Andrea Belden said she had actually been residing in East Palestine with family prior to the derailment after her home in East Liverpool burned down almost 2 years earlier. With her were 2 of her cats, Pepper and Leo.
Belden said she and Zack Cramer remained in Beaver County for supper when the train thwarted.
“We hurried back to East Palestine to get his grandparents, their dog and our 2 cats,” Belden said.
Belden said it didn’t take long to discover something was incorrect with her cat, Leo.
“I discovered that he was breathing actually heavy. It was incredibly labored, and it was quick. His heart rate was up. It appeared like an anxiety attack to me,” Belden said. “I had actually laid him down on a little animal bed in the corner and shut off lights and simply left him alone for the night believing, ‘you simply require time to cool down.'”
Belden said the next early morning, she discovered Leo in the exact same area, having the exact same concerns and hurried him to Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center.
“They ran some tests and hooked him as much as an oxygen tank to help them feel much better. That didn’t do anything,” Belden said. “When they got the test results back, that’s when they discovered that it appeared like he had heart disease.”
According to documentation by the veterinarian, an echocardiogram revealed Leo had heart problem.
“However, the lung edema has actually not reacted to diuretic treatment as anticipated with heart problem so chemical pneumonitis is possible,” documentation by the PVSEC said.
“They likewise did blood work, and they discovered that his liver enzyme levels were at 6.9% and regular for a cat is 1%, so extremely raised,” Belden said.
According to documentation by the veterinarian, it went onto state liver concerns are not normal with heart problem and “Leo’s indications might be due to vinyl chloride gasses, as it can trigger breathing, heart and liver concerns in people.”
Belden said she reported to Norfolk Southern what was occurring with Leo, in want to get assist with his veterinarian expenses and was informed her case was not a high emergency situation.
“From Saturday to Tuesday it was when he remained in the emergency situation veterinarian medical facility. By the time that Tuesday occurred, their price quote for his treatment was anywhere from $15,000 to $18,000,” Belden said. “They (Norfolk Southern) said that that’s not an emergency situation. It’s not something that they’re taking a look at today however they would potentially captivate it in the future and they desired me to submit a harmed property claim.”
Belden said she’s upset that authorities associated with the derailment are refraining from doing enough to safeguard the location from the chemicals they have actually been exposed to.
“I believe the greatest indication is, take a look at the animals. You see the fish, you see the chickens, you see the foxes, you see the cat. If whatever’s alright and safe like they’re stating, these animals would not be ill and passing away,” Belden said.
On Tuesday, the EPA reported their newest air quality tests revealed no levels of health issue and claim after checking almost 400 houses, there have actually been no detections of vinyl chloride.
Meanwhile, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has actually validated 3,500 fish have actually passed away.
But according to brand-new water test results by the EPA, it’s reported no pollutants in raw water from 5 wells that feed into the community system were discovered. The Ohio EPA said Wednesday it’s positive the water is safe to consume.
Residents that have concerns relating to safety issues are welcomed to go to an open house Wednesday night with the mayor at 7 p.m. It will be kept in the East Palestine High School gym.
