The Savannah River National Laboratory's Response During the Graniteville, SC Train Accident

摘要

The Savannah River National Laboratory's (SRNL) Weather INformation and Display (WIND) System was used to provide meteorological and atmospheric modeling support to state and local agencies during the response to the Graniteville, SC train accident January 6 and 7, 2005. This accident resulted in the release of several toxic chemicals to the environment, including chlorine. The dense and highly toxic cloud of chlorine gas that formed in the vicinity of the accident was responsible for nine deaths and the hospitalization of several hundred others. (Figure 1 shows the accident scene.) The SRNL's support was requested through an existing mutual aid agreement with Aiken County, SC. (Hunter, 1999). Transport model results depicting the projected path of the ongoing chlorine release were made available to emergency managers in the county's Unified Command Center early in the morning the January 6 and updated, as needed, during the ensuing two days of the active response. Consequence modeling was also requested for an additional set of hypothetical chlorine releases to assist officials evaluating actions necessary to mitigate the potential hazards from rail cars that were damaged but not breached. In addition, weather forecasts, transport model results, and consultations were provided to responders from South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) and hazmat teams dispatched from the Savannah River Site.