The U.S. Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission plan to transport 77,000 tons of nuclear waste to a permanent storage facility 950 feet below Nevada's Yucca Mountain. If the plan goes through, much of the cargo will travel through Las Vegas, making an accident there a very disturbing possibility. If history has taught us anything, it's that transporting dangerous goods can sometimes have catastrophic results. Take a look at the potential disaster that such a rail accident would have in Las Vegas.

• MEGA DISASTERS explores the worst of what could happen.
• Stunning computer graphics and actual footage combine to create convincing pictures of the risks faced by U.S. cities.
• Train accidents in Wisconsin and Maryland expose the vulnerability of our communities.

It has happened before, and it could happen again. What makes storms, earthquakes and other events into natural disasters is not how they occur, but where they strike. MEGA DISASTERS asks the what ifs? no one ever wants to face. A masterful blend of actual footage, computer graphics and interviews with leading scientists and public safety experts explores the outer limits of what could happen if everything went wrong.

Trains loaded with the deadliest, most volatile substances created by modern industry pass backyards throughout America every day. Families go about their lives ignorant of the killer cargo rolling by just feet from their homes... until a MEGADISASTER occurs!

This episode analyzes two terrible train accidents that occurred in the heart of American communities. In March, 1996, a freight train carrying roughly one-million pounds of propane derailed in Weyauwega, Wisconsin. One of the tankers exploded like a bomb and the entire town was evacuated. And in 2001, a train tunnel fire billowed clouds of hydrochloric acid over Baltimore's downtown core.

While luckily neither accident resulted in injury or death, MEGADISASTERS shows just how vulnerable our neighborhoods are.

Tuesday, June 24 - 10:00 PM

Wednesday, June 25 - 02:00 AM

Tuesday, July 08 - 11:00 PM

Wednesday, July 09 - 03:00 AM

CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS FOR TIMES

Running Time: 60 minutes