Earlier this month, the state of Ohio had to deal with one of its worst natural disasters with the recent chemical spilling. The long term effects on humanity are still to be determined, but for animals it has become apparent of what’s to come.
So far, an estimated number of over 43,000 aquatic animals are dead in East Palestine, the town hit the hardest after the spilling. It could take years for the environment and ecosystem to recover.
Officials have stated they haven’t seen any effects or death on land animals fortunately. However, this has made the residents of Ohio agriculture become frustrated.
One farmer has noticed her chickens becoming sick ever since the spill, one even suffering from seizures.
It has been very hard for officials to find anything in the autopsy of the animals that have passed, as there’s no indication of whether or not it was from the chemical waste.
Country officials such as Biden have spoken their opinions on the matter. Biden stated on Twitter “This is their mess. They should clean it up” in regards to Norfolk Southern.
The Environmental Protection Agency has ordered Norfolk Southern officials to attend town meetings in East Palestine. Officials have already started boycotting meetings in regards for their personal safety.
The EPA has ordered Norfolk Southern to submit a work plan to cover for the cleanup. Thousands of residents have already had to evacuate their homes for the time being.
“Let me be crystal clear: Norfolk Southern will pay for cleaning up the mess that they created and for the trauma they’ve inflicted on this community,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said during a press conference in East Palestine.
Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg has stated the federal government will be sending out relief packages for the state in order for them to start healing.