Representative Gary Click Visits Attica Train Derailment Site
Last Friday, I visited the site of the Norfolk Southern train derailment that occurred in Attica on February 12th. Norfolk Southern responded immediately to the situation, has been extremely communicative, and is ready to respond to the ongoing needs of the community. Since that morning, I've been in communication with countless local and statewide individuals and entities to discuss what happened, best practices, and steps moving forward as a community.
Norfolk Southern informed me that the spillage from the derailment was ethanol, corn meal, and corn syrup. While Norfolk Southern said that all spillage was minimal and contained, they will be removing and replacing soil near the derailment out of an abundance of caution.
In addition to having conversations with Norfolk Southern, I've been in touch with the Ohio EPA to ensure a full briefing and assessment of the situation.
Figure 1. Rep. Gary Click meets with first responders to the Attica train derailment on-site. Figure 2. A drone-captured view of the derailment.
I have been extremely impressed by how our community and partners have come together to address this situation, mitigate consequences, and ensure public safety.
Sheriff Fred Stevens was on the scene immediately with his department, securing the scene and once again exemplified his excellent reputation of service. Seneca County EMA Director John Sparr actively responded to the situation and worked to protect the needs of our citizens. The drone crew did excellent work monitoring the situation from above. Cranemasters, an industry leader of specialized heavy-lift machinery and a full-service railroad contractor, arrived on the scene, among others, within hours to open the rail lines and address the situation.
I commend Fire Chief Lonnie James, Village Administrator Brian Shock (affectionately known at the gas station as “old Mayor”), Maintenance Worker/Water Operator-in-training Will Gates, and Village Maintenance Supervisor Tom Scott, for their swift response, hard work, and dedication. They rose to the occasion, making 100 trips in 18 hours to transport five tons of dirt (in the truck pictured) to create a retention pond for the spillage.
Councilwoman Nicole Lindhardt took pancakes to the worksite to ensure that everyone had breakfast as they worked, and later brought spaghetti in the evening for all the work crews. Council President Owen Best has been an invaluable asset to the team, and Mayor Lui Sanders has played a key role in apprising and updating all the involved parties in the situation in real time.
In addition to the people I mentioned previously, we are grateful for all of the unnamed heroes, too many to count, who jumped into service to help the community, and for their families and loved ones who supported them.
Figures 3. & 4. Construction crews work to remove the wreckage and restore the site to its former condition.
We are all grateful, knowing that the train derailment could have been much worse. It has been truly beautiful to see the community come together at such a time as this, and we are abundantly thankful for God’s Divine Hand protecting everyone from injury.
Norfolk Southern has assured me that they will leave the area in as good a shape as, if not better than, before the incident, and we will continue to stay in touch with the many partners involved in this situation to ensure that the community’s needs are met.
With any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Village Administrator, Brian Shock, at (419) 426-9611 or to my office at (614) 466.1374.
 Figure 5. Rep. Click gets a photo with Brian Shock, Will Gates, Tom Scott, and the truck they used to make 100 trips to move five tons of dirt in 18 hours.
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