Train derailments and explosions and chemical spills

[JEEP]

I don't know if the U.S. government will do the same.

Gov. DeWine Says He Hasn’t Seen Pete Buttigieg ‘At All’ After Toxic Train Derailment​

Republican Gov. Mike DeWine said he has not seen Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg “at all” in the aftermath of the derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals in Ohio.

“I’ve not seen him at all,” DeWine said of Buttigieg, who has come under fire for waiting until Monday evening to discuss the situation via a thread on Twitter. “I did get a call from the president. You know, the president said I’ll send you whatever you need.”

“We’re concerned, we’re not going to leave. We’re going to continue to do everything that we can, every single day, 24/7,” DeWine said. “Because look, this could be my family in there, could be a loved one in there. These are people we care about. They’re our citizens. We’re going to do everything we can to protect them.”

MacCallum pressed DeWine on reports from residents of effects from the chemical spill, including “polka-dot lips” and “waking up in the middle of the night flushed and red.”

Residents of the town described “uneasiness” following the derailment when talking to the Daily Caller News Foundation, with some saying they have bought air purifiers and only drink bottled water. Others noted the deaths of fish and animals, including family pets, prompting a local humane society to urge people to go to veterinary offices to have their pets examined.

“The railroad won’t give answers. It’s kind of brushed off by Governor DeWine, the severity of it, and I’m not sure if it’s because we’re a poor community that it doesn’t really matter, if maybe we were a more affluent community maybe more people would take notice, but we matter,” East Palestine resident Bree Hall told the DCNF. “East Palestine matters and I just wish more people would take it serious.”

DeWine said the Ohio EPA was testing the drinking water in the system and that those with private wells could have them tested.

“The water in the system, the community system, the village’s system, that water is safe. If you have an individual well, what we have said is we will come out, Ohio EPA will come out and test your individual well,” DeWine said. “So until your well is tested, if that’s what your water source is, you should not drink it. I would wait until I’ve got the all clear from an actual test that will be done if you have an individual well.”

Biden admin turns down Ohio's request for disaster assistance after toxic derailment

The Biden administration turned down a request for federal disaster assistance from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine in the aftermath of the train derailment in the state earlier this month that led to a large release of toxic chemicals.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) told Ohio's state government that it was not eligible for disaster assistance to help the community recover from the toxic spill, Dan Tierney, a spokesperson for DeWine, told Fox News Digital on Thursday. Tierney explained that FEMA believed the incident didn't qualify as a traditional disaster, such as a tornado or hurricane, for which it usually provides assistance.

 

[Zzartemis]

“The railroad won’t give answers. It’s kind of brushed off by Governor DeWine, the severity of it, and I’m not sure if it’s because we’re a poor community that it doesn’t really matter, if maybe we were a more affluent community maybe more people would take notice, but we matter,” East Palestine resident Bree Hall told the DCNF. “East Palestine matters and I just wish more people would take it serious.”

Yup...just what I said:

It's kind of creepy that that White Noise movie is in such a comedic tone.

I get it...that Ohio town is a lot like mine or any others in the map area above....We're poor (mostly white) trash to anybody who's got even a bit of money. Good paying jobs disappeared decades ago for the common man, in these areas. Ohio is hugely an agricultural state, with family owned farms...and well, they've got it tough too:

 

[Bluegazer]

“The railroad won’t give answers. It’s kind of brushed off by Governor DeWine, the severity of it, and I’m not sure if it’s because we’re a poor community that it doesn’t really matter, if maybe we were a more affluent community maybe more people would take notice, but we matter,” East Palestine resident Bree Hall told the DCNF. “East Palestine matters and I just wish more people would take it serious.”

Nothing new under the sun. I assure you it's the same here. Areas relegated because there is poverty. The power outages here are in those poor low income areas, even if the people have jobs.

DeWine said the Ohio EPA was testing the drinking water in the system and that those with private wells could have them tested.

“The water in the system, the community system, the village’s system, that water is safe. If you have an individual well, what we have said is we will come out, Ohio EPA will come out and test your individual well,” DeWine said. “So until your well is tested, if that’s what your water source is, you should not drink it. I would wait until I’ve got the all clear from an actual test that will be done if you have an individual well.”

So they prefer to leave people to their fate, rather than evacuate them. "But if your water well is clean we don't have to do anything, you'll be fine" What a shame.

Biden admin turns down Ohio's request for disaster assistance after toxic derailment

The Biden administration turned down a request for federal disaster assistance from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine in the aftermath of the train derailment in the state earlier this month that led to a large release of toxic chemicals.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) told Ohio's state government that it was not eligible for disaster assistance to help the community recover from the toxic spill, Dan Tierney, a spokesperson for DeWine, told Fox News Digital on Thursday. Tierney explained that FEMA believed the incident didn't qualify as a traditional disaster, such as a tornado or hurricane, for which it usually provides assistance.

They are going to have to change the name of East Palestine to Pripyat....

