Opinion: After pipeline fire, Deer Park residents should ask these 15 questions

Read: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outlook/article/deer-park-pipeline-fire-la-porte-19777384.php

Opinion: After pipeline fire, Deer Park residents should ask these 15 questions

I was a resident of Enon Valley, Pa. — a small town of less than 300 people just across the border from East Palestine, Ohio, where a train carrying hazardous materials derailed last year, sending a pillar of fire and smoke into the air. For over a year now, I've been displaced from my home.

It broke my heart to witness the pipeline disaster? in Deer Park, Texas. I know all too well what those community members are going through.

My family wasn’t in the evacuation zone for the East Palestine train derailment, but our lives were turned upside down in the days that followed. In a move the National Transportation Safety Boardlater deemed unnecessary and misguided, Norfolk Southern, the company responsible for the Ohio accident, burned five tankers of toxic vinyl chloride in a “controlled release” to get the railroad back up and running. That decision changed everything for both my family and my community. ?

We chose to self-evacuate that day but by the next morning, we returned home after being reassured it was safe. All it took was opening the front door to realize something was terribly wrong. Our home smelled like a mix of bleach and sugar. Within minutes, my eyes were irritated. Within hours, I had a migraine. And within days, my fingers and toes started turning purple. That’s when I realized: It wasn’t safe for me.

I have a history of autoimmune disease, chronic illness and kidney cancer, which means I’m often more sensitive to environmental factors than other people are. The purple in my fingers and toes was from Raynaud’s syndrome, a blood vessel disorder that I later learned can be triggered by vinyl chloride. A few months after returning home, I had my first menstrual cycle in nearly five years, despite being on multiple medications to suppress my severe endometriosis. My rheumatoid arthritis pain became so unbearable it kept me up at night. I’ve had to increase my migraine medication twice.

Chemicals and environmental toxins affect everyone differently, but people like me get sicker — and get sick faster. Did you know that most people with disabilities who evacuate never return home? So far, that’s been true for me. I’m renting a house while the home that’s been in my family for four generations sits empty.

As a community deals with the aftermath of incidents like this, it's important to ask the right questions. These questions not only protect our health but also hold responsible parties accountable. Here, based on our painful experience with the East Palestine derailment, are questions that I’d suggest people affected by the Deer Park disaster find out.

1. What chemicals were released? Knowing what specific chemicals were involved is the first step to understanding the risks.
2. What do these chemicals create when burned together? Chemical reactions during fires can create new, potentially harmful compounds.
3. What happens when these chemicals mix with local pollutants? Local pollution sources may intensify the impact.?
4. What chemicals is the Environmental Protection Agency monitoring for, and at what levels? It’s essential to know if the full range of chemicals is being accounted for.
5. How and where does the EPA plan to monitor in the coming days, weeks and months? Long-term monitoring is just as critical as the immediate response.
6. What are the immediate, chronic and long-term health risks of exposure to these chemicals? Understanding the short- and long-term effects is essential for informed health care decisions.
7. What health tests should residents request, and how can they ensure environmental exposure is added to their medical records? Having proper documentation can solidify any future legal claims.
8. How will we care for the most vulnerable who cannot return to their homes? Displacement disproportionately impacts the elderly, disabled and chronically ill.
9. Can these chemicals cause vapor intrusion? Vapor intrusion can bring contaminants into homes from the soil, air and/or groundwater.
10. How has the local drinking water supply been affected, and are nearby creeks carrying pollutants downstream? Contaminants from chemical fires can easily find their way into water sources.
11. What resources are available for those experiencing health symptoms? Residents need clear guidance on how to access medical care and financial assistance.
12. Is a health assessment being conducted? A formal health assessment should be done to track symptoms and provide data on long-term impacts.
13. Are communications being made available in accessible formats for all residents? It’s important that information is accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities or language barriers.
14. What are the long-term environmental impacts? Chemicals released today may continue to harm the environment for years.
15. How is the responsible party being held accountable? Transparency and accountability are essential to prevent future incidents.

Incidents like the one in Deer Park — and the one in East Palestine — underscore the urgent need for transparency, accountability and ongoing community support. By asking these essential questions, we can ensure residents are informed, protected and empowered to advocate for their health and safety. Local officials, emergency responders and businesses must prioritize public health — not just in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, but for the long haul. Our communities deserve nothing less.

Hilary Flint is director of communications and community engagement for Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community, campaign consultant with the Clean Air Action Fund, co-lead of the People Power working group with People Over Petro coalition and a community member affected by the East Palestine train derailment.?