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Crosby, Texas, Chemical Plant Explodes Twice, Arkema Group Says

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posted on Aug, 31 2017 @ 07:11 AM
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A flooded chemical plant near Houston exploded twice early Thursday, sending a plume of smoke into the air and triggering a fire that the firm plans to let "burn itself out."

Crosby, Texas, Chemical Plant Explodes Twice, Arkema Group Says

Well, it's happened I pray it doesn't get much worse.



Arkema Group, one of the world's largest chemical companies, had warned Wednesday that the plant would catch fire and explode at some point — adding that there was nothing to stop it.



in a statement issued early Thursday, the France-based company confirmed they had been notified by authorities of the blasts at around 2 a.m. local time (3 a.m. ET). "We want local residents to be aware that product is stored in multiple locations on the site, and a threat of additional explosion remains," the statement said. "We have been working closely with public officials to manage the implications of this situation."


Stay safe out there everyone. It appears as if the winds are blow east/ southeast. Head the other way.

This is a ongoing story

Source



posted on Aug, 31 2017 @ 07:13 AM
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a reply to: slapjacks

According to the sheriff on this morning's news it was not an explosion - they pointed that out several times. There were a couple of "pops" but no explosion.



posted on Aug, 31 2017 @ 07:16 AM
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a reply to: slapjacks

Feeling so sad for these folks. I realize that they are strong and resilient but, how much more can they endure?!
I hope the officials are able to lessen the impact of this plant exploding or fires as a result.
I heard this morning of the family (in the van) being located and the group of rescuers who inadvertently stepped on a live power line.
It's all so tragic.
Thanks for the update, haven't been able to watch the news much.



posted on Aug, 31 2017 @ 07:23 AM
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originally posted by: TXTriker
a reply to: slapjacks

According to the sheriff on this morning's news it was not an explosion - they pointed that out several times. There were a couple of "pops" but no explosion.



That is true, however this could also be the prelude of something much worse.



posted on Aug, 31 2017 @ 07:42 AM
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Why didn't they treat this with another chemical that should have been available to stop the explosive reaction before this happened? Were they more worried about trying to save profits?

Questions need asked.


It would be surprising if the company had not considered a scenario like this, said Sam Mannan of Texas A&M University's Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Center.

Companies typically would have the ability to quench the organic peroxides in situations like this with another chemical so it's no longer dangerous.

"You'll lose the feedstock but it's safer than letting it go into runaway mode," Mannan said.



Source

The company has also refused to release an updated list of all chemicals on site. They are allowed to hide this in Texas now. Think about it. Some disasters should be preventable, even in a flood.

They may have done all they could but, reporting suggests this crisis may have been caused by profit motives that they put ahead of safety, until it was too late.

More explosions are possible at the site.

Stay safe everyone.


edit on 31-8-2017 by DancedWithWolves because: (no reason given)



posted on Aug, 31 2017 @ 08:00 AM
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originally posted by: TXTriker
a reply to: slapjacks

According to the sheriff on this morning's news it was not an explosion - they pointed that out several times. There were a couple of "pops" but no explosion.


That's an explosion, just a minor one.

ETA: Arkema is a customer of the place where I work, altho we deal with a location in Pennsylvania.

I always mentally add "Asyluma" to their name

edit on 31-8-2017 by AndyFromMichigan because: (no reason given)



posted on Aug, 31 2017 @ 08:00 AM
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ETA
21 first responders being treated by area hospital.
edit on 31-8-2017 by DancedWithWolves because: (no reason given)



posted on Aug, 31 2017 @ 08:48 AM
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originally posted by: TXTriker
a reply to: slapjacks

According to the sheriff on this morning's news it was not an explosion - they pointed that out several times. There were a couple of "pops" but no explosion.


They expected the explosion(s) to be a lot larger, and warn the threat is not over. Because primary power is off, the refrigeration of certain tanks of volatile chemicals is discontinued.

