NC4 highlights incidents from over 1000 reported per month. This featured incident provides an overview of the incident and presents selected updates and resources. Featured incidents demonstrate NC4 coverage and timeliness.
Lafayette Train Derailment
May 17, 2008
On May 17th, 2008 near Lafayette, Louisiana six cars of a commercial train derailed and began leaking hydrochloric acid, a highly toxic chemical. Officials estimated about 11,000 gallons of the hazardous chemical leaked out of two of the ruptured train cars. The acid spill spawned a large, toxic cloud that forced the evacuation of about 3,000 residents and businesses within a one-mile radius of the epicenter and injured five people. Several major thoroughfares were closed off, causing a considerable amount of transportation disruptions. The series of adverse effects prompted city officials to declare a State of Emergency for the affected area. Clean-up crews were on the scene for several days; eventually calling the area safe for re-entry on May 20th.
NC4 analysts covered the incident shortly after hazmat crews arrived on scene. A total of fifteen alerts were issued in a three-day span, updating clients of the on-going hazmat incident and its secondary effects.
Selected Updates
NC4 Incident Monitoring Center issued the following alerts:
- Six train cars have derailed; two cars are leaking hazardous materials.
05/17/08 07:38 PDT
- One-mile radius evacuated around hazmat-involved train derailment.
05/17/08 08:08 PDT
- State of Emergency declared for area after trail derailment. 05/17/08 09:07 PDT
- At least five hospitalized due to hazmat from derailed train. 05/17/08 15:02 PDT
- Interstate 10 closed for eight miles in area of train derailment. 05/17/08 18:15 PDT
- Evacuation area radius reduced to 200 feet and some area roadways have been reopened. 05/19/08 17:57 PDT
- Crews have neutralized the hazardous material near site of train derailment; incident closed. 05/20/08 04:23 PDT
Additional Resources
NC4 provides
ongoing updates to members as the incident unfolds through the National Incident Monitoring Center (NIMC). NIMC analysts follow the incident using official government sources as well as national and local media sources - linking to the ABC local breaking news article, “Train Derailment, Acid Leak Forces Evacuations”, including images from the scene, maps of evacuation zones, and situational reports.
 One-page printable summary with graphics
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