The residents of East Palestine have been told they are ineligible for FEMA help because their homes weren't physically destroyed, even though they may be chemically contaminated.
While residents have been told it is safe to return to their homes, many are hesitant and unwilling to accept the assurances of state and federal officials. While FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) isn't offering any funds, the CDC and Department of Health and Human Services have been drafted in.
The CDC's team will track whether there are any clusters of illness on-the-ground that may be related to the derailment, while the HHS team will provide additional healthcare staff, according to the governor's office. The Ohio National Guard and the USEPA is also helping.
But there has been a notable lack of support from #presidentbiden and Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The lack of federal support is tormenting residents in the town, who last night demanded to know why Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg didn't attend a town meeting about the crisis. Where's Pete Buttigieg? Where's he at?' one man asked. An exasperated Mayor Trent Conaway replied: 'I don't know. Your guess is as good as mine.' President Biden is yet to comment on the disaster, which began on February 3 when a Norfolk Southern train carrying vinyl chloride and other hazardous materials derailed...
