East Palestine Train Derailment
AnonymousUnknown author, OGL 3, via Wikimedia Commons
A constantly evolving disaster.
On Feb. 3, a train carrying hazardous waste derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, causing a plume of toxic fumes to spill out across the town. The crash has caused an evacuation order for the small town, as well as a series of investigations into what exactly caused the horrifying crash.
An investigation launched by the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) revealed that the primary cause of the derailment was an overheated wheel bearing that gave out, and when the Norfolk Southern operators attempted to stop the train, it derailed.
After the town was evacuated, Ohio officials carried out a “controlled release” of the hazardous chemicals, resulting in a massive plume of smoke that could be seen for miles. The purpose of this was to prepare the wrecked cars to be moved to another location.
This decision drew backlash, as the choice to set fire to hazardous material was seen as risky and carried a possibility of making the situation worse.
“Norfolk Southern failed to explore all potential courses of action, including some that may have kept the rail line closed longer but could have resulted in a safer overall approach for first responders, residents and the environment,” as stated by Governor Josh Shapiro.
On February 8, the evacuation order on the town was lifted, with the Beaver County twitter account tweeting that the town was safe for residents to return.
However, the residents of East Palestine are now reporting negative health side effects, despite the all-clear. According to CNBC, a health clinic opened in the town to address growing reports of headaches, nausea, and rashes. In addition, residents have reported dead fish and chickens near the crash site. This has led to even more ire being directed towards Norfolk Southern.
Overall, this disaster has led to a lot of investigation into safety procedures regarding the transportation of hazardous materials.
“I can tell you this much: This was 100% preventable.” NSTB Chair Jennifer Homnedy stated in a press conference. “We call things accidents. There is no accident. Every single event that we investigate is preventable. … Know that the NTSB has one goal, and that is safety and ensuring that this never happens again.”
Some believe this disaster could lead to a wave of change across the transportation industry, and this specific case with be remembered for years to come.