ROSELAND - The explosion at Smitty's Supply took place on Aug. 22 of last year. Nearly 8 months later, residents in Roseland say they are still feeling the impacts.

Roseland resident and Pastor Marvin Vernon said he never experienced migraines, like he does now, until after the Smitty's explosion.

"I just believe with the propensity of the danger that we have here, ten years or less, Roseland can be a ghost town if we not mighty careful," Vernon said. 

Nearly a week after the explosion, federal officials assured residents there was no threat to public health. The EPA released a statement on its website on Aug. 27 stating that there was no indication of any imminent threat to public health from the soot or smoke residue.  

However, documents obtained by Steve Middendorp, a reporter for the Highwire, through a Freedom of Information Act request, detailed a request by the Environmental Protection Agency for emergency removal at the Smitty's Supply site. 

The EPA's on-scene coordinator stated in the document that the nearest residential area is half a mile to the west of the facility. It goes on to say that the hazardous substances are unsecured in the environment and pose a grave threat to human health. All of this was listed on the same day the EPA made its statement. 

"Grave threat to human health, I've never agreed so much with the EPA, and we're seeing the grave threat to human health play out. Dead dogs, frogs disappeared, dead snakes, some of the insects have disappeared," Independent Test Expert, Scott Smith said.

Smith has done his own testing in Roseland, looking for cancer-causing, forever chemicals.

"Like Dioxins and other things, and found those present. Meanwhile, you've had kids reporting bloody noses to their families, and you have people sick down in the Tangipahoa River," Smith said.

Vernon said he urges those living in the north end of Tangipahoa Parish to come together and work to bring attention to what the community is going through.

"That's the message that I have for Roseland and North Tangipahoa Parish. Why sit here until we die? We have to make some noise; we need federal attention," Vernon said.

We reached out to the EPA for comment. They have not responded to our request.