Rebuilding Our Lives Post Train Derailment

Hi, I’m Chelsea, a single mom of 3 and therapeutic foster mom to medically fragile infants and toddlers. On February 2nd 2023 our lives changed forever. Returning from the grocery store I saw a HUGE ball of fire directly behind my house, my children and I drove up the street to see what happened and were horrified at the site of a huge blaze spreading from the railroad. We grabbed a couple pairs of clothes and took off to my sisters in fear the fire might catch the gas station and cause a huge explosion. Little did we know we would never be able to return to our home. The train derailment leaked millions of pounds of toxic chemicals that filled the city and polluted the air and water, the children and I suffered respiratory symptoms from being in such close proximity to the initial fire and decided that with as close as our home was to the disaster zone (less than .3 miles) we could not return.

I scrambled and borrowed to be able to afford a security deposit on a different rental, and we walked away from the home that we had known with barely any belongings. The Railroad company offered us “inconvenience” checks for the displacement and those bought us the necessities such as new mattresses and a fridge but now that money is gone, and I am left out of work while I try to decontaminate what was savable and clean out the house in EP as well as settle my children and foster children into their new home and new city.

Im fundraising to try to get enough to get a washer and dryer, living room furniture, and help with day to day expenses as I now have to drive my children 1 hour twice a day to attend school in EP due to a court order.

This has all been so traumatic, the support and help of our local community has been amazing, but there are SO many people in need right now it’s a bit overwhelming.

anything helps, especially your prayers that my family and I and our community family and friends continue to remain healthy despite exposure to toxic chemicals.

#EPStrong