Residents of East Palestine, Ohio are grieving after the derailment of a train carrying dangerous chemicals in their community. On February 3, a Norfolk Southern Railroad train carrying vinyl chloride and other chemicals derailed, causing 50 cars to abandon the rails and their contents to be released into the environment.
In an effort to avert a fatal explosion, the train corporation decided to release the poisonous gas from the cars and ignite the chemicals.
Nearby people were ordered to vacate the area during the release but were assured it was safe to return on February 9.
A inspection by the EPA certified the air and water near the site to be “safe” yet people have reported human disease and sick and dead animals in their village.
Videos on social media demonstrate the presence of flammable substances in the water, which can be ignited as a result.
FEMA indicated that East Palestine will not get relief due to the precedent of home demolition.
Two weeks after first refusing aid, FEMA has now provided assistance to the community in its hour of need. The change in government backing followed the announcement by former President Trump that he would visit East Palestine. Trump will be visiting the region today.
In the meanwhile, President Biden has neither visited the disaster zone nor made any intentions to do so. In addition to the EPA visit, neither Vice President Harris nor any other high-level government figure has visited the EPA. Biden is instead traveling to Ukraine and Poland on a previously unannounced trip.
Biden’s comments during his visit with Zelensky hints that the United States would continue to provide Ukraine with substantial financial assistance.
The president has also made news with words he penned in the Ukraine Palace guest book when visiting Ukraine President Zelensky, claiming that the city of Kyiv “has captured a part of my heart”.
Biden opted to make an impromptu journey to a conflict zone instead of seeing the East Palestine tragedy, which was located more than 200 miles from the White House.
On President’s Day, a day set aside to commemorate United States Presidents, he too made the journey and composed the remarks honouring President Zelensky.
In the past, sitting presidents visited former presidents’ monuments or gave speeches about American leaders. His government first denied aid to the city and has not stated the aid that would now be supplied, despite the repeated provision of substantial financial assistance to Ukraine.
Evidently, the citizens of East Palestine did not appreciate this, and the mayor of the community had no trouble criticizing the treatment his city is receiving in the midst of the environmental and health calamity.
TPN reported:
In an interview with Fox, Mayor Trent Conaway of East Palestine expressed his disappointment and anger that Biden was in Ukraine giving away millions of dollars to them, while they [East Palestine] were dealing with the hazardous waste issue following the train derailment that took place earlier in February.
“That was the biggest slap in the face. That tells you right now he doesn’t care about us,” Mayor Conaway said. He continued, “On Presidents’ Day in our country… he is over in Ukraine. That tells you what kind of guy he is.”
On Tuesday, Mayor Conaway doubled down and refused to apologize for calling out our nation’s president for visiting Kyiv instead of East Palestine, saying “I was very frustrated, but I stand by those comments…if he wants to come, he is welcome.”
East Palestine mayor refuses to apologize for saying that Biden's visit to Kiev before going to Ohio was "a slap in the face":
“I stand by those comments. If he wants to come, he's welcome."pic.twitter.com/pgljBmuzeZ
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) February 21, 2023
Yet, former President Donald Trump is concerned about East Palestine and their immediate needs, since he is visiting the region today and delivering supplies.
A source informed FOX News that Trump will meet with neighborhood residents and community leaders.
Trump will provide tens of thousands of gallons of cleaning materials and thirteen pallets of water, each containing several thousand bottles. The former president is collaborating with the nonprofits Blue Line Moving and KORTX.
“President Trump is meeting with the citizens of East Palestine and will never forget them and what they are going through, ” a trump advisor told FOX News. “Contrast that with Biden and the federal government who has failed them from the beginning.”
Watch the interview from Monday:
Donald Trump, Jr. tweeted on the matter, “If East Palestine, Ohio, was named East Kiev, Biden would have already sent them billions of dollars in aid by now.”
Former President Trump posted on February 19, “Biden and FEMA said they would not be sending federal aid to East Palestine. As soon as I announced that I’m going, he announced a team will go. This is good news because we want them to ‘move’. The people of East Palestine need help. I’ll see you on Wednesday!”