Disaster Behavioral Health
Randal Beaton, PhD, EMT
Case Study:
Railroad Crash and Spill
Case Study: Railroad Crash and Spill
Idaho, February 9, 2005
A freight train carrying chlorine
gas hit a parked car Thursday
at 2:30 AM, leaving eight
people dead and injuring at
least 240 others.
Incident scene personnel stated that all
the deaths were the result of chlorine
fume inhalation.
Case Study: Railroad Crash and Spill
What are the behavioral health implications
for coworkers, family members of the
deceased and injured?
Case Study: Railroad Crash and Spill
Nearly all the people injured
in the railroad crash were
suffering from exposure to
the potentially deadly gas that
can damage the respiratory
and central nervous systems,
as well as the throat, nose
and eyes.
Case Study: Railroad Crash and Spill
What are the behavioral health implications for:
– Coworkers, family members of the
deceased and injured?
– Victims with non-lethal exposures?
– Those who have no signs or
symptoms of exposure but
“feel sick” and seek treatment?
Case Study: Railroad Crash and Spill
Authorities ordered all 5,400 people within
a mile of the railroad crash to evacuate
because the chlorine was still leaking.
People in the area exposed to chlorine
from the railroad crash were told to report
to decontamination units at two schools.
– Comment on this Risk Communication
message and plan.
Case Study: Railroad Crash and Spill
Most of the railroad crash injuries were
treated for respiratory ailments and released,
but at least 45 people were admitted to
hospitals, according to authorities. Prior to the
evacuation, residents nearby were instructed
to stay inside their homes, and textile plants
and schools in the area were closed and/or
evacuated.
– Comment on this disaster plan.
Case Study: Railroad Crash and Spill
Finally, what are the long-term behavioral
health implications of this disaster?
– For survivors?
– For family members of survivors?
– For family members of the deceased?