(The following story by Cody Daigle appeared on The Daily Advertiser website on May 20.)
LAFAYETTE, La. — For residents affected by this weekend’s mandatory evacuation following Saturday’s derailment and chemical spill, returning home was only the first step in getting life back to normal.
At the claims center established by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway at the Cajundome, Lafayette residents filled out paperwork Monday in hopes of getting back the cost of the almost two-day evacuation.
“It cost us almost $300,” said Wade Credeur, an evacuee, who lives on Pecan Grove Road with his wife, Crystal, and their two children. “We both missed a day of work because of it.”
Credeur said the news of the derailment and chemical spill came from local firemen at 5:30 a.m. Credeur loaded his family up, expecting only to be out of their home for a few hours.
“We drove all the way to Grosse Tête, just killing time,” Credeur said. “We had no idea we’d be out for two days.”
Joe Faust, BNSF regional director of public affairs, confirmed in an e-mail that checks were being issued on site to those with legitimate claims. A small but steady stream of claimants moved through the claims center throughout the day.
Local businesses were also reopening their doors as roadways around the accident site were opened. Only one business, the Cracker Barrel gas station on Ambassador Caffery Parkway at Amedee Drive, still was closed Monday afternoon.
Although much of the post-evacuation efforts seem to be moving along without a hitch, at the Cracker Barrel, signs posted on the front doors signaled what may be the next bend in the road for evacuated residents.
Two printed notices taped to the door from the Glenn Armentor Law Firm caution residents and business owners not to sign any papers.
A handwritten note on one of the fliers also advises that the law firm also can help businesses recover losses from the derailment.
Calls to the Glenn Armentor Law Firm in regards to the notices were not returned Monday.
BNSF released an open letter to affected residents on Monday apologizing for any inconvenience the accident may have caused and reassuring residents that the aftermath would be dealt with immediately.
The letter says that while the spill has been neutralized and air levels are below community exposure guidelines, BNSF will begin performing limited environmental testing in selected homes within the evacuation area to confirm that there are no legitimate health concerns for affected residents.