(KNOXVILLE, Iowa) – In 2008, the Federal Railway Administration (FRA) reported there were more than 7,000 rail car accidents and incidents, 20 of which involved hazardous materials requiring the evacuation of over 5,000 people. In the last five years there have been 166 incidents involving hazardous materials, most of which occurred in rural America according to the FRA.

As more and more rail traffic involves the transportation of valuable cargo and hazardous materials, the Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium (RDPC) is providing critical training to help rural first responders, government administrators, and emergency managers in the Knoxville, Iowa area respond more effectively to a freight rail car incident.

RDPC will be delivering a free Department of Homeland Security (DHS)-certified course, AWR 147 – Rail Car Incident Response, from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM on March 10, 2018 at Marion County Public Health Department, 2003 N. Lincoln Street, Knoxville, Iowa. The course will educate those on the frontlines of defense in their community on what to do in the event of a rail car incident involving hazardous materials.

The eight-hour, instructor-led course will introduce the rural responder community to basic rail car design and construction features as well as damage assessment strategies to help interpret damage to the rail cars in a hazmat incident. Upon completion of the course, participants will be better prepared to respond to a freight car incident without endangering the health and safety of the responders and the environment.

To register – contact: Iowa Homeland Security & Emergency Management or contact Kim Pettyjohn at 641-828-2256 or email kpettyjohn@co.marion.ia.us.