BEAVER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)– State Senator Doug Mastriano was in Beaver County, holding a hearing about the train derailment that happened just over Pennsylvania’s western border last year.

Beaver County is close to East Palestine, OH., which is where Norfolk Southern had a disastrous train derailment that took place early last year.

“People who live there talked about how life remains far from normal,” East Palestine resident Ashley McCollum said. “Still currently I’m staying in a hotel because I’m afraid that I cannot go and live in my home without experiencing severe medical issues. We don’t know where to go from here. So we had to buy a camper. And I’m still paying on a house that I have and cannot live in.”

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Mastriano held the hearing because he chairs the Senate’s Emergency Preparedness Committee.

In a statement, he tells abc27 news that his takeaway from the hearing is that Norfolk Southern and government response hasn’t been enough.

“Today’s hearing made it abundantly clear that many residents still feel that the response from their government and from Norfolk Southern has been insufficient,” Mastriano said. “We must not forget about those affected by the derailment. We learned today they are clearly still feeling the effects of having their lives turned upside down one year ago.”

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