Emergency Response Continues In Aftermath Of Train Derailment

MONTGOMERY, W.Va. – Emergency crews remained at the scene of a train derailment in Fayette County Tuesay afternoon a day after the fiery wreck that that sent towering flames an estimated 300 feet into the air, destroyed a home and forced the evacuation of more than a thousand people.

A CSX spokeswoman said the company’s crews are trying to get into the site of the smoldering wreckage and have been rerouting train traffic around the area. She said the company has been trying to assist people with water and other needs and a community outreach center has been set up at the Glen Ferris Inn. People who want to contact CXS directly about assistance can call 1-877-TellCSX (1-877-835-5279), the company said.

Two tests have showed that no crude oil actually reached the Kanawha River, but more tests are pending. No railcars actually got into the river.

Meanwhile, plans to distribute bottled water to residents affected by the incident have hit some delays. Plans to hand out water at the Montgomery Fire Department were scuttled because officials believed the area is too congested. The city of Montgomery said the water would be distributed at Town Hall after 2 p.m. Tuesday.

The water intakes of Cedar Grove and Montgomery have been shut down because of concerns about the possibility of crude oil getting into the river. West Virginia Homeland Security Director Jimmy Gianato said once the water system is reopened for the communities, it would take at least several days before things were back to normal and the area would be under a boil water advisory for a period.