HAROLD FEEZLE: The derailment took enough from East Palestine; it’s time to get what we’re owed
My family and I have spent our entire lives in the community of East Palestine. For all my 65 years, pretty much everything I have ever done has been within 20 miles of this town.
I’ve built businesses—a used car lot, a salvage yard, rental properties—and invested countless hours into creating a future for my family here. I planned to live a long life here and enjoy a well-earned retirement surrounded by my loved ones.
Then, in one tragic day, everything changed because of Norfolk Southern’s negligence and focus on profit. But now, with a $600 million settlement on the table and an upcoming claims deadline on Aug. 22, we have an opportunity to start rebuilding our lives and community.
The East Palestine train derailment in February 2023 was a catastrophe that none of us could have imagined. When I first heard about the derailment, I did not appreciate the scale of what had happened. But by Monday, it was clear that this was not just a small incident. I went to work, only to be turned away by the National Guard. My businesses were just a few miles from the derailment site, but I was not allowed to go that close, and I had to send my employees home.
In the days and months that followed, the situation did not improve. My businesses took a massive hit—locations closed for days, substantial losses in sales, and rental properties sitting empty because people were too afraid to live near the site. Many were nervous to even travel to East Palestine. I had to change the advertising for my companies, change addresses, and work harder than ever to keep things afloat.
Now, almost 18 months after the disaster, we as a community have a choice to make: How do we move forward? The settlement offered by Norfolk Southern, and approved by attorneys appointed by the court, is not just cash in our pockets—it is a resource for recovery and stability after our lives and livelihoods were disrupted.
I understand that some people have concerns or feel like the settlement is insufficient. They are frustrated and feel let down by Norfolk Southern. But the truth is that we need to move forward, and $600 million provides certainty and closure that we need now, versus waiting years for potentially less or nothing.
I was appointed by the court to help represent the community in the litigation, so I witnessed the case up close. The judge overseeing this case was exceptional, ensuring that the process was fair, equitable, and always centered on the people of our community. She recognized early on the importance of making sure this process was efficient rather than dragging it on for years or even decades while people like me continued to struggle. Taking this money now is a way to reclaim what we have already lost—our time, money, and peace of mind. It’s not about getting everything back – which is impossible – but it is a step toward recovery so we can begin to rebuild our lives. If we do not take this settlement, we may never see a penny of compensation. The risk is too great for us to turn back now.
For me, the settlement money means I can begin to restore the financial stability I worked my entire life to build. It means I can provide for my family and ensure that they have a future. I will never forget what Norfolk Southern did to our community, and I doubt I will ever fully forgive them, but this settlement is a step in the right direction for East Palestine.
Ahead of the Aug. 22 claims deadline, I encourage everyone to make sure they understand the facts of the settlement. Participating in it is not about giving up or giving in; it is about doing what’s right for yourself and your family. By taking this settlement, and the significant amount of money it provides each of us, we can all move forward and ensure our lives are not defined by the worst thing our community has faced.