FEMA Documents Reveal Federal Alarm Over Toxic Exposure in East Palestine Despite Public Assurances

Internal FEMA emails expose federal worries over health risks in East Palestine while public statements minimized community concerns.

Months before President Biden sent FEMA’s Jim McPherson to East Palestine, Ohio, internal federal emails show officials were deeply concerned about the health risks posed by the vinyl chloride tank fire. Although residents reported illness and called for help following the controlled burn of 115,000 gallons of toxic chemicals, public statements from agencies downplayed the dangers.

Documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request reveal close coordination among FEMA, the White House, the EPA, the National Security Council, and the Department of Justice. The agencies flagged the potential for cancer clusters and stressed the urgent need for monitoring systems to detect emerging health threats.

Lesley Pacey, the investigator who forced the release of these records, said the documents confirm that healthcare was recognized as the top issue early on. Internally, officials acknowledged the plume’s toxicity and the real risk it posed to the community, yet this information was never shared publicly.

The report detailing the community’s “unmet needs” was never released, and FEMA’s appointed coordinator avoided direct contact with residents. Christa Graves, a local, said, “Eventually, there was something said that he didn’t need our anecdotal reports.” She and others tried repeatedly to reach McPherson, but he remained largely inaccessible.

Residents accuse the government of negligence, expressing frustration over the disconnect between private concern and public messaging. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security criticized FEMA’s management under the Biden administration, promising reforms under President Trump and Secretary Noem.

Sourced from an exclusive report by NewsNation