When tragedy or disaster strikes, first responders head toward the scene and provide assistance; for those committed emergency response personnel, that selflessness extends beyond their own county or jurisdiction.
It was in that spirit that a group of fire and EMS personnel from the Rushcreek Township Fire Department provided donations Saturday, March 4, to residents of East Palestine, Ohio, still grappling with the aftermath of a train derailment that forced them to evacuate their homes and ruined many of their personal effects.
A group of Rushcreek fire and EMS personnel made the three-plus hour drive Saturday to East Palestine, where 38 rail cars derailed Feb. 3 and caused the evacuation of scores of residents within two miles of the scene.
The group set up and distributed water and household goods from the site of a water donation drive conducted at Brittain Motors Inc., in East Palestine, about a mile from where the train derailed.
In addition to bottles of water, local residents here also donated diapers, paper towels, garbage bags, toilet paper and other cleaning supplies.
Rushcreek Township Fire and EMS announced plans to make the trip to the site of the train derailment and solicited donations via social media. The firehouse in Rushsylvania was opened up to the public Friday, March 3, to accept the donations, and the response was a trailer-full of bottled water and household goods to be offered to residents of East Palestine.
“Everyone that came through to receive donations were very appreciative and were very careful to only take items that they needed in order to make sure everyone there had their needs met,” said Rushcreek Fire and EMS Chief Duane Van Buskirk. “It was a very humbling experience.”
Bottled water is what most residents of East Palestine need right now, and charitable groups and civic organizations are making regular donations of clean water to East Palestine residents impacted by the train derailment.
The Rushcreek Township donation drive began with a collection of 50 bottles of water, but cleaning supplies and other household goods like paper towels are also badly needed.
Chief Van Buskirk recalled a local postman who came through the donation drive Saturday in need of size 0 diapers.
“And we had some that we were able to give him,” he said.
Chief Van Buskirk also praised the efforts of local residents who gave of their supplies and finances to help folks in need on the other side of the state.
“A lot of people showed up in the heavy winds and driving rain Friday morning to make donations for our group to take,” he said. “It was a steady stream of cars coming through giving water and cleaning supplies to take over and their donations really did make a difference.”
The fire and EMS chief said residents of East Palestine really did appreciate the donations and volunteer efforts, especially amidst all the continued health and safety uncertainty since the derailment.
“People there don’t feel like they’re getting answers,” the chief said, describing his conversations with individuals coming through the donation line.
“They aren’t sure the water is safe to drink and people are even giving water from gallon jugs to their pets because they don’t trust the water enough to give to their animals.”
Along with a trailer full of clean water and household supplies, some residents here donated money to be allocated to the East Palestine relief efforts. A total of $425 was donated to the East Palestine Fire Department to help the community recover.
“It was great to see our community’s willingness to help out others in need,”Chief Van Buskirk said. “Something like this could happen anywhere, and we all have to rely on each other. It was a great outpouring of support.”