Response to Ohio derailment hampered by poor communication

(Continued from Page B17) time for emergency responders to discover exactly what the train was carrying because the first firefighters on scene didn’t have access to the AskRail app that railroads developed to provide that information. The train crew that also had that information was a mile away after moving the locomotive and didn’t immediately connect with first responders.

Drabick said it took about 45 minutes for his department to discover what was in the cars. Homendy said the railroad didn’t immediately provide that information to dispatchers and officials who requested it.

Gardening Beaver County

Eventually, officials learned about the dangerous nature of the cargo and pulled firefighters back from the derailment site. They also ordered the evacuation of all homes within one mile.

Cause. The NTSB said in its preliminary report that an overheated bearing on one of the railcars likely caused the derailment, but it could take more than a year before the agency publishes its final report. The bearing started heating up miles before the derailment, according to sensors on the tracks, but it didn’t get hot enough to trigger an alarm until just before the crash. The crew had little time to react.

Home preservation event. Penn State Extension, in collaboration with the Beaver County Library System, will offer Introduction to Drying from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. July 8 at the B.F. Jones Memorial Library, Aliquippa. The workshop will focus on various drying methods, the importance of blanching, the basic principles behind drying fruits, vegetables, herbs and meat to ensure a safe product, and what to look for when buying a dehydrator.

The fee is $15 per person. Space is limited; the registration deadline is the July 7 Pre-registration is required at https://extension.psu.edu/introduction-to-drying or by calling 877- 345-0691. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, contact the Penn State Extension Office in Beaver at 724-371-2067 in advance of your participation.

Food preservation webinars. Penn State Extension will offer a series of home food preservation webinars throughout the summer and fall on topics such as pressure canning, atmospheric steam canning and pickling.

Video gathered by investigators showed sparks or fire beneath one of the rail cars starting at least 26 miles before the derailment in Salem, Ohio. The hearing June 23 focused on tank car safety and the trackside detectors. This derailment and others generated nationwide concern about railroad safety and prompted members of Congress to propose reforms.

Norfolk Southern’s CEO Alan Shaw was grilled at two Senate hearings where he apologized for the derailment and promised to make things right in East Palestine.

(©2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

The upcoming webinars include:

• June 29: Pressure Canning

• July 12: Atmospheric Steam Canning

• July 12: Freezing

• July 29: Can-Along Pressure Canning Green Beans

• Aug. 2: Pickling

• Aug. 17: Tomatoes and Salsa

• Aug. 24: Fermented Pickles and Sauerkraut

• Sept. 25: Introduction to Drying

• Oct. 2: Wild Game

More information is available on the Penn State Extension website. Registration is required. Several fact sheets about home food preservation also are available on the Penn State Extension website at extension.psu.edu. Those who prefer a printed book can purchase “Preserving Food at Home Resource Guide,” a compilation of fact sheets; research-based guidelines for safely canning, freezing and drying food at home; and nutrition and storage information.

(To add a nonprofit event to our gardening listing, send details at least three weeks in advance to: Gardening News, Farm and Dairy, P.O. Box 38, Salem, OH 44460; or email: editorial@farmanddairy.com.)

Carrollton, oH •

Sat. July 8, 2023 starting at 9:00 a .M.

Large Farm equipment