A hazardous chemical leak in Whitewater Township has prompted an evacuation order for area residents, according to Hamilton County Emergency Management and Fire Department officials. It’s happening near State Road 128 and U.S. Highway 50, near the Great Miami River. Hamilton County EMA says Whitewater Fire Department officials say a “hazardous chemical leak” occurred near State Road 128 and U.S. Highway 50. EMA officials say the leak is not from a train derailment but from a rail car that opened a valve, releasing styrene gas. Here’s what we know. Mike Siefke, chief of the Little Miami Joint Fire and Rescue District, said crews are working to contain the vapor by cooling the affected areas. He said they’ve identified an issue where it’s escaping from the pressure relief valve. Firefighters have ordered people within a half-mile radius of the yard to evacuate via U.S. 50 and State Route 128 and those within a three-quarter-mile radius to shelter in place until further notice. Siefke said health concerns about the chemical include that it can cause headaches, nausea and breathing problems, so they have issued evacuation and shelter-in-place orders. According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, styrene is a colorless, flammable liquid with a sweet odor. If you come into contact with styrene, wash your skin with soap and water, remove and wash your clothing, flush your eyes with water for 15 minutes and remove contact lenses. If inhaled, rinse your mouth and seek medical attention. Central Railroad of Indiana released a statement regarding the incident: “At approximately 1:00 p.m. this afternoon, Central Railroad of Indiana (CIND) received a report of a rail car in the Cleves, Ohio area that was evacuating styrene. Local fire officials are on scene and environmental response agencies have been mobilized. We are fully cooperating with first responders who will determine any evacuation orders. We ask that anyone in the area follow the orders of first responders and stay away from the scene so that we can contain the incident as safely, quickly and efficiently as possible. We will provide periodic updates as more information becomes available.” All surrounding roads are closed, including U.S. 50 from Kilby Road to Cooper Avenue. All stores in the area have been closed, including Kroger. Two shelters are open for those affected, one at the Whitewater Township Community Center on Dry Fork Road and the other at Miami Township City Hall on S. Miami Avenue. According to the nearby Three Rivers School District, students and staff have begun the evacuation process and parents have received an email informing them of evacuation procedures. All extracurricular activities have been canceled for the evening.
A dangerous chemical leak in Whitewater Township has prompted an evacuation order for area residents, according to Hamilton County Fire and Emergency Management officials.
It happens near State Route 128 and US 50, near the Great Miami River.
Hamilton County EMA says Whitewater Fire officials say a “hazardous chemical leak” occurred near State Route 128 and U.S. 50.
EMA officials say the leak did not come from a train derailment but from a train car with a valve opened, releasing styrene gas. Here’s what we know.
Mike Siefke, chief of the Little Miami Joint Fire & Rescue District, said crews were working to contain the steam by cooling the affected areas. He said they had identified a problem with steam leaking from the pressure relief valve.
Firefighters have issued an evacuation for people within a half-mile radius of the rail yard via U.S. 50 and State Route 128 and a shelter in place for people within a three-quarter-mile radius until further notice.
Siefke said health concerns with the chemical are that it can cause headaches, nausea and breathing problems, which is why they have issued evacuation and shelter-in-place orders.
According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, styrene is a colorless, flammable liquid with a sweet odor. If you come into contact with styrene, wash your skin with soap and water, remove and wash your clothing, flush your eyes with water for 15 minutes, and remove your contact lenses. If you inhale it, rinse your mouth and get medical help.
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Central Road of Indiana released a statement regarding the incident:
“At approximately 1:00 p.m. this afternoon, the Central Railroad of Indiana (CIND) received a report of a rail car in the Cleves, Ohio area leaking styrene. Local firefighters are on scene and environmental response agencies have been mobilized. We are fully cooperating with first responders, who will determine any evacuation orders. We ask that everyone in the area follow the orders of first responders and stay away from the scene so that we can contain the incident as safely, quickly and effectively as possible. We will provide periodic updates as more information becomes available.”
All surrounding roads are closed, including U.S. 50 from Kilby Road to Cooper Avenue. All stores in the area have been closed, including Kroger.
Two shelters are open for those affected, one at the Whitewater Township Community Center on Dry Fork Road and the other at Miami Township City Hall on S. Miami Avenue.
According to the nearby Three Rivers School District, students and staff have begun the evacuation process and parents have received an email informing them of evacuation procedures. All extracurricular activities have been canceled for the evening.
