Residents, business owners and community leaders need more information and communication with International Paper about the Jan. 22 explosion at its Cantonment plant. The press releases and one press conference, where reporters were only allowed to ask four questions, aren’t cutting it.
The public needs to know what caused the explosion. We have heard the facility experienced power outages in the days leading up to the blast. The media has not been allowed on the property, and IP hasn’t released any photos of the damage.
The PNJ had a reporter tour the surrounding neighborhoods (Read “It’s like a fallout zoneâ€). IP appears to be using the Ashton Hayward-Eric Olson communication method. Residents are being told different things, having trouble getting through to anyone on the hot line number.
The PNJ article shows people are having health issues, even though local health department chief, Dr. John Lanza, said at the press conference that the black liquor in yards and on roads, homes and vehicles posed no significant health risks.
Also we have learned that IP has put some residents in hotel rooms. Why haven’t all the residents been told that they don’t have to stay in their homes?
Questions continue to mount; health and environment concerns continue to exist.
More information and facts are needed.