It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in East Palestine, OH is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“I Work for always best care and I love it the clients are great the”
“I have been with ALWAYS BEST CARE for about 10 years. The staff has always”
“I work there and the company tries as hard they can can't blame the company”
“This company has a very kind team working very hard to make a difference in”
“Always Best Care has been taking care of my mom for almost two years now”
“I Work for always best care and I love it the clients are great the people in the office are wonderful and they work with you .. They give people a chance to better there lifes and make a living by help others and I just love everyone in this company. I will retire from here ????”
“I have been with ALWAYS BEST CARE for about 10 years. The staff has always worked to make sure the Caregiver and I are a good match. One morning my Caregiver was unable to come. The owner of the company came to be my Caregiver that morning!! I have never had that happen with any other company. I ❤ ALWAYS BEST CARE!!! I recommend this company to everyone who needs a Caregiver!!!”
“I work there and the company tries as hard they can can't blame the company when the ppl call off I love this company and very proud to be here.......”
“This company has a very kind team working very hard to make a difference in people's lives. Clients and staff. Owner has worked hard and professionally to give everyone the respect and chance they deserve!”
“Always Best Care has been taking care of my mom for almost two years now and we really appreciate their dedication and compassionate care. Thank you for everything.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
Request More Information
While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in East Palestine, OH, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in East Palestine, OH understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in East Palestine, OH 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio – Antonio Diaz-Guy, 32, has lived in East Palestine most of his life. Now, he’s helping write the next chapter in the small town’s history.“I have a lot of big plans. I am a big dreamer. I like to ideate,” Diaz-Guy said.What You Need To Know “My grandparents owned Guy's Bakery here, as well as Parkside Restaurant, and all of my family lives and has worked in East Palestine,” Diaz-Guy said.On Feb. 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern Train ca...
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio – Antonio Diaz-Guy, 32, has lived in East Palestine most of his life. Now, he’s helping write the next chapter in the small town’s history.
“I have a lot of big plans. I am a big dreamer. I like to ideate,” Diaz-Guy said.
“My grandparents owned Guy's Bakery here, as well as Parkside Restaurant, and all of my family lives and has worked in East Palestine,” Diaz-Guy said.
On Feb. 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern Train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed and caught fire in the village of East Palestine. The incident caused thousands of resident to evacuate for several days. Since then, Norfolk Southern trains have continued to pass through East Palestine with transported substances falling under federal regulation.
Now, two years after the train derailment, Diaz-Guy said the town is ready to move on and make changes, starting with its economic and social sectors.
“We’re taking a look at all the existing ordinances and saying, which one of these are preventative to business growth and revising them,” he said. “And then also remarketing some programs that we've had long standing in East Palestine.”
While also looking to make improvements in the village’s infrastructure.
“I would love to see our park get finished, and I'm working with all of the resources we have at hand,” Diaz-Guy said.
Following the derailment, many residents reported experiencing health issues, including coughing, nausea and headaches.
Diaz-Guy said the village has conducted studies with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and university researchers that indicate there are no current health risks posed to residents. Still, Diaz-Guy said he’s supporting residents’ health and the environment for the long run.
“The federal EPA, the Ohio EPA [and] our community representatives all have data sampling. We have sentinel wells for water testing, all drilled through the community,” Diaz-Guy said. “Our water testing plant has been upgraded and is compliant. Those samples get reviewed every month.”
Barbara Kliner graduated from East Palestine High School’s class of 1969.
She now lives on the town’s west side within a two-mile radius of where the incident happened.
“I was in bed, I heard it and I thought, oh, that's an unusual noise,” Kliner said.
Kliner said she witnessed the incident’s initial devastation and the chaos that followed.
“I think that was the worst part of the whole thing was the lack of information and the lack of coordination initially,” she said.
Still, Kliner said she’s noticed a transformation within the village’s leadership, which is bringing a new hope to the community.
