As part of its ongoing commitment to safety, the South Shore Line announces it will host a multi-team emergency preparedness drill on Wednesday, Oct. 23, approximately one mile east of the East Chicago Station (please see attached map).
The federally mandated drill is a key component in the SSL’s continuing efforts to familiarize first responders with railroad crisis response procedures.
It is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Oct. 23 and expected to last until approximately 12 p.m. The event will not impact any scheduled train services, although train passengers and passers-by may notice multiple emergency vehicles and personnel in the area of the drill.
The drill is to be located on SSL siding tracks that run parallel to Michigan Street/U.S. 20 in Hammond, Ind. As such, traffic on Michigan Street will be temporarily reduced to one lane between Cline Avenue and Kennedy Avenue from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (flaggers will be present) to maintain the safety of all drill participants and the motoring public.
The crisis scenario involves the collision of a passenger train with a freight train carrying hazardous material, and will be performed in conjunction with the following agencies and organizations: the Federal Railroad Administration; the Department of Homeland Security; TSA; the Indiana Department of Transportation; the Indiana State Police; Lake County Police; Hammond Police and Hammond Fire; East Chicago Police and East Chicago Fire; NICTD Transit Police; Superior Ambulance and Air Transport; the University of Chicago Medicine Aeromedical Network; Lake County Emergency Management Agency; BP; Lake County 911; Lake County Hazmat; Methodist North Hospital; and others.