Officials in Harris County, Texas, continue to urge people living near a Dow Chemical plant in La Porte to leave their homes amid fears that yesterday’s chemical leak could trigger an explosion.
Over-Pressurized Tanker Truck Began Leaking Toxic HA
The latest industrial crisis to hit southeast Texas began around 7:30 a.m. on July 21st, when Dow Chemical issued a vague warning about a “process upset” at its facility located at 13300 Bay Area Blvd in La Porte, about 25 miles from Houston.
It was later confirmed that a tanker truck located on the property had over-pressurized, causing a release of hydroxyethyl acrylate (HA) from the tank vent.
Also known as ROCRYL 420, hydroxyethyl acrylate is used in acrylics for coating, adhesives, and UV reactive. Exposure to HA can cause severe skin burns and eye damage, nose and throat irritation, and allergic skin reactions. The chemical is also harmful if swallowed.
Voluntary Evacuation Order Remains in Effect around Dow Chemical Plant
La Porte Emergency Management initially announced a shelter-in-place order that advised anyone living east of Bay Area Blvd. and south of Fairmont to go indoors, turn off their A/C system, and close all windows and doors.
A voluntary evacuation order for a half-mile radius around the Dow Chemical plant was issued at 8:30 a.m. Although the shelter-in-place order was lifted around 10:50 a.m. on Wednesday, the voluntary evacuation order remains in effect this morning.
Yesterday afternoon, officials reported that the HA was no longer leaking from the truck’s valve. But the chemical may not be neutralized and could be building up inside the tank.
“Those materials, that HEA that’s in that tanker truck, if it is in fact continuing to react with itself, it could eventually cause a fire,” explained Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. “A fire could eventually cause an explosion
Neighboring Tanks also in Danger of Exploding
If the worst fears are realized, two nearby tankers could also explode, including a second containing HA. The other is filled with Methyl Methacrylate, which can cause respiratory problems after short-term and long-term exposure. That chemical is also linked to neurological problems and has been shown to cause fetal abnormalities in animals.
Fewer than 10 homes are located inside the evacuation zone. As of yesterday afternoon, people living in two of those homes had refused to leave.
So far, there’s no timeline for lifting the evacuation order.
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Our Undefeated Houston Plant Accident Lawyers continue to monitor the ongoing situation at the Dow Chemical plant in La Porte, Texas, and will post additional updates if new information becomes available.
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