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>> you are watching us cnn live special town hall -- toxic train disaster, ohio residents speak out. in just minutes, right here on cnn, ceo of norfolk southern will face questions live from east palestine residents, the people in the ohio town where one of his trains skidded off the tracks to disastrous results. nearly three weeks after this train derailed, angry is running high. so is fear. many of the 4700 people who live in this town are worried that they are sick because of the crash. they're worried about the company's failure to contain its toxic fallout. but before we go to the ceo of northoak norfolk southern, let's bring in the mayor of east palestine, trent conaway. mister mayor, thank you so much for joining me. we really appreciate it. we have heard from the state government and we have heard from the federal government. we are going to hear from norfolk southern this evening. what more do you need from all

three of them that you are not currently get getting? >> right now i think we are currently getting everything we need except we need some answers as far as the health concerns. that is our big concern. our resident safety is number one. we need to get to the bottom of these health concerns. we're being told that the water is safe. i believe that. our municipal water safe. we're told our air is safe. i think it's safe. my family is here, they've been here the whole time, but there's definitely concern from some residents. i have concerns to. because paramount is our citizens safety. >> we've heard some of those health concerns this evening, -- there is an individual who had to go to the emergency room because he was bleeding so much. his nose with bleeding so much. a word mom whose son is having nosebleeds. we're hearing that rashes, we're hearing about all kinds of gastrointestinal issues.

have you gotten any kind of satisfying answer as to what is going wrong? >> no, we haven't. the health clinic -- i'm hoping that can ease some concerns. i am hearing that people are going to the doctor, the doctors aren't quite know what to do. so, the hss needs to step up, and they need some steps from the town. to ease these fears -- there are a lot of fears in town. especially people closer to the tracks -- there's definitely some fears. they are justified and, they need answers. we will get those answers. >> mayor conway, we've also heard concerns about the livelihood of the town, in addition to the individual health and life of individual residents, the ability to function, to have businesses, to make money, how long do you think it will take for your town, east palestine, to bounce back from this, and will it ever bounce back? >> i'm cautiously optimistic it

will bounce back, but i'm not sure. it will defend of the cleanup efforts, how that goes. i've got mr. shaw's word, the epa administrators word. i've got our governors word that they are going to make things right. and so we are going to hold them to that and we're going to hold everybody to their word. that's the best we can do right now. this is going to be a very long process, and eventually, hopefully it comes to an end, and hopefully it goes back to the way it was. and actually better than the way it was. that's our main goal. we have to stay together on this. but here the residents. i hear their concerns. and there is need to be addressed very soon. >> earlier, we heard from one of our cameras in east palestine, hearing a train going through your town during this very special. are you comfortable with trains continuing to go through, and what changes, if any do you think need to happen for east palestine to be safe in the future from anything like this

ever happening again? >> that's a federal government question. yes, it is a little bit unnerving here hearing trains go through after what happened. i attribute it to the same thing as being in a car wreck, and your cautious after a car wreck. but it is a little unnerving, hearing those trains come through -- and maybe i think we need to look at some safety regulation and see if there is anything that we can change, maybe slow them down a little bit. we did get some good where that they are going to dig up all the dirt under the tracks. that was a big concern. they are going to start that process very soon. so like i said, i'm cautiously optimistic that we can come back as a community. >> mayor trent conway of east palestine, thank you for joining us this evening, we appreciate your time, best wishes to you and this difficult job you have. >> thank you, sir. >> back to sara sidner. >> we are here in east palestine, and we are joined

now by the ceo of norfolk southern, allen shaw. mr., shot thank you for being here. we've heard from several different things, and there's a lot of residents sitting right in front of me definitely have some things to ask you and say to you. but first i want to give you a chance to speak to you. to speak to them and what would you like to tell them after this disaster that, frankly, has these folks afraid for their kids and afraid for their own health and afraid for their economy? >> i appreciate you giving me the opportunity to sit down with you today, and i think thank the residents of east palestine who are joining virtually and watching on tv. i also want to make sure that i think the first responders for rushing to the accident, and what they've done for the community. i have been listening, and i've been listening to you tonight, this is the fourth time of been here listening to the community. i'm terribly sorry for what has happened to your community. i want you to know that norfolk

