SITREP 1: Upon investigating the source of multiple sirens, I was informed by a LPSDeputy that a train derailment had jus occurred approx 300-400 yards away had caused a Sulphur Dioxide spill. He also informed me that we may have to evacuate. I put our chemical spill bugout plan into motion. In an hour and a half, my severely disabled daughter snd her equipment, bugout bags that weren't already in place, meds, money, weps, & clothing were loaded and we departed. I talked to the roadblock officers and ensured that my camper's storage garage was well clear of the "Hot Zone". We're currently checking into a handicapped & pet friendly hotel on the opposite side of town.

Glad you made it out. Sounds like you were prepared for this eventuality.

This is the 2nd time I've had to evacuate due to a train derailment. The 1st go round involved large propane cars exploding at a rate of 1 per minute. We have evaluated what our local threats are and have a plan for those written up. We merely put the Chemical Spill Plan into motion when we were informed that we "may" have to evacuate. Receiving local updates via our smart phones, we knew by the time that we were packed up, that it was wise to clear the area.

When the train is disconnected and cars are pulled back, another car of "Methyl-Ethyl Kill Ya" might get damaged and create a much more serious situation.

We are keeping our receipts in the event our expenses maybe reimbursible by the RR.

SitRep 2: We are settled into a 2 room suite monitoring the situation. The local officials are speculating that evacuees may be able to go home this eveining. We've gathered that the derailed tankcar was the last in the group of tank cars. After it are boxcars of an undetermined number. We want to see the other tankcars safely removed from the scene before we go back home. No one is talking about what cargoes are in the other tank cars.

The list of what we've forgotten consists only of my daughter's wheelchair battery charger. The batteries are fully charged and should be good for 3-6 days of conservative use.

So glad you guys are ok and got out unscathed. PHEW! Thank goodness you were prepared!!

Wildman -- Bravo!! Impressive and inspiring.

And extra kudos for being so responsibly prepared to swiftly move your daughter to safety.


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Well done. And thank you for telling us about it.

I believe in the 6 P's: Proper Planning Prevents [censored] Poor Performance!

Very scary! I'm glad it worked out okay.

SitRep 3: Most evacuations were lifted last evening. The last evac zone was lifted this morning. I just completed a Recon of the area: one short section of road is still closed because of containment dirt piled across the road alongside the RR crossing. I am leaving the dogs here and am returning to the hotel to pack and load up for our return around Lunchtime.

SitRep 4 and Final: We've returned home having been gone 24 hrs.
Lessons learned:
1. This was a short notice evac and we packed for the short term (1-7 days). The only items we overlooked was the wheelchair battery charger and extra pillows for my DD1's sleeping comfort.
2. The LBE, patrol pack, & basic MOPP Gear was a suitable but unneeded supplemental gear load out. It does provide future possible options though.
3. Our camper is equipped, stored in a somewhat remote garage, and remained as a viable "living quarters" option had it been needed. It is reserved for longer distance bug out scenarios and shall remain so.
4. DD1 has learned that pics of her favorite boy band does not have any priority when it's grab and go time.
5. We grabbed food and bowls for the Fur Babies. Their BoB's are stored in the camper and were accessible this entire time.
6. This entire evolution went down as though it were being practiced on a monthly basis. I was really surprised by how smoothly necessary gear was packed and loaded. If this were to happen while I'm not home to do the heavy lifting, the portable lift and potty chair (DD1's equipment) would have to be left behind. There are ways that DW could and would have to adapt. She does know how to find help in a pinch though and they could get through the max 48hrs that it take for my return.

Overall, this evacuation was an excellent Live Fire exercise!

I think I need to prep for a situation like that, as I don't live far from the railroad. It seems to me just like taking a sudden trip for a few days. I like the tip about keeping receipts. Is there anything else that may be particular to a railroad spill situation?

I got evacuated when I was a kid due to a train derailment turned propane explosion. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1979_Mississauga_train_derailment) It's a burned into my memory. I live an the other side of the lake now, but still near major national rail lines, so it's one of my family's top prepping priorities.

If you are near a rail line, prepping for it (probably a quick evacuation/impromptu road trip) should be on your list of priorities.i am about a mile from a busy railroad, fortunately uphill and upwind.

Up hill is good and although the wind can be made useof, it can never be depended on.

If one lives within a mile of any 4 lane highway OR a 2 lane highway with truck traffic, one lives with the possibility of a chemical incident. HazMat cargoes are also carried in box (dry cargo) trailers as well.

We've had the same type of experience. The propane train derailment I first evacuated from was Laurel, Ms on 14 Feb 1968!

Each location is different. I am 300 metres from a feeder train track (slow-moving trains) and 2 km from a refinery. While a derailment probability is quite low, it is still possible. A lot of commodities like steel, cars, lumber, wheat and potash run right past me. None of those are harmful. An oil spill would be an environmental nightmare but not necessarily a dangerous one. Mind you, even in a high speed derailment, container cars are designed not to leak. However, anhydrous ammonia cars are another story. (There is an ammonia gas plant 50 km away). In theory if there was a derailment and the ammonia was released it could be a matter of minutes before it could affect me with the right wind. Bugging out in that situation would have to be immediate and I may not even have the time to get my vehicle out of the garage and drive away. Actually by the time I would be aware of the ammonia it would be too late or it might be safer to stay in the house (shelter-in-place) and not try to go outside.

I have gas masks available and think that's a good item to maintain for each household member. Even half faced respirators will buy you the needed time to drive clear of the affected area.

Yes, you are absolutely correct. This thread brings to mind a situation that occurred on San Miguel Island (Channel Islands National Park) about 1987, if I remember correctly. The island is about thirty miles distant from Vandenberg AFB, site of missile launches from time to time. On this occasion, one blew up on the launch pad, with a full load of... whatever. I was on Anacapa island, even further away, and we were directed to evacuate immediately. We had some people on San Miguel, and they went inside and sealed up the windows and doors until a plane could arrive to remove them from the island. They were examined carefully and suffered no ill effects.


Even more exciting was the occasion a few years later, when a missile was destroyed while over the island, sending solid stuff raining down. Talk about environmental impacts....