In a video posted to YouTube on Sunday, conservative commentator Benny Johnson visited East Palestine, giving residents who live closest to the train that derailed earlier this month $1,000 each.
"Welcome to East Palestine, Ohio. It’s a sweet, patriotic community, 5,000 people live here. They have homes here. Their children go to school here. There’s playgrounds, businesses, restaurants, and there’s also train tracks that run through the center of town. And on that train track there was a massive derailment a couple days ago," Johnson began.
"Chemicals spilled into the air and into the water and into the soil. These people have to live with that now forever. Worse yet, the government came along and then lit it all on fire, sending a black, toxic plume of smoke directly into the atmosphere, and then they told everyone to go back into their homes, everything’s safe. But there’s been no reassurances," Johnson continued.
Johnson added that since the derailment, at the time of filming the video, the railroad responsible for the derailment, Norfolk Southern, has given residents just $5.
"We think that’s wrong, and so we’re here today, we’ve identified the 20 homes closest to that toxic burn, and we’re gonna walk up to those homes and we’re gonna hand them $1,000. And we’re gonna say we’re sorry this happened to you, we don’t need the government to come in and save us or help us out, we the American people can help each other out," Johnson said.
The act of giving began with the five homes closest to the derailment, with Johnson noting that these houses can see the burned remains of the train in their backyards.
A man named "Smiley" spoke with Johnson, who lives in one of these houses, stating that no one has come to help. "They’re all hiding," he said.
Smiley has been helping others in his town, saying if "they need something, if I have the ability to give it to them, I do."
Smiley said that the money would "help out a lot."
Johnson spoke with another younger man, who said that he was in the middle of moving out and didn’t have time to talk. When handed the envelope of cash, he replied gratefully, stating that the money would help for his first month of rent in a location away from the train wreckage.
Another woman stated that her life "has been turned upside down" due to the train derailment, and that she has spent nearly $150 on cleaning supplies for her home.
"But I’m more concerned about the elderly in the area, the disabled, they can’t clean their house top to bottom."
She, like many others, was extremely grateful to be given the money.
"God bless you guys for helping people," another woman told Johnson.
One woman told Johnson that the train derailment and its aftermath has been weighing on her mind, not just her body, noting that a cough has appeared in the time since.
"You’re angels," she said.
Some residents were reluctant to take the money, asking if there were strings attached to taking it, while others said that they didn’t need the money, and said that they would pay it forward to residents that need the money more.
"Honestly, in the last 10 days it’s been hard to trust folks," one man said.
"I will pay this forward, absolutely. There’s a lot of people that need, like, diapers and water and stuff," one woman said.
"There’s someone else that needs it more than me," said one man, who attempted to give the money back.
"How about you pay it forward, 'cause you know this community more than I do," Johnson said, handing the envelope back to him.
"The power of helping out your fellow Americans, man, it’s beautiful… People are crying, people are hugging us, and it feels good." Johnson said at the end of the video, revealing that the money given to residents of East Palestine came from the ad money generated by his videos.
Johnson’s visit to East Palestine comes as the Biden administration’s Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied aid to Ohio, stating that the state is "not eligible for assistance at this time."
Late last week, the Biden administration defended its agency’s decision, with an official stating that they are "mobilizing a robust, multi-agency effort to support the people of East Palestine, Ohio," and that "FEMA is coordinating with the emergency operations center working closely with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency."
However, "what East Palestine needs is much more expansive than what FEMA can provide," the official continued. "FEMA is on the frontlines when there is a hurricane or tornado. This situation is different."
On February 3, a Norfolk Southern train carrying chemicals like vinyl chloride derailed in East Palestine. Days later, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and officials decided the best way to avoid an explosion caused by unstable chemicals would be to burn it off, causing a dark plume of smoke to be seen from miles away.
Since being able to return home, residents have reported health issues, a chemical smell to the air, as well as dead fish and animals. DeWine has since stated that Sulphur Run is "severely contaminated." Residents have been encouraged to drink bottled water as they continue to monitor water sources.
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