southerners here and we're going to stay here. we're going to make this right. we are going to get the environmental cleanup right. we want to support this is of the community and we are going to valence term health of this community. we are going to help this community thrive. we're going to make norfolk southern safer railroad. i look forward to your the opportunity to hear questions and hear concerns. >> going to start with the first question i apologize because you talked about being safer. that is important. there is a history here, according to federal railroad administrator data that we looked up. your company has reported the second highest national accident rate across the seven major railroads each year since 2019. why is that? >> i've been thinking about this every day since this has occurred, going through my mind and asking my team, what we could've done differently. it is clear that our safety culture and investments in safety did not work here to

prevent the accident. we're going to look at the results of the investigation, ntsb investigation, we're going to use data, science, and we're going to figure out how we could've been better. what we do know is that over time, accidents are down, hazardous releases or time, hazardous releases are down, and personal injuries are down. but there's always more we can do. i'm committed to making norfolk southern a safer railroad. >> you have heard his piece, don, business owner here, you lived in east palestine for a circadian more now. >> yes, ma'am. >> what would you like to ask? you've got the ceo sitting right here in front of you. and we do thank you for coming here and facing these folks. because they have been through a lot. what would you like to ask? >> i do thank you for coming. there's two things. we hear a lot about mistrust, and at least in my mind, a lot of people's minds that i talked to, the mistrust sorry because

we didn't find out what ways in the rail cars for two or three's three days after the crash. then we were evacuated, and before we were told we could come back to the house, trains were running again and the perception is that we were told to come back because they want to run the trains not because we were safe. it's amazing that the trains could start up within minutes after the evacuation was lifted. i think that caused a lot of mistrust here. >> don, as i've talked to the citizens, i for that a couple times. so i do understand that point. i can tell you that as we progress through this, hour focus was on the safety of the community here. we immediately started an environmental remediation, we set up our family assistance center. and when the evacuation order was lifted, we resumed train operations. i'm sorry for the effect that as head on people. i can understand that.

>> you can see how it looks though from people living here. >> yes, sir. >> we're still not back to our homes, and trains are running through the town. as the mayor said, it's unnerving to hear a train go through the town now. and there is, what? 50 a day going through? it's unsettling. i have a whole another question, which is, we have several businesses in town. a couple of them are retail businesses. i hear a lot about money coming in, money coming in, what we can do financially. but there's a perception that we have to change, with customers not coming to our places, now, we've got school teams not coming to our school -- and i don't know how we address that long term, to change the perception of what's going on. because of the stigma of what is going on now and east palestine. and i don't know the answer to this -- and i don't know money that is the answer -- but it has to be some long term marketing to change what people think of east palestine. >> i'm unhappy with some of the misinformation out there, because that is concerning for

the citizens of east palestine. i've talked to the mayor of all of that quite a bit, we are committed to east palestine. we've done a couple of things. we've committed a recovery fund of 1 million dollars, and that is a down payment. talk to the mayor about putting together some community leaders where that can best be deployed to invest in the future of east palestine and help it thrive. i'm talking to the mayor yesterday in the hallway and mayor conway mentioned he had been up into the early hours of the morning, tuesday morning, with community leaders about some ideas that norfolk southern can support the long term health of this community. we are going to sit down sometime next week and talk through that. we are also looking for immediate action, where we can health. it's heartbreaking to hear the story of folks canceling tournaments here. so what i have done is i have

hired a employee who is a resident of this community. he was one of our craft union employees, and i asked him to work directly for me. i said that it would give you 1 million dollars, and i want you to work with the community and citizens of east palestine, folks like you. and figure out how to put that best at work, to bridge these issues that you are seeing right now. >> mr. -- can you promise money, marketing, whatever this community needs that norfolk southern's accident has caused harm to this community? >> yes. so far, we have committed $7 million. and that's a down payment. we are going to continue. and we are going to be here today. we are going to be here tomorrow. we are going to be here a year from now. we are going to be here five years from now. that's my commitment to this community. i'm going to see this through. and each and every day, i'm going to do the next right thing.

