Salina group collects water for East Palestine, Ohio, following derailment incident

Kendrick Calfee, Salina Journal
·4 min read
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From left to right: Mike Tyner, of Doug Bradley Trucking Inc, and Rosemary Mai and Kenneth Cochran of the Granny Brigade stand in front of 25 pallets of bottled water collected as part of the water drive March 3. The water will be delivered to East Palestine, Ohio, Monday.
From left to right: Mike Tyner, of Doug Bradley Trucking Inc, and Rosemary Mai and Kenneth Cochran of the Granny Brigade stand in front of 25 pallets of bottled water collected as part of the water drive March 3. The water will be delivered to East Palestine, Ohio, Monday.

People in the Salina community have been collecting water for the past week in an effort to provide relief to a rural community in Ohio.

The aftermath of the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment may be taking place 14½ hours away from Salina, but that hasn't stopped a local group known as the Granny Brigade from finding a way to help.

Rosemary Mai, one of the group's co-founders, said the issue was devastating to observe from afar, and felt moved to provide relief of some sort.

"We kept seeing this stuff on TV and it kind of upset us, so we decided to have this water drive," Mai said.

Mai met with Granny Brigade co-founder Tina Baringer and discussed ways they might be able to help. After deciding on a water drive, they realized they would need a way to deliver a large quantity of water across several states; a feat their humble five-passenger vehicles couldn't exactly accomplish.

So, they reached out to Doug Bradley Trucking Inc. in Salina. Granny Brigade planned on paying for a driver and fuel if the company could provide a tractor-trailer to deliver pallets of water that were collected. But after meeting with the group, Doug Bradley Trucking graciously donated their time and resources at no cost to the organizers.

Long McArthur Ford provided space in their showroom as a drop-off point for donations through March 3, until the water was collected and brought to a warehouse to be loaded up for delivery.

Doug Bradley Trucking will finish loading their truck early March 6 and make the trek to East Palestine, Ohio.

As of March 3, the Salina Granny Brigade had collected 25 pallets of water from businesses and individuals in the Salina community for the town of East Palestine, Ohio.
As of March 3, the Salina Granny Brigade had collected 25 pallets of water from businesses and individuals in the Salina community for the town of East Palestine, Ohio.

"I couldn't believe how much water was donated," said Mike Tyner of Doug Bradley Trucking.

KINA radio station began promoting the water drive Feb. 22, with a spot asking for water and donations. In just a week, the group was able to collect 25 pallets of water.

"We've had a good response from businesses and local residents of Saline County," Mai said.

Aftermath of train derailment left lingering concerns about water and air quality

A Norfolk Southern Train went off the tracks in northeastern Ohio Feb. 3 after a wheel bearing overheated. When a fire broke out as a result, toxic chemicals were spilled into the air, water and soil according to preliminary findings from the National Transportation Safety Board.

In this photo provided by Melissa Smith, a train fire is seen from her farm in East Palestine, Ohio, Friday, Feb. 3, 2023. A train derailment and resulting large fire prompted an evacuation order in the Ohio village near the Pennsylvania state line on Friday night, covering the area in billows of smoke lit orange by the flames below.
In this photo provided by Melissa Smith, a train fire is seen from her farm in East Palestine, Ohio, Friday, Feb. 3, 2023. A train derailment and resulting large fire prompted an evacuation order in the Ohio village near the Pennsylvania state line on Friday night, covering the area in billows of smoke lit orange by the flames below.

Initial worries about an explosion led to a "controlled release" of the chemicals in the tank cars. During that process, thousands of East Palestine's residents had to evacuate for days as concerns of air and water quality lingered.

People are back home now, and though officials have said air and municipal water are safe, they are worried about long-term health consequences.

The derailment has sparked a national conversation about railway safety and prompted investigations into what long-term effects the incident may have.

More:Most Americans say tougher regulation could have averted Ohio train derailment: USA TODAY/Ipsos poll

Water delivery will come at opportune time, East Palestine organization says

The Salina City Commission and Saline County Commission both signed a posterboard card that will accompany the Granny Brigade's water delivery to East Palestine Monday, showing their support from afar.

At the Saline County Commission meeting Tuesday, Mai and Baringer said collecting water was the least they could do in the face of a crisis like this. The complicated aftermath of an incident like that is something Mai said she couldn't imagine going through.

"I've been in contact with churches and community organizations (in Ohio) that is handling everything for us there," Mai said. "They have all been very gracious."

Saline County Commissioners Joe Hay and Monte Shadwick sign a poster board card that will accompany the delivery of water to East Palestine, Ohio. The county and city commissioners signed the card.
Saline County Commissioners Joe Hay and Monte Shadwick sign a poster board card that will accompany the delivery of water to East Palestine, Ohio. The county and city commissioners signed the card.

Mai called an Ohio local organization Thursday night to provide an updated estimate on how much water would be delivered. In that conversation, Mai was told the water is arriving at an opportune time. The town's residents are returning home, but they are still confused, concerned and worried.

"One lady from a social concerns organization that we have been in contact with, and be sending donations to, she said, 'way out in Kansas?' and I said, 'yes, way out in Kansas, we're very concerned about you,'" Mai said.

Kendrick Calfee has been a reporter with the Salina Journal since 2022, primarily covering county government and education. You can reach him at kcalfee@gannett.com or on Twitter @calfee_kc.

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Salina group collects water for East Palestine after train derailment