- Barbara Kugler and her husband were jolted off the couch by the sound of a train screeching to a halt, followed by a large explosion, on February 3.
- The train carried chemicals that posed an immediate threat, including the flammable gas vinyl chloride, which can cause headaches, dizziness, and cancer.
- Nearly 2,000 residents were evacuated, and a controlled burn was set off by Norfolk Southern officials.
- Fish in nearby creeks have died, and locals are seeking their own independent tests of the air and water.
- The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has declared the water in 50 private wells and the air quality in over 500 homes free from deadly contaminants.
- Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has reassured the public that the water is safe to drink and air is safe to breathe, but the locals don’t trust the authorities.
- Former President Donald Trump and former Representative for Hawaii Tulsi Gabbard have visited the town, bearing food and water supplies.
- It took until February 16 for the first top Biden official, EPA administrator Michael Regan, to be on the scene.
- The Biden administration has refused to declare East Palestine a disaster area and grant FEMA aid.
- Former President Donald Trump and former Representative for Hawaii Tulsi Gabbard have visited the town, bearing food and water supplies.
- East Palestine residents are seeking better answers, more federal support, and a proper cleanup that eradicates all chemicals from the ground and the streams, guaranteeing their safety.
- People are worried about the long-term effects on their health, and feel like their home values have been lost.
Published February 23, 2023
Visit The Free Press to read Salena Zito’s original post ‘We Don’t Know What We Are Breathing’: A Report from East Palestine
