Most displaced residents allowed to return home following train derailment

The majority of Bedford County residents that were forced to leave their homes following a freight train derailment Wednesday can safely return home Saturday.

Approximately 1,000 residents in Hyndman were ordered to evacuate their homes Wednesday after at least 32 rail cars derailed – some containing hazardous materials – and caught fire.

Public safety crews, along with workers from CSX, the train’s owner, assisted residents in retrieving necessary items from their homes before having to stay at hotels while the scene was cleaned up.

TRENDING NOW:

• Police identify victim in Pittsburgh neighborhood shooting
• Police seek woman accused of selling child to rape suspect
• Mom who killed home intruder: 'It was either him or me and I wasn't going'
• VIDEO: Toddler drowns after wandering from home as parents slept

CSX announced Saturday in a release that most of the displaced residents could return to their homes after 12 p.m., with about 30 homes still affected by the continuing site restoration activity.

Homes within the reduced perimeter – including those between the Schellsburg Street bridge and Hogback Road railroad crossing – are still under evacuation. That includes Paris Avenue, Mill Street, Harden Street and Cleveland Street.

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE NEWS APP

CSX said residents in those affected homes are requested to come to the outreach center at the HOPE for Hyndman Charter School and develop plans to accommodate their needs.

CSX has distributed information to residents about what they can expect when they return to their homes. Key points include:

• Residents should follow the same standard precautions that they would normally take after time away from their home.  There are no special measures that must be taken to return home because of this event.
• It is highly unlikely that there will be any long-term health effects from this event.
• CSX will provide contact information for specialists who can answer additional questions.

The American Red Cross will continue to work in partnership with CSX and local emergency management to help people who are still displaced.

The Red Cross is currently based out of the HOPE for Hyndman Charter School at 130 School Drive. The Outreach Center will be open on Sunday from 8 a.m. through 8 p.m.

Cox Media Group