Not a surprising sight since 10,460 miles of railroad tracks crisscross Texas — most in any state in the U.S., according to the Association of American Railroads.
What happened in East Palestine, Ohio, Feb. 3 is a cautionary tale for Tarrant County. A freight train carrying flammable and toxic chemicals including vinyl chloride, a human carcinogen, ran off its tracks. Railroad company officials and Ohio state leaders — fearing an explosion — decided to conduct a controlled burn of the cars containing toxic chemicals sending plumes of black smoke into the air.
No injuries or deaths have been reported so far, but many fear a broader environmental disaster brewing. Hundreds of dead fish were found in an East Palestine creek. There is now concern about the drinking water in the area.
More than a dozen trains have jumped the tracks in the U.S. so far this year. Could something like this happen in Tarrant County?
The Star-Telegram asked the Tarrant County Emergency Management Office to share what plans the county has in place if a train runs off the tracks in and around Fort Worth.
Star-Telegram: Does the Tarrant County Emergency Management Office have a plan in place for a train derailment with hazardous material within the county?
Randy Renois, Tarrant County Fire Marshal: Yes.
S-T: Could you describe what that plan looks like?
RR: It deals with all aspects of the incident from response to recovery involving all our local, state and federal partners.
S-T: Is there a different plan in place if a derailed train was carrying something non-chemically hazardous, such as food or lumber?
RR: No.
S-T: Do railroad companies share the contents of their cargo with your office, specifically if what they’re carrying is hazardous material?
RR: At the time of the incident, yes, and each train has a manifest on board with all the information.
S-T: Does your office know when trains carrying hazardous materials pass through Tarrant County ?
RR: No, trains pass in and out of Tarrant County everyday carrying all types of hazardous materials.
S-T: Has your office had any conversations in the wake of the Ohio train derailment on what the county’s response might be in a similar situation?
RR: No, all of the hazmat teams in our county are prepared to respond to any type of derailment involving hazardous cargo.
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