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Houston flooding: two explosions take place at Texas chemical plant Houston flooding: two explosions at Texas chemical plant
(35 minutes later)
Fires and two explosions occurred early on Thursday at a chemical plant in Crosby, Texas, that lost power due to flooding caused by tropical storm Harvey.Fires and two explosions occurred early on Thursday at a chemical plant in Crosby, Texas, that lost power due to flooding caused by tropical storm Harvey.
Arkema, the industrial chemical manufacturer that runs the plant, later said eight more tanks at the facility could yet burn and explode. Arkema, the industrial chemical manufacturer that runs the plant, later said eight more tanks could yet burn and explode.
“We believe that the safest thing to do is to allow the other eight containers to degrade and burn,” said Rich Rennard, an Arkema executive, at a press conference on Thursday morning. “These things can burn very quickly and very violently and it would not be unusual for them to explode.” “We believe that the safest thing to do is to allow the other eight containers to degrade and burn,” said Rich Rennard, an Arkema executive, at a press conference. “These things can burn very quickly and very violently and it would not be unusual for them to explode.”
Arkema said it was notified at approximately 2am by the Harris County emergency operations center of two explosions and black smoke. A sheriff’s deputy was taken to hospital after inhaling smoke, and nine others drove themselves to hospital as a precaution. Harris County ordered the evacuation of residents within a 1.5-mile (2.4km) radius. Arkema said it was notified at approximately 2am by the Harris County emergency operations center of two explosions and black smoke. A sheriff’s deputy was taken to hospital after inhaling smoke, and nine others drove themselves to hospital. Harris County ordered the evacuation of residents within a 1.5-mile (2.4km) radius.
The plant makes organic peroxides used in the production of plastic resins, polystyrene, paints and other products. An Arkema statement said: “Organic peroxides are extremely flammable and, as agreed with public officials, the best course of action is to let the fire burn itself out. We want local residents to be aware that product is stored in multiple locations on the site, and a threat of additional explosion remains. Please do not return to the area within the evacuation zone.” The plant makes organic peroxides used in the production of plastic resins, polystyrene, paints and other products. An Arkema statement said: “Organic peroxides are extremely flammable and, as agreed with public officials, the best course of action is to let the fire burn itself out.
The blasts sent up a 30-40ft flame and a plume that the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), Brock Long, told reporters in Washington was hazardous. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality urged people in the area to stay indoors with their windows closed and air conditioners running, and to restrict physical activity. “We want local residents to be aware that product is stored in multiple locations on the site, and a threat of additional explosion remains. Please do not return to the area within the evacuation zone.”
The blasts sent up a 30-40ft flame and a plume that the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), Brock Long, told reporters in Washington was hazardous. The Texas commission on environmental quality urged people in the area to stay indoors with their windows closed and air conditioners running, and to restrict physical activity.
In the largely rural area surrounding the exclusion zone, officials said they went door to door to explain the situation and called on residents to evacuate, but leaving was not mandatory. At the morning press conference, local fire officials said the explosions were small and produced no toxins.In the largely rural area surrounding the exclusion zone, officials said they went door to door to explain the situation and called on residents to evacuate, but leaving was not mandatory. At the morning press conference, local fire officials said the explosions were small and produced no toxins.
“I heard the comment,” Rennard said. “I don’t want to make any comparison on the kind of smoke that’s coming from our fire. The smoke is noxious. Toxicity is a relative thing.”“I heard the comment,” Rennard said. “I don’t want to make any comparison on the kind of smoke that’s coming from our fire. The smoke is noxious. Toxicity is a relative thing.”
The plant was shut down last Friday in anticipation of the storm, though 11 employees stayed on site, tasked with trying to keep chemicals safe. Those workers were evacuated on Tuesday after the facility lost power from its primary supply and back-up generators late on Monday night.The plant was shut down last Friday in anticipation of the storm, though 11 employees stayed on site, tasked with trying to keep chemicals safe. Those workers were evacuated on Tuesday after the facility lost power from its primary supply and back-up generators late on Monday night.
Harvey, which is now a tropical depression, weakened as it moved inland over Louisiana on Thursday, leaving behind record flooding that has driven tens of thousands from their homes in Texas.Harvey, which is now a tropical depression, weakened as it moved inland over Louisiana on Thursday, leaving behind record flooding that has driven tens of thousands from their homes in Texas.
The storm has killed at least 35 people and forced 32,000 people into shelters since coming ashore on Friday near Rockport, Texas, on the Gulf of Mexico coast. It was the most powerful hurricane to hit the state in half a century.The storm has killed at least 35 people and forced 32,000 people into shelters since coming ashore on Friday near Rockport, Texas, on the Gulf of Mexico coast. It was the most powerful hurricane to hit the state in half a century.