The opening (bursting) of these tanks to the atmosphere means these volatiles will be boiling off, sending vapor plumes down wind.

Not enough peoples lives have been battered by hurricane force winds, drowned by torrential rain and washed away by still rising flood waters, now they get to shelter in place, breathing poisonous fumes.



posted on Aug, 31 2017 @ 09:08 AM
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a reply to: slapjacks

The company also says the smoke is not "toxic," just an "irritant". Riiiiiight, we've heard that line before when the government said the air during the 9/11 attacks wasn't toxic.



posted on Aug, 31 2017 @ 09:25 AM
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a reply to: WeRpeons

The spokesman for the company just refused to say it wasn't toxic in a press conference.



posted on Aug, 31 2017 @ 09:41 AM
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a reply to: DancedWithWolves

www.arkema-americas.com...
www.arkema-americas.com...
www.arkema-americas.com...



 Crosby Volunteer Fire Department – We host annual drills in coordination with the local fire department and emergency medical team to coordinate likely interaction in the event of an emergency. We also pay for the local fire department to attend fire training with the plant emergency team.

Local officials know what is at that facility.



The company has also refused to release an updated list of all chemicals on site.

That is just an outright lie.
While the company may have not released the list to a journalist; the list is on hand at the lepc.

www3.epa.gov...#/Chemical/77532PNNWL18000
That is 2016 TRI report from epa
All of this is accessible to the public
Too bad madcow doesnt know how to find the info

edit on 31/8/2017 by shooterbrody because: stupid one sided journalists



posted on Aug, 31 2017 @ 09:52 AM
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This particular story HIGHLIGHTS how fake actual news can be.

Facilities and communities that host these facilities have emergency response plans by LAW.
These plans are reviewed every 5 years by LAW.

Just because nobody from the company wants to talk to them does not mean the info is not available. Given the choice I would not speak to those particular journalists either. THEY LIE TOO MUCH!
edit on 31/8/2017 by shooterbrody because: (no reason given)



posted on Aug, 31 2017 @ 09:58 AM
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originally posted by: shooterbrody
This particular story HIGHLIGHTS how fake actual news can be.

Facilities and communities that host these facilities have emergency response plans by LAW.
These plans are reviewed every 5 years by LAW.

Just because nobody from the company wants to talk to them does not mean the info is not available. Given the choice I would not speak to those particular journalists either. THEY LIE TOO MUCH!

Damn right. Where I work, we are required by law to maintain a list of every chemical that we keep on-sight. This is specifically in case there is a fire, or some other kind of emergency situation.



posted on Aug, 31 2017 @ 11:02 AM
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a reply to: shooterbrody

Here is a list of chemicals onsite.

Granted, reporters could do a bit better job researching and preparing themselves with informed questions, but to be fair the epa site is not very forthcoming with information either. One has to spend a good bit of time poking around various levels of the site in order to find out details of each particular chemical.

Still think that the plant manager carries some responsibility for not burning off the chemical when they had the chance.



posted on Aug, 31 2017 @ 11:24 AM
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a reply to: jadedANDcynical

Same link as I posted.
That still makes this statement nothing but a lie.


The company has also refused to release an updated list of all chemicals on site. They are allowed to hide this in Texas now. Think about it. Some disasters should be preventable, even in a flood.

"they" are in no way allowed to "hide" anything anywhere let alone in Texas.

This is bs fake news being spread by people who have a political agenda.
Any reporter unable to navigate the epa's website while putting together an environmental story should no longer be considered a credible journalist.

Or do we no longer deny ignorance?



posted on Aug, 31 2017 @ 11:46 AM
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We have a list in each lab at the building security entrance, the next building over and the world headquarters about 2 miles away.



posted on Aug, 31 2017 @ 12:55 PM
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originally posted by: DancedWithWolves
Why didn't they treat this with another chemical that should have been available to stop the explosive reaction before this happened? Were they more worried about trying to save profits?

