The ongoing water contamination crisis affecting an embattled city in Michigan was recently declared an emergency by President Barack Obama, and federal aid will be sent to the region.

The White House announced the development in a news release on Saturday.

Flint, Michigan, started seeing unsafe levels of lead in its drinking water after it began taking water from the Flint River in 2014, according to the city’s website. Flint switched back to its former supplier, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, in October 2015, though recent tests show the level of lead in the water of many homes remains above what is considered safe.

Flint declared a state of emergency in December 2015, according to its website, and Genesee County and the state followed suit in early January. The state’s governor, Rick Snyder, asked Obama to declare an emergency on Thursday, saying in a news release that the declaration would help the relief efforts and “protect the health, safety and welfare of Flint residents.”

The White House said the Federal Emergency Management Agency would be responsible for coordinating relief efforts “to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe” in the area. FEMA will provide water filters, drinking water, testing kits and other essential supplies for up to 90 days. The relief will be federally funded, though Michigan will be required to contribute 25 percent.

“I appreciate the President approving my federal emergency request and supporting Flint during this critical situation,” Snyder said in a statement after Obama’s declaration. “I have pledged to use all state resources possible to help heal Flint, and these additional resources will greatly assist in efforts underway to ensure every resident has access to clean water resources.”

Snyder’s office said in a news release the governor had also asked Obama for a major disaster declaration, but that request was denied because the crisis doesn’t meet the criteria. Such relief is only available in the wake of fires, floods, explosions or other natural events.

The state is “actively reviewing” a potential appeal, according to Snyder’s office.

The federal emergency declaration is the latest step in an ongoing relief process.

Local officials, volunteers and American Red Cross personnel had distributed bottled water, filters and other supplies to more than 16,300 homes free of charge as of Sunday, according to a news release from the state. State officials said more than 84,000 cases of water, approximately 185,000 filters and nearly 34,000 testing kits were going to be distributed throughout Flint.

Snyder had previously sent the National Guard to Flint to assist, according to the release. The number of troops on hand was expected to more than double and reach about 70 on Monday.

Residents of Flint are still being advised not to drink any unfiltered water.