FLINT, Mich. (Jan. 16, 2026) — Today marks exactly 10 years since a state of emergency was declared on the Flint water crisis — one of the worst man-made environmental and public health disasters in our country’s recent history. In reflection on this tragedy and in response to the distribution of Flint settlement fund payments beginning last month, Sen. John Cherry (D-Flint) released the following statement:
“Though the state of emergency that was declared for the Flint water crisis 10 years ago was officially lifted on paper last year, we continue to see the consequences of this tragedy every day with the devastating toll it has taken on residents’ mental and physical health — a toll that requires significant resources to address.
“While no amount of money, words, or actions can fully undo the harm inflicted on our children and community and bring back those we tragically lost, as victims to a public health crisis and environmental injustice of the highest order, I do want to make sure residents are aware of the compensation they are entitled to.
“With the distribution of Flint water settlement payments starting last month, I want to urge residents who have filed a claim to be on the lookout for these award notices in the mail, so they can access the funds they have long been waiting for.”
More than a decade after the start of the Flint water crisis, thousands of city residents have begun receiving their share of the $626.25 million settlement fund, approved for distribution by a federal judge last month.
The first award notices and payments were sent in December for those who have been approved for residential property damage claims — specifically, for those who do not have a property shared with another claimant. Additional award notices, including those to address the harm inflicted on the health of children and adults, will then be issued on a rolling basis, according to the official Flint settlement fund website.