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Graniteville Derailment
Overview of the IncidentResponse Issues
Lessons LearnedQuestions
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Norfolk Southern Graniteville Derailment
Video Compiled by USEPA
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Initial Incident TimelineJ anuary 6, 2005
2:39 AM Derailment3:50 AM Notification to DHEC Spill Hotline by Railroad
4:05 AM DHEC ERT Notified/Dispatched
4:12 AM National Response Center Report #746298
4:24 AM DHEC Media Relations Dispatched
4:35 AM USEPA Responding
5:30 AM Aiken County EOC Activated
6:42 AM Reverse 911 Call to Community8:00 AM State EOC Activated
11:00 AM FEMA ROC Activated
12:00 PM Governors Executive Order Declared anEmergency
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Train2 locomotives
42 Railcars
Total 2553 ft
Total 3521 tons
14 Cars Derailed
3 Chlorine
1 Sodium Hydroxide
2 Kaolin3 Particle Board
3 Coiled Steel
2 Empty
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Contents ConcernsChlorine
Released from Railcar #9
Railcar Capacity 17,400 gallons (~90 tons)
Approximately 60%-70% of contents releasedSodium Hydroxide
Kaolin
Cresol
Diesel fuel
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Chlorine2.47 Vapor Density
-29.3F Boiling Point
10 ppm IDLH
Odor Threshold 0.06-3.5 ppm (varies by source)
11.48eV Ionization Potential450-500:1 Expansion Ratio (Liquid-Gas)
Contact escaping compressed liquid can cause
frostbite and/or chemical burns to the eyes and skinStrong Oxidizer
Extremely Water Soluble
Non-Persistent
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Chlorine Concentration Effects0.2-3.5 ppm Odor detection (some tolerance develops)
1-3 ppm Mild mucous membrane irritation that can be tolerated for up to 1 hour
3 ppm Extremely irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract
5 ppmSevere irritation of eyes, nose, and respiratory tract; intolerable after a
few minutes
14-21 ppm
Immediate irritation of the throat; Dangerous if exposed for 30-60
minutes
15 ppm Irritation of the throat
30 ppmModerate irritation of the upper respiratory tract; Immediate chest pain,
vomiting, dyspnea, cough
35-50 ppm Lethal in 60-90 minutes
40-60 ppmToxic pneumonitis and acute lung injury; dangerous for even short
periods
430 ppm Lethal over 30 minutes
1,000 ppm Fatal within a few minutes
Source: MEDITEXT - Medical Management
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Photo: SCDHEC
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Particle Board
Coiled Steel Cover
Coiled Steel
Coiled Steel Cover
Coiled Steel Cover
Empty
Chlorine
Empty
Photo: SCDHEC
Coiled Steel
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Photo: SCDHEC
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Coiled Steel
Cover
Particle Board
Particle Board
Photo: SCDHEC
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Kaolin
Photo: SCDHEC
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Photo: SCDHEC
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Photo: SCDHEC
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Photo: SCDHEC
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Kaolin
Kaolin
Photo: SCDHEC
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Photo: SCDHEC
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Empty
Chlorine Chlorine
Sodium Hydroxide
Empty Empty
Photo: SCDHEC
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Coiled Steel
Photo: SCDHEC
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Empty
Chlorine
Empty
Chlorine
Photo: SCDHEC
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Photo: SCDHEC
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Photo: SCDHEC
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Photo: SCDHEC
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EmptyParticle Board Particle Board
Sodium
Hydroxide
Chlorine
ChlorineEmpty
Photo: SCDHEC
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Photo: SCDHEC
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Photo: SCDHEC
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Evacuation
1 Mile RadiusApprox 5400 Residents
Curfew Between 1 and2 Mile Radius
Lasted up to 14 days
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Human Health Issues Decontamination
Transport and Treatment
Rapid Epidemiological Assessment
Follow-Up Investigations
Community Health Assessment
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Photo: The Augusta Chronicle
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Photo: The Augusta Chronicle
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Photo: The Augusta Chronicle
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Photo: The Augusta Chronicle
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Photo: The Augusta Chronicle
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Photo: The Augusta Chronicle
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Facility (n=263) No. %
Aiken Regional Medical Center 109 (41)
Other SC hospitals 8 (3)
Augusta, GA hospitals 146 (56)
Patients Treated atEmergency Departments
within 24 Hours
h d f
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Method of transport (n=150) No. %
Privately owned vehicle 94 (63)
Emergency medical services 51 (34)Other (police, company
vehicle) 5 (3)
Method of Transport toMedical Facility First 24
Hours
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Exposure Categories
Category (n=292) No. %
1 = No known exposure
2 = Mild exposure3 = Moderate exposure
4 = Severe exposure5 = Extreme exposure
27
12067
3642
9
4123
1214
Low
High
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Outcome CategoriesCategory (n=435) No. %
1 = Deceased2 = Ventilator/ICU/3+ nights
3 = Hospitalized 3+ nights4 = Hospitalized 1-2 nights5 = ED repeat visits
6 = ED w/ significant Sx7 = ED w/ moderate Sx8 = ED w/o Sx
9 = Physician office visit(s)
915
272969
6712161
37
23
6716
152814
9
Severe
NotSevere
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Not Severe
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Follow-up Investigations Secondary Mailed Survey
DHEC Graniteville Train Wreck Registry
Graniteville Community Health
Assessments
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Graniteville Community HealthAssessments
Performed at local areachurches and a clinic
Included:
assent/consent vital signs
medical/exposure history
physical exam
collection of exhaledbreath condensates
pulmonary function
testing
psycho-social morbidityscreens
clinical and psychologicalconsultation
subsequentmethacholine challengetest at Aiken RegionalHospital in medically
eligible
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Graniteville Community HealthAssessments
260 people received a free healthassessment
>60 received methacholine challengetesting
Have detected patients with RADS,PTSD, and other illnesses that haverequired clinical follow-up
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Animal Issues
PetsFeeding
Retrieval
Wildlife
Pet Retrieval
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Photo by V. Reece
Owners called in on three dedicated phone lines, filled out information, and forindoor animals, delivered keys for teams to retrieve pets.
