Toxic Chemical Spill Near Cincinnati Forces Evacuations; Schools Close
Thousands of Whitewater Township, Ohio, residents have fled their homes due to a chemical leak from a rail car —closing schools and remaining wary of potential danger. The leak of butadiene, a potentially explosive gas containing the chemical styrene, has prompted fear and a rush to contain it due to that risk.
Rail Car Sparks Emergency with Chemical Leak
WHITWATER TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Residents in Whitewater Township west of Cincinnati, Ohio were ordered to evacuate Tuesday afternoon after a dangerous styrene leak in a rail car. The highly flammable styrene, which is used in the production of plastics and fiberglass, presents severe risk if inhaled or when ignited.
Firefighters, hazardous materials teams and other emergency response crews were deployed in the area of suspicious odors, authorities said. The smell was traced by firefighters to a pressure release valve on a rail car. The incident began and quickly heated up, prompting authorities to advise residents of homes within a half-mile radius to take refuge in the shelter.
One of the essentials: immediate response to the hazard.
Eventually the styrene began to leak from a rail car, prompting firefighters to constantly douse it with water so that it would not ignite. Experts had confirmed the effectiveness of this method and it has been used to help control the situation. Brian Stussie, vice president of operations for the railroad, Genesee and Wyoming released a statement regarding the clean-up saying “it’s not leaking now.”
Neighborhood residents complained of a powerful, stinging odor that they said was burning their throats and eyes. The smell stunk up neighborhoods miles down the lakefront and obviously across state lines.
Mandatory Evacuations/Ongoing Monitoring and Schools Closed
Authorities also forced hundreds of residents to leave their homes as a precaution. Officials were monitoring the progress of fires near schools in the Three Rivers School District, which canceled school through at least Wednesday. Roads in the immediate area were also closed down until it was safe for others to enter.
It brought back memories of an incident in East Palestine, Ohio, last year when a train derailed and hazardous chemicals were leaked prompting evacuations.
Continued Clean-up & Investigation
Although the leak has been stopped, it is expected to take days or weeks before that crude can be cleaned off. Firefighters and emergency workers remain at the site to keep it stable and make sure the styrene stays cool. The local authorities are yet to pin down the cause of the leak and do not want to risk community health while rushing through an investigation.
Mike Siefke, chief of the Little Miami Joint Fire and Rescue District, said it will be a well-attended event and will last several hours. The main focus of the officials was to allow no inconvenience or make rest all things back to normal in flood-hit areas.
Conclusion: Safety First
The immediate threat is over, but the subsidence has led to big travel headaches for people in area neighborhoods and safety concerns about trains that cart all kinds of hazardous materials. Emergency crews remain on site to respond to the leak and determine its cause. Officials are still cleaning up damage from the storm and residents must be prepared to stay informed and take precautions, it cautioned.