 

[Hi_Henry]

This is The Game

 

[JEEP]

Another safety issue:

Excess size caused train to break down in days before it derailed in Ohio, employees say

When Norfolk Southern train 32N derailed in Ohio earlier this month, it was not the first time it had experienced problems on the route.

The train, which originated from Madison, Illinois, on the evening of Feb. 1, broke down at least once before derailing in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 3, according to employees familiar with the matter.

The employees say there were concerns among those working on the train over what they believed was the train's excessive length and weight — 151 cars, 9,300 feet long, 18,000 tons — before it reached East Palestine, which contributed to both the initial breakdown and the derailment.

In the two weeks since, many residents who were home at the time of the derailment, or who returned after authorities conducted a "toxic release" of the hazardous chemicals on board, have told CBS News they are suffering from headaches, rashes, respiratory problems and painful coughing.

"We shouldn't be running trains that are 150 car lengths long," one of the employees said. "There should be some limitations to the weight and the length of the trains. In this case, had the train not been 18,000 tons, it's very likely the effects of the derailment would have been mitigated."

 

[JEEP]

For some reason, can't imbed youtube vids:

The Ohio Railroad DISASTER Explained

On February 3, a horrifying railroad accident took place. A Norfolk Southern freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. You might’ve seen images of the ...

www.youtube.com

Pennsylvania Governor Suggests Company Involved In Ohio Train Crash Wanted To Burn Off Chemicals To Get Railway Opened Faster

Governor Josh Shapiro (D-PA) said on Tuesday that Norfolk Southern, the train company at the center of the derailment in Ohio near the western border of Pennsylvania, failed to consider actions beyond the controlled burn of chemicals that allowed the railway to reopen quickly.

Local and state authorities evacuated all residents within one mile of the crash in East Palestine, Ohio, and started the controlled burn of the substances on the vehicle to lower the risk of an explosion. Vinyl chloride, a carcinogen used to manufacture PVC, was released from five train cars in the form of massive plumes of dark smoke visible in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania, raising concerns about air and water quality in the Ohio River Basin.

In a letter to Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw, Shapiro wrote that the crash, which occurred a quarter mile from the Pennsylvania state line, has produced a “significant impact on the residents, businesses, and environment” in Beaver County. He noted that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency were “not immediately contacted” by Norfolk Southern after the crash and learned of the incident “independently in the first few hours after it occurred.”

Governor Mike DeWine (R-OH) previously told reporters that he and Shapiro had spent hours determining whether they should tolerate the risk of an explosion, which could have jettisoned shrapnel throughout East Palestine, or allow the chemicals to enter the atmosphere through the controlled burn. They chose the latter of the “two bad options” after consulting with regulators and executives with Norfolk Southern.

Shapiro nevertheless added that the company was unwilling to “explore or articulate alternate courses of action” to the controlled burn. “Norfolk Southern response personnel improperly planned tactical response operations without adequate input from elected officials, local response organizations, or state agencies, resulting in a single plan of action to vent and burn all five cars,” he wrote. “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.”

The official said Norfolk Southern also failed to inform authorities of their intention to vent and burn all five cars containing vinyl chloride rather than the single car initially identified by the company. “Norfolk Southern gave inaccurate information and conflicting modeling about the impact of the controlled release that made protective action decision making more difficult in the immediate aftermath of the derailment,” wrote Shapiro, who began his first term last month.

The lack of transparent communication from Norfolk Southern officials, who Shapiro says “separated themselves from the rest of the incident management structure” to conduct their own operational planning, also caused a “lack of awareness” for emergency personnel responding to the incident, he added. The revelation from Shapiro comes as residents reportedly experience worrisome health issues in the days after the controlled burn: one first responder said in an interview with The Daily Wire that he and his colleagues experienced “bad cough, headaches, sore throat, and diarrhea.”

 

[Bluegazer]

WTF is going on?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1626286789584384001

 

[benkostka]

WTF is going on?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1626286789584384001

There were about 1,000 train derailments in 2021. The only reason this one has been in the news is because of the toxins, otherwise they’re rather low key and not reported on.

How common are train derailments? More than 6 have crashed this month

Between 1990 and 2021, there were a total of 54,570 derailments, for an average of 1,705 a year.

www.newsweek.com

There’s some context.

 

[Bluegazer]

The only reason this one has been in the news is because of the toxins, otherwise they’re rather low key and not reported on.

You're right.

How often do train wrecks spill hazardous chemicals into neighborhoods? Here's what data shows

A USA TODAY analysis of federal data\u00a0found that railway incidents requiring\u00a0nearby residents to flee possible explosions\u00a0or toxic fumes\u00a0are rare.

www.usatoday.com

USA TODAY found that although catastrophic events involving trains and chemicals may be uncommon, hazmat cargo violations caught during inspections of rail shippers and operators appear to be climbing. Over the last five years, federal inspectors have flagged 36% more hazmat violations compared with the five years prior – and fines for those are up 16%.

One reason for the increase, however, may simply be improved accountability by agency inspectors. A 2016 audit by the Department of Transportation's Inspector General's Office found that inspectors were issuing lax penalties for violators of hazmat cargo regulations and failing to refer bad actors for possible criminal prosecution despite agency requirements.

