OSHAWA, Ont. - Andrew Brown has a prosthetic leg that makes it tough for him to walk long distances, according to Oshawa This Week.
Bill Deschamps has a heart condition and asthma, both of which are aggravated by physical activity.
When a Canadian Pacific train derailed in south Oshawa on June 5, they were among hundreds of neighbourhood residents urged by police to evacuate their homes, until officials could determine whether the train was carrying hazardous materials.
"I had to walk about two kilometres (1.2 miles), it was very hard for me," Mr. Brown said. "I wasn't told where to go, or how to get there. I hate to cry about it, but I'm an amputee. All I wanted was a little common sense and courtesy from the police."
Mr. Deschamps was so winded by the walk from his home to the area where buses were boarding for the evacuation centre, that he twice had to sit down on people's front lawns, coughing and wheezing to catch his breath.
"No one stopped to ask if I needed help," the 68-year-old man said, shaking his head. "I know it was a chaotic situation, but I felt like I got left behind."
More than 100 residents from the neighbourhoods near the train derailment site, at the Park Road bridge, packed a public meeting Monday night, to talk with police, fire, City and CP Rail officials about how the incident was handled.
The problems experienced by Mr. Brown and Mr. Deschamps were among the most common concern raised. Residents demanded to know why people with disabilities, illnesses or seniors with limited mobility, weren't helped to leave.
"Your life is our primary concern, we want you out alive, however that has to happen," said Oshawa Fire Chief Steve Meringer.
He stressed there were Durham Region Transit buses on site quickly to transport residents to an evacuation centre, but noted that in a chaotic emergency, it can take time for those services to materialize.
Responding to allegations that Durham Regional Police officers tried to forcibly remove people from their homes and threatened to arrest those who didn't cooperate, DRPS Detective Sergeant Randy Henning said there is no such thing as a "mandatory evacuation.
"We don't have the authority to physically remove people unless they're going to impede a police investigation," he said. "We've never actually done training on how officers should approach people and speak to people when we're doing an evacuation but that's something we should change. We use actors when we're training and they just leave when they're asked to."
Sgt. Henning encouraged people who encountered rude or aggressive behaviour from DRPS officers, to make use of the department's standard complaints process.
Police and fire officials weren't the only ones in the hot seat Monday night.
CP Rail staff was peppered with questions about how the derailment happened, how another one can be prevented, and whether affected residents will be compensated for hotel rooms and other out-of-pocket costs borne as a result of the evacuation.
"I apologize on behalf of CP Rail for the inconvenience we caused you," said CP Rail assistant vice-president Guido De Ciccio. "It's not something that we wanted, it's not something we expected."
He said the company suspects a failed axle was to blame for the derailment, but stressed that is not conclusive yet. While some residents complained the train was travelling too fast, Mr. De Ciccio said the on-board computer indicates it was going "less than 50 miles an hour" -- a statement that drew jeers from the audience.
Mr. De Ciccio said CP staff is willing to sit down with the City and residents to discuss more substantial safety measures, such as barriers along the track and higher fences to prevent people from wandering onto the rail property.
He also urged any residents who paid for hotel rooms or other amenities after leaving their homes to call the number included on a letter sent to them last week, to apply for reimbursement.
"If you're out of pocket 10 cents or $10, we'll get it back to you," he said. "If you don't have receipts, we'll find the information. We don't want anyone to lose money because of this incident."
(This item appeared June 17, 2009, in Oshawa This Week.)
