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EAST PALESTINE -- When a Norfolk Southern train derailed on Feb. 3 in East Palestine, donations poured in from across the country. Six months later, crisis relief has slowed to a trickle. National news crews have long since packed up and left the village to chase the next big story and disaster, but the people in East Palestine and the communities remain and, for some, aid and, more importantly, peace of mind is still needed, as questions concerning air quality and concerns of the long-term health ramifications linger.
HelpEastPalestineOhio.org is hoping to help those communities as much as it can by asking donors to "give the gift of clean air." The organization is the result of a partnership with local roots and the collaboration of the East Palestine First Church of Christ, which has served the community as a hub for disaster relief and Germ Solutions USA, a provider of air purification systems that is headquartered in Harmony, Pa. According to a release from the group, 100 percent of all funds collected will directly go to providing businesses and residents with a portable Beyond Guardian Air purification unit which can "service up to 2,500 square feet and according to HelpEastPalestine.org, can reduce 99.9% of contaminants." For every unit given through donations, a second unit will be given at no cost. There are already over 500 families on the waiting list. "This disaster has upended our community. Residents are leaving, businesses are suffering, and parents with young children are anxious about their health," said Bob Helbeck, pastor of The First Church of Christ. "Providing a home or business with an air purifier will give peace of mind; everyone will feel much safer. We are hopeful that by providing more air purifiers, we will see fewer illnesses and more people will feel comfortable staying in our community."
Since the derailment, some East Palestine residents and those in surrounding communities have reported respiratory illnesses, nosebleeds, rashes, eye irritations, nausea and vomiting.
"People in East Palestine have a legitimate reason to be concerned about how the toxic chemicals they are being exposed to will affect them in the years to come," said Rick Vickroy, regional director of Germ Solutions USA. "Consider what happened in lower Manhattan after 9/11. More people died of cancer from long-term exposure to toxic chemicals than died in the attack. These air purifiers will go a long way toward giving residents peace of mind that the air and surfaces in their homes and businesses are as contaminant-free as possible."
Germ Solutions USA has previously provided East Palestine Schools with 160 air and surface purifiers and another 500 to residents and businesses in and around East Palestine.
For information and to donate any amount, visit HelpEastPalestineOhio.org.
Stephanie Elverd can be reached at selverd@mojonews.com.