Of all the train derailments and collisions in recent days, the disaster in East Palestine, Ohio is, so far, having the most far-reaching effects. The toxic chemicals in the cars that crashed were released during the derailment, flowing away from the wreckage, and the burning of the wreckage to prevent an explosion sent toxic fumes into the air.
The derailment occurred on February 3, at 8:55 pm when a Norfolk Southern train left the tracks. Federal investigators say the cause of the derailment was a “mechanical issue with a rail car axle.”
Since the derailment, residents have complained about headaches and irritated eyes and finding their cars and lawns covered in soot. The hazardous chemicals that spilled from the train killed thousands of fish, and residents have talked and posted about finding dying or sick pets and wildlife. Residents are frustrated by what they say is incomplete and vague information about the lasting effects from the disaster, which prompted evacuations.
East Palestine residents remain skeptical about the water and air being fine as they should be, posting on social media about their situations and the results of the toxic residue.
“We walked in our house and everything literally started burning — our throats, our noses”: As the EPA reiterates claims that air and water qualities are safe, East Palestine residents are worried about the longterm effects of toxic chemicals released from a derailed train. pic.twitter.com/PH3KBlreTq
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) February 17, 2023
Michael Regan sought to reassure skeptical residents that the water is fit for drinking and the air safe to breathe around East Palestine. https://t.co/5cOFjP5dmZ
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) February 17, 2023
There has been no evacuation suggested for the folks in the area, in fact, the federal government is insisting that the area is safe.
As The Associated Press reports:
EPA Administrator Michael Regan, who walked along a creek that still reeks of chemicals, sought to reassure skeptical residents that the water is fit for drinking and the air safe to breathe around East Palestine, where just under 5,000 people live near the Pennsylvania state line.
“I’m asking they trust the government. I know that’s hard. We know there’s a lack of trust,” Regan said. “We’re testing for everything that was on that train.”
The Associated Press noted that EPA Administrator Michael Regan said to “trust the government,” a tall order in the current times of post-COVID-19 and vaccine revelations, unearthed files and laptop lists. There is also the matter of similar statements made after the twin towers attack on 911. It was also stated at that time that the toxic dust that covered Manhattan was “safe” which has proven not to be true at all.
A lawyer who represents 9/11 victims was baffled by the EPA’s claims that the “air is safe” following the East Palestine train derailment and release of highly-toxic chemicals. Michael Barasch, whose law firm represents thousands of 9/11 victims, said East Palestine residents should not trust the EPA. Although the federal government stated that the dust was safe, people who breathed the toxic fumes continue to suffer from debilitating illnesses. In an interview with Breitbart News, Barasch said it sent “shivers” up his spine when he heard the EPA comment that East Palestine’s air quality was fine.
Breitbart reports Barasch’s statements:
Comparing the EPA’s assurances following the 2001 terror attacks with its recent ones, Barasch, a longtime legal advocate for first responders to the 9/11 attacks and others harmed by resulting toxic dust, argued that “21 years ago, the government at least had a reason: they wanted to reopen Wall Street.”
“They should have just been honest with people then and said, ‘Look, if you don’t have to be downtown in your office, stay away until the fires go out,’” he said. “And that’s what they should have done here.”
Questioning why officials are “telling people the air is safe when they don’t really know one way or another,” Barasch suggested they instead “clear out the area — a 20 mile radius — for two to four weeks and consider it a toxic area until independent scientists can verify that it’s really safe.”
“Otherwise we’re going to see in another twenty years exactly what I’m seeing now — with people developing illnesses and dying from post-9/11 toxic air — only on a lower scale,” he said. Given the amounts of contaminants that were burnt into the air or spilled into local waterways, Barasch wondered “how can anybody with any kind of assurance say the air is safe?”
“They can’t,” he exclaimed. “And it’s such a disservice to our communities.” The prominent attorney maintained he was unable to “believe the EPA.”
“They’ve lost their credibility,” he asserted, adding the issue is not a political one given that “it was the Bush EPA that said the air was safe to breathe 21 years ago, [whereas] now its the Biden EPA.”
Exclusive: Top 9/11 Lawyer Says EPA Claim Ohio Air ‘Safe’ Sent ‘Shivers Up My Spine’ – ‘Stay Away, Don‘t Believe EPA’ https://t.co/6GJfkh1Hg3 via @BreitbartNews
— Joshua Klein (@JoshuaKlein_) February 19, 2023
We Love Trump comments on the EPA’s statements”
The bottom line? The EPA should not be trusted! East Palestine residents should remain skeptical of anything government officials or Norfolk Southern tell them about air, water, and soil safety. There should be independent testing that doesn’t rely on government sources or companies hired by the railway.
Other train derailments across the country in Texas, Michigan, and South Carolina contained cars of toxic chemicals, but no spills have yet been reported from those incidents. The derailment in South Carolina is still being investigated.