Rail-safety and environmental-health advocate Jess Conard has launched a program in the wake of the 2023 East Palestine train derailment that may help communities identify threats before they become disasters.

The "Disaster Averted: Rail Watch Service” initiative offers grassroots leaders personalized guidance strategies on handling rail hazards, chemical transport risks, regulatory systems and effective community organizing.

Conard told 21 News the goal is to "develop an action plan so they could have outcomes in their community that could be something like identifying an emergency service or emergency plan."

Through the service, Conard will offer applicants a 60-minute strategy session, helping them assess any health or environmental hazards in their area as well as understand regulatory language and local jurisdictions.

"When I found out there are three derailments everyday in the United States, I started to really think how we as a community could prevent that," Conard said. "A lot of the laws we have in this country are at the federal level but there are things we can do at local, county and state levels."

Residents can apply for the pilot program and learn more at the Disaster Averted website through the Halt the Harm Network.