can be returned to Abonmarche, 95 West Main Street, Benton Harbor, MI 49022 or emailed to bvasher@abonmarche.com. These efforts also include recently approved funds to remove lead from homes in the city. Families living in Benton Harbor can apply for this service by filling out and mailing in an application that is available online. Residents also can call 866-691-5323 to obtain information.  For questions about lead, MDHHS can be reached at 866-691-5323 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. # # #   Benton Harbor update 020122 NR.pdf   Become a foster parent through Michigan Department of Health & Human Services foster care program. Questions?  Contact Us SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe All |  Subscriber Help STAY CONNECTED:       This email was sent to ooseims.archieves@blogger.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Michigan Dept of Health & Human Services · 235 S. Grand Ave W. · Lansing, MI 48909 · 1-855-275-6424