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Slideshow: East Palestine, a village in crisis

Scroll through to view scenes from the toxic train derailment that's forever changed this small community

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By Nate Smallwood | Photography

Chemicals are seen atop water in Leslie Run creek in East Palestine, Ohio, on Monday, February 20, 2023.
Cleanup work is done following a trail derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, on Monday, February 20, 2023.
Cleanup work is done on Sulphur Run creek in East Palestine, Ohio, on Monday, February 20, 2023.
Cleanup work on Sulphur Run creek is done by workers in East Palestine, Ohio, on Monday, February 20, 2023.
Cleanup work on Sulphur Run creek is seen in East Palestine, Ohio, on Monday, February 20, 2023.
An EPA air monitoring system is seen in East Palestine, Ohio, on Monday, February 20, 2023.
Bob Kibler, gestures to where saw flames and smoke during the controlled burn following the train derailment outside his home in East Palestine, Ohio, on Monday, February 20, 2023.
News crews film on North Market Street in East Palestine, Ohio, on Monday, February 20, 2023.
News crews film on North Market Street in East Palestine, Ohio, on Monday, February 20, 2023.
Volunteers, Kelly Ludt, and daughter, Jasmine, help distribute bottled water in East Palestine, Ohio, on Monday, February 20, 2023.
Volunteers distribute water and cleaning supplies in East Palestine, Ohio, on Monday, February 20, 2023.
Bre Nalesnik, delivers bottled water to neighbors in East Palestine, Ohio, on Monday, February 20, 2023.
Volunteers distribute water and cleaning supplies in East Palestine, Ohio, on Monday, February 20, 2023.
Cleanup work is done on Sulphur Run creek in East Palestine, Ohio, on Monday, February 20, 2023.
A dead crayfish is seen in Leslie Run creek in East Palestine, Ohio, on Monday, February 20, 2023.
A weathered american flag is seen in East Palestine, Ohio, on Monday, February 20, 2023.
Cars cross a railroad crossing in East Palestine, Ohio, on Monday, February 20, 2023.

Since the a catastrophic train derailment and fire Feb. 3, residents in the village East Palestine, Ohio have lived in a state of uncertainty.

Nearly one month later, they’ve returned to their homes after a brief evacuation but their lives will be upended for the foreseeable future as residents ask health officials, Norfolk Southern, and government leaders, and themselves: Is the town safe?

Nate Smallwood is a freelance photojournalist and documentary filmmaker.  Born in Columbus, Ohio, Nate earned a degree from Ohio University’s School of Visual Communication and previously worked for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Nate is a member of Diversity.Photo, National Association of Press Photographers (NPPA), Pittsburgh Black Media Federation ( PBMF), and Video Consortium.

His images have been used by Apple, National Geographic, NPR, ProPublica, The New York Times, Huffington-Post, PAPER Magazine, SIERRA, The Wall Street Journal, and other outlets.

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