A train derailment involving a chemical leak has prompted evacuations in St. James Parish. According to the sheriff’s office, Highway 44 is completely shut down from LA 3193 to 3214 in Convent except for local traffic. Anyone who lives in the evacuation zone pictured below should go to the Lutcher Senior Center: The following roads remain closed: LA 44 is closed from Antioch Street to Rev. Dr. Samuel Jones StreetLA 642 from LA 44 to Sugarhouse Street is fully closed LA 44 west of LA 3193 is open to residents only The Coast Guard also closed a portion of the Mississippi River because of the acid spill.The River is closed until further notice from mile marker 149 to mile marker 153.Boats on the River have been evacuated to mile marker 149 to 155. According to St. James officials, a train carrying 20,000 gallons of acid was involved in a derailment Wednesday afternoon. The belly of the train car ripped, and officials say there is no way to contain it. The evacuation area has been cleared, with more than 150 people asked to leave their homes. Crews are still assessing how much spilled, and hazmat has the area contained. According to officials, the wind is a concern. If the wind shifts overnight, more evacuations could be ordered. Everyone in the current evacuation area has been accounted for, but crews will be going into the zone again to double check everyone has been evacuated. Drones will also be used to monitor the evacuation site. Residents in the affected area could suffer respiratory issues because hydrochloric acid is an irritant. Hydrochloric acid is used most commonly in cleaning products. Officials are asking residents to monitor social media throughout the night for more evacuations if they are called. St. James officials say the last time a train derailed and caused an evacuation was in 1992 in Grammercy. There is no estimated time frame on when evacuations will be lifted or when the spill will be cleaned up. Anyone with older family members in the evacuation zone is asked to call 225-562-2200 so arrangements can be made to evacuate them.
A train derailment involving a chemical leak has prompted evacuations in St. James Parish.
According to the sheriff’s office, Highway 44 is completely shut down from LA 3193 to 3214 in Convent except for local traffic.
Anyone who lives in the evacuation zone pictured below should go to the Lutcher Senior Center:
The following roads remain closed:
- LA 44 is closed from Antioch Street to Rev. Dr. Samuel Jones Street
- LA 642 from LA 44 to Sugarhouse Street is fully closed
- LA 44 west of LA 3193 is open to residents only
The Coast Guard also closed a portion of the Mississippi River because of the acid spill.
The River is closed until further notice from mile marker 149 to mile marker 153.
Boats on the River have been evacuated to mile marker 149 to 155.
According to St. James officials, a train carrying 20,000 gallons of acid was involved in a derailment Wednesday afternoon.
The belly of the train car ripped, and officials say there is no way to contain it.
The evacuation area has been cleared, with more than 150 people asked to leave their homes.
Crews are still assessing how much spilled, and hazmat has the area contained.
According to officials, the wind is a concern. If the wind shifts overnight, more evacuations could be ordered.
Everyone in the current evacuation area has been accounted for, but crews will be going into the zone again to double check everyone has been evacuated. Drones will also be used to monitor the evacuation site.
Residents in the affected area could suffer respiratory issues because hydrochloric acid is an irritant.
Hydrochloric acid is used most commonly in cleaning products.
Officials are asking residents to monitor social media throughout the night for more evacuations if they are called.
St. James officials say the last time a train derailed and caused an evacuation was in 1992 in Grammercy.
There is no estimated time frame on when evacuations will be lifted or when the spill will be cleaned up.
Anyone with older family members in the evacuation zone is asked to call 225-562-2200 so arrangements can be made to evacuate them.
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