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Last wreck evacuees may get to return home today
Web posted Thursday, January 20, 2005
By Josh Gelinas
| South Carolina Bureau
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GRANITEVILLE - After 13 long days of living in cramped hotels or, worse, an in-law's spare bedroom, the last of Graniteville's evacuees are expected to head home today.
Inspectors looking for corroded wiring and piping will evaluate the remaining 40-plus evacuated houses and should clear them for habitation, said Lt. Michael Frank of the Aiken County Sheriff's Office.
"The plan is to have all of the homes inspected by 6 p.m.," he said Wednesday.
Houses being inspected are those closest to the wreck site and chlorine spill that killed nine people and sent hundreds more to hospitals Jan. 6. Officials have found signs of corrosion outside several houses, and there are concerns that corroded wiring inside the dwellings could start fires, Lt. Frank said.
There is one last catch. Residents of these homes must schedule an inspection with the Aiken County Planning and Development office and pick up permits at 1680 Richland Ave. W. Officials there can be reached by calling (803) 642-1525.
Five teams of inspectors will poke and prod at the houses throughout the day, and residents won't be allowed back into their homes without the inspections. However, if they fail to obtain a permit today, additional inspections will be performed Friday, Lt. Frank said.
Cleanup of the wreck site also should be completed today. Salvage crews hired by the Norfolk Southern Corp. cleaned the once-leaky tanker Wednes- day, and it will probably be hauled away by this morning.
Reach Josh Gelinas at (803) 648-1395, ext. 113, or josh.gelinas@augustachronicle.com.
How to head home
Residents still evacuated from their homes must obtain permits from the Aiken County Planning and Development Office first.
The office was scheduled to be open throughout the night and this morning. To set up an inspection, call (803) 642-1525. Permits can be picked up at 1680 Richland Ave. W.
Residents must have permits to re-enter their homes.
• Homeowners are asked to schedule home repairs by calling the Norfolk Southern Local Assistance Center at (803) 663-4785.
• The Norfolk Southern Community Assistance Center has moved to its new location at the old community services building at 124 Ascauga Lake Road in Graniteville. Claims will be handled by appointment only, and appointments can be made between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. by calling (803) 663-4785.
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 Thursday, January 20, 2005 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle
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