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EAST PALESTINE -- With major clean-up efforts at the site of Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern train derailment complete, the railroad insists it will continue to help East Palestine get back on its feet in the wake of the rail disaster.
"We're proud of the progress we've made toward fully remediating the site, and helping the community recover. But we know there is more work to do," said Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw. "We'll continue keeping our promises and listening to the community. Together, we're focused on economic development to help the East Palestine community thrive for the long term."
Norfolk Southern reported that it has given $103 million to East Palestine and the surrounding areas in Ohio and Pennsylvania and highlighted some of the contributions via an email on Tuesday. Those contributions were categorized by first responder support, community support and economic development and resident support.
First responder support included $25 million to fund an East Palestine-based regional safety training center for first responders, $3 million to the East Palestine Fire Department and $5 million to cover costs of Pennsylvania state agencies and local fire departments that responded to the derailment.
Community support included $25 million to renovate the East Palestine City Park, $4.2 million to Pennsylvania communities to support local events and grants for nonprofits, $1 million donation to the East Palestine School District for academics, interscholastic athletics, and long-term development, $1 million for community priorities as determined Norfolk Southern Community Liaison and East Palestine resident Jeremy Vranesevich, $534,000 to fund a Community Resiliency Center to address mental health issues and $300,000 to support the East Palestine Community Foundation.
Economic development and resident support includes $4.3 million for the long-term protection of East Palestine drinking water supply, an interim Home Value Assurance Program (VAP) to compensate any reduction in value of certain residential properties located in East Palestine and some surrounding communities following the derailment, $500,000 for an economic development agency to work with East Palestine community leaders, construction of Norfolk Southern's permanent East Palestine field office and, most recently, an economic development roundtable, in partnership with the Ohio Economic Development Authority, held on Nov. 30.
Through the Norfolk Southern Family Assistance Center, the railroad has provided over $20.7 million in direct financial assistance to families.