On Feb. 3, my family’s lives were turned upside down when a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals derailed just a few hundred yards from our home in East Palestine, Ohio. After being evacuated, Norfolk Southern told me it was safe to return home just days later. When I insisted on environmental testing, a toxicologist found that my house was unsafe for me and my family.
My story is just like so many others. The only path forward for us is to come together and demand action from both Norfolk Southern and federal and state officials.
I’m proud to be an organizer with River Valley Organizing, a grassroots group that strengthens and protects our community. Recently, more than 200 residents across the region attended RVO’s community meeting. We brought in independent environmental, health and legal experts to listen to and answer questions from residents, not just talk at them.
It became clear at that meeting that people are scared. Parents don’t know if it is safe to bring their children back to their homes and drink the water. Farmers don’t know if they’ll be able to safely harvest their crops. Business owners don’t know if they’ll have any customers. And no one knows what the long-term health impacts could be.
People are angry, too. Norfolk Southern, a huge corporation that has spent millions on lobbyists and political donations to weaken safety regulations, couldn’t even be bothered to show up at many town halls. The information we’ve gotten from the company and different government agencies has been confusing and contradictory. Politicians from both parties promise action, but we’re still waiting.
Based on residents’ concerns and input from environmental experts who have dealt with similar disasters, the East Palestine community has five demands for Norfolk Southern, the state of Ohio and the federal government.
First, we need relocation for anyone who wants it — people shouldn’t be forced to return to homes where they don’t…
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