Seven months after the catastrophic train derailment in East Palestine, President Joe Biden has yet to visit the affected area. Despite pleas from residents and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R) for federal support, Biden stated that he hasn’t “had the occasion” to visit, citing numerous other responsibilities as well as global travel plans.
The derailment, which occurred on February 3, released hazardous materials into East Palestine, leading to health concerns among residents. However, despite these issues, some citizens feel that a presidential visit would now be “pointless.”
Tammy Tsai, a local resident, called Biden’s lack of response “reprehensible,” stating that Biden should have visited and helped the people of East Palestine. Similarly, Jamie Wallace, another resident, claimed that the community feels abandoned by the federal government.
Wallace said, “We thought people would hear our cries, see that our needs are unmet, [see] sick children and we thought that we would have help by now.” She further stated that the people of East Palestine need federal support more than a presidential visit at this point.
While Biden has not personally visited, the Biden administration has sent representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Emergency Agency, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to assess the situation.
DeWine has repeatedly asked Biden to grant a Major Presidential Disaster Declaration. In a letter written in July, DeWine emphasized the need for state and federal resources to provide the necessary assistance to the affected community.
The derailment and its aftermath have sparked a political controversy. However, for residents like Wallace, the problem transcends political affiliation. She said, “This is not a red issue. It’s not a blue issue. This is an issue of human lives. This could happen in any community where a train runs through. This could happen in your community, and it will happen again.”
Despite the ongoing issues, Biden assures that his administration is ensuring East Palestine has the necessary resources to address its problems.
