HHS awards emergency funds to Ohio town affected by train derailment

HHS announced it has awarded $250,000 in emergency funding to Community Action Agency of Columbiana County to assist with behavioral and other health concerns for those affected by the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

According to an HHS press release, the financial award will target key response activities, including direct health care services, patient screenings, outreach and enrollment in the community of approximately 4,700 residents affected by the Feb. 3 incident.

“Today’s emergency funding will assist health care professionals providing care to affected residents,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in the release. “This represents another important step in the Biden-Harris administration’s whole-of-government response to the train derailment.”

The Community Action Agency (CAA), which is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration, is based in Lisbon, Ohio, approximately 14 miles from East Palestine. The organization aims to assist affected residents with behavioral health, as well as medical and dental issues, directly through the health center and has deployed its mobile medical unit to the area, per the release.

HHS additionally revealed in the release that CAA has partnered with the Ohio Department of Health and Columbiana County Health Department to support a health assessment clinic for residents from the area who may have medical questions or concerns related to the derailment.

“The Health Resources and Services Administration stands with the residents of East Palestine at this critical time,” HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson said in the release. “We are taking action by providing direct financial support to our local community health center partner, Community Action Agency of Columbiana, as they continue their tireless work to serve the health needs of the community.”