1.5 mile radius around Crosby plant evacuated
1.5 mile radius around Crosby plant evacuated amid risk of explosion
CROSBY, Texas (KTRK) --
Officials have evacuated workers and residents within a 1.5 mile radius from the Arkema site in Crosby as flooding has created a risk of a chemical reaction leading to fire or possible explosion.
According to plant officials, the situation has become serious.
The plant has been shut down since Friday when site leaders were anticipating landfall of Hurricane Harvey. The location received more than 40 inches of rainfall, leaving the site heavily flooded and without electricity since early Sunday morning.
Back-up generators have largely been inundated with water. A small ride-out crew of 11 people remained on site for the last few days, but by Tuesday afternoon, the decision to evacuate all personnel was made.
Arkema officials are working with the Department of Homeland Security and the State of Texas to set up a command post in a suitable location near the site. Refrigeration on some of the back-up product storage containers has been compromised due to extremely high water, which is unprecedented in the Crosby area.
Authorities are monitoring the temperature of each refrigeration container remotely. At this time, they say they do not believe there is any imminent danger, but the potential for a chemical reaction leading to a fire and/or explosion within the site confines is real.
Arkema manufactures organic peroxides at their Crosby plant. The product needs to be stored at a low temperature.
lots of people will suffer for this
but the free market!
Gat damn that I-10