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EAST PALESTINE -- With residents in the communities impacted by the Feb. 3 train derailment calling for a long-term health monitoring program, Norfolk Southern maintained on Wednesday that such a program is in the works.
"Norfolk Southern continues working on details for a medical compensation fund that is being designed to address long-term health concerns in the community," the railroad said in an emailed statement. "We continue work to address mental health concerns as well."
While the health monitoring program is still in development 11 months after the derailment, Norfolk Southern has put money toward mental health recovery. The railroad provided funding to the Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board to purchase a former doctor's office located on state Route 14 in Unity Township that was transformed into a facility to address the impacts on mental health and help the community heal. The East Palestine Resiliency Center, which is set to open soon, will offer area residents traditional counseling, support groups and 12-Step meetings, and non-traditional programming, such as trauma-focused yoga classes, creative arts, and animal therapy. Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board Executive Director Marcy Patton said that ultimately the services offered at the center will be determined by the needs and wants of the community and will include support and mental care for first responders including peer support and compassion fatigue management. The $534,000 donation from Norfolk Southern and an $879,509 emergency response grant awarded to East Palestine through the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OMHAS) made the center possible.
The Resiliency Center is just one more step on the road to recovery, and according to Norfolk Southern, the railroad intends to see East Palestine through for years to come and fulfill every promise made in the days and weeks following the rail disaster. In March, the railroad said it was focusing on addressing three major concerns in the wake of the derailment -- the impact the disaster could have on water quality, property value and long-term community health. According to Wednesday's statement, Norfolk Southern said that hasn't changed.
"We are committed to supporting this community and making things right for the long haul," the statement said. "To date, NS has invested more than $103.2 million in the community."
Of the $103.2 million committed to the village and surrounding communities, $4.3 million was donated for the long-term protection of East Palestine drinking water. Those funds earmarked for upgrades to the municipal system will include new engineering and carbon filtration systems meant to improve the village system with state of the art technology, new carbon filters and infrastructure.
In September Norfolk Southern announced the interim Value Assurance Program (VAP). The VAP will compensate for any reduction in value of eligible residential properties as a result of the rail disaster. The VAP will address properties located in East Palestine and some surrounding communities. The railroad explained that, through the interim VAP, those residents in the defined program area who have sold their homes since Feb. 3, currently have their homes on the market, or will put their homes on the market, are eligible to be compensated for any difference between their home's market value and its sale price. The VAP will also be available for future sales. In December, there were currently 12 home sales in the process of utilizing the program.
When the VAP was announced Norfolk Southern called it another promise kept to the village.
"This is another step in fulfilling our promise to East Palestine to make it right. Norfolk Southern is steadfast in keeping our commitments protecting the home values of the community," NS CEO Alan Shaw said. "This program aims to give homeowners the reassurance they need."
Other major contributions from Norfolk Southern to East Palestine have included $25 million to fund a regional safety training center for first responders, located in East Palestine, $25 million for upgrades and renovations to East Palestine City Park, $1 million donation to the East Palestine School District for academics, interscholastic athletics, and long-term development, $1 million for community priorities, $300,000 to support the East Palestine Community Foundation and $500,000 for an economic development agency to work with East Palestine community leaders.
In addition, Norfolk Southern made good on its promise to put down permanent roots in the village in August by acquiring the former Brittain Motors building at 428 N. Market St. to establish a Norfolk Southern Field Office. Renovations on that building are currently underway.