By DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press, and staff
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden will visit East Palestine, the eastern Ohio community that was devastated by a fiery train derailment in February 2023 that displaced thousands of residents and left many fearing potential health effects from the toxic chemicals that spilled when a Norfolk Southern train went off the tracks.
A White House official said Wednesday that Biden will visit the Columbiana County village in February, though a date for the trip was not given. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because Biden’s plans had yet to be formally announced.
Thousands of people were forced from their homes after 38 railcars derailed and caught fire in the village near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border on Feb. 3, 2023.
Area residents still have lingering fears about potential health effects from the toxic chemicals that spilled and from the vinyl chloride that was released a few days after the crash to keep five tank cars from exploding.
In the year since the incident, the wreckage and contaminated soil and water have been removed and the air and water are still being monitored, according to the office of Gov. Mike DeWine.
Physical and mental health support continues to be available for residents, DeWine said.