“I have seen a vast improvement in the communication between city council and our village manager and the people that take the time to go,” she said. “... The sun's coming out here in East Palestine, and we're going to be OK.”
Diaz-Guy said its only the beginning of building a better future for all residents.
“I have a son who is now 17 months old. My ambition is that 20 years from now, when he decides to begin his adult life, he wants to begin in East Palestine,” Diaz-Guy said. “That there's local jobs and opportunity in our region to support a healthy, profitable lifestyle.”
Item 1 of 2 Drone footage shows the freight train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, U.S., February 6, 2023 in this screengrab obtained from a handout video released by the NTSB. NTSBGov/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo[1/2]Drone footage shows the freight train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, U.S., February 6, 2023 in this screengrab obtained from a handout video released by the NTSB. NTSBGov/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo ...
Item 1 of 2 Drone footage shows the freight train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, U.S., February 6, 2023 in this screengrab obtained from a handout video released by the NTSB. NTSBGov/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
[1/2]Drone footage shows the freight train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, U.S., February 6, 2023 in this screengrab obtained from a handout video released by the NTSB. NTSBGov/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
NEW YORK, Feb 27 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit accusing Norfolk Southern (NSC.N)
, opens new tab of causing hundreds of millions of dollars of losses for bondholders by concealing safety risks prior to the February 2023 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio of a train carrying hazardous chemicals.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan found no proof to support bondholder claims that Norfolk Southern's statements in offering materials about its focus on safety were false, or that it was "cutting corners" on safety in pursuit of profits.
Kaplan found no duty to disclose that the use of "Precision Scheduled Railroading," which employs longer and heavier trains with fewer workers, caused an unspecified increase in the risk of accidents, or that the Federal Railroad Administration in 2021 found Norfolk Southern's conductor training inadequate.
He also said Norfolk Southern was not obligated to disclose that early improvements in operating metrics under a business strategy adopted in 2019 would prove unsustainable.
"When an issuer makes a disclosure about a particular topic, the representation must be complete and accurate," Kaplan wrote. "Plaintiffs' argument, however, stretches these principles past their logical breaking point."
The lawsuit led by pension funds in Ohio and Michigan sought damages for investors who owned $3.95 billion of Norfolk Southern senior notes and bonds from seven offerings by the Atlanta-based railroad between May 2021 and January 2023.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Norfolk Southern said Kaplan's decision reached "the right result, and we are very pleased with the outcome."
A federal magistrate judge had recommended to Kaplan last July that the plaintiffs could pursue some of their claims.
The February 3, 2023 derailment included 38 railcars, and released more than 1 million gallons of hazardous materials and pollutants into the environment.
Last month, Norfolk Southern said it has incurred $1.44 billion of costs for environmental remediation and monitoring, community assistance and legal settlements from the derailment, after accounting for insurance payouts.
The case is Ohio Carpenters Pension Fund et al v Norfolk Southern Corp Bond-Note Securities Litigation, et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 23-04068.
Sign up here.
Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Chris Reese and Nick Zieminski
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Two years ago, a 149-car train transporting flammable hazardous chemicals derailed from the tracks near the town of East Palestine, Ohio, causing an explosion that burned for days. When the substances on the train burned, it emitted several highly toxic substances into the air, including vinyl chloride and butyl acrylate.The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stepped into action,...
Two years ago, a 149-car train transporting flammable hazardous chemicals derailed from the tracks near the town of East Palestine, Ohio, causing an explosion that burned for days. When the substances on the train burned, it emitted several highly toxic substances into the air, including vinyl chloride and butyl acrylate.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stepped into action, working with state agencies to conduct air, water, and soil sampling throughout the community. Local officials also conducted a “controlled burn” of remaining vinyl chloride, purportedly to reduce the risk of additional explosions. Despite reassurances that there were no immediate public health hazards, residents of the town reported experiencing headaches, respiratory and gastrointestinal issues, stress, and skin irritation.
