Well here's a fun fact for you. President Barack Obama signed an emergency declaration for Michigan in January 2016 — a move that allowed for federal resources to aid in the response to the lead contamination in the city’s water supply.
There’s a distinction between that emergency and the national emergency declared by Trump, which cites the National Emergencies Act and aims to divert billions in federal funds to finance the wall.
The emergency declaration signed by Obama was a designation under the Stafford Act, a disaster relief law, that allowed for federal aid of up to $5 million (not including additional assistance from federal agencies that didn’t require the declaration). Such emergency declarations bolster state or local “efforts in providing emergency services, such as the protection of lives, property, public health, and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the United States,” the Federal Emergency Management Agency notes.
The federal government’s response included measures such as distributing water and providing water filters and water sampling. The emergency declaration ended in August 2016. Obama also signed the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act in December 2016. The act provided $170 million for communities grappling with drinking water emergencies and Flint was specifically mentioned as an intended recipient.
President Barack Obama did more for the economy than any other president in times of a deep recession.
1. Ended the 2008 Recession
In February 2009, Congress approved Obama's $787 billion economic stimulus package. It cut taxes, extended unemployment benefits, and funded public works projects.
The recession ended in July 2009 when GDP growth turned positive.
In just seven months, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act pumped $241.9 billion into the economy. That increased growth to a robust 3.9 percent rate by early 2010. By March 30, 2011, almost all ($633.5 billion) of the funds were spent.
2. Modernized the Auto Industry
Obama bailed out the U.S. auto industry on March 30, 2009. The federal government took over General Motors and Chrysler, saving three million jobs. It forced the companies to become more fuel efficient and therefore more globally competitive
3. Received the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize
On October 9, 2009, Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize. The Committee lauded "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." He withdrew troops from Iraq in 2011. He reduced the U.S. nuclear warhead stockpile by 10 percent.
4. Reformed Health Care
On March 23, 2010, the Affordable Care Act revolutionized healthcare. By 2014, the economy benefited from having 95 percent of the population on health insurance.
