Support our podcast, click here: https://www.thereadinesslab.com/dtp-links

Forty-five years ago, this week, a train derailment and explosion in the small town of Waverly, Tennessee set in motion a chain of events that would change the way emergencies are managed in the United States forever.

Today’s guest on the Disaster Tough Podcast, Yasmine S. Ali, M.D. grew up in the area and knows the details of the disaster well. Her latest book, Walk Through Fire comes out today, and tells the story of the disaster and the experiences of those who lived through that day including her parents, who were the attending physicians at the local hospital in Waverly and treated many of the victims.

The situation began on February 22, 1978, when a 92-car freight train carrying hazardous materials passed through Waverly and derailed near the small downtown area, and exploded two days later when it was discovered that there was a small vapor leak in one of the cars.

In total, 16 people lost their lives in the explosion and the aftermath. Despite the damage and loss of life, many lives were saved due to the heroic efforts of local emergency responders and medical professionals, including Dr. Ali’s parents.

In this episode, she discusses the lessons learned from the disaster that can be applied to the modern world of Emergency Management and Response.

Shortly after this disaster, President Jimmy Carter and his administration signed an Executive Order creating FEMA to better coordinate disaster response efforts.

Major Endorsements:
L3Harris and the BeOn PPT App.Learn more about this amazing product here: www.L3Harris.com/ResponderSupport.

Instinct Ready Everyday Readiness Kits. Learn more about Instinct Ready's incredible line of readiness products at: www.instinctready.com

Doberman Emergency Management provides subject matter experts in planning and training. Learn more here: www.dobermanemg.com

The Readiness Lab Podcast Network:
Disaster Tough Podcast is part of The Readiness Lab Podcast Network