It was four long days of waiting for residents, but officials are giving the green light for residents to return home after a critical air quality test was performed overnight Friday.
“And it showed no impact to air quality. A reduced perimeter is being maintained for the sole purpose of protecting residents from the impact of site restoration activity,” Bedford County EMA Director Dave Cubbison said.
While many residents were able to return home Saturday, but some people living beyond the Shellsburg bridge will have to wait a bit longer
“The reduced evacuation area is between the Shellsburg Street bridge, and the Hog Back Road railroad crossing. It includes Shellsburg Street and the surrounding streets — Paris Avenue, Mill Street, Harden Street and Cleveland Street. Approximately 30 homes are within the reduced area,” Cubbison said.
Officials said it could be at least a week before those residents can go home. CSX will continue to support anyone displaced with housing and other needs, and crews will continue to restore the area to what it was before the derailment.
“All of the rail cars that were involved in the derailment have been cleared from the scene and moved to safe areas adjacent to the tracks. The tracks have been restored and now we are focused on continuing to work to move those cars off site,” CSX Spokesperson Rob Doolittle said.
In the meantime, the new command post is set up at the Hydman Charter School. Anyone that needs additional help can contact CSX officials and the Red Cross at the school.