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DARLINGTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The Shapiro administration announced on Monday that the Pennsylvania Department of Health is opening a health resource center in Darlington Township, Beaver County following the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine.
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The center will be for residents of Beaver and Lawrence counties who have health concerns regarding the train derailment.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture will also be on hand at the center to help interested residents sign up for free, independent water testing and to provide guidance on food and animal safety.
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The center is set to open Tuesday, Feb. 28 at the Darlington Township Building, 3590 Darlington Rd., Darlington, PA 16115. The Center will be open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and is scheduled to operate through March 10.
“Today, my Administration is taking another step to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of every Pennsylvanian affected by the Norfolk Southern train derailment,” said Gov. Shapiro. “Starting Tuesday, Pennsylvanians who are concerned about the impacts of the derailment on their health will have an additional resource to turn to, where they can talk to public health experts right in their own community from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Department of Human Services, to receive treatment should they need it. From the beginning of our response to Norfolk Southern’s derailment, my Administration has worked hand-in-hand with first responders and emergency management personnel, our partners in Ohio, and the federal government to ensure our citizens in Western Pennsylvania have the resources and information they need to be safe and healthy.”
On Sunday, the Department of Health began partnering with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to conduct door-to-door visits, starting with residents who were evacuated within the one-mile radius of the train derailment. They are conducting Assessment of Chemical Exposure (ACE) surveys that include discussing symptoms, experiences, and concerns about the impact of the train derailment. If residents aren’t available, information will be provided, and clinicians will schedule a follow-up visit. According to a release, the ACE surveyors are expected to reach other residents in the coming days and weeks, including residents who visit the health resource center.
Click here for more details on the state’s derailment response.
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