It wasn’t until more than a year later that community members started to get answers. In May 2024, a whistleblower report revealed that an EPA employee directed the agency’s contractor to falsify records related to air sampling of vinyl chloride and EPA conducted airborne monitoring over the disaster site in a way that appeared to avoid locations with potentially higher concentrations. The whistleblowers concluded that the community’s air, water, and soil were still contaminated. Then the following month, the chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Jennifer Homedy, shared in a public meeting that the agency’s investigation showed that the controlled burn, which emitted additional cancer-causing pollution in the air, was unnecessary. NTSB investigators also concluded that Norfolk Southern, the company that operated the derailed train, repeatedly tried to interfere with the investigation.
Eventually, the company agreed to a $310 million settlement with the federal government for Clean Water Act violations and to cover the costs of a cleanup and water and health monitoring programs in the community. The are several other settlements pending legal actions brought forward by impacted residents.
Vice President JD Vance (then a US Senator from Ohio) strongly criticized the federal government’s response efforts. On Monday, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin visited East Palestine with the Vice President, stating that “This administration will fight hard to make sure every American has access to clean air, land, and water.”
Just a few weeks into this administration, these promises are being undermined. EPA employees, including those that oversee hazardous waste cleanup, are being pushed out of the agency. Federal health agencies continue to be barred from publishing scientific research and the fate of National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant committees hangs in the balance. Last year, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), which operates under NIH, awarded six research grants to study the health impacts of the disaster on East Palestine residents. The federal government must continue investing in these efforts for researchers to understand the long-term health effects, but the administration’s actions have so far pointed toward disinvestment and sidelining the work of the NIH and other health agencies.
Furthermore, communities in East Palestine do not have health care guidance or funding to ensure access to health care services. The President has the authority to declare a state of emergency and authorize federal assistance to the community through the Stafford Act, but so far there is no word on whether President Trump will do so.
The administration can also prevent these disasters from happening in the future by strengthening railroad safety regulations, including implementing recommendations made in NTSB’s report following the disaster. During Trump’s first term, the administration rolled back rail safety measures, including provisions that required rail cars carrying hazardous flammable materials to install more effective braking systems. If Vance is serious about preventing these disasters in the first place, then the administration will support stronger regulations to improve rail safety.
Last week, a number of industry trade associations sent a letter to Administrator Zeldin calling for a meeting to ask that the EPA roll back provisions in the Safer Communities by Chemical Accident Prevention rule, which was finalized last year to strengthen Risk Management Program (RMP). The RMP requires roughly 12,000 hazardous chemical facilities nationwide to implement measures to prevent and respond to catastrophic chemical disasters. Rolling back the updated rule would be in direct opposition to Zeldin’s promises to East Palestine residents.
While RMP regulations largely focus on stationary sources—such as chemical manufacturing facilities—they are part of the larger puzzle of hazardous chemical production in the U.S. Trains like the one that derailed in East Palestine are often transporting hazardous substances manufactured at facilities regulated under the RMP. And the updated regulations require some RMP facilities to evaluate whether safer chemicals and processes can be used instead. If implemented, it could mean that some of the most dangerous facilities transition to using safer chemicals, which in turn, may reduce the risks of catastrophic disasters when these materials are transported. Yet this is one of the provisions that the industry letter asks EPA to reconsider.
According to the Coalition to Prevent Chemical Disasters’ chemical incident tracker, there have already been nine chemical incidents in the U.S. in 2025, one of which was due to a train derailment in Oregon. If Vice President Vance intends to stand by his promises to East Palestine communities, he needs to consider the whole picture—and push his administration to reverse course. Communities deserve protection from catastrophic chemical disasters, whether they’re happening on the railroad or at a stationary facility. Gutting the rules—and pushing out the EPA employees that enforce them—is nothing short of a betrayal.
East Palestine, Ohio: A town failed by the EPAThis op-ed was written by Government Accountability Project’s Legal Director, Tom Devine, and was originally published here.A Norfolk Southern train derailed in the quiet town of East Palestine, ...
