Ohio Train Derailment Mirrors ‘White Noise’ Netflix Film

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to shoot a blockbuster film in your neighborhood? 

That happened to the citizens of East Palestine, Ohio, when it became the setting for the Netflix film “White Noise.” 

A year later, a train containing toxic chemicals derailed in the area. As a result, it would seem they are living the film’s plot in real life! 

Why was the Ohio train derailment reminiscent of White Noise?

Photo Credit: nypost.com

We need an overview of the Netflix movie before comparing it to the recent train derailment in Ohio.

It launched on the movie streaming platform in 2022 and starred Adam Driver as Jack Gladney, a Hitler studies professor. 

His character is the husband of Babette, played by Greta Gerwig. A train derails a few miles away from their home, releasing hazardous airborne gasses. 

The disaster forces Gladney to find a way to his family amidst the ensuing chaos. On the other hand, the real-life Ohio train derailment starts similarly.

On February 3, a train carrying toxic materials shook a small town of 4,700. Various photographs show the locomotive engulfed in flames while spreading thick plumes of smoke. 

Authorities urged nearby residents to evacuate their houses and flee. Moreover, Ben Ratner and his family had an experience similar to White Noise’s protagonists.

He told CNN that “the first half of the movie is all almost exactly what’s going on here.” On the night of February 3, Ratner was watching his daughter’s basketball game when the crash occurred.

He did not hear it during the game, but he was surprised to see its massive blaze outside. His family returned to the house less than a mile from the crash site. 

Yet, Ratner went to work while his wife and kids stayed with his wife’s parents the next morning. In the afternoon, an official alert warned people to move farther away from the crash site.

He tried to make light of the situation by posting a joke about it online. “I actually made a meme where I superimposed my face on the [White Noise] poster and sent it to my friends.”

The Ohio train derailment is a real disaster with long-term consequences.

I continue to be concerned about the impacts of the Feb 3 train derailment near East Palestine, OH, and the effects on families in the ten days since their lives were upended through no fault of their own. It’s important that families have access to useful & accurate information:

— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) February 14, 2023

It is natural for people to compare their daily lives with scenes from their favorite movies or novels. 

However, we must remember that the Ohio train derailment is a serious matter. 

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said the locomotive’s 20 cars contained toxic chemicals like vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, and ethylhexyl acrylate. 

Worse, the explosion spread them into the soil, water, and air. They could cause dizziness, drowsiness, and headaches at high concentrations. 

However, they could produce a distinct odor below safe concentration levels. Fortunately, recent scans from the EPA found none of them in dangerous amounts. 

Still, Norfolk Southern contractors built a dam to contain polluted water in the area. They also used absorbent pads and a vacuum truck to recover spilled substances.

State officials advised residents with private wells to drink bottled water. On February 10, Norfolk Southern released a plan to decontaminate the site.

The group plans to dig wells to test and monitor groundwater quality. However, we might not see its real impact years after the Ohio train derailment.