North Charleston, South Carolina – Emergency response teams around Charleston County continue to improve their abilities via inter-agency coordination and response initiatives, including a simulation this week to ensure they are ready if tragedy strikes.
On Wednesday, Charleston County Emergency Management responded fully to a simulated tragedy, a train derailment that spilled hazardous goods into the neighborhood.
“We’re here to conduct a full-scale exercise to evaluate and assess our response to a hazmat,” said Justin Pierce, the CHS County Director of Emergency Management. “A three-car train derailed.” Two of those trains contained dangerous items that were aggressively dispersed into the air. And when coupled with other materials, they can cause major health difficulties in individuals who are exposed to them.”
There are almost 2,000 miles of rail track in South Carolina, including 212 miles in the tri-county area.
Pierce emphasized the importance of practicing team responses in the event of an incident like this one. “Across the entire country, there’s about six hazardous materials released from a train-to-train derailment next year.”
The training involved more than 13 departments, including county police, fire, EMS, special technicians, and even a hazmat squad.
“We were able to coordinate with different agencies around town that have other hazardous materials,” said Laura Kondor, Fire Safety Coordinator for the North Charleston Fire Department. “Crew and response units. It’s good to practice together. “If that occurs.”
Every year, over 800 train derailments occur nationwide. Pierce stated that while Lowcountry crews are well-versed in responding to situations such as flooding and storms, it is equally necessary for them to brush up on their abilities in dealing with a less evident but very real threat.
“Charleston County serves as a rail transportation center. Every day, we have a large number of goods, services, and people around the county,” Pierce explained. “So the threat is real, that if something goes wrong on any of the rail lines here in the county, that all of our first responders are ready to go if needed to respond.”
The goal is straightforward: to continue developing a stronger, safer Lowcountry via collaboration and planning.
