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EAST PALESTINE -- While the National Transportation Safety Board analyzed the communication challenges faced during the minutes and hours following February's Norfolk Southern train derailment, residents impacted by the rail disaster scrutinized the lack of communication from village officials in the months since.
The NTSB had an investigative meeting Thursday and Friday in the village.
But during the June 20 informational session on public health coordinated by the Region 5 Environmental Protection Agency and featuring local health officials, residents voiced frustrations with village government for the lack of information supplied to them regarding resources available from various local agencies.
"I think the city should be an umbrella and guide us in the right direction," one resident said. "They should have the information in one central location. It all needs to be in one place."
Mary Patton, executive director of the Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Board, who, along with East Liverpool City Hospital CMO Dr. Gretchen Nickell, Columbiana County Health Commissioner Dr. Wes Vins and Community Action Agency of Columbiana County's Tom Andrews listened to concerns, agreed.
"One of the hardest challenges has been getting the information to everybody. I know the city council is aware of some of these things too, but just to try to find a place to put it all has been a challenge," Patton said. "We want to get our information out there to everybody."
Residents said that requests for a centralized information hub from the village have fallen on deaf ears.
"We have asked for that but maybe they need a push from someone else other than us because we are fumbling," Jami Wallace said.
This was the latest session in the informational series that began in April.
"This is the eighth meeting we have had and not one city member has come to one of these," Jake Cozza said. "That's a problem for me. It's wrong that we are sitting here going through this, and they are not hearing us as a people."
Robin Seman said she gave up on East Palestine local officials.
"Listen, help is not coming from city council or this mayor. I don't care if I am quoted saying that. They are not going to do the right thing," Seman said. "So there's a sharp divide. At this point I say 'let them do their thing' but what do you say to residents who are so sharply divided."
"I know that's a tough question to put out there and you try to get the leaders to help, but when they are not you still have to move on," she said. "And it's very hard to do that in such a divided climate. Are you guys thinking about any outreach for fractured communities like this? I know it's a sticking point but it's something that is worth thinking about."
Months ago, concerned citizens openly addressed the lack of communication from village government. At a village council meeting, council said it was in the process of hiring a public relations firm to provide regular updates to the public. At the same meeting, council also considered creating a village newsletter to keep the community better informed but no such publication has been distributed to date.