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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2017/aug/31/texas-flooding-chemical-plant-harvey-live
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| Texas flooding: chemical plant braced for further explosions – live | Texas flooding: chemical plant braced for further explosions – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.52pm BST | |
| 16:52 | |
| Rory Carroll | |
| With the stench from stagnant waters hanging over parts of the city 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.” | |
| Regular trash collection was due to resume on Thursday but the the Houston Chronicle warned readers that the public health threat was just beginning. | |
| “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. | |
| 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. | |
| Overnight police rescued 18 people from floodwaters, he said. “Crisis ebbing but far from over.” | |
| Updated | |
| at 4.52pm BST | |
| 4.45pm BST | |
| 16:45 | |
| Rory Carroll | |
| Rory Carroll has been inside the Houston convention centre talking to folks stranded by Harvey. Here’s some of what he’s heard: | |
| Enrique Martinez, 29, office administrator | |
| “Our house and car got flood, no power or water, so we came here on Monday. The first night only my grandmother had a cot, the rest of us slept on the floor. | |
| “She needs dialysis so we’re leaving today for my uncle’s house. It’ll be easier to get her medical treatment from there.” | |
| Aaron Reynolds, 30, entrepreneur | |
| “This shelter is fucked up. There were people having sex two cots down from me. Bed bugs. And fleas from people’s dogs. I got bit all over. | |
| “And you can’t go out at night. It’s like prison. I’m moving to a hotel today.” | |
| Dimon Brody, 22, student and leasing consultant | |
| “I’ve been volunteering at the information desk, giving people maps, telling them where to go, what’s happening. It’s been challenging. | |
| “Last night a man had a seizure. We put him in the recovery position until paramedics arrived. Overall it’s been enjoyable. I like giving back to people in need.” | |
| Charlene Hamilton, 58, retired nurse | |
| “When I woke on Sunday the water was up to my chest. I’ve got arthritis but I was able to get out the living room window with some help. I’m blessed to be alive. | |
| “Everyone here is helpful and nice, they’re wonderful. I’ve no flood insurance but as long as I keep focusing on the Lord I know I can make it through this. I lost stuff but stuff can be replaced. I still have my life.” | |
| Read more: | |
| 4.13pm BST | 4.13pm BST |
| 16:13 | 16:13 |
| Rory Carroll | Rory Carroll |
| Our Rory Carroll reports that, in part of Harvey-battered Houston, dry land, normalcy and hope are finally coming back in view: | Our Rory Carroll reports that, in part of Harvey-battered Houston, dry land, normalcy and hope are finally coming back in view: |
| “It’s dry as far as you can see,” said Liz Spencer, 64, an artist, who viewed a panorama from a skyscraper’s 45th floor. She was now out walking with her nine-year-old granddaughter Ivy and had just scooped up some litter. “This feels like the start of getting back to a normal state of affairs.” | “It’s dry as far as you can see,” said Liz Spencer, 64, an artist, who viewed a panorama from a skyscraper’s 45th floor. She was now out walking with her nine-year-old granddaughter Ivy and had just scooped up some litter. “This feels like the start of getting back to a normal state of affairs.” |
| The mayor, Sylvester Turner, struck a similar tone at a news conference, calling for the city to return to routine as swiftly as possible. Airports were due to reopen with limited service later on Wednesday and schools will reopen on 5 September, he said. “Let’s play ball, let’s keep moving.” | The mayor, Sylvester Turner, struck a similar tone at a news conference, calling for the city to return to routine as swiftly as possible. Airports were due to reopen with limited service later on Wednesday and schools will reopen on 5 September, he said. “Let’s play ball, let’s keep moving.” |
| It was a marked contrast to the mayhem Harvey’s second landfall was unleashing on Port Arthur a hundred miles east and to the widespread devastation in outlying areas of Houston, where aerial footage showed entire communities still submerged. | It was a marked contrast to the mayhem Harvey’s second landfall was unleashing on Port Arthur a hundred miles east and to the widespread devastation in outlying areas of Houston, where aerial footage showed entire communities still submerged. |
| Grim news will continue to unfold as waters recede, revealing more bodies – the official death toll stood at 23 – and the scale of damage. Some analysts estimate it will exceed $100bn. | Grim news will continue to unfold as waters recede, revealing more bodies – the official death toll stood at 23 – and the scale of damage. Some analysts estimate it will exceed $100bn. |
| Yet downtown Houston, which this week celebrates its 181st birthday, was already showing the first, halting steps towards recovery, or at least normality. | Yet downtown Houston, which this week celebrates its 181st birthday, was already showing the first, halting steps towards recovery, or at least normality. |
| 4.06pm BST | 4.06pm BST |
| 16:06 | 16:06 |
| Texas chemical plant officials expect eight more explosions | Texas chemical plant officials expect eight more explosions |
| Good morning. Jamiles Lartey here with our continuing coverage of the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. We’re leading off with the situation at the Arkema chemical plant in Crosby, Texas. | Good morning. Jamiles Lartey here with our continuing coverage of the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. We’re leading off with the situation at the Arkema chemical plant in Crosby, Texas. |
| Early on Thursday morning a trailer containing liquid organic peroxide compounds caught fire, sending thick plumes of acrid black smoke into the air and forcing 14 sheriff’s deputies who responded to hospital with smoke inhalation injuries. All but two had been released as of Thursday morning. | Early on Thursday morning a trailer containing liquid organic peroxide compounds caught fire, sending thick plumes of acrid black smoke into the air and forcing 14 sheriff’s deputies who responded to hospital with smoke inhalation injuries. All but two had been released as of Thursday morning. |
| In a press conference around 8.30am local time an Arkema executive said that given the condition of the plant, the company fully expected the remaining eight trailers to experience similar combustion events. The compounds require cooling to remain stable and Arkema has seen four levels of cooling redundancy go down due to floodwater according to a spokesman. | In a press conference around 8.30am local time an Arkema executive said that given the condition of the plant, the company fully expected the remaining eight trailers to experience similar combustion events. The compounds require cooling to remain stable and Arkema has seen four levels of cooling redundancy go down due to floodwater according to a spokesman. |
| “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. “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. “These things can burn very quickly and very violently and it would not be unusual for them to explode.” |
| In the press conference, Harris County law enforcement officials explained that they were enforcing a 1.5 mile evacuation zone around the plant, going door to door and asking residents to leave. | In the press conference, Harris County law enforcement officials explained that they were enforcing a 1.5 mile evacuation zone around the plant, going door to door and asking residents to leave. |
| There was confusion during the press conference as local law enforcement and the Arkema executive offered different take on exactly what kind of public health impact the compromised organic peroxides might have. Harris County sheriff Ed Gonzalez and fire marshal Bob Royall initially indicated that the smoke and any related fumes were non-toxic and would be no more or less dangerous to inhale than that from a BBQ pit or a campfire. | There was confusion during the press conference as local law enforcement and the Arkema executive offered different take on exactly what kind of public health impact the compromised organic peroxides might have. Harris County sheriff Ed Gonzalez and fire marshal Bob Royall initially indicated that the smoke and any related fumes were non-toxic and would be no more or less dangerous to inhale than that from a BBQ pit or a campfire. |
| Pressed on the same question, Rennard refused to agree with that assessment. | Pressed on the same question, Rennard refused to agree with that assessment. |
| “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 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 relative thing.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.07pm BST | at 4.07pm BST |