There Went the Arkema Plant

Two explosions have taken place at a chemical plant in Crosby, Texas, that lost power due to flooding caused by tropical storm Harvey.

A sheriff’s deputy was taken to hospital after inhaling chemical fumes, and nine others drove themselves to hospital as a precaution. The plant makes organic peroxides used in the production of plastic resins, polystyrene, paints and other products.

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The plant was shut down on 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 backup generators late on Monday night. Harris County ordered the evacuation of residents within a 1.5-mile (2.4km) radius.

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“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.”

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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.

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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.

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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. [ed: emphasis mine]

  Guardian