August 7,
2014
Norfolk Southern
brings 40 emergency responders from nine states to world-class training center
for crude-by-rail safety class
NORFOLK,
VA. - First responders from nine states took part in a Norfolk Southern-sponsored crude-by-rail emergency response class
recently at
the Association
of American Railroads'
Security
and Emergency Response Training Center
(SERTC) in Pueblo, Colo. The event marked the latest in Norfolk Southern's
ongoing efforts to facilitate rail-focused training for emergency personnel
across its operating system.
Forty responders from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware, Indiana, New York,
New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Alabama participated last week in a
three-day
course. Participants learned about the different kinds of crude oil being
transported, types of tank cars used for crude transportation and crude oil
response precautions. They also practiced specialized firefighting techniques
during a mock 20-car derailment and fire.
"This is top-notch," said Jason Hudgens, a firefighter and paramedic
from Akron, Ohio, who participated in the training. "We were on a 52-acre
facility in the desert, and they ignited a fire to create a real-life situation.
We could feel the heat and use the hoses to spray foam. You can't do that in a
classroom. You can't do this anywhere else."
The
training is part of the freight rail industry's commitment to provide
specialized crude-by-rail training and tuition assistance to 1,500 first
responders during 2014. Norfolk Southern will provide tuition, travel and expenses for a total
of 126 responders to attend the training this year at no cost to communities or
organizations. Additional NS classes will be held in October and
November.
"NS is committed to enhancing safety, which includes not only sound
train operations, but also preparing for emergency situations," said
David Julian, NS vice president safety and environmental. "Pre-planning and
training for first responders is essential to help them perform their duties
when the need arises. With respect to the crude oil traffic segment, we look
forward to working with emergency response agencies to assist them with
hazardous materials planning, training, and resources to help them prepare for
and to minimize impacts in the unlikely event of an incident."
In
2013, NS safety and environmental teams trained more than 4,800 state and local
emergency responders at 108 locations across the railroad's 22-state network,
and since 2000, NS has provided classroom and hands-on training to 62,000
responders.
Emergency response personnel from the following organizations attended
the course:
Alabama
Tuscaloosa Fire & Rescue Service
Delaware
Christiana Fire
Department, Newark Fire Department, PBF Energy-Delaware City Refinery
Indiana
Elkhart Fire
Department, Fort Wayne Fire Department, South Bend Fire Department, LaGrange
Fire & Rescue
Maryland
Cecil County
Department of Emergency Services, Maryland Department of the
Environment
New
Jersey
Elizabeth Fire
Department, Gloucester
County Office of Emergency Response, Newark Fire Department
New
York
Elmira Fire
Department, New York State Division Homeland Security and Emergency Services
Office of Fire Prevention Control
Ohio
Akron Fire
Department, Columbiana County Emergency Management
Agency-Franklin Fire Department, Fulton County Emergency Services,
Norwalk Fire Department, North Ridgeville Fire Department, Toledo Fire &
Rescue Department, Zanesville Fire Department
Pennsylvania
Allegheny County
Emergency Services, Beaver County Emergency Services, Chester County
Department of Emergency Services Hazardous Materials Response
Team, Dauphin County Hazardous Materials Response Team, Eddystone Fire
Company, Erie County Regional Hazardous Materials Team,
Friendship Fire
Company, Lancaster County Emergency Management Agency, Lehigh County Emergency
Management Special Operations, Montgomery County Department of Public Safety,
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, Philadelphia Fire Department,
Pittsburgh Fire Department, Westmoreland County Hazardous
Materials Response
Team
Virginia
Alexandria
Fire/Emergency Medical Services, Lynchburg Fire Department
Norfolk
Southern Corporation
(NYSE: NSC) is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk
Southern Railway Company subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 route
miles
in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in
the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail
carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the
East and is a major transporter of coal, automotive, and industrial
products.
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Norfolk Southern
contacts: