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Devastating aftermath of Ohio train derailment revealed in shocking drone footage
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Donald Trump’s team has announced plans for a visit to East Palestine, Ohio, two weeks after a freight train laden with toxic materials derailed and leaked into the community.
In a statement on Friday, Mr Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr revealed that the former president had made the decision to visit East Palestine. The scope of the visit was not specified but a source close to Mr Trump told Fox News that he is expected to travel to the village with a population of 4,700 on Wednesday.
“Breaking News: Trump will visit East Palestine, Ohio next week,” Mr Trump Jr tweeted. “If our “leaders” are too afraid to actually lead real leaders will step up and fill the void.”
It will be the first time Mr Trump addresses the disastrous train derailment. Critics have pointed to the Trump administration’s decision in 2017 to roll back an earlier Obama rule which required some freight trains to use electronically-controlled pneumatic brakes if cars were carrying flammable liquids.
Meanwhile, video has emerged of an apparently heavily-contaminated creek. In the minute-long clip, posted by tech blogger Nick Sortor on Thursday, a woman throws a heavy stone into the creek and when the ripples settle, large oily spots appear on the surface.
It is not clear what relation the creek has to the town’s drinking water supply. The US Environmental Protection Agency said on Friday: “In East Palestine, residents get their water from a few different sources – which are all actively being tested by the state and local governments, with EPA’s support.”
East Palestine residents complaint of rashes, headaches, and respiratory symptoms
Residents of East Palestine, Ohio, have shared their contamination fears after a freight train laden with toxic materials derailed and leaked into the community.
“When we went back on the 10th, that’s when we decided that we couldn’t raise our kids here,” Amanda Greathouse told CNN, adding that a smell reminiscent of “hair perming solution” was still lingering. “When we left, I had a rash on my skin on my arm, and my eyes were burning for a few days after that.”
Ms Greathouse told the network that she had felt nauseous when she returned to her house, just a block away from the site of the derailment.
“The chemical smell was so strong that it made me nauseous,” Ms Greathouse, a mother of two young children, added.
“I just wanted to quickly pick up what I needed and leave. I only took a few pieces of clothes because even the clothes smelled like chemicals, and I’m afraid to put them on my kids.”
Andrea Blanco18 February 2023 16:02
FEMA to send help to East Palestine
Two weeks after a freight train laden with toxic materials derailed and leaked into East Palestine, Ohio, Governor Mike Dewine announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will send assistance to the community.
The White House has previously said that FEMA was closely coordinating with the emergency operation centers responding to the incident, but the agency had yet to announce a visit to East Palestine.
“Tomorrow, FEMA will supplement federal efforts by deploying a Senior Response Official along with a Regional Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) to support ongoing operations, including incident coordination and ongoing assessments of potential long term recovery needs,” a joint statement by the Governor’s office and FEMA read.https://d-31639157702290256265.ampproject.net/2301261900000/frame.html
Andrea Blanco18 February 2023 14:55
Trump planning to visit East Palestine after train derailment
Donald Trump is gearing up to visit East Palestine, Ohio, as it continues to grapple with the consequences of a train derailment earlier this month.
The former president’s son, Donald Trump Jr, announced the plans via Twitter on Friday night.
“Breaking News: Trump will visit East Palestine, Ohio next week,” he wrote. “If our “leaders” are too afraid to actually lead real leaders will step up and fill the void.”
Mr Trump appeared to confirm the report on Truth Social, writing: “Great people who need help, NOW!”
Fox News reported that Mr Trump will meet with East Palestine residents on Wednesday, almost three weeks after the 3 February derailment.
Megan Sheets18 February 2023 13:59
Trump planning to visit East Palestine after train derailment
Donald Trump is gearing up to visit East Palestine, Ohio, as it continues to grapple with the consequences of a train derailment earlier this month.
The former president’s son, Donald Trump Jr, announced the plans via Twitter on Friday night.
“Breaking News: Trump will visit East Palestine, Ohio next week,” he wrote. “If our “leaders” are too afraid to actually lead real leaders will step up and fill the void.”
Mr Trump appeared to confirm the report on Truth Social, writing: “Great people who need help, NOW!”
Fox News reported that Mr Trump will meet with East Palestine residents on Wednesday, almost three weeks after the 3 February derailment.
Megan Sheets18 February 2023 13:58
East Palestine livestock owners race to protect their animals after train derailment
The Independent’s Graig Graziosi reported on the ground in East Palestine this week, documenting residents’ growing fears of chemicals spilled into their community in the 3 February train derailment.
More than two weeks on from the catastrophe, he spoke to livestock owners about their frantic efforts to save their animals, including Sonia Early.
In the coming weeks — maybe months, maybe longer — they will be monitoring, Ms Early said. Monitoring her horses’ health, monitoring the water quality, monitoring her and her family’s well-being, and monitoring how the outside world views the village of East Palestine.
“Here’s our huge concern,” she said, “we had a company that was willing to lease out [the Early’s adjacent property]. Will anyone even want to come in and run a business now? They’re not going to want to buy homes, they’re not going to want to bring their business in to town. I have a five-year-old grandbaby and I’m scared to death.”
Ohio Governor upset over Norfolk Southern’s no-show at town meeting
Earlier this week, hundreds of people showed up at a public meeting to voice concerns following the East Palestine train derailment and get answers from not only state and local leaders but also railroad operator Norfolk Southern.
But representatives of the railroad were absent, saying they were worried about physical threats.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said on Friday that he was upset by the no-show and said Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan Shaw needs to go to East Palestine and answer questions.
At least five lawsuits have been filed against the railroad, and lawyers have been showing up in the area to offer advice and legal options. Associated Press
Louise Boyle18 February 2023 12:00
Anxious residents pour into town hall meeting following toxic train derailment
East Palestine is situated in Columbiana County, right on the edge of Ohio’s border with Pennsylvania
Louise Boyle18 February 2023 10:00
Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown responds to rail disaster
“A man-made disaster of this scale, scope, and significance necessitates a response and deployment of resources that are commensurate in scale and scope,” Senator Sherrod Brown said in a statement.
“A man-made disaster of this scale, scope, and significance necessitates a response and deployment of resources that are commensurate in scale and scope,” the senator said this week
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