Little Beaver Historical Society
Podcast Companion Exhibit
The Great Train Derailment of 2023
MEDIA COLLECTION
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Ashely Bennett of Darlington Township recalls the lack of emergency management help from Pennsylvania officials in the wake of the East Palestine train derailment on February 3, 2023 and the controlled burn of toxic substances in rail cars on February 6th. On February 23, she shares her story before the Pa Senate Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee public hearing on the Norfolk Southern train derailment on the Pennsylvania border and emergency response efforts. This audio has been edited from its original for clarity and to fit this format.PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Sara Koontz was in Chippewa Township during the controlled burn during the evening of February 6, 2023. On February 23, she shares her story before the Pa Senate Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee public hearing on the Norfolk Southern train derailment on the Pennsylvania border and emergency response efforts. This audio has been edited from its original for clarity and to fit this format.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Sheila Stigler of Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County, recalls the air pollution aftermath of the East Palestine train derailment on February 3, 2023 and the controlled burn of toxic substances in rail cars on February 6th. On February 23, she shares her story before the Pa Senate Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee public hearing on the Norfolk Southern train derailment on the Pennsylvania border and emergency response efforts. <em>This audio has been edited from its original for clarity and to fit this format.</em>
SOCIAL MEDIA
Jan Kaye-Pentz: “Enon Valley should have been evacuated TODAY too but we’re not!! My concern is both my in laws have breathing issues already so now they fear going outside to get into a car to evacuate because they were not told to leave before the controlled explosion occurred and now it’s a serious concern that should have been avoided by everyone in this vicinity prior to this incident for safety reasons….” (February 6, 2023, image and caption posted to Facebook)
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Ashely Bennett of Darlington Township recalls the lack of emergency management help from Pennsylvania officials in the wake of the East Palestine train derailment on February 3, 2023 and the controlled burn of toxic substances in rail cars on February 6th. On February 23, she shares her story before the Pa Senate Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee public hearing on the Norfolk Southern train derailment on the Pennsylvania border and emergency response efforts. This audio has been edited from its original for clarity and to fit this format.SOCIAL MEDIA
Laura P.
Trust me this air isn’t safe for miles. Consider the weather right now. No wind, cloudy. Heard there is snowy ash in Brighton Twp nearer to Elementary
Roni L.
Reply to Laura P.: it wasn’t snowing ash
Laura P.
Reply to Roni L.: someone near Brighton Twp school said it was a very fine ash.
Becca W.
Reply to Laura P.: we are in BT, and there is no ash. If there was ash near the school kids wouldn’t have gone today.
Laura P.
Reply to Becca W.: maybe I misunderstood.
Roni L.
the biggest problem is that people comment and say things to make everyone feel even worse… EVERYONE is well aware that there is danger- but if the tanker had exploded on its own… things could possibly have been even worse. There could have been metal flying through the air and the cloud could have been even bigger because the whole thing would have exploded.. People are quick to talk about what isn’t being done, but those people usually aren’t the ones our there on the front line helping either.
Becca W.
Reply to Roni L.: I just think there’s so much information going around and no one really knows what is right and what is wrong. I just wanted to give you a residents perspective so you weren’t as worried
Facebook comments on “News Alerts of Beaver County” (post by Jason M., February 6, 2023, edited for clarity and context)
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Sara Koontz was in Chippewa Township during the controlled burn during the evening of February 6, 2023. On February 23, she shares her story before the Pa Senate Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee public hearing on the Norfolk Southern train derailment on the Pennsylvania border and emergency response efforts. This audio has been edited from its original for clarity and to fit this format.SOCIAL MEDIA
Michael W.
Should new galilee pa evacuate smoke is rolling in
[Facebook group admin]
Reply to Michael W.: Michael, you have to do what you think is best
Michael W.
Reply to City of East Palestine, Ohio: this just isn’t making any sense they don’t care about the people that live in all this bull crap yeah we live miles away but they aren’t letting anyone know anything
Lin D.
Reply to Michael W.: absolutely 💯 agree
Jocelyn O.
