The government’s response to the East Palestine train derailment plan has grown large enough to require the opening of a second command post.

The EPA has announced that it will be opening a new incident command post near Columbiana later this week to give officials enough space to park mobile command posts and labs and trailers needed to oversee the cleanup without inconveniencing the residents of East Palestine.

In addition, state, local, and federal officials will hold a public meeting and resource fair Thursday evening at the East Palestine High School.

According to EPA Region 5 Director Debra Shore, representatives from Norfolk Southern railroad have been ordered to attend the session from 6 to 9 p.m. along with staff from the EPA, HHS, Ohio EPA and other agencies.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry will join federal, state, and local partners at the EPA and other organizations’ public community meetings Thursday thru Sunday this week.  CDC/ATDSR will provide information on available public health resources.

The CDC/ATDSR says it will begin to work Thursday with local and state public health partners to conduct Assessment of Chemical Exposure investigation surveys in East Palestine, which will include exposure surveys of first responders to the derailment.

Briefings are scheduled daily at 4 p.m. ET in East Palestine until further notice and can be watched live at www.youtube.com/fema/live.