>> katie mclaughlin, you haven't had a chance to speak yet. and i would love for you to be able to ask your question. >> sure. thank you for being here. so, each day that passes, the chemicals are sinking deeper into our land and water and further poisoning the residents and environment, what's the timeline for cleanup. and can we expect to see a sense of urgency in remediation efforts like when we saw in opening the tracks? >> katie, thank you for the question. as you heard earlier, there's been hundreds of tests by our independent contractor, by the epa, by local health authorities, and they all come back and say that the air quality is clean, water quality is clean. we're going to continue to monitor that. we are set up a new ray of groundwater testing in around st. louis to continue to test. we are going to continue the monitoring, and we're going to continue with the environmental cleanup. we've accident the emergency

phase, as an vogel has stated. we are cooperating with the epa on the long term remediation plan. i felt like we had a good plan for the soil under the tracks. an environmentally sound plan based on engineering principles. but as i talk to the community here, and the individual -- you guys made it clear that you did not feel comfortable with that plan. and i listened. and i am hearing your concerns. so i told my team last night, i said, come up with another plan. rip up those tracks and dig up that soil. they gave me a plan this morning. so, i called the governor, and i called mayor conway, and i called and vogel. and i said, we are going to rip up the tracks and dig up that soil. we are going to do what's right for that community. >> kathy, i know you have a question. can you please share with us? i know we are all having this

-- having this opportunity is very rare, to be able to sit down and see somebody face to face after something like this has happened. what's your question? >> -- i -- and my property borders -- and i have well water. so, my question is, i called over two weeks ago to for them to come and check my whitewater, and i would like the ground tested as well, as well as the -- groundwater. and there is nothing yet. when and how often are they going to be checking once they do start? and is this going to go on for a couple years? >> we are going to continue to test however long it takes. i'm sorry for your specific issue, and if you don't mind i'd like to connect with you afterwards, and get your name a number, and we will get that resolved. >> we will make that happen right after the show. i'm going to go ahead and thank you both for your questions, we will have, more i'm going to toss it back to jake. >> that's right, sarah, we will have more questions with my team here from east palestine,

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>> and we are back with more questions from concerned residents of east palestine and the surrounding area for the ceo of the community company at the center of the train at the center of the disaster, alan shaw of norfolk southern style with us and mr. shaw want to start with a comment if we have the clip ready and ask the administrator of the epa, michael regan, if he had a question for you. and this is what he had to say. . >> i don't have any questions for the ceo of norfolk southern. i have some orders for the company. and the orders are that the company will comply with our order, which compels them to take full responsibility. full accountability, for the trauma they've inflicted on this community and the damage that they've caused. >> are you gonna follow that order, sir?

>> jake, yes. the administrator regan and i are aligned on this. we have a responsibility, and i've made the commitment, we're going to get the environmental cleanup right. organizer port the citizens of east palestine. we are going to invest in the long term health of east palestine to help east palestine thrive. we're gonna make norfolk southern a safer railroad. so, absolutely. >> you heard some skeptical questions earlier from a gentleman there with you who noted that he felt that people were told it was clear to go back to their homes, just of the trains could be running again. you said earlier, it was a down payment, $7 million norfolk southern gonna give to make sure the citizens, the impacted residents of east palestine will be okay. $7 million. at the same time, we should note, norfolk southern spent to spend 7. 5 billion dollars in stock buyback benefiting

shareholders, your company is also spent tens of millions of dollars in the last two decades lobbying congress and various administrations to loosen regulations so that you can increase your profits well while decreasing the safety for individuals like those in the room you're with. so, how can you respond to those credibly who say, you value the bottom line, your profits, more than you value the lives of the citizens whose community your trains drive-through? drive through? >> we're actually focused on safety. we invest over a billion dollars a year in safety. through the form of maintenance, threw equipment through technology. clearly, this is a situation where faith safety culture and our investments did not prevent this accident. every day, i've asked myself,

what we have done differently? i am very much looking forward to the results of the ntsb investigation. we are cooperating fully with the ntsb and the f r a to find out the root cause of this accident. and we're gonna take action, we're gonna learn from this. and we're going to invest, we're gonna make norfolk southern a safer railroad. there's always more we can do. and i'm looking for to hearing those results and you have an opportunity to sit him the regulators and our elected officials, all the key stakeholders, and design ways to make norfolk southern and the industry safer. >> republican senator of ohio, j. d. vance, raised the issue that your 150 car train only had two employees and a trainee on it. is that true? and how is that responsible? how is that putting safety first? >> jake, this investigation is

