Toxic Tide: 40 Days of Silence on the Tangipahoa

Pat Mashburn returns to the show with a grim update on the environmental fallout from the Smitty’s explosion along the Tangipahoa River. Now 40 days in, Mashburn describes worsening water conditions, mysterious chemical runoff, and a lack of meaningful response from officials. Despite EPA updates online, locals report no visible cleanup efforts. Airboats stir up oil slicks, and soil samples reveal syrup-like contamination threatening aquifers. Mashburn and fellow residents remain in daily contact, united by frustration and concern. With Smitty’s still operating nearby, questions mount about accountability, transparency, and long-term damage to the river and surrounding communities.