W.Va. Guard’s 35th Civil Support Team responds to train derailment in Ohio
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CHARLESTON -- A West Virginia National Guard group deployed Monday evening to the train derailment in Ohio involving hazardous materials, the Guard said on Tuesday.
The Ohio National Guard at noon Monday contacted the West Virginia National Guard J3 Joint Operations Center for support from the 35th Civil Support Team based in St. Albans with the derailment containing about 10 "hazmat cars" including five cars identified as carrying vinyl chloride, a suspected carcinogen. Within the hour the 35th was placed on alert and prepared to send seven personnel and equipment to assist.
Among the members of the team were a nuclear medical science officer to help process water samples to make sure chemicals were not leaching into local water supplies, a plume model specialist to assist forecasting of potential hazardous material airborne plumes, three survey specialists to assist with collecting air and water samples and two members of the unit leadership team to liaise with on-scene counterparts and emergency management officials.
"Our personnel are currently on the ground assisting a combined local, state, and federal response to this dangerous and life-threatening incident," Lt. Col. Jerry Floyd, 35th CST commander, said. "Our team members are highly trained for these exact type situations, and we are proud to provide assistance to our neighbors in Ohio. The Ohio 52nd CST was the very first team on the ground in 2016 to assist West Virginia during the 2014 Elk River MCHM spill. It's our honor to return the favor and provide support for and with them."
The 35th consists of 22 full-time Army and Air National Guard members assigned to 14 different specialties and is tasked to provide support to civil authorities at domestic Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear or Explosive incident sites. The 35th is on call around the clock for rapid deployments and utilizes specialized equipment and training to help identify unknown substances, assess current and projected consequences, advise on proper response measures, and assist with appropriate requests for additional state and federal response.
"The motto of the National Guard is, 'Always Ready, Always There,' and this incident is a prime example of the realization of that motto," Maj. Gen. William "Bill" Crane, adjutant general of the West Virginia National Guard, said. "The rapid deployment of critical assets during this time-sensitive endeavor will undoubtedly help to stabilize a potentially life-threatening situation and help on-scene first responders and personnel save lives, property, and critical infrastructure from further damage and threat."
The 35th regularly provides support to high-level national special security events such as presidential state of the unions and other high-visibility events such as West Virginia University football games.
In 2022, the 35th undertook two in-depth inspections, a week-long Standardized Evaluation and Assessment Team inspection and a rigorous Training Proficiency Evaluation inspection. Conducted by Army North Command and the National Guard Bureau, these inspections tested all 12 mission essential tasks required by all 57 Civil Support Teams across the United States. The 35th CST passed both inspections with 99% grades.