COLUMBIANA COUNTY, Ohio — Residents in a 1-mile by 2-mile area surrounding East Palestine, which spans across Ohio and Pennsylvania, are being ordered to evacuate immediately due to the potential explosion of five unstable rail cars containing vinyl chloride. The Ohio National Guard and U.S. Department of Defense have conducted new modeling on the situation, leading to the evacuation order from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
Norfolk Southern Railroad will be performing a controlled release of the vinyl chloride at 3:30 p.m. today. The process involves the burning of the rail cars’ chemicals, releasing fumes into the air that can cause serious harm or even death if inhaled. The red affected area is facing grave danger, while the yellow impacted area is at high risk of injury.
In Ohio, those in need of assistance with evacuation should call 330-457-0733 or 330-457-2455, while those in Pennsylvania should call the State Police Beaver Station at 724-773-7400. Information regarding the evacuation and shelter-in-place orders can be obtained by calling Beaver County Emergency Services at 724-775-0880.
Most individuals have already left the impacted areas, but law enforcement is working to ensure that everyone is safely evacuated before the controlled release. The release is estimated to last between 1 to 3 hours, but it is unknown when residents will be able to return to their homes. An announcement will be made once it is safe for residents to return.