Health resource center opens in Beaver County after Ohio train derailment

COUNTY, WHERE MULTIPLE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE. OFFICIALS SAY THIS NEW HEALTH RESOURCE CENTER IS FOR PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE TRAIN DERAILMENT. AND I’M TOLD ALREADY 100 PEOPLE HAVE STOPPED BY ON ITS OPENING DAY. THE CLINIC IS AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE, NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE. I HAVE A SLIGHT SORE THROAT AND JUST PERSISTENT, BUT DOESN’T GET WORSE AND DOESN’T GET BETTER. A STEADY FLOW OF PEOPLE CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS AS THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OPENED ITS DOORS AT THE HEALTH RESOURCE CENTER IN BEAVER COUNTY. WE WANTED TO GET ON RECORD THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WANT WE WANT TO CHECK WELLS CHECKED AND WHAT THEY’RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS WITHIN THE FIRST MILE. SINCE THE TRAIN DERAILMENT ACROSS THE BORDER AND EAST PALESTINE, OHIO, RESIDENTS SAY THEIR BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE UNKNOWN. I WANTED TO HAVE MY WELL AND MY SOUL TESTED JUST TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE. WE TALKED WITH NATE WARDLE, THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE HEALTH RESOURCE CENTER. HE SAID A BASIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT IS PART OF GETTING SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED. AND THEN IF THERE’S ANYTHING THAT THEY SEE, THEY NEED TO FOLLOW UP, THEY CAN CERTAINLY REFER YOU EITHER TO THEIR CARE. IF THAT’S A NEED OR TO YOUR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN ALONG WITH THE CLINICAL PROVIDERS. WARDLE SAYS THE DEP AND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ARE ALSO ON HAND. WE KNOW THERE’S LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT AIR SAMPLING AND WATER SAMPLING AND PEOPLE WHO ARE BEGINNING TO PREPARE TO PLANT THEIR CROPS AND WORRIED ABOUT THEIR LIVESTOCK. AND IN A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY, PEOPLE TOLD US THE CLINIC GAVE THEM A SENSE OF RELIEF. I THINK IT WAS VERY RESOURCEFUL. YOU KNOW, I LIKE THE FACT THAT THEY HAD SOMEBODY FOR A SPIRITUAL. THEY HAD THE THERAPY DOGS, YOU KNOW, JUST FOR COPING. I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY WELL PUT TOGETHER. THE CLINIC IS OPEN ON WEEKDAYS FROM 10 A.M. UNTIL 8 P.M. FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. ALL SERVICES ARE FREE. WARDLE SAYS RESIDENTS WILL ONLY HAVE TO PROVIDE THEIR AGE AND ZIP CODE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, JUST GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT EW.C

The Pennsylvania Department of Health opened a Health Resource Center in Beaver County Tuesday for residents who have concerns and questions following the East Palestine train derailment.Gov. Josh Shapiro's office made the announcement earlier in the week.Pennsylvania Health Resource Center spokesperson, Nate Wardle, said about 100 people came by the clinic on its opening day.“We wanted to make this is an area where people can come and get answers to all of their questions,” Wardle said.The clinic is available for anyone free of charge. Pittsburgh's Action News 4 talked with Beaver County residents about their concerns. “I have a slight sore throat, and it’s just persistent, but doesn't get worse and it doesn't get better,” Darlington Township resident Bill Smart said.“I wanted to have my well and my soil tested just to be on the safe side,” Darlington Township resident Renee Engelman said.Wardle said a basic health assessment is one of the services offered at the clinic.“If there is anything that they see that needs a follow-up, they can certainly refer you either to their care if that is a need or to your primary care physician,” Wardle said.Along with clinical providers, Wardle says the Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Agriculture are also on hand.“We know there is a lot of people who have questions about air sampling and water sampling, and people are beginning to prepare to plant their crops and are worried about their livestock,” Wardle said.Beaver County residents said the clinic gave them a sense of relief in a time of uncertainty. “I think it was very resourceful. I like the fact that they had somebody for spiritual, they had the therapy dogs just for coping, I thought it was very well put together,” Engelman said. Today’s top headlines from WTAE: Pitt ranked No. 25 in Associated Press college basketball poll Fallen Brackenridge police chief's badge turned into necklace for his widow Vigil set for 6-year-old killed on her way to North Belle Vernon bus stopThe center will be open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and is currently scheduled to operate through March 10. It's located at the Darlington Township Building along Darlington Road."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,” Shapiro said in a statement.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health opened a Health Resource Center in Beaver County Tuesday for residents who have concerns and questions following the East Palestine train derailment.

Gov. Josh Shapiro's office made the announcement earlier in the week.

Pennsylvania Health Resource Center spokesperson, Nate Wardle, said about 100 people came by the clinic on its opening day.

“We wanted to make this is an area where people can come and get answers to all of their questions,” Wardle said.

The clinic is available for anyone free of charge.

Pittsburgh's Action News 4 talked with Beaver County residents about their concerns.

“I have a slight sore throat, and it’s just persistent, but doesn't get worse and it doesn't get better,” Darlington Township resident Bill Smart said.

“I wanted to have my well and my soil tested just to be on the safe side,” Darlington Township resident Renee Engelman said.

Wardle said a basic health assessment is one of the services offered at the clinic.

“If there is anything that they see that needs a follow-up, they can certainly refer you either to their care if that is a need or to your primary care physician,” Wardle said.

Along with clinical providers, Wardle says the Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Agriculture are also on hand.

“We know there is a lot of people who have questions about air sampling and water sampling, and people are beginning to prepare to plant their crops and are worried about their livestock,” Wardle said.

Beaver County residents said the clinic gave them a sense of relief in a time of uncertainty.

“I think it was very resourceful. I like the fact that they had somebody for spiritual, they had the therapy dogs just for coping, I thought it was very well put together,” Engelman said.

Today’s top headlines from WTAE:

The center will be open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and is currently scheduled to operate through March 10. It's located at the Darlington Township Building along Darlington Road.

"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,” Shapiro said in a statement.

Health resource center opens in Beaver County after Ohio train derailment

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