Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Monday urged President Joe Biden to declare a major disaster in response to the toxic train derailment that occurred in East Palestine in February.
The incident resulted in the release of hazardous chemicals from several rail cars operated by Norfolk Southern and raised health concerns among local residents. DeWine emphasized the need for federal assistance to address the aftermath of the disaster.
In a letter to Biden, DeWine stressed that while no “unmet needs” had been reported to the state, there was a possibility that Norfolk Southern, the rail operator at the center of the disaster, could withdraw its voluntary support in the future. The operator has provided some compensation to individuals and local authorities to cover expenses associated with the incident….