Ohio Governor says FEMA won’t grant help for East Palestine train derailment

FEMA is yet to grant assistance to Ohio to help ease the chemical crisis unfolding in East Palestine, where the town’s irate mayor and residents are grappling with the aftermath of a toxic train derailment two weeks ago. 

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced on Twitter on Thursday that he’d asked for help, but was told ‘Ohio is not eligible for assistance at this time.’ 

‘FEMA continues to advise that Ohio is not eligible for assistance at this time. 

‘I will continue working with FEMA to determine what assistance can be provided,’ he said. 

A spokesman for FEMA told DailyMail.com that it is in ‘constant contact’ with people on the ground in East Palestine, but no formal help has been provided. 

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced on Twitter on Thursday that he’d asked for help, but was told ‘Ohio is not eligible for assistance at this time’

It’s unclear why that is the case, or whether DeWhine’s office has filed a formal request for assistance. 

The lack of federal support is tormenting residents in the town, who last night demanded to know why Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg didn’t attend a town meeting about the crisis. 

‘Where’s Pete Buttigieg? Where’s he at?’ one man asked. An exasperated Mayor Trent Conaway replied: ‘I don’t know. Your guess is as good as mine.’ 

President Biden is yet to comment on the disaster, which began on February 3 when a Norfolk Southern train carrying vinyl chloride and other hazardous materials derailed. 

The president underwent a physical exam at Walter Reed this afternoon and is due back at the White House shortly, where he is scheduled to give a media briefing on unexplained UFOs that were shot down over the weekend.

Mayor Trent Conaway hosted a meeting last night in the town. Residents asked ‘where’s Pete Buttigieg?’ as they demanded answers

President Biden is yet to comment on the crisis that began over two weeks ago 

The toxic train derailed in a fiery crash on February 3, leading authorities to evacuate the surrounding East Palestine, Ohio area 

East Palestine residents came out in their droves for the town hall meeting on Wednesday

Yesterday, Mayor Conaway said the first he’d heard from anyone in Washington DC was on Tuesday – more than 10 days after the derailment. 

Part of the town was evacuated over environmental concerns, and officials then decided to burn the hazardous materials in a controlled setting to avoid an unplanned, deadly explosion. 

Now, residents do not know whether it is safe to return to their homes.

They are being told that all there are no traces of the toxic chemicals in the water or air, but have been advised to drink bottled water as a precaution. 

Many have rejected those assurances, including Ohio Senator J.D. Vance. 

‘If the EPA Administrator wants to stand here and tell people that the tap water is safe…they should be willing to drink it. 

Pete Buttigieg has offered few remarks, aside from blaming the disaster on the Trump administration 

‘If I was living here, I’d be drinking bottled water.’ 

Many residents continue to complain of sore eyes and scratchy throats, and some say they are suffering headaches.  

There are grave concerns for the health of the town’s residents, and mounting questions over the crisis. 

Republican Senator J.D. Vance said on Thursday that the EPA Administrator ought to drink the tap water in the area if he 

Norfolk Southern’s CEO is yet to visit the town.  

He is joined in his absence by Buttigieg, whose few public remarks have included an attempt to blame the fiasco on the Trump administration. 

The Trump administration repealed a safety rule requiring new electronic brakes and made its trains dangerously long. 

Buttigieg has been widely panned for his poor handling of the crisis.