I'm recalling another incident in your neck of the woods. Involving some sort of chemical exposure to several people I believe. A train involved perhaps...?
People missing from their homes...am I remembering correctly?
Yes - a train wreck with a chlorine leak about 20 miles from here. I hadn't heard about it and went outside to feed the birds and my eyes watered and I got an instant headache.
The Governor flew over the area and saw dead bodies in the woods near the train wreck and dead fish and dogs and cattle. It was a horrific accident and I believe 9 people died and many, many more seriously compromised their lungs.
The first responders to the scene described the chemical taking the paint off their vehicles as they drove and their skin bleaching as they drove. I'll never forget that week.