Questions need asked.


It would be surprising if the company had not considered a scenario like this, said Sam Mannan of Texas A&M University's Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Center.

Companies typically would have the ability to quench the organic peroxides in situations like this with another chemical so it's no longer dangerous.

"You'll lose the feedstock but it's safer than letting it go into runaway mode," Mannan said.



Source

The company has also refused to release an updated list of all chemicals on site. They are allowed to hide this in Texas now. Think about it. Some disasters should be preventable, even in a flood.

They may have done all they could but, reporting suggests this crisis may have been caused by profit motives that they put ahead of safety, until it was too late.

More explosions are possible at the site.

Stay safe everyone.



Then there are the joy's of runaway de-regulation:

www.commondreams.org...

People wanted to know just what 'chemicals' were being released into the atmosphere:


They played a tape of a conference call on which Dempsey pressed the CEO of Arkema, Rich Rowe, about what substances were in the company's plant that would be released if the plant blew, as it apparently did Thursday morning. Rowe refused to answer, which was his perfect right within Texas' business-friendly environment. They could be hoarding nerve gas in that place, and be perfectly within the law not to tell anybody about it.



In fact, and this is the delectable part of the entire farce, there apparently is a law in Texas that specifically forbids many cities and towns from designing their own fire codes. Hell, the state even passed a law forbidding cities and towns from requiring fire sprinklers in new construction. Freedom!



The series took a chunk out of both the recklessness of the Texas state government and out of the spavined state of the EPA and OSHA even under President Obama, the latter problems having gotten worse under the current administration. You should read the whole thing, but Part Six of the series is particularly relevant. It describes how the city government of Houston, and its responsible officials, are flying completely blind as to what is being manufactured and stored in the hundreds of plants in and around the city.

edit on 31-8-2017 by FyreByrd because: (no reason given)



posted on Aug, 31 2017 @ 01:16 PM
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a reply to: FyreByrd

more bs opinion put forward to further a bs agenda
try looking into what a tri report or a tier Ii report is
google search lepc rmp and psm see what that gets you

and that laughable article makes the hurricane out to be a "predictable" storm
it was a once in a lifetime event that produced more rain than any storm IN RECORDED HISTORY

more lies



posted on Aug, 31 2017 @ 03:34 PM
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originally posted by: DancedWithWolves
Why didn't they treat this with another chemical that should have been available to stop the explosive reaction before this happened? Were they more worried about trying to save profits?

Questions need asked.


It would be surprising if the company had not considered a scenario like this, said Sam Mannan of Texas A&M University's Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Center.

Companies typically would have the ability to quench the organic peroxides in situations like this with another chemical so it's no longer dangerous.

"You'll lose the feedstock but it's safer than letting it go into runaway mode," Mannan said.



Source

The company has also refused to release an updated list of all chemicals on site. They are allowed to hide this in Texas now. Think about it. Some disasters should be preventable, even in a flood.

They may have done all they could but, reporting suggests this crisis may have been caused by profit motives that they put ahead of safety, until it was too late.

More explosions are possible at the site.

Stay safe everyone.



It was a pressure explosion. You keep various volatile chemicals supercooled in a liquid state below their evaporation point. It's safer and cheaper than having a huge gas tank. The risk is that if there is a power shortage, the pressurised tanks heat up and then pop. Could be anything from compressed oxygen bottles, CO2 or any other gas.



posted on Aug, 31 2017 @ 06:00 PM
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a reply to: shooterbrody

The Houston Chronicle has an 8 part series on the lax regulations in regards to Texas-based chemical plants.

Chemical Breakdown

From part six:


The fire department in the nation's fourth-largest city has no idea where most hazardous chemicals are, forgetting lessons learned in a near-disaster 21 years ago, a Houston Chronicle investigation has found.

Less than a quarter of hazardous materials facilities with permits have been inspected.

Little effort is made to find the ones skirting the rules or to help businesses that don't know what the rules are.




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