"We want you to get information that you can take home so that you're better informed," consumer advocate Erin Brockovich told a crowd of hundreds at East Palestine High School Friday night.

That information is exactly why Lelly Groleau came. She got sick after making tea with the village's water

"I'm feeling better than I was," Groleau said. "My anxiety's a little bit higher but I like the fact that they're giving us a lot of straightforward answers."

Groleau says she left with more of those answers than when Governor DeWine and others came to town and met with residents.
That turned out to be a common theme. When we asked Groleau if she thinks people like Brockovich should be taking the lead rather than elected officials, she said "I absolutely do."

Some people who didn't want to be interviewed told 21 News they left frustrated because they couldn't ask questions from Brockovich or the lawyers who joined her to give presentations. Others had different reasons for coming.

"One lady drove from four hours just to be in the overflow just to be in a support system," Groleau said, noting that a few women from Flint, Michigan - also plagued by environmental and water crises in recent years - came in support as well.

It's a support system Brockovich says the East Palestine community will need, stressing that this will be a long game with no quick fix.

"You know what's happened and you will continue to speak up and rise up. That's how things will change," said Brockovich.

Brockovich also left the people of East Palestine with a promise - she said this would not be the last time she visits their community.