Windsor officials and residents are talking about the city’s emergency plans after a freight train derailment in Quebec left several people dead and many others missing.
The train carrying crude oil could have been similar to freight trains that travel through Windsor carrying hazardous goods. While not confirmed, the train could have travelled through Windsor, up to Toronto and then over to Quebec.
“Yeah it was very shocking,” says Mark Sartsori, who lives near the Detroit-Windsor train tunnel on the city's west side.
The self-proclaimed train fanatic says he couldn't believe the tragedy that transpired in Lac-Mégantic over the weekend.
“If that happens in the tunnel, that's it we'd be euchred," he says.
Sartsori says living so close to a train yard, the Quebec accident makes him wonder "what if" something similar were to happen here.
“If something happened here or on the bridge, because that's where all the trucks go anyways, what are you going to do? the trucks can't go through the tunnel."
Windsor fire Chief Bruce Montone says plans are ready to be put into action should a similar situation unfold in Windsor.
“Our challenge is to keep up to date in terms of those commodities that are transported and what is required of us in terms of response," says Montone.
In May, Mayor Eddie Francis told CTV News that the city was in need of an updated emergency response centre following the Sprucewood Plastics fire that forced a state of emergency.
“We had many different agencies all cramped up in this space and it wasn't functional or practical to the extent that I would want it to be," he said after the incident.
Montone says upgrades are still planned for the near future with help from the federal government.
“I think our future will include some enchantments to facilities and technology that are going to help us even more,"says Montone.
He says events like this, the Oklahoma tornados and the flooding in Calgary all serve as reminders to ensure plans are in place and are consistently being updated.
