On Thursday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency rejected Ohio’s request for aid for the struggling hamlet of East Palestine, where a railway derailment and subsequent chemical spill have sparked significant contamination worries.
On Friday, two events occurred.
First, former President Donald Trump declared that he would be visiting East Palestine, a journey that was certain to attract swarms of media representatives to the area.
Nevertheless, on Friday night, according to WKBN-TV, Ohio Governor Michael DeWine said that FEMA had a change of heart.
“FEMA and the State of Ohio have been in constant contact regarding emergency operations in East Palestine. U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA have been working together since day one. 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,” DeWine said in a joint statement with FEMA regional administrator Thomas Sivak.
Thursday, DeWine tweeted that “FEMA continues to advise that Ohio is not eligible for assistance at this time.”
Trump addressed the coincidence in a post on his Truth Social platform.
A source familiar confirms to Fox News that former President Trump will visit East Palestine, OH on Wednesday to tour the damage of the Norfolk Southern derailment and cleanup efforts.
— Garrett Tenney (@Garrett_FoxNews) February 17, 2023
“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. Hopefully he will also be there. This is good news because we got them to “move.” The people of East Palestine need help. I’ll see you on Wednesday!” Trump published on Saturday.
Over 50 Norfolk Southern railway carriages derailed near East Palestine on February 3, according to the Associated Press. Over 20 vehicles were carrying dangerous materials, according to authorities. According to the Associated Press, a general evacuation was ordered two days after officials opted to burn off the vinyl chloride in the automobiles, which released poisonous phosgene and hydrogen chloride into the air.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, America came together to support our recovery in SWFL & we are still rebuilding.
East Palestine also deserves our support.
Watching this tragedy unfold & the ineptitude of the federal response demonstrates Congressional oversight is needed. pic.twitter.com/nvxBrcPojW
— Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) February 18, 2023
A thick smoke cloud hovered above the town for several days before people were permitted to return.
Nonetheless, despite government assurances that the air was safe, locals reported symptoms such as rashes and headaches.
“When we went back on the 10th, that’s when we decided that we couldn’t raise our kids here,” Amanda Greathouse said according to CNN, adding that her house had an odor that “reminded me of hair perming solution.”
More on this story via The Western Journal:
It took 30 minutes to develop a rash and feel nauseated, she said.
“When we left, I had a rash on my skin on my arm, and my eyes were burning for a few days after that,” Greathouse, who has two pre-school children, said.
Since then, she has made two abbreviated trips to the house. CONTINUE READING…