(The following report appeared on San Antonio television station KSAT’s website on August 25.)
SAN ANTONIO — If Wayne Hale ever needs help for an emergency, he knows who he’s not going to call.
“I don’t think I’ll ever depend on 911 for anything,” Hale said.
Hale said he’s frustrated over the way Bexar County emergency crews responded to a deadly train derailment June 28 near his home at Old Pearsall and Nelson Roads. Two of Hale’s relatives and a Union Pacific train conductor died from a chlorine cloud that spewed from a punctured railroad tanker.
Hale said when he called 911, dispatchers appeared not to be concerned about the severity of the situation.
“I tried to tell them this whole cloud was moving to the northwest,” Hale said.
A dispatcher could be heard on a 911 tape telling Hale, “Sir, we have it under control.”
Hale’s frustration comes one day after the Environmental Protection Agency released a report critical of the way emergency crews handled the situation.
The 10-page review said poor communication and conflicting advice to residents hindered the emergency response.
The report also said 911 dispatchers gave inconsistent guidance to many residents, telling some to flee and others to stay in their homes.
The report also praised the bravery and professionalism of local rescue personnel.
Ralph Velasquez, who was also affected by the fumes, said, “This is a wakeup call for the county. The county’s been asleep for a long time.”
Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff admitted there was some confusion in the initial stages of the emergency.
He added that dispatchers and other workers will undergo training to help them be better prepared in the event of another toxic spill.