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Erin Brockovich's avatar

About to post a follow-up today that will help answer a lot of q's.

Stay tuned and stay safe everyone!!

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Kevin Holbert's avatar

Erin, EP is my hometown but I live in LA now. My parents still live there. The residents are getting no respect to this point and they are understandably scared. I'll take you to EP to speak with the residents, I really believe your presence would give this situation the exposure it needs. I messaged you my info on IG.

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Grant Turner's avatar

Tip: I had a friend who called the EPA and asked if they test the groundwater in East Palestine. They said they contract it out. When he looked up the company, it turned out it was owned by on of the largest investors in Norfolk Southern. Might not impact things, but...

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Mackie's avatar

I’m in Canada about 200 miles north of East Palestine. Last week, my entire family and pets were sick. We had nose bleeds, difficulty breathing, headaches, tired, burning eyes and nausea. I’ve notice the last few days there are no birds and we have a lot of birds here usually even in the coldest winter months. I’m frustrated because no one told us to stay inside or that this burn was happening.

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Nikki L's avatar

I live 10 miles away and am still feeling the effects. Had most of what your family had plus a few more.

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BadCat's avatar

According to this media report, the burning plume could not escape upwards, because of a weather phenomenon called an "inversion." - "The plume reached a certain level in the atmosphere and was unable to continue to rise, and so it began to spread out like a thick cloud.

The smoke was trapped from rising higher into the atmosphere due to an inversion layer at around 3,000 feet. " https://myfox8.com/weather/blog/how-an-inversion-layer-trapped-a-plume-of-toxic-chemicals-near-surface-in-ohio/

1. Was the inversion known to weather services *before* the decision to burn?

2. If so, did any official involved in the decision to burn, check with the National Weather Service first?

3. Wondering if the evacuation zone was calculated with the 'inversion spread' in mind?

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Rebecca's avatar

I live just 27 miles from the burn, and can tell you that the Pittsburgh news reported on the inversion before the burn. I don't know if the officials responsible for the burn had seen that on the weather. But the more we've found out here, the more it seems like they raced to burn not because of blow up risk, but more because Norfolk wanted the rails back open. If that gets confirmed as true, I hope they get sued for a lot of money.

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BadCat's avatar

Interesting to hear that Pittsburgh news reported on the inversion. Thanks for weighing in Rebecca.

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Nikki L's avatar

I know they wanted those trains running. I think they said the evacuation was lifted at 7pm and the trains were going through at 7:15. Even they mayor was shocked and upset he did not expect that. They told him they would not run the train til people were back home.

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Nikki L's avatar

I believe the weather was part of the reason they did it when they did it was going to be the next say according to the news. I live 10 miles away and am still feeling some of the effects

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BadCat's avatar

Thanks for sharing your story Nikki. What are you feeling?

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Nikki L's avatar

Woke up Saturday puffy face eyes watery as the day went on ears started hurting, dizzy, headaches, glands then throat hurt. The wheezing and coughing started slow but got worse. next day felt like full blown sinus infection. Bowel issues started after controled burn and lasted 3 or 4 days. I'm tired all the time. Head

Throat and ears still hurt. I still have a cough, I still have no energy and get dizzy occasionally. I have appointment with an ENT on the 1st.

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BadCat's avatar

I'm sorry to hear about your symptoms dear Nikki. I will keep you in my prayers. Please keep us updated. I'm glad you have an appointment set. Thank you for the additional information.

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Nikki L's avatar

I'm doing better still got cough and ear hurts. Still waiting for drs appointment. Mother in law got a bad rash. She lives 3 miles. They won't admit to anything else to me, strong country people...

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BadCat's avatar

Keep us updated if you would. Thank you, Nikki.

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Michael Holloway's avatar

Keep taking notes. Real time notes are the gold standard for evidence in a court or in the court of public opinion (media). Hope it's all temporary, and best of luck.

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jordan poet's avatar

I am most concerned about the dioxins that were produced by combusting the vinyl chloride. It is hard to find data on what potential quantities we could be looking at, but dioxins are absolutely produced in the manufacturing and combustion of vinyl chloride & poly(vinyl chloride). Considering how dioxins migrate up the food chain until they accumulate in humans, it probably wasn't ideal to blow them up in such close proximity to major farmland and water resources

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Rebekah thomas's avatar

I'm far more comforted hearing that Erin Brockovich is paying attention than I am hearing about the governor or even senators talking about how "they will be held accountable" as in a decade from now they will be arguing about exactly what the fine will be. God bless you Erin. The national media is almost ignoring this but people's lives have been forever changed.

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BadCat's avatar

Saw this comment on a related YouTube video: "This is Erin Brockovich level." <-- a compliment to Ms. Brockovich.

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Betty's avatar

Residents should demand a check up and get copies of lab values to establish a baseline so NSRailway can't later claim "preexisting condition".

When signing financial responsiblity forms before getting post sickness care, write in "Norfolk Southern Corporation

1200 Peachtree St NE Atlanta, GA 30309" in leu of your name and signature.

Have the medical bills sent there. Consider suing them in small claims court as well.

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Nikki L's avatar

I wish I could go Friday night but I don't like to drive at night, and it's going to be a mad house. I'm sure I can watch it online. Thanks Erin for coming!

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Sabrina's avatar

I drove there from milton, wv. I had to see it for myself. There was a chemical-sweet smell. Workers wore only hard hats for PPE. Burnt barrels were sitting in a street (took pics). Burnt cars were accessible as well. No one asked questions or paid me any attention. I got a water sample from Sulphur Run and headed back home

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Whittney Parkinson's avatar

Hi Erin, what is the extent of the water contamination? There have been diagrams showing the reach of water supplied by The Ohio River. 5 millions residents from OH, IN, KY. How can we know or protect our families if we are within this radius?

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Rob S.'s avatar

Is there a website we can go to for east palistine info?

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Michael Holloway's avatar

Good to see you on site and organizing. Thanks so much for all you do!

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JEAN'NE's avatar

Just wondering if seismic activity could have had anything to do with the derailment? Have noticed an uptick of tremors in the area. And Is that something to consider when it comes to transporting poly,moly,ethyl, methyl bad sh$t across major fault lines? Thank you for all the valuable input Erin.

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Grant Turner's avatar

Tip: I had a friend who called the EPA and asked if they test the groundwater in East Palestine. They said they contract it out. When he looked up the company, it turned out it was owned by on of the largest investors in Norfolk Southern. Might not impact things, but...

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Allyson S's avatar

Why isn't the media asking more questions? Like where are the chemicals going to and from? What industries and companies are behind the chemicals? Why are they just talking about East Palestine and not the surrounding areas as well? Where are the chemicals traveling? My mom lives 30 miles away from East Palestine (I used to live there) and she said they could smell the chemicals in the air the next day. I am so concerned for her health, the health of the people in the area, the animals and the bioregion. My heart aches.

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Sabrina's avatar

I am so relieved you are going there. We trust you.

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