Storm Harvey: More fires expected at flooded Texas chemical plant

More fires are expected at a flooded Texas chemical
plant amid mixed messages over their danger to the
public.
A 9-12m (30-40ft) flame sent up a plume of black
smoke at the Arkema SA facility in Crosby, 25 miles
northeast of Houston, following damage caused by
storm Harvey.
The public were urged to evacuate and stay away
from the area, with the local sheriff revealing 15
deputies were taken to hospital over concerns some
may have inhaled fumes.
:: Trump to donate $1m of own money to Harvey
relief
They were later released, while nine other people
drove themselves to hospital as a precaution.
Flights have also been temporarily barred from the
area.
Officials initially described the fumes from the blaze
as "incredibly toxic" but later backed away and
assured locals the smoke posed no immediate threat
to their health.
The plant is under 1.8m (6ft) of floodwater
Arkema shut down the plant and evacuated workers
on Tuesday before Harvey made landfall, but a loss
of power as a result of the storm left the organic
peroxides it produces without refrigeration.
This caused them to become volatile as temperatures
rose, with one of nine containers holding the
chemicals catching fire.
The French company, which produces peroxides for
use in plastic resins, polystyrene and paint, now fears
eight more containers could burn and explode.
Arkema officials believe they won't be able to access
the site for up to five more days due to 1.8m (6ft) of
floodwater.
A roadblock keeps people away from the area
The company 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 head of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) initially described the fire as
"incredibly dangerous" but was later said to have
been overly cautious in issuing the warning.
The Environmental Protection Agency said its
analysis of the smoke showed it posed no immediate
threat.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said: "It is not
anything toxic.It is not anything that we feel is a
danger to the community at all."
The chemicals turned volatile after the site's
cooling system failed
Harris County ordered the evacuation of residents
within a 1.5-mile radius due to the risk of an
explosion and subsequent leak.
Storm Harvey has killed at least 35 people and forced
32,000 people into shelters since coming ashore on
Friday near Rockport, Texas.
It has caused devastating flooding in Houston and
other parts of Texas, and is the most powerful
hurricane to hit the state in half a century.
Texas governor Greg Abbott said on Wednesday that
floodwaters would linger for up to a week and said
the area affected was larger than that hit by 2005's
Hurricane Katrina, which killed more than 1,800
people in New Orleans, and 2012's Superstorm Sandy,
which killed 132 around New York and New Jersey.
Harvey is predicted to be one of the most expensive
natural disasters in US history.
Posted in: HURRICANE HARVEY

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