i'm prohibited from talking specifically about anything that caused this derailment. i'm very much looking forward to the preliminary results, which should be coming out very soon. >> i want to bring in some of the east palestine citizens here with me. andres is a former chemistry teacher, this week, the governor in the epa administrator in visited his house and drink tap water from his kitchen sink. andres, before you ask mr. shaw question, did that reassure you at all? them drinking the water from your sink? >> absolutely. it did. >> it did? >> that's good news. you have a question for mr. shaw? >> yes, i'd like to go back to that safety subject that you mentioned just a moment ago. in ohio, we have rigorous inspection of highways, rigorous inspection of bridges, rigorous inspections of public buildings. are their laws or legislation that regulate a rail line inspections and the equipment

of that goes with it? >> andres, yes. that's a great question. there's a lot of regulation around rail safety. we comply with that, and i'm looking forward to the opportunity to institute more rules, learn from this. and see what we could've done better. we will continue to invest in safety. >> thank you. >> jenna is here and she has a question for you. >> hi. i have a two part question. so, the first part of my question is, if you could walk us through that decision of not digging up the soil and just rebuilding the train tracks over it, and second, it's been roughly three weeks, what new safety measures do you have in place since then regardless of the investigation that's going on, clearly, there are some things that need to change. and if you haven't come up with them yet, when can we expect to

hear from them? because this isn't the first, this won't be the last. people need to see change and, in a big way, and yeah. those are my questions. >> yes, ma'am. we believe that we had an environmentally sound remediation plan for the soil under the tracks. however, as i noted, as i continue to engage with members of east palestine, and in one-on-one meetings in small groups. >> can i interrupt you? what made you believe that that wasn't okay resolution? that's what i'm looking for. what goes into that decision? >> yes. our independent environmental experts. >> when you dump hundreds and thousands of -- 100,000 gallons of chemicals, and oil --

>> you're not talking about the oil -- >> 60,000 gallons of oil -- when you dump that into the ground, and you don't take that out of the ground before you put your tracks on and you run your train on it -- >> that's an okay decision? >> you need to hire some -- of >> the oil is going to cause us the long term effects. everybody is talking about the chemicals. and while i do you think that is important, it is the oil that is seeping into our ground that you chose not to dig up. and just put your tracks right over top of it. she's asking you specifically what led you to that decision. >> ma'am, we've made a lot of progress on environmental remediation. we've dug up 4600 cubic yards of soil and collected 1.7

million gallons of water. we will continue with environmental remediation. and in early march, we will start by tearing up the tracks and digging up the soil underneath the tracks. >> six weeks -- oil is going to be soaking into our soil -- >> so, until then, we will just have it -- >> keep going into our soils. >> janet, did you get all your questions answered? >> no. i specifically asked what changes you've already made. and i think these residents are also very valid in asking, why the delay? why can't we do it tomorrow? >> janice, thank you for that. >> it's jenna. just so you -- >> my apologies. we are going to test and we are going to calibrate all of the wayside to textures all across our system. that is something that we stood

up in the immediate aftermath of this. >> and is that something that is visible for people to see? is it publicly available for us to see that that's being done? >> it's an internal component of norfolk southern. >> don't you think people would want to see that happening? wouldn't that show that you're trying to do something different if you're actually actively showing people this? >> we can certainly take videos of that. and post it. >> did across your mind that that would be -- thing to do? >> what we have done, based on feedback that we have gotten from the citizens, is we've stood up a website and that is making it right.com. and we're providing updates every day on the environmental remediation, providing updates every day on the financial assistance for the community. >> mr. shaw, one of the questions that jenna asked had

