For East Palestine residents, an uneven road to recovery 2 years after train derailment
This article features Government Accountability Project and was originally published here.
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Tracy Hagar tries not to think about the derailment anymore. East Palestine has returned to some semblance of normalcy, with cleanup crews largely confined to the derailment site now.
She doesn’t obsessively scan social media for updates like she once did, and the community events she attended to get information about progress on chemical testing and the cleanup stopped. But still, the presence of the disaster lingers over everyday life.
“Sometimes, I still can’t believe it happened,” she said. “But here we are. It’s just a whole other way of living.”
On Feb. 3, 2023, part of a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous chemicals, including the known carcinogen vinyl chloride, derailed and spewed its toxic cargo into the air, soil, water and groundwater.
A fire burned for days, and about 2,000 people were evacuated. Fearing a catastrophic uncontrolled explosion, Norfolk Southern officials made the call for a controlled detonation of five railcars that a federal investigation later determined as unnecessary.
Now, two years later, the once-close-knit town has been left to contend with unknown health risks and long-term environmental effects. While Norfolk Southern and government officials have promised relief and support, many residents remain frustrated by the lack of...
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