Biden Turns Down Plea From Ohio For Federal Assistance

Biden’s administration turned down Ohio Governor DeWine’s plea for help after toxic chemicals spilled and were burned in a train derailment.

Toxic Ohio Doesn’t Qualify for FEMA Assistance

On February 3, a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying several dangerous chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. After the derailment, emergency crews performed a controlled release of vinyl chloride from five railcars that were at risk of exploding.

The accident has caused residents to fear for the safety of the air and water, though government officials say that both are now safe.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan on Thursday promised that the Biden administration would “get to the bottom” of the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio

The community has questions, and we hear you, we see you and we will get to the bottom of this,” Regan said at a joint press conference with Sen. Sherrod Brown and other officials. “As Governor [Mike] DeWine and I discussed last night, we are going to get through this as a team, and we are absolutely going to hold Norfolk Southern accountable, and I can promise you that.”

“A man-made disaster of this scale, scope, and significance necessitates a response and deployment of resources that are commensurate in scale and scope,” Brown wrote. “I’m grateful for all that the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Emergency Management Agency, local fire fighters, and local law enforcement have done to respond to this unprecedented disaster, but it’s critical we act quickly to supplement those efforts.”

The train, which originated from Madison, Illinois, on the evening of February 1, broke down at least once before derailing in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 3, according to employees familiar with the matter.

The Details

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) told Ohio’s state government that it was not eligible for disaster assistance to help the community recover from the toxic spill, Dan Tierney, a spokesperson for DeWine, told Fox News Digital. Tierney explained that FEMA believed the incident didn’t qualify as a traditional disaster, such as a tornado or hurricane, for which it usually provides assistance.

“The DeWine Administration has been in daily contact with FEMA to discuss the need for federal support, however FEMA continues to tell Governor DeWine that Ohio is not eligible for assistance at this time,” DeWine’s office said in a statement. “Governor DeWine will continue working with FEMA to determine what assistance can be provided.”

Ohio Needs Help

A public meeting that was meant to ease fears about a toxic chemical spill in an Ohio town only heightened anger when the rail firm at the heart of the disaster failed to show up. Just hours before the meeting, Norfolk Southern announced that it would not attend.

In a statement, the company said it had become “increasingly concerned about the growing physical threat” to its employees because of the likelihood of “outside parties” participating.

Many Ohio residents have reported difficulties getting their water tested, fuelling mistrust at what they see as an ineffective and inadequate response to the crisis. In the days after the crash, some residents said they experienced headaches and nausea.

“Why are people getting sick if there’s nothing in the air or the water?,” asked a woman from the bleachers, sparking applause throughout the gymnasium.

A person posted what happens to the river when the water is disturbed, showing a rainbow of colors on top of the water, leaving many to believe the water is, indeed, “not safe.”

More Train Problems

Ohio wasn’t the only one with train problems. Since then, serval other reports of trains in a wreck or derailing have been reported.

This one happened in Michigan.

Further Reading:

Concerns About the Ohio River Water

ALERT: Ohio’s Deadly Explosion of Toxic Chemicals

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