The dangerous freight train derailment and the intentional burning of hazardous chemicals on board in Ohio has been largely ignored by the mainstream media — angering locals that are confused and scared.
Local officials near East Palestine, Ohio have announced a town hall meeting Wednesday evening to discuss lingering questions local residence may have.
Disturbing Plan to “TURN OFF” Your Money… [sponsored]
And there are still plenty — about the huge plumes of potentially toxic smoke, the persisting odors, the reports of sick or dead animals, the potential impact on drinking water, all the cleaning up. Even as school has resumed and trains are rolling by again, things aren’t the same.
One expert told Columbus’ First News it was like nuking the town with chemicals.
“We basically nuked a town with chemicals so we could get a railroad open,” Sil Caggino, a hazardous materials expert, told the local station.
🚨 “We Basically Nuked a Town” Says Hazardous Materials Expert on the Ohio Disaster
“We basically nuked a town with chemicals so we could get a railroad open” pic.twitter.com/0tLnzoSQRT
— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) February 15, 2023
In and around East Palestine, near the Pennsylvania state line, people are asking whether the air and water around them is safe for people, pets and livestock.
Deadly Sex Mistake Could be KILLING Seniors [sponsored]
They want assistance navigating the financial help the railroad offered hundreds of families who evacuated, and they want to know whether it will be held responsible for what happened.
Rail operator Norfolk Southern announced Tuesday that it is also creating a $1 million charitable fund to help the immediate local community of some 4,700 people while continuing remediation work, including removing spilled contaminants from the ground and streams and monitoring air quality.
No one was directly injured when about 50 cars derailed in a fiery, mangled mess on the outskirts of East Palestine on Feb. 3. As fears grew about a potential explosion, officials seeking to avoid an uncontrolled blast had the area evacuated and opted to release and burn toxic vinyl chloride from five rail cars, sending flames and black smoke billowing into the sky again.
Despite serious concerns and rumors, Ohio state officials have repeatedly offered assurances that air monitoring hasn’t detected any remaining concerns.
But even low levels of contaminants that aren’t considered hazardous can create lingering odors or symptoms such as headaches, Ohio’s health director said Tuesday.
Sponsored: 9 drugs now linked to form of “dementia”?
President Joe Biden has not yet announced any plans to visit the disaster site. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has not visited the site but made a comment on Twitter.
I continue to be concerned about the impacts of the Feb 3 train derailment near East Palestine, OH, and the effects on families in the ten days since their lives were upended through no fault of their own. It’s important that families have access to useful & accurate information:
— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) February 14, 2023
Discover the 3 foods that contain powerful blood pressure-improving nutrients [sponsored]
We will look to these investigation results & based on them, use all relevant authorities to ensure accountability and continue to support safety.
— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) February 14, 2023
Seniors Start This New “Lung Cleanse” NOW [sponsored]
EPA has screened 291 homes and no detections were identified – and 181 homes remain. To request screening, call 330-849-3919. For more information, visit: https://t.co/uGvVurmT44
— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) February 14, 2023
Precautions are being taken to ensure contaminants that have poisoned parts of the Ohio River don’t make it into drinking water, officials claim.
The Horn editorial team and the Associated Press contributed to this article