FEMA Takes Action After Trump’s Big Ohio Announcement
The Norfolk Southern freight train that was hauling carcinogenic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio on February 3, 2023. This resulted in plumes of dangerous gas being emitted into the atmosphere as part of a “controlled release” burn. The main chemical mentioned in reports is the vinyl chloride that is used in the manufacturing of PVC. As stated on the website Cancer.gov, vinyl chloride has been known to cause certain types of cancer in humans.
It has come to light that other chemicals have been released as a result of this derailment and the impact it is currently having on the wildlife of the area. A number of fish and other aquatic life have been found dead in creeks and rivers in local areas that feed into the Ohio River and eventually, the Mississippi River.
Chickens and pets are also turning up dead in the region and yet, FEMA denied Ohio’s request for assistance. That is, until former President and now 2024 presidential candidate Donald Trump took action.
Despite the catastrophic disaster, Joe Biden did not comment and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has not even visited the badly affected area or offered any solutions to this massive transportation failure. Instead, he put the blame on Trump.
Then, on Friday evening, Trump announced that he will visit East Palestine next week on Wednesday, Fox News reported.
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
This seemed to cause a stir and now, suddenly, FEMA has reversed their original decision not to aid in disaster relief, saying that they will now, finally, start releasing funds to East Palestine, Ohio.
The Hill reports:
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will deploy federal resources to the site of a train derailment in Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine ® announced Friday evening after saying earlier this week that the agency had deemed the state ineligible.
“FEMA and the State of Ohio have been in constant contact regarding emergency operations in East Palestine. U.S. EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] and Ohio EPA have been working together since day one,” DeWine said Friday night in a joint state with FEMA Regional Administrator Thomas Sivak.
Tomorrow, FEMA will supplement federal efforts by deploying a Senior Response Official along with a Regional Incident Management Assistance Team to support ongoing operations, including incident coordination and ongoing assessments of potential long-term recovery needs.”…READ MORE»>