State Emergency Operations Center to assess train derailment near Benton

[DEC. 4, 2006]  SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich directed the State Emergency Operations Center in Springfield to assess a train derailment that resulted in a chemical release near Zeigler in southern Illinois. Homes in a half-mile radius around the site were evacuated as a precaution after two locomotives and 21 cars derailed at about 2:45 a.m. Monday.

"The State Emergency Operations Center is already activated to help communities cope in the aftermath of last week's winter storm," Blagojevich said. "Now, we're monitoring the situation in southern Illinois after this morning's train derailment. We're in close contact with emergency management officials from the area, and we have state personnel already on the scene providing a rapid assessment of the situation."

Three of the rail cars were reported to be leaking chemicals. Two contain a petroleum distillate, and one contains alkylphenol. Staff members from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, the Illinois Commerce Commission, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are on scene.

The American Red Cross established a shelter in Christopher for people evacuated from their homes. Sixteen people came to the shelter during the night, and by midmorning the Red Cross had served more than 100 meals to evacuees and first responders.

The State Emergency Operations Center has been activated since Thursday evening in response to the year's first major winter storm. More than a dozen representatives from state agencies currently are working in the center on both emergency situations.

[News release from the governor's office]