Arkema says workers still on site at foundering chemical plant in Crosby - (Plant has been evacuated

originally posted by: pravdaseeker
Dear ATS Readers, Writers,

You were thinking the same as I was... I was thinking of the exact same event in Texas, but you found it first...

Yeah, now that was quite a campfire wasn't it?

Depending on how much organic peroxides this plant has laying around.... low stock or high stockpiles ready for order and shipment...would determine the severity...

These kind of places can go up in a big bang pretty easy if conditions are right.

Pravdaseeker


a reply to: DancedWithWolves

I remember from chemistry that the big threat was the build up of gas in the containers. They should allow venting in case of pressure I think it's required. As for the threat I'm a little confused if you take the solution below 10 percent it's harmless. So it seems to me if an area floods that contains it one if container ruptured it would instantly be diluted. Number two the flood water won't allow the temptature get to high. You figure that water will be about 65 degrees.

Holy crap, this is horrifying. I can't believe this is being kept to such a low murmur in the media, it might as well be under the rug already.

I don't know what to make of this, other than hoping by some utter miracle that nothing explodes or catches.

a reply to: dragonridr

There is a "small possibility" that the peroxide could release into the flood waters without igniting, and in that case would break down and either dissipate in the water or evaporate, Richard Rowe, chief executive officer of Arkema's North America unit said. However, the fire is the most likely outcome.

Source


I wasn't a great chemistry student though so here's to hoping they are wrong.

a reply to: jadedANDcynical

Jaded, I've got to run but I am seeing an UNCONFIRMED social media post about possible Anhydrous Ammonia being there...possibly. Just something to listen for. They aren't releasing a list of what chemicals are there. Another why?

No power to run the refrigeration units. I believe anhydrous ammonia may be present. If the system is designed for cooled liquid and the refrigerators are out of service the ammonia will vaporize and build pressure until the equipment fails. Massive vapor cloud explosion followed by a deadly ammonia cloud.

Source

Again, this is unconfirmed. Stay safe. Thoughts are with you and yours.

well, hopefully since it`s a sure thing that this is going to blow, everyone has left by now or is getting ready to leave , but unfortunately there are proabaly a lot of morons there that will stay until it blows and then they will come crying and wailing to the government to recue them and give them money.

The bbc just had a breaking news pop up saying explosion has been heard from.the plant. However they have 0 information so far

originally posted by: kamatty
The bbc just had a breaking news pop up saying explosion has been heard from.the plant. However they have 0 information so far

Edit:

Explosions have been reported at a chemical plant near the flooded US city of Houston.
US media report witnesses as hearing two blasts and seeing black smoke issuing from the Arkema plant at Crosby.

www.bbc.com...

originally posted by: kamatty

originally posted by: kamatty
The bbc just had a breaking news pop up saying explosion has been heard from.the plant. However they have 0 information so far

Edit:

Explosions have been reported at a chemical plant near the flooded US city of Houston.
US media report witnesses as hearing two blasts and seeing black smoke issuing from the Arkema plant at Crosby.

www.bbc.com...

:

Dear God...I am watching this on the news now. The chemical plant wasn't able to keep the chemicals cool so the plant exploded.

How many other plants are out there in the same condition?

a reply to: texasgirl

What happens to the surrounding area?? Chemicals leaking into the flood water, chemicals been thrown by explosions further away and landing in flood water, mixing with it. When the water drains away will all the land be contaminated?

Worst case scenario of a worst case senario

originally posted by: kamatty
a reply to: texasgirl

What happens to the surrounding area?? Chemicals leaking into the flood water, chemicals been thrown by explosions further away and landing in flood water, mixing with it. When the water drains away will all the land be contaminated?

Worst case scenario of a worst case senario

Organic peroxides are very unstable. Any that escape into the environment should break down quickly. I don't know what other chemicals may be involved, however.

a reply to: AndyFromMichigan

Lots of mixed signals coming out.

“Right now, the question is whether or not we can actually get in and assess the full scale of the impact from an environmental standpoint to an infrastructure stand point,” Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Brock Long said at a news briefing. “By all means, yes, the plume is incredibly dangerous.”

Source

originally posted by: AndyFromMichigan

originally posted by: kamatty
a reply to: texasgirl

What happens to the surrounding area?? Chemicals leaking into the flood water, chemicals been thrown by explosions further away and landing in flood water, mixing with it. When the water drains away will all the land be contaminated?

Worst case scenario of a worst case senario

Organic peroxides are very unstable. Any that escape into the environment should break down quickly. I don't know what other chemicals may be involved, however.

Yes the sheriff claims there was no explosion. It appears the pressure valves popped releasing gas this happen's to prevent an explosion

The Arkema official in the press conference....I'm calling BS.

This is not the time to hide information or not be able to answer basic questions about risks to health.

No excuse.

There have been two explosions.

Authorities are saying further blasts are likely to occur on site since chemicals are not being stored at approprite temperatures since losing power.

www.nbcnews.com...

Here is another article just posted about an hour ago.

www.foxnews.com...

An editorial from the Houston Chronicle today is well worth digesting.

The disaster in Crosby is purely man-made.
As a chemical plant burns, Texans remain in the dark about toxic threats.

Now the surrounding residents, living 25 miles northeast of downtown Houston, have been instructed to shut their doors and windows, turn off air conditioners and do everything possible to avoid breathing in the acrid smoke and fumes pouring out of the plant owned by Arkema Inc.

So what, exactly, is in the air?

That's a very good question.

Exposure to the Arkema fire has sent 15 sheriff's deputies to the hospital as of this writing, yet the company still won't explain the specific sort of adverse health effects that people should expect from the emissions. The company also couldn't answer pointed question by Dempsey about why volatile materials weren't neutralized before workers fled the site.

Harvey was an act of God.

The disaster in Crosby is purely man-made.

Read the full editorial here

Thanks to all for the information shared in this thread and thoughts for those in harm's way.

Not much info this morning.

www.cnn.com...

At least there have been no major explosions.

The Crosby, Texas plant produces liquid organic peroxide's used in products ranging from headlight assemblies to siding.

Surrounding residents are still complaining of smoke and fumes.

Lot of questions to be answered with this one.

I would like to know how a plant like this can get away with being in such a populated area.

We don't think about these things until something goes wrong.

Found this article. (I know, Daily news)

www.dailymail.co.uk...

It's on fire again. :'(



2 more chemical containers explode at Crosby chemical plant

Towering flames and plumes of jet black smoke poured from the flooded Arkema plant in Crosby as two containers of volatile organic peroxides exploded around 5 p.m., officials said. 

The company instead decided to leave the material on site with backup generators and a cooling system. The company could not say how elevated these generators were.

Arkema said neutralizing the material was not practical and that "at no point" did they intend to destroy it.

"Those were our levels of contingency," according to Darryl Roberts, a safety official with Arkema. "Clearly that wasn't enough."

Full story

Arkema backtracks, refuses to provide chemical inventory to the public
Story