Ohio train wreck: city hall concerned about smell and sick animals

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio – An Ohio village derailed by a freight train and the deliberate burning of some dangerous chemicals on board invited affected residents to a meeting at City Hall Wednesday night to discuss outstanding issues.

And there are many more – about huge plumes of smoke, persistent odors, reports of sick or dead animals, potential impact on drinking water, all cleaning. Even though school has resumed and trains are passing by again, everything has changed.

In and around Eastern Palestine, near the Pennsylvania state line, people are wondering if the air and water around them is safe for people, pets, and livestock. They need the financial help that the railroad has offered to hundreds of evacuated families, and they want to know if 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 community of about 4,700 by continuing restoration work, including removing spilled pollutants from land and streams and monitoring air quality.

READ MORE: What is known about the train derailment in Ohio

“We will be judged by our actions,” said Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan Shaw. “We are cleaning up the area in an environmentally friendly way, refunding residents affected by the crash, and working with community members to determine what is needed for East Palestine to rebuild and prosper.”

No one was hurt when about 50 cars derailed in a fiery, mangled mess on the outskirts of eastern Palestine on February 3. As fears of a possible explosion grew, officials seeking to avoid an uncontrolled explosion evacuated the area and decided to vacate it. burn the toxic vinyl chloride from five railroad cars, sending flames and black smoke into the sky again.

The cause of the derailment is believed to have been a mechanical problem with the railroad car’s axle, and the National Transportation Safety Board said it had a video showing a wheel bearing overheating just before the trip. The NTSB said they expect their preliminary report in about two weeks.

Misinformation and exaggeration are circulating online, with state and federal officials repeatedly reassuring that air monitoring has not revealed any remaining problems. Ohio’s health director said Tuesday that even low levels of pollutants that are not considered dangerous can cause persistent odor or symptoms such as headaches.

Precautions are also taken to ensure that contaminants that have entered the Ohio River do not end up in drinking water.