(The following story by Andrea Deckert appeared on the Finger Lakes Times website on March 31.)
GENEVA, N.Y. — If a train derailed in the town, would local emergency workers know how to respond?
Employees from Norfolk Southern and Finger Lakes railways helped answer that question with a presentation on railway safety at the town hall last night.
They talked people through an emergency, detailing things local emergency workers could do to help, including contacting the rail company immediately, securing the area and sketching or taking pictures of the scene.
The session was one of several held over the past year by the town’s Emergency/Mitigation Committee. Emergency personnel also were encouraged to attend the meeting.
The town board put the committee together after last April’s ice storm when town officials decided they needed a plan in place for residents in case of an emergency. The emergency plan is now a requirement for municipalities across the state.
The committee meets about once a month and is chaired by Bill McAdoo, the town’s code enforcement officer. It also includes the fire chiefs from Northside, West Lake Road and White Springs fire departments; Alan Bishop, general manager of the Finger Lakes Radio Group, Patty DeBolt of the American Red Cross of the Finger Lakes; Rick Larsen, water and sewer superintendent; and David Achilles, highway superintendent. Councilman Ed Smaldone serves as the town board liaison.
Smaldone said one of his concerns included what would happen if a train derailed near the Kashong Point pumping station, which is near train tracks and serves 2,000 homes.
John Casey, an environmental engineer for Norfolk Southern, told emergency workers to take precautions at the scene of a railway accident, noting that there could be hazardous or combustible materials on board.
A toll-free phone number was provided that emergency crews should call to notify the rail company about an accident. They also are supposed to find the conductor, if possible, who has lists related to what types of materials are on board.
Casey told them not to rush in, to look for signs on the cars noting hazardous material, to approach the incident from upwind and to stay clear of all spills, vapors, fumes and smoke.
Casey also spoke of the importance of giving trains enough notice to stop if a track needs to be cleared.
“Trains can stop, but they can’t stop quickly,” said Casey, noting that workers should go about 11/2 miles in both directions from an accident scene and wave their hands or use lights to give the conductor time to stop the train.
Those attending last night also received handouts on what to do if a rail emergency occurs and watched a video on how to respond to a non-train emergency that happens on or near a track.
The emergency committee already has some plans in place that are included in an emergency management book at the town hall.
Other plans include having access to a generator at WGVA, which would still broadcast during an emergency even if power goes out, and using the town hall as a shelter.