For those unfamiliar with the area, this derailment occurred directly across 31W (Dixie Highway) from the Ohio Valley Raceway and Drag Strip, located just north of West Point and about midway between Louisville and Fort Knox.
Posted on 10/29/2012 9:48:28 AM PDT by Stonewall Jackson
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- Emergency crews on the scene after a PNL train derailed on a portion of CSX track off Dixie Highway near Katherine Station Road.
Dispatchers confirmed it is a Level 3 Hazmat situation. A Level 3 Hazmat is described as a substantial quantity of hazardous materials, posing significant risk to public health and the environment, requiring a major response.
The train was hauling more than 30 cars. Major Tim Robbins of the Lake Dreamland Fire Department said eight cars are off the track. Crews said some of the cars are carrying potentially dangerous chemicals: Hyrdogen chloride, hydro chloric acid, sodium hydroxide, butadeine, calcium carbide, methyl isbutyl ketone.
The concern is with the car which filled with butadiene, a liquid that turns into a gas which is flammable and can be dangerous if inhaled. Officials said the car is leaking the chemical, but the leak is small. There is also some concern the chemical may leak in to the Salt River and barge traffic on the river has been stopped as a precaution.
Emergency crews on the scene issued a Code Red for a two mile radius around the derailment site and said all residents near the area should stay indoors until the scene is clear.
Twelve homes on Abbots Beach Road and at least 20 on Katherine Station Road have been evacuated. Officials are now calling for residents on Dixie Beach to voluntarily evacuate their homes.
No injuries have been reported and there is no word on a cause at this time.
Dixie Highway is shut down in both directions and will remain so until Hazmat crews have cleared the area. Officials said it will likely be Tuesday before the roadway reopens.
For those unfamiliar with the area, this derailment occurred directly across 31W (Dixie Highway) from the Ohio Valley Raceway and Drag Strip, located just north of West Point and about midway between Louisville and Fort Knox.
Hurricane Sandy might be grabbing a lot of the national headlines, but this is a pretty significant event for those of us who live in Central Kentucky.
Nice smorgasbord of hazardous chemicals there-—take your pick; flammable, toxic, or corrosive; your choice, acid or base. Not the worst of the worst but plenty dangerous.
Train Derails Near West Point (Kentucky), Causes Chemical Leak
We've heard this plot before.....
...for those interested. :D
Butadiene is a carcinogen, too.
Oh, I'm familiar with the area. Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot, West Point, KY. [2012 Tracer Shoot]
Residents of West Point ordered to evacuate
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The community of West Point has been ordered to evacuate.
Emergency officials confirm that there are multiple injuries after chemicals ignited at the train derailment site at Katherine Station Road and Dixie Highway.
One of the workers is reported in critical condition, one is in serious condition and one is in fair condition, all suffering from burns.
Two were taken by ambulance and one by helicopter to University Hospital.
Two other workers refused treatment.
A Code Red has been issued for the area. Residents within 1.2 miles of the scene were told to evacuate.
Residents within a five-mile radius are advised to stay inside their homes ,close all doors and windows and turn off any system that pulls in outside air.
Yep, I just posted a new article about it. The Kentucky National Guard has been called in to assist with the situation.
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED SHELTER IN PLACE WARNING KENTUCKY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY 214 PM EDT WED OCT 31 2012 THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE KENTUCKY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND METROSAFE IN LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY.
LOUISVILLE METROSAFE ASKS THAT PEOPLE LIVING WITHIN A FIVE MILE RADIUS OF DIXIE HIGHWAY AND KATHERINE STATION ROAD SHELTER IN PLACE UNTIL THE ALL CLEAR IS GIVEN. AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON AT THE TRAIN DERAILMENT SITE. TO SHELTER IN PLACE...CLOSE ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS AND TURN OFF ANY SYSTEM THAT PULLS IN OUTSIDE AIR. STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES.
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