Six oil refineries have begun the process of assessing damage and restarting, while two refineries in the Gulf coast region are operating at reduced rates. Floodwaters toppled two oil storage tanks in south Texas, spilling almost 30,000 gallons (114,000 liters) of crude oil. It was not immediately clear whether any of the spilled oil was recovered.Six oil refineries have begun the process of assessing damage and restarting, while two refineries in the Gulf coast region are operating at reduced rates. Floodwaters toppled two oil storage tanks in south Texas, spilling almost 30,000 gallons (114,000 liters) of crude oil. It was not immediately clear whether any of the spilled oil was recovered.
More damage to the oil industry infrastructure is expected to emerge as floodwaters recede. A major refinery in Port Arthur was closed on Wednesday after cutting its output to 40% a day earlier. Refineries operated by Exxon, Shell and other companies have released pollutants as torrential rains damaged storage tanks and other industrial facilities on the Texas coast, the Associated Press reported, although it is not clear the significance of the environmental risk they pose.More damage to the oil industry infrastructure is expected to emerge as floodwaters recede. A major refinery in Port Arthur was closed on Wednesday after cutting its output to 40% a day earlier. Refineries operated by Exxon, Shell and other companies have released pollutants as torrential rains damaged storage tanks and other industrial facilities on the Texas coast, the Associated Press reported, although it is not clear the significance of the environmental risk they pose.
Houston city centre appeared to have relatively little flooding damage, officials said, and the city’s two major airports were up and running again on Wednesday. Officials said they were resuming limited bus and light rail service as well as trash pickup. Houston’s city centre appeared to have relatively little flooding damage, officials said, and the city’s two major airports were up and running again on Wednesday. Officials said they were resuming limited bus and light rail service as well as trash pickup.
Nonetheless, the storm has left death and mass destruction in its wake. On Wednesday, authorities reported that a married couple who drove a pickup truck into floodwaters drowned after a current from a nearby creek swept the vehicle away. With the stench from stagnant waters hanging over parts of the city, though, the Houston health department urged residents to take precautions to minimise contamination and disease. “Practice good hygiene such as hand washing after any contact with #Harvey floodwaters,” it tweeted. “Do not eat any food that came in contact with #Harvey floodwaters. When in doubt, throw it out.”
A submerged van believed to hold six members of a Houston family was located in muddy water about 3 metres (10ft) deep. Efforts to recover the bodies were under way. Separately, officials reported that a three-year-old girl who was found clinging to the body of her drowned mother was likely to be released soon from hospital. Regular trash collection was due to resume but the Houston Chronicle warned readers that the public health threat was just beginning.
A retirement home outside Beaumont was evacuated by airboat, with agents from the Gulf states of Florida and Louisiana participating. Beaumont was later reported to have lost its water supply. The veterans’ administration moved nurses from Dallas, 250 miles north, to relieve nurses in Houston. “From the bacteria, viruses, and fungi harbored in floodwaters to new breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes to a potentially staggering mental health toll inflicted on those hardest hit by Harvey, the risks are expected to be great,” it said, citing public health experts.
The Texas Department of Public Safety said 48,700 homes in the area had sustained flood damage, including 17,000 with major damage and 1,000 that were destroyed. The state estimated that 700 businesses had been damaged. Mayor Sylvester Turner said the city remained calm. “No city curfew citations or arrests for a second night in a row. Thank you Houston for your understanding and cooperation,” he tweeted.
Many streets in Houston remain under water and some will be so for days, if not weeks. More shelters have opened to handle the swelling numbers of people seeking refuge and to ease the pressure on the biggest shelter, a downtown convention centre that was operating at double its intended 5,000 capacity. Overnight police rescued 18 people from floodwaters, he said: “Crisis ebbing but far from over.”
Vice-president Mike Pence was on his way to Texas on Thursday to visit the coastal town of Rockport, which was hit hard when Harvey made landfall. The death toll climbed on Wednesday, when authorities reported that a married couple who drove a pickup truck into floodwaters drowned when a current from a nearby creek swept the vehicle away. A submerged van believed to hold six members of a Houston family was located in muddy water about 3 metres (10ft) deep.
A retirement home outside Beaumont was evacuated by airboat, with agents from Florida and Louisiana participating. Beaumont was later reported to have lost its water supply. The veterans’ administration moved nurses from Dallas, 250 miles north, to relieve nurses in Houston.
The Texas department of public safety said 48,700 homes had sustained flood damage, including 17,000 with major damage and 1,000 that were destroyed. The state estimated that 700 businesses had been damaged.
The US vice-president, Mike Pence, was on his way to Texas on Thursday to visit the coastal town of Rockport, which was hit hard when Harvey made landfall.