How rare are train derailments? Since 2020, more than 4,000 trains have derailed with 70% of derailments happening in cities. A very publicized one you may recall was the Norfolk Southern freight train incident in East Palestine, Ohio in 2023. Some interesting train derailment statistics can be found on usafacts.org under “Are train derailments becoming more common?” Many of us cross railroad tracks every day in our county. We probably don’t think much about it, but trains have become longer and are very likely carrying hazardous materials that are highly explosive increasing the risk to the communities they pass through. This year, our preparedness focus for the Health Unit will include education on railway, truck and pipeline safety. Our office and the county Office of Emergency Management & Fire Marshal will be offering a seminar on identifying hazards like these in our communities and how to protect ourselves and our environment. The seminar will be open to the public and I hope to have some information on that soon. Future plans on this topic may include training for volunteers on identifying toxic chemicals and accident response. What would accident response look like for public health in a railway derailment situation or pipeline leak or explosion? For public health, there may be air, surface soils and surface water affected. There may be individuals affected with symptoms of chemical exposure. There may be evacuations or sheltering in place to plan for. If you are interested in attending some of our future events on this topic, email me at patricia.mechler@medinatx.org. It doesn’t mean you have to be a volunteer with us, it means you want to be aware of and able to spot some of the hazards these types of situations can produce and how you could be prepared to take care of yourself, your family and friends. Source: www.nlc.org Rail Safety in Communities Across the U.S.
Trains, Trucks and Pipelines-Oh My!