Pet Retrieval
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Retrieval teams reached owners by phone andarranged pick-up at the staging area.
Animals were unloaded and held at the staging
area until owners arrived to reclaim. Animalswere given a brief exam by local veterinarians.
Total of several hundred animals were retrieved
and returned to owners.
More than 30 animals were either retrieved deador died or were euthanized at local veterinary
hospitals.
More than 30 animals were treated forsymptoms consistent with chlorine exposure.
Photo by V. Reece
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Reported Impact to Pets
Dogs: 7 died, 10 sick, 2 missing Cats: 10 died, 1 missing
Fish: died in 2 aquariums and 1stream/pond
Rabbit: 1 sick
Rooster: 1 died
Frog: 1 died
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Photo: SCDHEC
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Photos: SCDHEC
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Photos: SCDHEC
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Unified CommandCommand Post
Honda Cars of Aiken
The Old K-Mart Parking Lot
Command Post Vehicles
Leased the Antique Mall
Brought together reps from various agencies to
coordinate the incident and prioritize activitiesDHEC EQC maintained 24-hour presence for 10days and daytime presence for the duration
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Photo: Westinghouse Savannah River Company
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Photo: Westinghouse Savannah River Company
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Photo: Westinghouse Savannah River Company
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Clean-Up and RemediationEmergency Phase Plan included:
Recovery of tank car inventories
Removal of diesel affected soils and asphalt
Removal of kaolin clay Removal of chlorine impacted soils
Removal and disposal of debris and cross ties Removal and disposal of dead animals
Breached Chlorine Car
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Patched Car
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a c ed Ca
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Chemical Transfers
J an 9 Temporary patchJ an 10-12 Liquidtransfers
J an 12 Permanentpatch on leaking car
J an 13 Re-occupationbegins
J an 19 Product transfercomplete
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WastesCrossties and rails
Locomotives and railcars
Approx 120 tons Kaolin
Approx 260 tons steel coils
3000 gallons diesel
16 loads diesel contaminated soil
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Water SamplingBaseline data for
Horse Creekroutinely collectedon 1/5/05
Total residualchlorine increased
pH loweredHorse Creekneared baseline by
1/10/05
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Gradual reoccupation ofevacuation areasallowed
Transitioned areas over
multiple daysControl points allowedresidents into areas
Roadblocks keptresidents out of areasstill evacuated
Re-Occupation
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Re-Occupation Fliers handed out at town
meetings, at traffic controlpoints, by communityliaisons, and building
samplers Instructed residents on some
precautions to take when
returning home Coordination of multiple
agencies
Re-Occupation-
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p
Building SamplingMission:
Sample buildings toensure no chlorine orhydrochloric acid or vaporpresent.
Composition:
1 Contractor
1 Government
Building CodesInspectors
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Re-Occupation-Community Outreach Liaisons
Mission:
Talk to residents andexplain what hashappened, homeinspection procedures,answer questions, and
provide assistance.
Composition:
DHEC EQC Regional
staffPhoto: SCDHEC
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Impacts9 Deaths
569 Hospital ER Visits72 Hospitalized
Norfolk-Southern estimated $40M in claims
Avondale Mills
Reported $52.5M clean-up costs in FY2005
6 of 7 mills in Graniteville to close (1650 workers)Cities around the country prohibiting trainscarrying hazmat in their jurisdiction
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NTSB ReportRecommendations:
Require RR to install device to convey positionof the switch along main lines in non-signaledareas
Require trains to operate at speeds where theycan be stopped in advance of misaligned switch
Position tank cars to rear of train and reducingspeed in populated areas
Provide escape masks to train workers
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Lessons Learned Summary
Need info immediatelyDont rush in without PPE
Warning to public must be timely
Shelter-in-place vs Evacuation
Establish Unified Command early
Unified Command needs a commonworkspace
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Lessons Learned Summary
Start logistics earlyConstant reevaluation of incident
Activities must be prioritized andcoordinated among agencies (IAP)
Develop communications plan early
Regional cooperation among states
Consider non-traditional responders
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Lessons Learned SummaryMake responders visible to community
Control access to incident scene
Law Enforcement (Traffic/Crowd
Control, Curfew Enforcement, InsuranceFraud)
PPE must be availableBrief news media early and often
Involvement of elected officials
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Lessons Learned SummaryGIS played a major role
DHSs Pre-positioned EquipmentProgram
Rejection of Presidential DisasterDeclaration
Consider animal issuesConsider reoccupation needs of public
Develop demobilization plan/exit strategy
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Questions
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