and conducting health surveys following toxic train wreck


Federal teams are going door-to-door to check in with residents of East Palestine, Ohio, and conducting health surveys as part of the federal government’s response to the toxic train derailment that has fueled anxiety about the safety of the air and water in the town, according to a White House official.

The teams are providing informational flyers with federal and local resources and completing the surveys after President Joe Biden directed the move, according to the official.This latest step comes as frustrated locals in East Palestine complain about feeling sick and raise long-term health concerns after the Norfolk Southern train wreck earlier this month caused toxic chemicals to seep into the water, air and soil.

Biden on Friday directed agencies to go door-to-door to check in with residents after he received an update on the federal government’s response to the derailment from senior officials, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and the heads of the EPA and FEMA, according to the official

The National Transportation Safety Board on Thursday released its preliminary report on the investigation into the February 3rd train derailment, which concluded that the wreck in Ohio was completely preventable, and investigators now will begin examining the procedures and practices prior to the derailment.