Not a surprising sight since 10,460 miles of railroad tracks crisscross Texas— most in any state in the U.S., according to the Association of American Railroads.
What happened in East Palestine, Ohio, Feb. 3 is a cautionary tale for Tarrant County. A freight train carrying flammable and toxic chemicals including vinyl chloride, a human carcinogen, ran off its tracks. Railroad company officials and Ohio state leaders — fearing an explosion — decided to conduct a controlled burn of the cars containing toxic chemicals sending plumes of black smoke into the air.
No injuries or deaths have been reported so far, but many fear a broader environmental disaster brewing. Hundreds of dead fish were found in an East Palestine creek. There is now concern about the drinking water in the area.
More than a dozen trains have jumped the tracks in the U.S. so far this year. Could something like this happen in Tarrant County?
The Star-Telegram asked the Tarrant County Emergency Management Office to share what plans the county has in place if a train runs off the tracks in and around Fort Worth.
Star-Telegram: Does the Tarrant County Emergency Management Office have a plan in place for a train derailment with hazardous material within the county?
Randy Renois, Tarrant County Fire Marshal: Yes.
S-T: Could you describe what that plan looks like?
RR: It deals with all aspects of the incident from response to recovery involving all our local, state and federal partners.
S-T: Is there a different plan in place if a derailed train was carrying something non-chemically hazardous, such as food or lumber?
RR: No.
S-T: Do railroad companies share the contents of their cargo with your office, specifically if what they’re carrying is hazardous material?
RR: At the time of the incident, yes, and each train has a manifest on board with all the information.
S-T: Does your office know when trains carrying hazardous materials pass through Tarrant County ?
RR: No, trains pass in and out of Tarrant County everyday carrying all types of hazardous materials.
S-T: Has your office had any conversations in the wake of the Ohio train derailment on what the county’s response might be in a similar situation?
RR: No, all of the hazmat teams in our county are prepared to respond to any type of derailment involving hazardous cargo.
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