Powerful Storms and Flooding Impacting Operations

BNSF is closely monitoring severe weather conditions affecting the Central Plains. On Wednesday, multiple tornadoes struck Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Mississippi, resulting in widespread damage and destruction. The powerful storm system has since slowed in the region, leading to prolonged heavy rainfall, up to 15 inches, through the weekend. There is also a risk of hail and tornadoes, with wind gusts reaching up to 70 mph. Excessive rain is causing rivers to rise significantly, approaching the flood stage.

BNSF is mainly focused on the high risk of flooding on our Thayer Subdivisions, which run between Springfield, Missouri, and Memphis, Tennessee.

 
In the event of an outage, BNSF will reroute some traffic wherever possible to minimize disruptions. We are also equipped with Command Centers and have pre-positioned recovery materials and equipment as needed. 

As reported to affected customers, a stationary train positioned on a siding in our Thayer subdivision in Arkansas was struck by a tornado Wednesday evening. The tornado impacted a few railcars and damaged the adjacent mainline track. There were no injuries, and the mainline was restored to service by Thursday evening.

For shipment inquiries, please use the "Message Us" feature on the BNSF Customer Portal (registration and login required) or contact BNSF Customer Support at 1-888-428-2673. Additionally, please reach out to your BNSF marketing representative with any questions.

We greatly appreciate your business and the opportunity to serve as your freight transportation provider.