02/16/2023

Brown Urges DeWine to Declare East Palestine a Disaster Area

He is seeking federal support following a toxic train derailment

Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) sent a letter to Governor Mike DeWine calling on him to officially declare a disaster in East Palestine and seek the full support of the federal government to bolster the state of Ohio’s ongoing clean-up efforts.

“A man-made disaster of this scale, scope, and significance necessitates a response and deployment of resources that are commensurate in scale and scope," Brown wrote. "I’m grateful for all that the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Emergency Management Agency, local fire fighters and local law enforcement have done to respond to this unprecedented disaster, but it’s critical we act quickly to supplement those efforts. Additional federal resources can and should play a critical role in helping our fellow Ohioans get back on their feet and ensure that their community is a safe place to live, work and raise a family."

Yesterday, Brown led letters to NTSB and EPA raising concerns and calling on the agencies investigate and provide assistance to the East Palestine community.

Please select this link to read the complete press release from Brown's office.