In a gripping turn of events, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has formally sought a major disaster declaration from the Biden administration for the small village of East Palestine, a staggering 150 days after the drastic Norfolk Southern train derailment. As the deadline to request the declaration loomed ominously, DeWine implored the federal government for assistance, explaining that the state continues to wrestle with evaluating the long-term aftermath of the disastrous incident.
In his letter to President Joe Biden, the Republican governor pinpoints why the request is critical. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied an extension to the appeal period, despite the state’s ongoing evaluation of the pervasive damages. Adding to the mounting concerns, Norfolk Southern, which is currently entangled in litigation over the derailment, recently declared its intention to sue rail car owners to recover cleanup costs, leaving the guarantee of community assistance uncertain at best.
“The possibility remains that the voluntary support provided by Norfolk Southern could at some point in the future cease, and this declaration is needed to ensure that the State and Federal government use all resources available to step in and provide the community with needed assistance”, warns DeWine.
Newly unveiled documents from the National Transportation Safety Board elucidate the circumstances of the unforgettable day. On February 3, the freight train derailed while passing through the small village of East Palestine, residing near Ohio’s border with Pennsylvania. The culprit? A car’s wheel set had fallen off. Luckily, the incident did not claim any lives. However, the subsequent controlled burn of a mass of toxic chemicals that escaped from derailed tanker cars elicited waves of terror among local residents, tainting their once peaceful life with ominous health and environmental threats.
Having weighed the options, local officials determined a “controlled release” to be the safest course of action to circumvent the threat of impending explosions. Unfortunately, this decision has yielded five months of ongoing cleanup, with no definitive end in sight, leaving the beleaguered community apprehensive.
“Residents continue to report medical conditions and are concerned that the air and water were impacted by the chemicals released during this incident,” DeWine reports, adding, “This derailment and the subsequent controlled release were extraordinary events that continue to garner national media coverage.”
Crucially, DeWine expressly mentions the current efforts to “identify current needs and evaluate the future impacts” this calamity will have on individuals and the wider East Palestine community. He underscores the extensive economic effects: homeowners and businesses face declining property values and dwindling income, as potential visitors increasingly shun the community out of fear.
In conclusion, Governor Mike DeWine’s urgent appeal to the Biden administration for a major disaster declaration underscores the enormity of the situation that East Palestine faces, a city still grappling with the disastrous effects of a train derailment some five months ago. The poignant urgency reflected in DeWine’s call signals the dire need for a more robust alliance between state and federal bodies to ensure that communities like East Palestine aren’t left to grapple with such crises alone. Even as volatile corporations navigate turbulent legal waters, the government – at all levels – must remain steadfast and committed to securing the welfare of the citizens it serves.
