RIGHT. ANYONE WITHIN FIVE MILES OF THE DERAILMENT SITE IN EAST PALESTINE, WHICH OF COURSE INCLUDES THIS DARLINGTON TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY IN BEAVER COUNTY. AND WHILE THOSE I SPOKE WITH HERE SAY HELPING THEM GET A FAIR PRICE FOR THEIR HOME IS THE RIGHT MOVE BY NORFOLK SOUTHERN, IT’S NOT SOMETHING THEY’RE INTERESTED IN. I’LL NEVER SELL. I LOVE BEING A VALLEY AND I LOVE MY HOUSE. OTHER PEOPLE I’VE HEARD TALK, I’VE HEARD WHERE THEY SAY IT WOULD BE HARD, BUT WITH THIS IDEA IN MIND WHERE THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF THE DIFFERENCE, I THINK THAT WILL BE VERY HELPFUL. THE AGREEMENT ANNOUNCED BY NORFOLK SOUTHERN WOULD MAKE SURE RESIDENTS WHO SELL THEIR HOMES NOW GET PAID ITS VALUE BEFORE THE DERAILMENT IN EAST PALESTINE THAT SENT TOXIC CHEMICALS INTO THE AIR ON FEBRUARY 3RD. IF A HOME NEAR THE SITE SELLS FOR LESS. NORFOLK SOUTHERN HAS AGREED TO PAY THE DIFFERENCE. BUT MANY LIVING IN NEARBY COMMUNITIES SAY DESPITE THEIR SAFETY CONCERNS, THEY HAVE NO PLANS TO SELL AND DON’T THINK IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE IF THEY DID. THAT’S THE WHOLE THING THERE. WHO WANTS TO MOVE INTO AN AREA LIKE THAT? YOU KNOW, I WOULDN’T LEAVE ANYWAY. THIS IS WHERE I LIVE. NORFOLK SOUTHERN SAYS WHILE THEY HAVE PAID HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THE DERAILMENT SO FAR, INCLUDING 15 MILLION TO RESIDENCES AND BUSINESSES, THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS MONEY NOW
Norfolk Southern agrees to pay the difference if home near derailment site sells for less than it was worth previously
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Updated: 7:00 PM EDT May 10, 2023
Norfolk Southern's CEO has said the corporation will pay the difference if a home near the East Palestine derailment site sells for less than it would have prior to the Feb. 3 derailment that sent toxic chemicals into the air."I wouldn't know because I'll never sell," said Sue Matthews, who lives three miles from East Palestine. "I love my house. Other people I've heard talk I've heard where they said it would be hard but with this idea in mind where they say they would take care of the difference, I think that will be very helpful."U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, said he secured the agreement with Norfolk Southern for compensation for declining property values. In a statement, Cruz, R-Texas, wrote: “Norfolk Southern has a long way to go to make things right for the people of East Palestine. This new fund is an important step in repairing the damage done to the community and making whole those homeowners whose property values have declined due to no fault of their own. While we all share the common goal of ensuring incidents like this do not happen again, it is my hope that this agreement will serve as a template for any future incidents where homeowners are unfairly harmed. My colleagues and I will be watching closely to ensure that Norfolk Southern makes good on this commitment to the people of East Palestine.”
DARLINGTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Norfolk Southern's CEO has said the corporation will pay the difference if a home near the East Palestine derailment site sells for less than it would have prior to the Feb. 3 derailment that sent toxic chemicals into the air.
"I wouldn't know because I'll never sell," said Sue Matthews, who lives three miles from East Palestine. "I love my house. Other people I've heard talk I've heard where they said it would be hard but with this idea in mind where they say they would take care of the difference, I think that will be very helpful."
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, said he secured the agreement with Norfolk Southern for compensation for declining property values.
In a statement, Cruz, R-Texas, wrote: “Norfolk Southern has a long way to go to make things right for the people of East Palestine. This new fund is an important step in repairing the damage done to the community and making whole those homeowners whose property values have declined due to no fault of their own. While we all share the common goal of ensuring incidents like this do not happen again, it is my hope that this agreement will serve as a template for any future incidents where homeowners are unfairly harmed. My colleagues and I will be watching closely to ensure that Norfolk Southern makes good on this commitment to the people of East Palestine.”