East Palestine, Ohio: A town failed by the EPA
This op-ed was written by Government Accountability Project’s Legal Director, Tom Devine, and was originally published here.
A Norfolk Southern train derailed in the quiet town of East Palestine, Ohio, two years ago. After two years, you would think this story would be open and closed, that East Palestine would go back to being the small, working-class town it was. But you would be wrong. Its residents were betrayed by our government’s Environmental Protection Agency.
Ever since Feb. 3, 2023, residents of East Palestine have struggled with serious health conditions that were nonexistent before the derailment. When the EPA allowed the Norfolk Southern Railway to burn five cars filled with vinyl chloride and other toxic chemicals, more than 100 dangerous compounds including dioxins and phosgene were formed, blanketing the town and nearby Pennsylvania communities with a black cloud. Dioxin, the most dangerous forever chemical known to man, was the active ingredient in Agent Orange, a human rights atrocity in the Vietnam War.
Despite this hardship, residents banded together to make sense of why our government told them it was safe to return to homes that were not safe. Most of all, they wondered why the government and agencies that swore to protect them were keeping them in the dark while they scrambled to put their lives back together. However, with a new administration featuring Ohio’s former senator, Vice President J.D. Vance, they may have a chance. This chance will only become reality if the new administration and Vance provide real, tangible support that makes a difference.
The greatest impact would come if the new administration declared a national disaster in East Palestine and affected communities. For months following the toxic derailment, residents of the community along with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine asked the president to declare a national disaster. With this declaration, affected residents would have access to Medicare, long-term health monitoring, and financial assistance to relocate permanently to a safer home away from the toxic chemicals. Nevertheless, even after visiting East Palestine and talking with a hand-picked group of residents, former President Joe Biden only praised the EPA for its “Herculean” efforts.
In September 2024, four whistleblowers and scientists testified in legal challenges about the ongoing public health concerns from the chemical contamination following the derailment. The whistleblower disclosures from Scott Smith, George Thompson, Stephen Petty, and an anonymous toxins expert supplemented a legal petition filed in June demanding the EPA immediately honor its duty to warn residents about the dangers of consuming wild game and garden crops.
The four whistleblowers in the supplemental petition all reached the same conclusion: The community’s water, air, and soil were still contaminated from the chemicals released during the vent and burn, as well as the spill after the derailment. The EPA and state officials did no dioxin testing on crops in East Palestine but wrongly fell back on flawed dioxin soil sampling by Norfolk Southern. Despite the lack of testing and a petition showing whistleblower and independent tester Scott Smith found dioxin levels hundreds of times higher in East Palestine than in control samples canned before the derailment, the EPA continued to encourage residents to eat from their home gardens.
Former EPA contractor and whistleblower Robert Kroutil submitted a disturbing declaration to the EPA Office of Inspector General. The agency’s airborne surveillance program to assess chemical releases was grounded for five days, and when it did fly over East Palestine on Feb. 7, the day after the vent and burn, EPA program managers ordered airplane operators to turn off the chemical sensors over contaminated creeks. Kroutil further exposed falsification of the EPA’s data, stating that legally required quality assurance plans were created six weeks after the disaster and backdated. The request for a backdated quality assurance plan for the East Palestine mission was allegedly made by a program manager on Feb. 28, 2023, and the falsified documents, including multiple technical inaccuracies and inconsistencies, were provided to the Government Accountability Project as part of a Freedom of Information Act request.
The Government Accountability Project’s own investigator has filed several FOIA requests against the agencies involved with cleaning up after the derailment. These agencies were tasked with providing community assistance and resources. The residents, however, did not receive the assistance they needed — or virtually any support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The initial FOIA request to FEMA to access records and communications about the derailment was submitted on Jan. 31, 2024, then again on April 12, 2024, to address the unmet needs of the community. Due to FEMA’s procedural failures, the agency refused to provide any communications requested, which is rare. Despite the request being expedited, FEMA has yet to provide any documentation. As a result, the Government Accountability Project recently sued FEMA for the records related to an executive order from Biden that tasked FEMA with assessing the unmet needs of the community and could have led to a disaster declaration, free medical care, and medical monitoring.
