Kentucky train derailment w/chemical spill

[RainWalker]

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear declares state of emergency over train derailment, chemical spill
Information on what the train was carrying wasn’t immediately available.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency in Rockcastle County following a multi-car train derailment on Wednesday that his office said resulted in a chemical spill.

Information on what the train was carrying wasn’t immediately available.

According to the governor’s office, via X (formally known as Twitter), at least one home was evacuated, with teams working to evacuate more.

"By issuing a state of emergency, we are ensuring that every state resource is available to help keep our families safe," the governor said in a statement. "Please stay clear of this area as state, local and CSX officials respond."
https://abcnews.go.com/US/kentucky-gov-andy-beshear-declares-state-emergency-train/story?id=105115636&cid=social_twitter_abcn]

[irisblue]

1. To those south of me...be well stay safe

[Stargazer99]

2. How much you want to bet a higher up knew of the potential of going off the rails

but didn't do a thing about it because it would lower profits...another failure of capitalism..how dumb can the average American get? or maybe it is the result of brain washing by the elite

[ProfessorGAC]

3. It Was Sulfur

Not good, but not catastrophic.
Pure sulfur, likely from sulfur removal from petroleum refining, freezes at 240°F, and it's so pure that the surface freezes solid very fast.
An issue is that sulfur sublimes, so until it's cleaned up the area will smell like matches.
The 8 Hr TWA limit is pretty high, so the danger is moderate at most.
This article says sulfur releases sulfur dioxide, which is true but only sort of.
The oxidation of sulfur is a very slow reaction and once the sulfur solidifies only the subliming vapor above the solid is susceptible. The SO2 danger is minimal.
The best thing to do is let everything freeze, then bring in end loaders to scrape it all up.
Also, the refinery had to be nearby because the railcars are usually frozen solid when on transport. Sulfur users have steam heating systems at the rail siding to remedy & pump out the car.
This is bad, as any derailment is, but the clean-up is straightforward and this shouldn't pose a long term risk to the citizenry around there.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/11/23/us/livingston-kentucky-train-derailment/index.html