EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — East Palestine, Ohio, is the kind of town where neighbors greet each other at the store and lean on each other during hard times.
Now, in the wake of a massive train derailment that expelled hazardous materials into the air, ground and water, residents are grappling with the fear that their hometown is no longer safe to reside in.
State officials maintained during a press conference hosted by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Tuesday that the air, soil and water surrounding the crash site remain safe enough for residents to return. While some of the waterways remained contaminated, state officials contended that those tributaries were contained and that the water supply was not affected.
Among the health effects that could result from coming in contact or inhaling the chemicals are burning and irritation of the skin and eyes, irritation of the nose and throat, causing shortness of breath and coughing, dizziness, drowsiness, headache and vomiting, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Norfolk Southern said in a statement Tuesday that it has helped 1,000 families as well as a number of businesses in the community. The railway operator said it also distributed $1.2 million to families to cover costs related to the evacuation. "Atmospheric dispersion of chemicals in air due to wind will help reducing the concentrations of chemicals," Kumar said, adding that the public will not be subject to high concentrations of these chemicals -- which was the immediate concern in the aftermath of the derailment.
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