An Elyria councilman has posed a water challenge in partnership with the First Ward Good Neighbors Initiative to bring aid to East Palestine residents who are suffering the aftermath of the February destructive train derailment.
“As we all know, East Palestine is hurting still, from a terrible train accident that has made much of the local water sources undrinkable,” stated Ward 1 Councilman Andrew Lipian in a Facebook post March 24.
In emergency situations, it’s always a good idea have a stock of water handy in the event of a major storm or environmental emergency, Lipian pointed out.
“So, to raise awareness and help a neighbor community in OH that is struggling, we are issuing a water challenge,” he wrote.
For every case of water a resident buys to stock for at-home emergency use, Lipian asks the public to match it with a case of water for East Palestine.
Residents can deliver the water for East Palestine to the East Rec Center in Elyria, 1101 E. Prospect St., at 5:30 p.m., April 6.
A volunteer team will load the water onto a vehicle and Dawn Guanajuato, a volunteer Elyria resident, will transport the bottles to a distribution center in East Palestine, Lipian wrote.
“Let’s show them they aren’t forgotten, by giving the gift of life-giving water. We hope this water drive inspires you to prepare for your family, and repair to the aid of others,” he wrote.
Other local communities also are reacting to the devastation left behind in East Palestine.
Earlier this month, Lorain City Council passed a resolution asking the federal government to step in to protect the International City from a derailment.
“With the adoption of this resolution, the members of Lorain City Council find that it is in the best interests of the citizens of Lorain to pass a resolution urging the Legislative Branches of the Federal government as well as the State of Ohio to enact legislation to further protect our citizens from the inherent dangers of a train tracks located in or near the city,” the resolution stated.
Railway derailments have occurred several times in Ohio in the past 40 days and incidents have caused and will continue to cause significant medical issues to the residents of the communities where the incidents occurred and the incidents caused and will continue to cause serious damage to the infrastructure located at/near the site of the derailments, according to the resolution.
The incidents have caused and will continue to cause serious damage to the ecosystems at/near the site, the resolution stated.
The resolution named a number of rail lines including CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway.
The resolution was passed at the March 20 Council meeting.
Vermilion officials also are getting involved with the issue.
“The national discussion on rail safety is directly relevant to Vermilion,” said Vermilion Mayor Jim Forthofer in a report to Council on March 13.
Forthofer noted 150 to 200 trains pass through the downtown area in one day.
“I, along with other mayors, support Ohio Rep. Joe Miller of District 53 as he moves to reinstate an amendment in the omnibus bill pertaining to railroad safety,” the mayor wrote. “The amendment would require a railroad company to submit an incident report to PUCO each time it blocks a railroad crossing for more than five minutes, imposes a first-degree misdemeanor and a fine on a company that does not submit an incident report when required.”
