Between 75 and 100 people were evacuated from their homes to the Williams Civic Center in Cameron following today's train derailment of hazardous material.

TRAIN DERAILS SOUTH OF CAMERON, AREA EVACUATED

(CAMERON) Cameron emergency workers were scrambled (this) Sunday morning just before 4 a.m. to a major train derailment along Highway 36, south of Cameron between FM 2095 and County Road 238. The Milam County Sheriff’s Department said that 36 cars on the train derailed, some turned on their side, including several cars carrying diesel, but that were empty at the time of the accident. A HASMAT team was brought in and evacuation of the area began around 6:30 a.m. as a precautionary measure. DPS Trooper Michael Nix, who is heading the investigation along with Trooper Brant Lambeth told KMIL News set up a Command Post at Cameron Hilltop. Nix said that the three chemicals being dealt with are Propyl Acetate, Vinyl Acetate and Styrene Monomer. A total of 5 chemical cars spilledm 3 containing Styrene

The rear cars of the train remained on the track. The derailment started with car number 7 as 36 cars in all derailed.

Monomer, and 1 each containing Propyl Acetate and Vinyl Acetate. County Judge Frank Summers, who is the designated Public Information Officer during such mishaps, said the cars lost almost all their load. The cars were carrying 79,000 pounds of the acetate, and more than 185,000 pounds of the Styrene Monomer.

Heavy Equipment rolled into Cameron in convoys Sunday morning to begin the clean-up process. A Haz-Mat team out of Waco also arrived Sunday morning, ordering the evacuation and overseeing the clean-up. The contaminated ground where the spills occurred will be removed and then rebuilt.

Heavy Equipment rolled into Cameron convoy style in preparation for the long and costly clean-up of the derailment.

An odor similar to a lacquer or polyurathane finish, was noticed along McLerran Hill early Sunday, and south winds pushed the fumes well north of the tracks. Some residents in north Cameron told KMIL News they too noticed the odor.

Propyl Acetate is a colorless solvent, which is used in lacquer thinners, coatings, printing inks, wood lacquers, aerosol sprays, and other personal care products. The other chemical, Styrene Monomer, is a common chemical that is used in the production of plastic containers. The scene of the derailment is off of the roadway, located in a field north of Highway 36, south of Cameron. Local resident Graham McLerran granted permission to workers to access the scene through his property.

Initially, between 75 and 100 area residents were evacuated and relocated to the Williams Civic Center in Cameron. Farm Road 2095 is also closed between County Roads 228 and 229, and will remain closed for up to 2 days. In Line traffic control, has been contracted by

Central Texas Red Cross Disaster Relief hosted evacuees at the Williams Civic Center in Cameron.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad to regulate traffic. Evacuated residents were allowed to return to their homes briefly Sunday morning to pack for at least one night away from home. Officials have estimated that residents will be allowed to return to their homes permanently Monday afternoon. Train traffic through Cameron will be re-routed at least through mid-week.

The Cameron Volunteer Fire Department, Scott & White EMS Personnel, Milam County Sheriff's Department, Cameron Police and the Department of Public Safety all responded to the initial call.




Hilltop Shell was designated the Command Post by State Troopers early Sunday.	Cameron Firemen Henry Horelica served as Incident Commander following the derailment.

Milam County Judge Frank Summers, Public Information Officer, speaks to television media from Bryan, Waco, Temple and Austin.

The train was westbound heading into Cameron when the Conductor told authorities he felt the derailment. After stopping the train, he got out to inspect and smelled the chemical odors and called authorities. (Above) BNSF Employees survey the damage early Sunday morning (Picture courtesy of KMIL Listener) (Below) Pictures of the derailment (Photos provided to KMIL by the Milam County Sheriff's Department.