DonJuan Corzo | [email protected]
A train emergency simulation was conducted in Nassau County, where an accident involving a chemical-laden school bus and train was staged.
For two days, February 28 and March 1, the Nassau Division of Emergency Management (NCEM) and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), with the support of the freight rail company CSX, offered its Training program Rescue Incident (RIT) with information about how train cars work and how to respond with safety and knowledge of the rails.
PLANNING
“We had this planned for several months and it was a coincidence that we are doing it days after the chemical train derailment happened in East Palestine, Ohio,” said Phillip Eddins, an NCEM instructor.
The train tracks where the drill took place are partly on private property and the owner’s cooperation was obtained.
IMPORTANT
NCEM produces plans and conducts simulated event training for all kinds of hazards, from natural disasters to man-made accidents.
Commenting on government safety regulations that can increase or decrease the risks of accidents or deaths, NCEM Director Tim Cooper said his team’s mission is to focus on being well prepared and helping the community in the event of any disaster in the future.