to do with the fact that, obviously, whatever norfolk southern was doing almost three weeks ago was not sufficient in terms of safety. and her question was basically, you don't need to wait for the federal government or governor dewine to tell you to improve things, for example, if it's true, descended are j.d. vance notes, having two staffers and a trainee on a 150 car train would not seem sufficient in the view of republican governor vance -- senator vance. her question is, what are you asking your team to do now to change it before the government makes you change it? because you are in charge of the company. you can make those changes. and yes, if you spend a billion dollars on safety that's great, of course, your profits are in the multi billion dollars every year. >> we're also advancing technology on our locomotives

to check the inspect the tracks as our trains run over the tracks. we are looking for the results of the ntsb to it the investigation to find the root cause of this, which is one of the many reasons that were cooperating fully with the ntsb and the f r a. we'll learn from this. what we had in place did not work here. we're gonna figure this out. and we're going to make the investments to make norfolk southern safer. >> i want to bring in jim stewart, who has a question for, you sir. >> a lot of this that i has to ask in the -- but i'm speaking on the aspect of we, the people of east palestine, are just being treated like dummies. we are not dummies. we are smart people. i'm listening to these people and what they have found out about different things, and everything else. i'm angry. i'm angry about this. i lived in east palestine for 65 years. that's my home. my grandmother came from

germany. she lived in palestine. my dad grew up there, my families got up there now. it is discussing that we've just lost it. i live in a house that's probably the closest of any of these. and it's a shame. and is probably the next closest one. and our house has been inspected, it's been this, it's been that. i'm afraid to put my dog out just p to go pee. i don't feel safe in this town now. you took it away from me. -- i'm not calling you names. but your company stinks. because they are not watching what is going on. workers don't pay attention nowadays. supervisors make workers work. you've got to do something about this, i lost a lot, i lost the value of my home, i'm only one block.

i could throw a stone to that burner. and what do we do now? i come back from chicago for four days, i came home the other day. i put the garage door up. i put up the garage, got out of the car, put the garage door back down. as soon as we got out of that door, the smell came back to us. right away. instant headache. i'm 65 years old. i'm diabetic. a fibbed heart disease. everything. did you shorten my life now? i want to retire and enjoy it. how are we gonna enjoy it? you burned me. we were going to sell our house. our value went -- do i mow the grass? can i plant tomatoes next summer? what can i do? i'm afraid to. and it's in the air, every day, i cough. a little cough there, a little cuff there.

i've never had that. i got rashes on my cheeks, and all of my arms from the derailment. i don't call the derailment, i call it a disaster. it's norfolk's disaster. not a train derailment. i don't know -- i shoot from the hip, just like the governor just spoke. i tell you the truth. you seem like a family man, a great guy and all. but you know what? your company has to do something. >> how are gonna make it up to mr. shaw? how are you gonna make it up to jim stewart and all the other families? >> jim, thank you for those comments. i hear you. i'm terribly sorry that this has happened to this community. what i can do, and what i will do, is make it right. we're gonna get the cleanup right. we're going to reimburse the citizens. we're going to invest in the long term health of this community. i'm going to see this through. and we are going to be here.

we are gonna work with these community leaders to help it thrive. i think you heard the mayor talk about making this community even better. and that's what i'm picking up as i'm talking to community leaders and citizens. we are looking for ideas from the community. and where we can help. and things that we can do. >> would you be willing to buy their houses? when you buy them out of their houses at the property value so that jim can retire? that's making it right. step up. >> we are going to -- >> i'm sorry. i interrupted you. >> you are good. >> jim wants to hear your answer. >> we are going to do what's right for this community. >> well, that's right. >> your derailment -- did it change me now? it made me an angry man. i'm a christian. i love the lord.

but you've made me angry. i don't to be like that. i want you to respect me like i respect you right now and you are saying -- i lost everything now. i worked hard. i'm still working. i'm on my 44th year of my job. i want to get out. now i'm just stuck. >> mr. shaw, is it normal for trains to catch fire, for the wheels to catch fire? is that something that normally happens? >> and not get caught for 20 miles? >> no, no. hold on. is that a normal occurrence? for a common occurrence, i should say? >> no. >> so, when the 9-1-1 calls -- >> extremely rare -- >> so, when the first 9-1-1 call came in sebring, ohio, which is about 15 minutes from east palestine, when that first 9-1-1 call came in, and more kept coming in, what is your railroad alerted that your train was on fire? did you then respond by letting the communities that you're

