While students were sleeping, a train derailed on campus.  Students were not affected.

In a tabletop exercise, University officials simulated what would happen should a train derail on campus. The exercise, which took place between 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., was a way for the University to test its communication skills and reaction in the case of an emergency.

Prior to the event beginning, only a select number of people knew the specific details of the drill.  These people fed the information to a room in the Public Safety Center, where people representing all facets of the University were gathered.  Operation Red Rail included all the steps of the procedure to be administered in an emergency, including the order of notification, such as “updating” the N.C. State homepage, “sending” out text messages via WolfAlert and holding press conferences at periodic points during the exercise.

As it would in a real-world crisis, the “situation” continued to change. This included having Raleigh HazMat take over the scene due to the “hazardous” nature of the train’s contents as well as evacuate Bragaw, Sullivan and Lee Residence Halls. The original location of the residents’ evacuation also changed after the initial information had already been released to the media.  At that point, another press conference was held. 

Thomas Stafford, vice chancellor for student affairs, was a participant in Operation Red Rail.  A major portion of his participation was involved in communication with concerned parents and others.

“The exercise went very well,” Stafford said.  “It showed us how different and difficult it is to communicate with people in the case of an emergency.”

Mark Hoit, vice chancellor for the office of information technology, said he was pleased with the way the exercise played out.

 ”I think it went really well,” said Hoit. “I think we need to practice more.”

Jack Colby, assistant vice chancellor for facilities operations, said he has participated in these yearly drills in the past.

“Each time we do this exercise, we identify different areas of improvement,” Colby said.  “This time our identified area was communication.”

The exercise involved four train cars supposedly overturning at approximately 6:40 a.m., a time when most students are still in their dorms.  Shortly after the derailment, Raleigh HazMat was called to the scene since one of the hypothetical developments included a tank leaking ammonia.

In a press conference during Operation Red Rail, Keith Nichols, director of news and communications with news services, told the media the information he was able to share and answered questions.  One such piece of information was how students were being informed. 

“We are in communication with the housing staff,” Nichols said.  “If students have any questions, they can check with the housing staff.  The NCSU home page is consistently being updated and two text messages have been sent out to direct everyone to the homepage.”

Mardecia Bell, director of the office of information technology, said she was pleased with the opportunity given by the exercise.

“I thought it went really well,” Bell said.  “It gave us a great opportunity to improve things.”