Reply to Michael W.: amen to that. I have a farm in Darlington and house sitting pups I’m responsible for in East Palestine 3.2 miles away from the wreck and I wish I would’ve heard about this chemical release earlier! My client was the one that told me and I was checking my phone for updates all day while I was out with my other scheduled pups. I’ve had their supplies packed and ready to go since last night but now it’s safer where I’m at than at home. Like how are we supposed to prepare if we don’t have as much info as we can get? 🙄
Shirley S.
Reply to Michael W.: if I was in that situation, you would not catch me within 20 miles of that event!! This was the safest way to handle this. There is no way it is safe!! There will be particulates floating whatever way the wind is blowing along with the vinyl chloride. Be glad it’s not windy out!
Shirley S.
Reply to Michael W.: The weatherman just advised wind later shift East.
Katie L.
Reply to Michael W.: I feel the same we don’t know what to do!!! No one is really saying but my eyes are burning and my head’s killing
Tia T.
Reply to Katie L.: if you have somewhere you can go, just go. Get away from it
Nick R.
Reply to Katie L.: travel West and North!
Elaine G.
Reply to Michael W.: I’d leave if I saw that
John B.
Reply to Michael W.: better safe than sorry unfortunately
Cherie N.
Reply to Michael W.: New beaver boro also 🙏🏻
Dianna K.
Reply to Michael W.: What about smalls ferry road enon valley
Facebook comments on “East Palestine, Ohio” (post by Michael W., February 6, 2023, edited for clarity and context)
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Sheila Stigler of Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County, recalls the air pollution aftermath of the East Palestine train derailment on February 3, 2023 and the controlled burn of toxic substances in rail cars on February 6th. On February 23, she shares her story before the Pa Senate Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee public hearing on the Norfolk Southern train derailment on the Pennsylvania border and emergency response efforts. This audio has been edited from its original for clarity and to fit this format.SOCIAL MEDIA
Shirley S.
stay safe
Jocelyn O.
Reply to Shirley S.: thank you! All is okay for now! it’s hard for those of us with livestock. Picking up and leaving is no easy task. and there are only so many farms in the safe zones that have room 
I’m far enough away for now but I’m still worried sick about my horses and my goats. Two are pregnant with one month to go.
Rachel B.
Reply to Jocelyn O.: from Sarah G. in Canfield…(they raise goats) East Palestine friends…. we have pastures with shelter in Canfield if you need a place for your livestock to go. Also, we are not a farm-but we have 3 goats. I could always make room In our extra stall for goats (hay in there right now). No room for a horse though.
Jocelyn O.
Reply to Rachel B.: thanks!! My goats are tucked inside and safe. We’re in the safe zone for now so I’m hoping I don’t have to get my horses out. There are definitely some folks that are worse off. 
Rachel B.
Reply to Jocelyn O.: for sure. Ugh. So sad. If you know of anyone pass the info along. I could make room for goats.
Jocelyn O.
Reply to Rachel B.: sure will! I’ve been trying to share info on my pet care business page but I think most of my farm clients have left (folks that are closer to the OH line). I’m not sure about one of them but they have a gang of Nubians. Hard to find room for all of them 
Facebook comments on “East Palestine, Ohio” (post by Michael W., February 6, 2023, edited for clarity and context)
SOCIAL MEDIA
Tammy T. [Caption for photo taken at closed intersection of Rts. 168 and 51]
Darlington PA 6PM tonight. I hope folks evacuated.
Tammy T.
Chris did you guys evacuate??🙏
Chris M.
Reply to Tammy T.: No, we are here.
Tammy T.
Reply to Chris M.: I hope that doesn’t get inside🙏
Alyce B.
Sending prayers that your entire community is safe! 🙏🏼💖🙏🏼
Andie B.
Oh no, what happened? Are things ok?
Tammy T.
Reply to Andie B.: just read down my timeline. It’s been a nightmare since Friday night. We evacuated our house and are 8 miles away.
Anja K.
Dear Tammy, I can’t imagine what is going on there. It’s good to know that you and your loved ones are safe🙏❣️
Facebook comments on Tammy T.’s personal Facebook page, February 6, 2023, edited for clarity and context)
CITIZEN IMAGES FROM NORTHERN BEAVER COUNTY