just gonna run your fiery train through? did you call salem or columbiana or east palestine to let us know to get away from our tracks? because i didn't hear our sirens sounding. my sister was right next to the tracks with her fiancée. she could have been killed. this could have devastated our home. and it could have been prevented and we could have been warned. and thank god that there were no casualties, no loss of life, no loss of buildings. but if this is not a normal occurrence for trains to be on fire, why did that happen? and why did it continue for another 40 miles? >> just so people at home understand what she's talking about, sparks from an apparent wheel bearing overheat were seen at least 43 minutes and 21 miles before the train

derailed. a cnn analysis found that the train then slowed dramatically around the time that that overheating was first seen. why did the train slow down so far ahead of the derailment? and why, as you are being asked by resident of east palestine, were steps not taken to one counties where this train were sparks were flying were headed? >> i heard -- >> a -- >> couple times -- in illinois. i don't know if that's true or not. that train actually break down and -- from illinois? a couple times? >> let's let him answer the question. >> sir, we are fully cooperating with the national transportation safety board, and with the f r a on this. until then, i'm prohibited from making any statements about the accident. what i am doing -- >> you don't think we need

answers. >> what i am doing -- >> you don't think we need answers? >> i do think -- >> so, why was it on fire for so long? >> sorry -- >> there is video footage of it on fire 20 miles away, people that lived almost an hour away called 9-1-1. why did it continue on the tracks, as far as it did? we deserve to know. investigation be. >> we deserve to be warned. >> all right. we are going to let mr. shaw have the last word here. we know it's not easy taking these tough questions from people who are, understandably, righteously angry. but mr. alan shaw, we will let you have the last word. >> i understand the anger. i've experienced it. as i've talked to the citizens of this community over the last two and a half weeks. it's important to me that i hear directly from the citizens. east palestine and what i can do, what norfolk southern can do, to help the recovery of this community.

i'm prohibited from talking about the ongoing investigation. what i can do, and what i am doing in the commitment that i'm making, is we're gonna get the environmental cleanup right. we're going to support the citizens and the family members here, we're going to invest in the long term growth of this community, and help east palestine thrive. >> thanks for taking their questions, mr. shaw, we appreciate it. coming up, how are these residents feeling? after speaking their truths to people in power? you'll hear from them, after the break. power e*trade's easy-to-use tools make complex trading less complicated custom scans help you find new trading opportunities while an earnings tool helps you plan your trades and stay on top of the market

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♪ ♪ ♪ >> welcome back to our live cnn town hall. i'm jake tapper in new york, you are some residents from east palestine. there's more from them in a moment. but now back to ohio, and cnn's sara sidner. sara sidner at? >> here we are here in east palestine, we do have several folks who have stuck with us through this hour. thank you so much for sticking with us, and for asking you your really honest and tough questions that need to be asked. i'm going to start with you, courtney. you heard from the ceo. he apologized to your faces, said he was going to do the

right thing. -- do you believe him? >> i hope i can believe him. honestly, it's hard to trust anybody right now for everything that we've been through. i know just as, in a school district -- what's going to be done for our school? our school has been through so much. we have teams not coming here wanting to play us. we have students, parents taking students out of our school putting them in other districts. who's gonna help our school district? we put in a lot of hard work and we take pride in our school, in our students. we try to make them feel safe. if we don't feel safe, how are they gonna feel safe? who's gonna protect our school district? who's gonna help us? >> and you have a son that's been suffering. -- >> i do have a son, he's in middle school. he's had a bloody nose every -- he had one this morning. it's frustrating. >> i imagine so. and scary. >> it is. it's overwhelming. we've dealt through covid.

and now this. and a lot of people deal with anxiety. i'm one of them. my son is. as we soon as we pulled in from the hotel at home, he started throwing up, started having a panic attack. i know there's other students and staff who deal with that and other people. you know, it's a lot. it's very overwhelming. >> anxiety is a real thing. >> it is. >> it does have physical effects. josh, let me ask you what you saw, what you heard, not only from the ceo but from the governor, and from the epa, all who are promising to do the right thing, to do the test, to health help the community, to try to create a better economic situation. do you buy it? >> i think that their president is going to be here. do i buy with their selling? not necessarily. you know, basically, we're doing -- they're promising things over the long term. and that's just an obvious. there's things need to be done.

