City of Beaumont discusses plans in case of hazardous train derailment

FOX 4 Beaumont
by Mya Caleb
Monday, November 20th 2023, 5:08 PM GMT-7

Beaumont — Five railroad crossings in Beaumont are open after a train derailment temporarily closed them on Saturday.

Three cars carrying gravel derailed but did not turn over.

Wilda Glasper, a Beaumont resident that lives near the railroad, expressed concern saying, "I'm concerned about the chemicals that could've wasted. It's something that has never happened before."

Union Pacific tells KFDM/Fox 4 that the railroad is investigating the derailment and there is a robust emergency management plan in place along with hazardous materials management teams placed regionally to respond to emergencies.

The City of Beaumont also has plans set in place in the event that a hazardous train derailment occurs.

"We have a hazardous materials response team, and it's very robust in certainly being here with the refineries and chemical companies," says Beaumont Mayor Roy West.

Mayor west asks that residents also sign up for the Southeast Texas Alert Network, or STAN

If an evacuation due to derailment is ever necessary, information would be commuted through STAN.