Train cars from a 50-car derailment in East Palestine burn.

EAST PALESTINE — Two videos obtained by the National Transportation Safety Board show preliminary indications of a possible mechanical problem with one of the rail car axles before a Norfolk Southern train derailed Friday in the village.

“We are working to identify which rail car experienced the potential mechanical issue for further examination,” NTSB board member Michael Graham said Sunday.

He asked that any members of the public who have photos or videos of the derailment send what they have to witness@ntsb.gov.

DEWINE DEPLOYS

NATIONAL GUARD

Also Sunday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine deployed the Ohio National Guard to assist at the scene, and also issued an emergency evacuation notice to anyone living within a 1-mile radius of the crash site who has not left already.

The evacuation order states that around 7 p.m., a drastic temperature change took place in a rail car and there is now the potential of a catastrophic tanker failure that could cause an explosion with the potential of deadly shrapnel traveling up to a mile.

“Although teams are working to prevent an explosion, residents living within a mile of the site are advised to immediately leave the area. While most individuals in the 1-mile radius have already evacuated, local officials say more than 500 people have declined to leave their homes,” DeWine’s order states.

During an emergency press conference at 9 p.m. Sunday, East Palestine fire Chief Keith Drabick said the car in question contains vinyl chloride and if the worst happens, the result could produce hydrogen chloride. He urged residents who haven’t evacuated to get out. If they need assistance, they should call 211 immediately or even call 911 if necessary.

The radius includes the area south of Highland, east of Market Street and north of Jimtown Road.

The Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office said those who don’t evacuate may be subject to arrest.

INVESTIGATION PROCEEDING

Graham conducted a press conference at village hall to update members of the press on the latest from the investigation, noting that members of the train crew were interviewed Sunday. The crew included three members — the engineer, conductor and conductor trainee. None of them was injured and no injuries were reported at the scene.

Graham said “the crew did receive an alarm from a wayside defect detector shortly before the derailment indicating the mechanical issue, then an emergency brake application initiated.”

After the derailment, the crew was able to disconnect the engine from the rail cars and move a safe distance away. On Saturday, the NTSB said there were 20 total hazardous material cars in the train consist and 10 of them derailed. The agency said five of the derailed hazmat cars were carrying vinyl chloride, but they had not confirmed vinyl chloride had been released other than from the pressure release devices.

Graham said the 10 hazardous material cars will be moved to a temporary staging area, likely in a safe place nearby where they can be looked over and then the cleanup at the site can take place. As part of the investigation, the NTSB will look at the number of cars and the commodities that were part of the train consist.

On Sunday, investigators recovered the locomotive data recorder and recorded data, forward facing and inward facing cameras and their data and audio recordings that will be evaluated and analyzed. A drone team did some drone mapping of the area since it’s still not safe for investigators to inspect from the ground that will help in the development of a timeline.

The railroad track team walked 1 mile of track away from the hot zone and identified the point of derailment, but when asked where that occurred, Graham said the location will be part of the preliminary report, which won’t be released for four to six weeks. The final report will take 18 to 24 months to complete.

The NTSB also requested numerous records from Norfolk Southern, including track inspection records, locomotive and rail car inspections and maintenance records, train crew records and qualifications. Graham explained that the NTSB was on scene to gather perishable evidence, noting analysis will start once that perishable evidence is gathered.

“Eventually our team will methodically and systematically review all the evidence and consider all potential factors to determine the probable cause of this accident and make any necessary safety recommendations to prevent it from happening in the future,” he said.

He thanked the first responders for all their help in keeping everyone safe.

STAY AWAY

During an earlier press conference, village officials again pleaded for people to stay out of East Palestine and for residents to heed evacuation requests for their safety. The police department arrested someone Saturday night who was very close to the scene, charging him with misconduct at an emergency, a misdemeanor. East Palestine police Chief Jim Brown said another man was arrested Sunday and charged with misconduct at an emergency and child endangering because he had his two kids with him on East Martin close to the scene. He said more will likely face arrest. Citations were also being issued for people going around barriers.

Brown echoed the statements of East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway and Drabick, who have stressed over and over again for people to stay out. Conaway urged citizens to stop calling dispatch unless it’s an emergency. Columbiana County Emergency Management Agency Director Peggy Clark advised residents to call 211.

U.S. Envionmental Protection Agency On-Scene Coordinator James Justice and OEPA Emergency Response Team member Kurt Kollar also spoke at the village press conference, noting that they’re monitoring the quality of both the air and the water. Kollar went into detail about the efforts being made to contain the contamination in the creeks and said water quality monitoring was being done.

Conaway stressed that the drinking water is safe and the air quality is good. The evacuation area remained a 1-mile radius from the scene, pretty much anything east of Market Street. The Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office assisted with knocking on doors in the evacuation area to get a count of who’s still there, staying in place and suggesting they go to the shelter. The temporary shelter at East Palestine High School on West Grant Street remained open with some residents staying there. The American Red Cross was operating the shelter.

Norfolk Southern’s family assistance center remained open until 8 p.m. Sunday and plans to be open again from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily until the evacuation order is lifted, helping residents with their needs regarding temporary housing, out of pocket expenses and other needs.

Many businesses remain closed, with Conaway announcing that school was canceled today, village hall would be closed today and council meetings that had been scheduled for today are canceled. Churches also were affected.

“The prayers of the Diocese of Youngstown are with all those affected and displaced by the train derailment in East Palestine. We acknowledge with gratitude the heroic efforts of the first responders and the agencies that have assisted in this difficult situation. The evacuation zone includes the territory of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish whose feast we celebrate on Feb. 11. Given the magnitude of this event, it is miraculous that there were no fatalities or injuries. I cannot help but think that the Blessed Mother was watching over this community. I ask for continued prayers for the health and safety of all involved,” David. J. Bonnar, Bishop of Youngstown, said in a written statement.

With the church in the evacuation zone, Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish was canceled Sunday, but parishioners could attend at St. Jude Parish in Columbiana.

The Columbiana County Humane Society also was offering assistance for anyone needing temporary shelter for their dog or small pets. Call 234-575-1400 and speak with humane agent Erica Rice for help.

mgreier@mojonews.com