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In Flint, National Guard scales back from 200 to 70 troops

Members of the Michigan National Guard preparing to help residents in Flint get access to clean drinking water.
Steve Carmody
/
Michigan Radio

As of today , the National Guard is scaling back its mission in Flint.

The guard will keep manning five water resource centers around the city. But troops will no longer be going door-to-door handing out bottled water, filters, and testing kits. 

So far response teams, including police and civilians, say they've reached some 30,000 homes.

But they know they haven't reached everyone. 

"Some folks were at work. Some folks were away from their home. Some folks uh may not have wanted to answer the door for us," said Sgt. Thomas Vega with the Michigan National Guard. "And, we're hoping to do a follow up and get them the help they need."

Officials say more than 200 National Guard soldiers and airmen were working in Flint. About 70 will remain at the water resource sites.

Kate Wells is a Peabody Award-winning journalist currently covering public health. She was a 2023 Pulitzer Prize finalist for her abortion coverage.
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