Lorenza Chavez, with Chavco Services of Columbia, cleans bookshelves in the Leavelle-McCampbell Middle School library. Aiken County school officials said they will reopen Leavelle-McCampbell and Byrd Elementary on Tuesday. Ron Cockerille/Staff

Schools set to reopen

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Volunteer firefighter Clay Swedringer tells neighbors Dana Younce and her daughter, Hali, about how he was the first on the scene of the accident and how he was overcome by chlorine gas. Ron Cockerille/Staff The revised area of the evacuation zone. Staff

GRANITEVILLE - More than 1,000 elementary and middle school pupils who have been on recess since the fatal Norfolk Southern train wreck and chlorine spill Jan. 6 will hit the books again Tuesday, officials announced Friday.

Air quality tests at Byrd Elementary School and Leavelle-McCampbell Middle School showed no signs of chlorine, and maintenance crews have taken additional steps to clean both buildings.

"The air your children breathe will be safe, and anything they touch will be clean," said Lt. Michael Frank, of the Aiken County Sheriff's Office.

Despite no sign of the toxic gas that claimed nine lives and sent what authorities now say was more than 550 people to the hospital, air filters at both schools were replaced, fresh air was pumped in, and professional cleaning crews wiped down hard surfaces and sanitized cooking utensils.

For parents and pupils who want to see for themselves, administrators will open both schools from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday.

"We expect to be cleaned up and ready to go," said William Gallman, the Aiken County deputy school superintendent, who on Friday inspected the schools along with Superintendent Linda Eldridge. "Everything turned out fine."

Meanwhile, more evacuated residents poured back into their neighborhoods Friday, and even more will be let in this morning.

Chris and Dana Yonce were among the refugees to return home Friday, continuing Graniteville's slow march back to a semblance of normalcy.

"Hopefully, next week, everything'll go back to the way it was," Mr. Yonce said from his Powell Street house.

Officials are reopening a swath of streets this morning to the west of Mount Arthur Drive, south of Seastrunk Street and Aiken Road and north of U.S. Highway 1. Sheriff Michael Hunt didn't know how many residents were in the zone.

Through Friday, about 3,500 of the estimated 5,400 evacuees had returned, he said. Additional residents could go home Sunday, but the sheriff was uncertain when residents in the "hot zone" closest to the wreck site could return home.

"It's logistics," Sheriff Hunt said. "One of the hardest decisions I had was sending 5,400 people out of their own homes, including my own."

Salvage workers continued to clean up the wreck site Friday. They were still draining the only chlorine tanker that was punctured in the wreck. Norfolk Southern Train 192 was carrying three chlorine tankers when it was mistakenly diverted from the main track and onto a spur line, where it crashed into a parked locomotive.

The tankers that weren't punctured have been drained and placed atop flat cars but are still located near the wreck site, said Susan Terpay, a Norfolk Southern spokeswoman.

The railroad also removed 11 of the 16 cars that were derailed in the accident and have begun to rerail the three engines at the scene.

Environmental officials removed 200 cubic feet of soil from the wreck site, which will be analyzed for chlorine contamination, and began to remove debris from the wreck, including rolls of paper, steel coils and kaolin that Train 192 had been carrying.

Norfolk Southern Chairman and Chief Executive David R. Goode issued a statement saying the railroad would "do everything in our power to help" residents in Graniteville and Aiken County.

"We again offer our deepest sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives, including one of our own employees," the release stated.

The railroad announced that it immediately would implement recommendations from the Federal Railroad Administration earlier this week calling for oral and written communication between employees who handle track switches and dispatchers.

Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board have said the train wreck occurred because someone forgot to move the switch back to its proper place.

The railroad has provided financial assistance to an estimated 2,900 people who were displaced or hurt because of the crash.

The company's generosity so far has left a favorable impression on some people, including those who were injured by the chlorine gas.

Clay Swearingen, a firefighter with the Graniteville-Vaucluse-Warrenville Volunteer Fire Department, had to receive treatment at the hospital for burning in his throat, but he still thinks highly of the railroad.

"The Norfolk railroad is the greatest friend Aiken County could have," he said Friday after returning to his home for the first time in more than a week.

