Final answer:
The Flint Water Crisis began in spring 2014, stemming from a switch to the Flint River as the water supply, which caused lead contamination. The exact date of the state of emergency is not provided in the materials, but the crisis led to significant community response and long-term consequences.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Flint Water Crisis is a significant event in history where systemic issues led to a community-wide health emergency. The crisis began in the spring of 2014, when Flint, Michigan switched its water supply from Detroit's municipal system to the Flint River as a cost-saving measure. However, the river's water was corrosive, which caused lead to leach from old pipes into the water supply, exposing residents to severe levels of lead. This public health crisis escalated when the State of Emergency was officially declared in Flint, but the referenced materials do not provide the exact date of this declaration.
Citizens and community groups mobilized to respond to the crisis, creating organizations such as Flint Rising and receiving generous donations of money, water bottles, and filters. The long-term impacts of the crisis, including the cost of damages and health repercussions, are still being calculated, emphasizing the severity of the issue and the importance of proper management of public resources.