Ohio Governor Mike DeWine submitted a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requesting a second extension on the deadline for Ohio to request a major disaster declaration for damage resulting from the catastrophic East Palestine train derailment which occurred earlier this year.
The FEMA website states that a major disaster declaration provides a wide range of federal assistance programs for individuals and public infrastructure, including funds for both emergency and permanent work.
According to DeWine, this extension would allow Ohio to continue providing East Palestine with necessary resources and assistance to recover from the February 3rd train disaster.
“This extension would allow the State of Ohio to continue its efforts to ensure that Norfolk Southern provides the impacted areas with resources needed to recover from the event, including financial assistance, and to identify any gaps in areas of recovery where federal assistance may be needed,” the Ohio governor said.
In March, after FEMA said that the East Palestine disaster would most likely not qualify for standard FEMA assistance, DeWine asked for and received a 120-day extension. On July 3rd, that extension will end.
In his letter, the Ohio governor asked FEMA for a further extension of 120 days to permit ongoing evaluations of the derailment’s effects and guarantee a comprehensive settlement of East Palestine’s problems.
According to DeWine, this extension would ensure that East Palestine can receive assistance from FEMA should the derailment qualify for traditional FEMA aid in the future.
On February 3rd, 50 train carriages, 10 of which were carrying hazardous materials, derailed as a result of a technical problem with a rail car axle, according to federal authorities. There was vinyl chloride in five of the vehicles. Hundreds of residents evacuated due to the controlled release of poisonous gasses that Norfolk Southern carried out on February 6th to stop an explosion.
Officials told East Palestine residents on February 8th that they could safely go home, despite the reports of hundreds of dead fish in the Ohio River near East Palestine and residents complaining of headaches and illness since the derailment.
Despite assurances from government officials that they are safe, many members of the community said they are fearful and nervous about their exposure to the chemicals, and said they are concerned about the quality of the air and drinking water. Some residents stayed in hotels until officials convinced them their homes were safe.
Since the derailment, Norfolk Southern has provided the East Palestine region with tens of millions of dollars in financial aid. It has set up a fund to compensate local landowners for drops in their property values.
Norfolk Southern faces a lawsuit from Ohio’s Attorney General Dave Yost over costs for the cleanup of the toxic chemical spill and environmental damage, even as it collaborates to establish funds for resident health care, property value issues, and water protections. The federal government is also suing the railroad.
Norfolk Southern is also facing a special investigation launched last month by the National Transportation Safety Board that it said will look into the company’s organization and safety.
Until now, Ohio’s help to East Palestine has taken the shape of various services, including a free medical clinic for locals who have complained of experiencing headaches, breathing issues, and other ailments after the derailment.
According to the Ohio EPA, Norfolk Southern has hauled approximately 20.2 million gallons of liquid wastewater out of East Palestine. A pile of approximately 11,400 tons of excavated soil is waiting for removal from East Palestine versus 66,300 tons that Norfolk Southern has removed.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Mike DeWine” by Mike DeWine. Background Photo “East Palestine Train Derailment” by the U.S. National Transportation and Safety Board.
