COLUMBUS, Ohio — It's been more than four months since the Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine.

On Wednesday, victims from the small community along the Ohio-Pennsylvania border have traveled nearly 200 miles to call for help at the Ohio Statehouse.

What You Need To Know

  • Concerned East Palestine residents gathered outside of the Ohio Statehouse, pleading for Gov. Mike DeWine to issue a disaster declaration before the July 3 deadline

  • They express concerns for their health and safety 

  • DeWine's Office said they promise to hold Norfolk Southern accountable and applied for another extension for a disaster declaration

"We are suffering, and we need our government,” said East Palestine resident Jami Wallace.

Members of two different groups held a press conference on the steps of the Ohio Statehouse Wednesday. They were pleading for Gov. Mike DeWine to issue a disaster declaration before the July 3 deadline. 

"We need the governor to declare an emergency. We need funding,” said East Palestine resident Jess Conard. “Unfortunately, now that the symptoms for health have increased in severity, we're having neurological symptoms like tremors and seizures, and there are still roughly 200 of our residents that are still displaced since February when the train actually derailed."

While people like Conard put pressure on officials, a spokesperson for DeWine said they've been advised by FEMA that if they apply for a disaster declaration, they would be rejected, and, that could potentially give Norfolk Southern a reason to stop paying residents for the problems they're experiencing. 

But DeWine's office says they aren't giving up. They were granted a 120-day extension until July 3. They applied for another extension earlier this week, which would move the deadline to November. 

Like DeWine's office, affected residents, including Conard, stay hopeful that relief will come. 

"We will continue to move forward,” said Conard. “We will continue to make these demands and they will listen. "

DeWine's office promises to continue to hold Norfolk Southern accountable and said anyone with health concerns should go to the clinic they set up and get treated for free. 

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