Anhydrous Ammonia leak rattles Flatwoods community — as Ohio still reels from East Palestine derailment fallout
A tense morning unfolded in Greenup County, Kentucky, after a railcar carrying anhydrous ammonia began leaking near US 23 in Flatwoods, prompting a shelter-in-place order and full closure of a major roadway.
At around 6 a.m. Tuesday, officials ordered residents near Meade Street and 4th Street to remain indoors as hazmat crews raced to contain the leak. US 23 was shut down at Wheeler Hill and Pond Run, with traffic rerouted through Flatwoods.
“Shelter in place has been ordered for people in the area of Meade Street and 4th Street for precautionary measures,” officials announced on social media, noting the leak originated on CSX property.
What is Anhydrous Ammonia — and Why Is It Dangerous?
The chemical in question, anhydrous ammonia, is a colorless gas with a strong, suffocating odor. Widely used in agriculture as a nitrogen-based fertilizer, it’s also an industrial refrigerant. But when released into the air, it can cause severe burns, eye damage, lung irritation, and even death if inhaled in high concentrations.
Exposure can be especially dangerous in enclosed or low-lying areas — exactly the kind of scenario that played out Tuesday in Flatwoods.
By 11:30 a.m., hazmat teams were still working to cap the leak, and the shelter-in-place order remained in effect. Finally, at 1:54 p.m., crews reported the leak was successfully capped and were working to offload the remaining contents from the compromised car. The shelter-in-place was lifted, and US 23 reopened to traffic.
A Harsh Reminder: Echoes of East Palestine
This incident comes just over a year after one of the worst environmental rail disasters in recent memory — the 2023 East Palestine, Ohio train derailment. In that catastrophe, a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous materials, including vinyl chloride, derailed and exploded, releasing a toxic plume and forcing mass evacuations.
The aftermath of East Palestine continues to unfold. Residents there still report persistent health symptoms, concerns about contaminated soil and groundwater, and a lack of long-term accountability from both rail companies and federal officials. The EPA and independent researchers are still monitoring the long-term environmental and health effects in the region.
The Greenup County leak, while significantly smaller in scale, has reignited fears about railroad safety, especially in communities that sit near major transportation corridors.
Communities on Edge
For locals in Greenup County, Tuesday’s event was a reminder of how quickly things can go wrong — and how vulnerable many small towns remain when hazardous materials roll through on steel wheels.
Though the immediate danger has passed, questions remain: How old was the railcar? Was it properly maintained? What’s the plan for preventing this from happening again?
With railroad companies transporting tens of millions of tons of hazardous materials every year, many say it’s time for a national reckoning on rail safety, environmental risk, and emergency preparedness.
