Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, sent an official letter to President Joe Biden urging that events in the state be declared a catastrophe due to the train crash that released thousands of tons of chemicals in early February. The request aims to unlock not only local resources but also federal support to manage the crisis more effectively.
The governor’s letter states that the incident is so severe and widespread that an adequate response cannot rely solely on state and local capabilities, and additional federal assistance is necessary to protect public health and safety.
In the message, DeWine notes that he does not rule out the possibility of seeking voluntary aid termination from the railroad operator Norfolk Southern, whose train derailed in February. He also stresses that residents of eastern Palestine continue to report concerns about health effects and air quality in the area affected by the spill.
A Norfolk Southern freight train carrying precision chemicals derailed on February 3 near eastern Palestine, Ohio. As the contents spilled, chemicals contaminated air, water, and soil, prompting a swift and growing response from federal agencies. The event sparked criticism of the federal response, particularly as medical experts and toxicologists were deployed to assist in the weeks following the emergency.
Historically, the incident has drawn comparisons in the United States to a chemical disaster with potential catastrophic consequences, underscoring the seriousness of the threat to public health and environmental safety in Ohio.