For those following the train derailment crisis in East Palestine, Ohio, which spilled over into neighboring Beaver County, Pennsylvania, it’s now in it’s fifth day with no end in sight. Toxic clouds of chemicals including phosgene, better known as the “mustard gas” of World War One, along with the ever-present hazard of powerful explosions, prompted evacuation of a one mile radius. Residents were under the impression they would be allowed back fairly soon, which means a whole bunch of pets were left behind. Most of them in crates and cages. Humane Society officials are working desperately on rescue efforts, or at least the ability to feed those critters they can.
Derailed train prompts evacuation
The initial cause of the train derailment which happened Friday, February 3, near East Palestine, Ohio, remains under investigation. The only thing released to the public came out on February 5, when the National Transportation Safety Board announced that “a mechanical issue with a rail car axle was a factor in the fiery derailment.” The word “fiery” is a major understatement.
An area with a one mile radius was immediately evacuated for safety. If this doesn’t turn out to be a sabotage attack, which so far there’s no indication of, then rail operator Norfolk Southern is in serious trouble. A class action lawsuit has already been filed.
Wednesday’s focus is on the stranded pets. Columbiana Humane Society officials are “hoping they can soon go to several homes in East Palestine to feed and possibly rescue pets left behind when owners had to quickly evacuate.”
Update on this is coming…https://t.co/5m8vmKp5PK
— Kilgore Trout (@Kilgore73862013) February 8, 2023
The train derailment caused many to leave Friday and Saturday. Many “thought they would be able to go back,” Erica Rice with Columbiana County Humane Society relates. “Some animals are in crates and are most likely without food or water by now.” Not to mention the mustard gas in the air.
Ms. Rice is “is in close contact with authorities in East Palestine and they are to notify her as soon as it is safe to enter.” She already has at least 20 families “who need help getting their pets out of their homes.” Meanwhile, officials “are still monitoring the wreckage.”
The train was carrying several cars filled with vinyl chloride. When temperatures spiked into the danger zone, a decision was made to vent the cars intentionally, reducing the risk of explosion. That meant releasing the chemical where it would instantly ignite, making things toxically much worse.
Nothing to see here. Just the toxic cloud from the controlled explosion from the East Palestine train derailment.
As of 9pm, the outside smells of chlorine at our house, located about 15 miles N of the site. #EastPalestine #trainderailment pic.twitter.com/paVSV7vsZD— Haley 💙📚 (@hale27storm) February 7, 2023
Governor gives an update
Also on Wednesday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine gave an update on the crisis to residents concerned about “the toxic substances that could be lingering in their evacuated neighborhoods.” The train crash involved around 50 cars, 10 of which were “carrying hazardous materials.” On Monday, “Vinyl chloride was slowly released into the air” from five of them.
“Crews ignited it to get rid of the highly flammable, toxic chemicals in a controlled environment, creating a dark plume of smoke.”
You’re intimately familiar with “the polyvinyl chloride hard plastic resin in plastic products.” Everything from credit cards to car parts are made from it. PVC plumbing is only one product. Things got a whole lot more toxic than just vinyl chloride venting from the wrecked train.
This is what they call a "controlled release" The train derailment in Ohio at a little town called East Palestine had at least 5 tanker cars full of toxic flammable chemicals, apparently the only options were to let it burn like this or it would go off like a bomb. pic.twitter.com/SfogMDO9hd
— 🥀_Imposter_🕸️ (@Imposter_Edits) February 7, 2023
“Officials warned the controlled burn would send phosgene and hydrogen chloride into the air.” That’s seriously not good. “Phosgene is a highly toxic, colorless gas with a strong odor that can cause vomiting and breathing trouble and was used as a weapon in World War I.” They called it “mustard gas.”
The derailment is also going to produce “dioxins.” Those are “are a group of persistent environmental pollutants that last in the ground and body for years and have been one of the major environmental problems and controversies in the United States.” In other words, let the lawsuits begin. The blazing train isn’t even out yet but the lawyers have already filed a class action lawsuit.
Residents allege “that crews from Norfolk Southern did not take the proper care to ensure their train cars carrying hazardous materials were safe and caused residents to be ‘involuntarily displaced.‘ The plaintiffs sued the railroad company on behalf of the residents of East Palestine, seeking damages for all those displaced by the derailment.“