Not everybody shares that opinion.

At least two lawsuits have been brought against Norfolk Southern, which declined to comment on the subject.

Still others tried to take advantage of the company's compensation by changing the address on their driver's license to qualify for assistance.

The Sheriff's Office arrested one woman who received help and has warrants out for 15 others.

Reach Josh Gelinas at (803) 648-1395, ext. 113, or josh.gelinas@augustachronicle.com.

Developments

 •  Aiken County school officials said Byrd Elementary School and Leavelle-McCampbell Middle School will reopen Tuesday. Parents and pupils can visit either school from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday.

 •  Residents who live west of Mount Arthur Drive, east of Aiken Road and south of Seastrunk Street to U.S. Highway 1 will be allowed to return home beginning at 8:30 a.m.

 •  About 150 residents had their homes inspected for chlorine contamination by technicians from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a Norfolk Southern contractor. For a free check, call (800) 230-7049.

 •  Salvage workers removed 11 damaged rail cars from the wreck site and will start rerailing three locomotives involved in the Jan. 6 wreck. Track repair continues.

 •  Arrest warrants were issued for 15 people who changed their driver's license to a Graniteville address and were later reimbursed by Norfolk Southern officials for evacuation expenses, law enforcement officials said.

 •  Animal control officers have reunited 287 pets with their owners.

COMMUNITY INFORMATION

This is general information for the Graniteville community. Those seeking further information or help should call the community help number, 211. From a cell phone, dial 648-9900.

SCHOOLS: On Tuesday, classes will resume at their regular times at Leavelle-McCampbell Middle School and Byrd Elementary School. The Aiken County School District ran a complete check of all electrical, plumbing, computer and alarm systems. A professional service is cleaning all floors and horizontal surfaces, kitchen utensils, pots and pans. All food, except unopened canned goods, will be discarded and replaced with fresh food. Heating and air conditioning filters are being replaced, and these systems will cycle fresh air through the buildings several times before children come back to school. On Monday between 4 and 6 p.m., each school will hold an open house to give parents an opportunity to inspect the facilities. Teacher and staff attendance will be voluntary. School buses will run on a normal schedule as closely as possible. Pupils who arrive late will receive an excused absence.

BUILDING Inspections: Residents, businesses and churches with concerns about their homes and buildings can request an inspection by placing a request card on their front door or calling (800) 230-7049.

HOME OPERATION: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has developed a fact sheet describing what residents should do when they return to their homes. These sheets are available at several locations, including the local assistance center. The center will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

FIRE SERVICE: The South Carolina fire marshal will inspect Leavelle-McCampbell Middle School, Avondale Mills-Gregg Division and Graniteville First Baptist Church. The Graniteville-Vaucluse-Warrenville Fire Department and hazardous-materials teams are cutting down on staff and plan to return to an all-volunteer force by Sunday.

FAMILY PETS: The Environmental Protection Agency and Health and Human Services Department are developing information for pet owners whose animals were left in the evacuation area. Animal control officers have reunited 287 pets with their owners. An EPA veterinarian arrived Thursday to coordinate with Aiken County Animal Control on other issues. Two dogs are being sent to Columbia for autopsies.

LOCAL ASSISTANCE CENTER: Norfolk Southern Railway continues to operate an assistance center in Aiken. The center is located at First Presbyterian Church in Aiken. Those seeking help must present current and valid photo identification. For more information, call (803) 648-2662 or (803) 648-9900.

AIKEN COUNTY SUMMARY COURT: Jury trials at the Graniteville Magistrate Office have been canceled Tuesday through Friday. Anyone called for jury duty does not need to appear.

Special Section: Graniteville Train Wreck

On January 6, 2005, a Norfolk Southern Corp. freight train carrying chemicals hit a parked train near an Avondale Mills plant in Graniteville, South Carolina. The impact caused poisonous chlorine gas to leak from three of the moving train's cars. Nine people were killed and more than 5,000 people were evacuated from the site.

For complete coverage of the Graniteville train wreck, visit our special section.

--From the Saturday, January 15, 2005 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle