It was one year ago today that Bullitt County faced one very big disaster when a train derailed and forced hundreds of evacuations and shut down I-65.

As smoothly as the Zoneton firefighters response was, emergency responders say they definitely learned lesson or two they plan to apply to future emergencies.

It was one year ago of the worst CSX train derailment in Kentucky.  It was the third worst in North America.  Hazardous chemicals spilled and fireball could be seen for miles. The response plan coordinated 641 emergency responders and 49 agencies for a swift response.  But this disaster taught even the most experienced people, a lesson or two.  Since the derailment, both the Sheriff’s office and the Zoneton fire department acquired mobile command units with satellite phones, portable and stationary radios, and TV monitors.  CSX also purchased an ATV for the fire department.

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View this story Slideshow of train crash Zoneton Fire Department The derailed cars still sit at the crash site.  The NTSB hasn’t officially determined the cause of the derailment.  Until then, it remains a reminder of the well-planned response by emergency services one year ago. Several people have filed lawsuits against CSX because they say their health has not been the same since the accident.  But emergency responders and fire fighters haven’t reported having any health issues they can attribute to responding to the site.  CSX has settled some of the lawsuits, but many more are pending.