Since you have family in the area maybe you can answer this question: What do pe...

CSMastermind · on Feb 18, 2023

This will be an unsatisfying answer.

Thanks to my job as a software engineer I felt like I was in the position to help people financially but the dozens of people I've asked at this point have all told me the same thing:

1. Their immediate needs are taken care of.

The ones who got evacuated were put up in hotels at first and have tons of support from local organizations. The ones who were more than 1 mile away generally are staying with friends until they feel like it's okay to return home.

2. They want life to return to normal.

This has been a major disruption in their daily routines. They want it resolved so they can get back to living their lives.

3. They're anxious and terrified about the health implications.

Ignoring the actual smoke cloud when they did the burn: the smell of the burn went for miles. It's hard to believe someone telling everything is safe when you home still reeks of chemical smell.

When the burn happens lots of people experienced runny noses, sore throats, and other minor symptoms. Was it a result of the chemicals? Was it stress? Was it all in their head? We just don't know.

There's a ton of dubious information flowing around social media scaring them. They don't know what to believe.

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The main thing that will help people is to feel like their situation is being taken seriously.

Things like a congressional hearing to establish answers to what happened and how it can be rectified. The federal government stepping in and committing to long term testing of the area. The railroad being forced to provide medical screening for at least the next several years.

Someone in a position of authority stepping up and saying they're committed to making things right instead of trying to minimize the situation or use it as a talking point.

Those are things no individual can do by themselves but if I had a suggestion I guess it would just be to reach out to your congressperson and tell them that you care about this getting fixed and never happening again.

icelancer · on Feb 18, 2023

I grew up in a below-average income household in Ohio and everything you said rings so true about where I'm from as well.

Just take us seriously and let us go back to normal. Money is the last thing people want.

s1artibartfast · on Feb 18, 2023

Thanks for the insight. Actually found it rather satisfying and a refreshing take.

Trying to think constructively here, maybe third party Chemical Testing for residuals would provide these people with some peace of mind.

andsoitis · on Feb 18, 2023

> experienced runny noses, sore throats, and other minor symptoms. Was it a result of the chemicals? Was it stress? Was it all in their head? We just don't know.

chemicals.