With the response the Biden Administration has had towards the toxic chemical train derailment in East Palestine, OH, I feel it important to state early on how a Wellman Administration would handle this crisis.
Upon notification of an incident in the United States, not of a national security matter, the Vice-President, the White House Chief of Staff, and I will immediately assign an incident lead for the Executive Branch. In the case of the East Palestine derailment, clearly the incident lead should have been the Secretary of Transportation.
After complete information has been received, not to exceed two hours, an initial statement will be released from the Administration expressing our support for the effected community and to detail initial steps the Administration will take in response, to include the naming of an on-site lead representative. In this case, the Federal Railroad Administrator will be dispatched to the incident site along with appropriate support staff. I will task FEMA to accompany the site lead to provide advice on if the incident rises to the level of a disaster area and if a disaster declaration is warranted.
The next day, the department in charge will provide a press update on the incident and the actions the federal government has taken to remediate the situation, areas of cooperation between state and local agencies, areas of need from the public and an assessment on potential impacts to surrounding states and localities.
Each day, the site lead will report back to the department and the White House a report on accomplishments of the day, a count of injured and fatalities and areas where further assistance is needed and if there is broader involvement from the federal government.
It is unconscionable for any administration to give short shrift to any disaster where Americans are suffering. This is how we in the federal government demonstrate the American people that the federal government is value added to their lives, not a drain on their pocketbooks and a regulatory burden on their backs.
