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CNN Live Today

Interview with Linda Jeter

Aired September 16, 2002 - 11:21   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: About 3,000 Tennessee residents are still waiting to get back in their homes. They were evacuated because of a sulfuric acid leak from a train derailment near Knoxville yesterday. The leak from the train has slowed, hasn't stopped. Hazardous gas is still keeping residents away.
Joining us now by phone from Knoxville is Linda Jeter. She is one of the thousands of people who were forced to evacuate -- Linda, where are you right now?

LINDA JETER, EVACUEE: Right now, I am at Bearden High School, it is located inside the city of Knoxville. They had a Red Cross stand set up for everyone to stay last night here.

HARRIS: Now, as I understand it, you live about a mile away from this derailment site?

JETER: That's correct.

HARRIS: What was it like, what happened? Did you hear anything, did you smell anything immediately or what?

JETER: We didn't hear a thing. We were notified when someone came and told us in church that we needed to leave church because the area was being evacuated because of this rig, and when we came outside, that is when we could see a small plume of smoke. At the time, we did not realize that that was what it was, a mist-type thing. We thought it was just clouds, and we could smell a pungent-type of sharp odor, but it didn't stink, it was just -- sharp, like.

HARRIS: That sounds like that. So, how long did it take you to get evacuated out of there?

JETER: Less than five minutes. We ran straight in, grabbed some shoes, and left. We left in such haste that we forgot -- my mother is 80 years old, and still on heart medication, had heart surgery, and we left so quickly that we forgot her medication, but we were very lucky. Walgreens gave us the medicine to help my mother through the night. So we were OK on that.

HARRIS: Well, that is great. That is good to hear, that's great.

So what are they telling you about how soon you can get back in, and what are they also saying about what may be waiting for you when you get back? JETER: They haven't really said what would be waiting for us. We were concerned if our food that we had left out on -- apples and fresh fruit and bread on the kitchen counter, we didn't know if those things would be any good, if we should throw them away. We haven't had much notice as to what we could do if anything when with we get back home, and right now they are telling us probably 48 hours because we are so close. They have allowed people who live within three miles to go back home now, but we have already been told that we have got about 48 more hours before we get to come home.

HARRIS: OK. Now, is this site anywhere near any schools or anything?

JETER: Yes, there is six schools very close to the area, one high school, and then the feeder schools to that high school, Farragut High School, and they did close the schools for today, and we haven't heard any word yet about tomorrow.

But the school is actually located about a mile and a half from the site.

HARRIS: Yes, see, what occurred to me as we are talking here, we had some pictures up of some of the people who were leaving there. I saw some kids there, and it just occurred to me that that would be a bad -- that would be a really bad situation if there were schools out there, a number of schools in that area, and the kids are going to be stuck in these shelters for some time.

JETER: Right, right. Of course, my child is very happy that school is out. I don't think the kids really understand the seriousness of the situation. They have had a ball spending the night in a shelter, and sleeping on army cots, and eating snacks all night long and watching movies. They have just had a ball.

HARRIS: That is how kids are. They will try to find some way to have a good time with anything.

JETER: That's true.

HARRIS: Do you know of anybody who has suffered from any exposure to this stuff?

JETER: I don't know anybody personally. I have heard that a couple of people have some respiratory problems, and a little slight burning around the eyes, and they did go to Park West Hospital to be checked out, but to my knowledge, there has been no serious injuries.

We were very, very lucky nobody was injured in the accident itself, and nobody had any serious respiratory problems or anything.

HARRIS: Well, that is good, and we are hoping it stays that way.

JETER: Yes.

HARRIS: Well, all right. Linda Jeter, thank you very much for taking time to talk with us. Sure hope you find some way to enjoy your time there in the shelter, and be well, and same to your mom as well.

JETER: Well, thank you.

HARRIS: All right. Take care.

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