HUNDREDS EVACUATED BECAUSE OF CHEMICAL LEAK ON I-80 IN PA.

AP WIRE (breaking news) ^ | FEB. 2, 2004 | AP WIRE

[varina davis]

Hundreds Evacuated Because of Chemical Leak on I-80 in Pa. The Associated Press Published: Feb 2, 2004

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. (AP) - About a thousand people were evacuated from their homes and 16 miles of Interstate 80 were shut down Monday night after a tanker truck leaked a hazardous chemical at a rest stop, authorities said. Homes in Mifflin Township within half a mile of the rest area in north-central Pennsylvania were evacuated, Columbia County Emergency Management Director Irene Miller said, and the highway was closed in both directions.

State police said it was not immediately clear how long the hazard would last, but those evacuated were told not to expect to return home Monday night.

Many people were taken to an area fire hall and authorities planned to open a second shelter overnight.

Police did not immediately identify the chemical.

[varina davis]

Anyone hear what type of chemical was leaked?

[katz]

The Senate had a ricin threat tonight. Wasn't ricin found in Iraq?

[eastforker]

It could be one of many differant chemicals.Pure phenol will kill ya if you get a couple drops on your skin.

[jdontom]

[Cindy]

HEADLINES FOR NEWS - PENNSYLVANIA
http://www.headlinespot.com/state/pa.htm


NEWS ON YAHOO.com - PENNSYLVANIA
http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=&p=Pennsylvania

[Amelia]

Sounds like a lousy night for people in that area. At least the cold should help contain many things...less evaporation, etc.

[JohnnyZ]

Man, I-80's always causing problems. I was on it one time and the whole highway was shut down 'cause some fools decided to have an umpteen car pileup in the snow. I ended up taking these redneck back roads through Jeddo and goodness knows where else.

[John Curran]

Ricin is derived from the castor plant. The plant is used as a source for Castor oil, which is refined to remove the toxiciy.

It's a part of a plant that is toxic, like peach pits, which are poisonous. Peaches, thankfully, are not. And castor plants are at least as common as peach trees.

It's pretty easy to obtain ricin, without any help from al queda or the cia.

[Our man in washington]

"Rednecks", you say?

I was driving on one of those back roads in northern Pennsylvania that you mentioned. I had car trouble, and had to stop. I didn't have a cell phone with me. I had to walk many miles before I found someone home.

The man who was home fit the stereotype of a redneck. He had the hunting trophies and beer cans prominently displayed. He welcomed me in, offered me a drink, let me call for help and hang out until help arrived.

The lady of the house was shocked. "I saw you walking up the hill." she said. "Why didn't you wave someone down if you needed help?" She said it in such a way that she expected everyone around there could trust everyone else. She apologized for not stopping.

Thank goodness for rednecks.

[JohnnyZ]

"Rednecks", you say?

Apparently you took that as an insult. Why?

[JohnnyZ]

The lady of the house was shocked. "I saw you walking up the hill." she said. "Why didn't you wave someone down if you needed help?" She said it in such a way that she expected everyone around there could trust everyone else.

Why DIDN'T you waive someone down?

Maybe I just have a different perspective, growing up in a small town.

[Our man in washington]

You're right. I shouldn't have taken "rednecks" as an insult.

Sometimes, I forget I'm talking to fellow freepers.

No excuses.

[JohnnyZ]

Sometimes, I forget I'm talking to fellow freepers.

Me too. 's all good.

Good story, BTW -- I was the beneficiary of a central NY not-quite-redneck who nonetheless just happen to have a truck with a hitch to pull me out of a ditch.