At the end of 2024, the Government Accountability Project filed an additional complaint with the EPA OIG after a legal recording of a conversation between an EPA official and East Palestine resident surfaced. In this conversation, the official acknowledged that Norfolk Southern’s environmental contractors are biased toward the responsible party that hired them. The EPA employee said the contractors’ reports cannot be trusted because they were written to minimize liability for the polluter. Meanwhile, residents continue to face severe medical complications, PTSD, and financial hardships.
Under the Biden administration, we saw government agencies lie and cover up mistakes for the sake of corporate appeasement. The EPA stood aside for Norfolk Southern’s burn because it allowed trains to get back on the tracks weeks sooner. Instead of protecting people, it protected profits and then lied to the public to cover a severe public health threat. Brave whistleblowers had to come forward to shed light on the wrongdoing federal agencies were committing. There was no assistance and no sense of hope from the president’s visit, with residents’ concerns swept under the rug for the sake of a publicity stunt and photo op.
However, with a new administration in the White House, residents whose pleas were ignored in the previous administration are hopeful for a new opportunity under President Donald Trump. Vance has the opportunity to help real people in his home state who have overwhelmingly supported him since his time as an Ohio senator.
The Trump administration has a choice to make. It can listen to the community, whistleblowers, and independent scientists, or continue allowing the federal government and former senator to abandon this town. The fight to help East Palestine, Ohio, and the surrounding areas is still underway, and we will not stop until every hardworking American can rest easy without the fear of living in a poisoned community that is still making residents sick.
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (WKBN) – New lawsuits have been filed against Norfolk Southern, including one alleging that the birth of a two-headed dog was due to the train derailment in East Palestine. ...
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (WKBN) – New lawsuits have been filed against Norfolk Southern, including one alleging that the birth of a two-headed dog was due to the train derailment in East Palestine.
The lawsuits were filed Thursday in the Northern District Court of Ohio.
One lawsuit — filed by dog breeders Katlyn Ann Wells and Cheryl Ann and Arthur Scharzwaelder, along with their businesses Northern Border, LLC and Von Schwarz Doberman Kennel, LLC — alleges that the controlled burn of chemicals following the derailment led to contamination of their property on Taggart Road in Darlington, Pa., and the deaths of 116 puppies and three adult dogs. The lawsuit also alleges that puppies were born with multiple deformities, including one puppy born with a single body but two heads.
Chase and Cheryl Kinder, of Birddoghill Kennel, also filed a lawsuit. They had property on Hamilton Road, less than 5 miles from the derailment, and say their dogs had illnesses, unsuccessful pregnancies and other health issues due to “the exposure of chemicals caused by the derailment.”
The kennel eventually relocated from East Palestine, incurring additional expenses, according to the lawsuit.
Their lawsuit and the others filed on Thursday contend that the derailment was a result of operational changes made at Norfolk Southern, including “precision scheduled railroading,” that “prioritized profits over safety.” The lawsuit cited a reduction in staff with longer, heavier trains that run on tighter schedules.
Another lawsuit filed by Daniel and Drew Huff — known collectively as “Huff Brothers” — alleged that the derailment led to a loss of rental income. They operated at least 85 rental properties and contend that many of their tenants were displaced due to the derailment and other potential tenants were unwilling to move to the area due to the surrounding environmental concerns.
In its lawsuit, Unity Tube, Inc., located on State Route 165 in East Palestine, alleged that the derailment led to numerous setbacks, including staff shortages and a decrease in customers. The plaintiffs alleged that they lost revenue and property value.
The plaintiffs were all represented by Cory Watson Attorneys in Birmingham, Alabama.
No response has been filed yet by Norfolk Southern.
330-385-5960
