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East Palestine Residents Seek Return to Normalcy

By KRISTI R. GARABRANDT 4 min read

EAST PALESTINE ­- There was a steady flow of traffic on Market Street and some residents out shopping in downtown East Palestine on a rainy Monday afternoon.

Many residents who have been living with fear or concerns following a mandated evacuation due to the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous materials are now seeking a return to normalcy.

While the streets were busy with traffic and some residents went on about their business - shopping, banking, going out to eat - there are still signs that normalcy isn’t as near as they would like.

Multiple businesses with owners whose homes and lives were impacted by the derailment such as Clip-n-Claws and Mama’s Attic remain closed while the owners deal with the issues caused by the derailment.

Clip-n-Claws has a sign taped in its front window that reads “closed until further notice due to train derailment."

Mama’s Attic has a sign in its door that reads “Mama’s Attic will be closed until further notice. My home was effected (sic) because of this NS derailment and my family is trying to pick up the pieces. I cannot be in both places at the same time. I am sorry and know I miss you all. Hold onto your loved ones tighter, Lonnie."

Many of the businesses downtown have signs in their windows showing their support. Some of the signs are thanking first responders. Others say “EP Strong!” “We Love our town!,” while others say “East Palestine lives matter” and “please pray for E.P. and our future."

Many of the residents are simply wanting to move on.

Sarah Graham of New Waterford, who grew up in East Palestine, equated the events of the derailment to going through the COVID-19 pandemic again, just in a different situation. Graham, who was visiting her mother who lives in East Palestine, said she doesn’t understand it all and that the town is kind of quiet and scary with people who don’t know what is going to happen and she has concerns over drinking the water.

Zoe McLaughlin, who works at McDonalds, has no concerns and is just ready for life to get back to normal again.

McLaughlin said the town right now is absolutely too busy and it’s a frustrating kind of busy.

“I don’t think they (people coming into East Palestine) know how to deal with small town folks. They keep recording me from their cars and it’s an unwanted kind of attention,” McLaughlin said.

There aren’t enough staff members working to cover all the rushes of people coming into the restaurant. There were a lot of customers coming in on Monday, leaving McLaughlin feeling kind of exhausted, and she doesn’t like it.

“I guess other than that, for all the people, it’s been OK,” McLaughlin said. “Pretty much everyone is just chilling. People are leery about letting their animals out.”

McLaughlin said she knows a lot of people who have just quit letting their animals out all together. People who have cats who go outside don’t want to keep letting them out not knowing what they could get into. They don’t want them drinking puddles of water they find.

Sorelle Cope said she is just living in her own bubble and letting the world pass her by.

“I’m 83 years old and I’m sure back in the '50s and '60s, I got stuff. They didn’t care what they dumped or what they had or anything,” Cope said. “I don’t worry about it. I live here in town; I can drink the city water and everything is fine. I’m going with the flow; I’m not worried one bit."

Starting at /week.