East Palestine, neighboring communities still bear the psychological weight of the derailment

In February 2023, Hilary Flint was living with her grandmother in Enon Valley, Pennsylvania, just across the state line from East Palestine, Ohio. Even though Flint works for an environmental advocacy organization, she didn’t realize how much her life would change after a train derailed less than four miles from her home.

“I did not think it would affect my family,” Flint said. “Of course, I have a lot of friends in East Palestine, and so I was worried for them. I didn't think it was gonna affect my house at all.

“So in the next couple of days, there was more and more information coming out about what was on the train. And once I started hearing, you know, some of those chemicals I started to be concerned.”

Flint and her family were not required to evacuate after the derailment, but they were afraid and chose to leave anyway.

They were not alone in their fear.