So not only does the deterioration of the infrastructure add up, the regulations do not seem to be enforced... and I don't know whether to say that for the sake of money, they turn a blind eye.

It is the deterioration not only of the infrastructure as far as we can see. Corruption is so systemic that it is already imploding.

 

[Zzartemis]

I checked Millie Weaver's channel because she lives in Ohio about 35 miles from East Palestine. It's her 1st report and kinda ad hoc but there is some good local coverage from KDKA in Pittsburgh...Not sure who the 2nd station reporting is. Millie also interviews her father who was a general manager for a major rail road company about his take on the situation.

 

[benkostka]

You're right.

How often do train wrecks spill hazardous chemicals into neighborhoods? Here's what data shows

A USA TODAY analysis of federal data\u00a0found that railway incidents requiring\u00a0nearby residents to flee possible explosions\u00a0or toxic fumes\u00a0are rare.

www.usatoday.com

So not only does the deterioration of the infrastructure add up, the regulations do not seem to be enforced... and I don't know whether to say that for the sake of money, they turn a blind eye.

It is the deterioration not only of the infrastructure as far as we can see. Corruption is so systemic that it is already imploding.

It’s corruption sure, but one of the biggest problems in the United States now is competence. You have lots of blue collar guys who are retiring and used to care about the quality of their work. The younger generation doesn’t, and perhaps more importantly they simply can’t perform their jobs. When you replace real skills with a college degree, well things fall apart. You can’t replace a welder, who can weld with a guy “certified” to weld who can’t figure out where to attach his grounding clamp.

It’s been a long slow decline…. So when you have no skilled workers along with a lack of pride in your work, eventually things fall apart.

Solzhenitsyn wrote about it a bit in his book One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich….. anyway, it’s a mass number of factors that are affecting the US now and we’re certainly going to experience some of the worst of it regarding the coming trouble and it’s certainly deserved.

 

[mkrnhr]

I don't know if it's deserved. Sure, if those in their ivory towers get some payback for their actions that would be nice, but in the US as in everywhere else, it's the "little people" who suffer almost exclusively. The so-called "blue collars" have been insulted (basket of deplorable etc.) and pushed towards poverty and quasi-extermination. There is an undeniable nobility in the workers who love their craft, also called artisans once upon a time. I agree that they're disappearing and being replaced by people who have been formed in a rush to get a diploma instead of learning by doing with experienced mentors. Something like that.

On the other hand, even if it's just an accident, the combination of its consequences is too convenient for the PTB. After all, there has been a war on farmers, food chains and little producers for a while (Holland, Germany, Gates buying farm lands to produce GMOs, etc) for a little while and this accident is by coincidence furthering that agenda to some extent. There is also the Amish, who if I understand well, resisted the Covid nonsense in their own way (and maybe the genetic engineering injections?) and the place is called Palestine... Some of the toxins that have been released have similar long-term symptoms as those of the vaxins, so that would maybe eliminate a possible control population? Either way, it could be "just an accident" or according to my "late night conspiracy ramblings" a "suspiciously too convenient 4d or 3d engineered accident". Who knows? Either way it's tragic for the inhabitants.

 

[Zzartemis]

It’s corruption sure, but one of the biggest problems in the United States now is competence. You have lots of blue collar guys who are retiring and used to care about the quality of their work. The younger generation doesn’t, and perhaps more importantly they simply can’t perform their jobs. When you replace real skills with a college degree, well things fall apart. You can’t replace a welder, who can weld with a guy “certified” to weld who can’t figure out where to attach his grounding clamp.

It’s been a long slow decline…. So when you have no skilled workers along with a lack of pride in your work, eventually things fall apart.

Solzhenitsyn wrote about it a bit in his book One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich….. anyway, it’s a mass number of factors that are affecting the US now and we’re certainly going to experience some of the worst of it regarding the coming trouble and it’s certainly deserved.

I agree with everything you said, Ben. Trade schools are graduating students who can"t perform. It used to be if, while in school, if you weren't cutting it, they'd tell you, "This isn't the right career for you," and you'd be out. Now they just take your money...Although in the past, boys (and some girls ) dads taught them plenty before career training which gave impetus to go into what they were good at. The unions had their hands in this decline too. Apprenticeships have been barely available.

Our primary thru high schools absolutely have fallen and colleges aren't far behind. I worked in dinners waitressing with college students who couldn't count change if the electronic cash register was broke...I had to teach them. A check out girl couldn't figure out how much to enter on my charge card when I asked for $20 dollars back...I told her and she said, "My mum can do that too."

I asked, "Do what?"

She replied, "Add in her head."

 

[Bluegazer]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1626193762031489024

Here there are no trains, no bad highways... and it can also be news just because there are toxics involved. But! it seems strange to me that what is being burned is PVC (vinyl = dioxins).

 

[Vulcan59]

FWIW, from Twitter,
"What is going on? This seems like a coordinated attack on our railway system across the country. I’ve noticed it’s in key battleground election states too."

https://twitter.com/x/status/1626265625327796224