so they are just saying what obviously needs to be said. but what are you gonna do right now? immediately? not six years from now, four years from, now three years from now. what are you going to do tomorrow? and what are you going to do next week? what are you gonna do next month? the people here are suffering, and essentially, they're not doing enough. what are you going to do immediately? not next month, that next year. right now? what are you going to do right? now are you going to offer to the people the renters and homeowners that want to relocate. why make them wait years and years and years for this? if they want that, and you are going to do what is right, when i do it tomorrow? >> you all feel that way? you want to see some results right now? i >> feel like it's already been almost three weeks. >> we need things done today.

and we need things done for the next ten years. >> yes. >> it can't stop, this is a major disaster. >> you heard the ceo and you heard the other officials, that they're gonna do what's right and for as long as it takes. now, we have to watch and wait and see if that comes true. >> i believe it when i see it. >> sara sidner, if i may, i have an issue with the governor as well as director vogel. >> -- >> they sit around and they say -- they talk about the water. they did not say anything was safe. they forced people back into this evacuation zone that could not afford to be there. and due to that, these individuals come out with these questionable toxic reactions. yet, the state of ohio has a ton of money, they could've put up temporary shelters. and how is these people and tested the water, tested the ground before they went back in. that failed to happen. >> that is fair enough, we're running out of time. i thank you all for sitting here with us and going through this. i know it's emotionally difficult and you are all tired

after going through this for so long. so, appreciate your time. jake? >> we are running out of time. so, i have to ask that you keep it to a sentence or two, how you feel. you've got a chance to confront the governor and his administration, the epa administrator. you heard us talk to the mayor and then you got to ask some very tough questions of the ceo of norfolk southern. do you feel any better today? do you feel worse? >> i think a lot of questions weren't answered. too the ceo of norfolk southern, be a leader. make change. do it today, don't wait. >> potentially -- i will use politician speak. we heard a lot of modal words tonight. and still, that i'm hearing, especially from the governor -- might be, will be, hopefully, we will see. that kind of stuff. that doesn't ring true for safety for us. it doesn't bode well for confidence.

>> let me go to the stewards. how do you feel? >> i got a lot of my chest. i hope i spoke for the people of east palestine. i love east palestine and been here all my life. and i hope we grow on and be strong, like we always are. but i can't say that everything is gonna happen like it is. they're gonna walk away or do something, something's gonna happen. >> you still feel worried about your future? >> yes, i do. i worry about the future of east palestine. it shouldn't be like this. and that's all on that dirt and that oil out there. >> i don't believe what they are saying. i don't. i don't. it's -- i will believe it, maybe, if they are doing it tomorrow. fix it tomorrow. clean it tomorrow. we are all sick now. i mean, you know. they better hurry up. because everybody is sick. >> andres, you are a former chemistry teacher. so you must have questions to

that haven't been answered. >> yeah. but overall, i was so impressed with my fellow panelists here. i thought they did a fantastic job. i was very encouraged. everything was in the positive direction. i think good things are on the horizon. >> you are an optimist. good for you. >> what about you, dj? what do you think? >> so, hearing everybody -- and everybody is pointing to the accountable party. as a leader in the community, as the -- across our state and federal, i feel confident to -- ourselves. that's what it took today. we have the one opportunity in our life to rewrite the greatest comeback story in american history. and we have the pen. so for betting on us, i'm happy that if the east palestine residents that get it. >> jessica? >> there's a lot of big promises that were made today. i think dj has it right, this isn't just a problem for east palestine. if you have a train near you or a waterway near you, this is a problem for you as well.

so, stand up, stand with us. we're gonna fight until the promises are kept. >> let me just say, on behalf and cnn, the story doesn't end for us tonight either. we are going to keep in touch with you and keep covering this story, keep holding them accountable and allowing you more importantly, to hold them accountable. thank you so much for being here. >> thank you for having us. thank you for having us. >> you are being here, thank you to our panelists in ohio as well, and thanks to the officials who came to answer some questions. some of them pretty tough. ♪ ♪ ♪

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