Hurricane Harvey leads to accidental, intentional fires at TX chemical plant

September 11th, 2017 by Dakota Software Staff

Waters from Hurricane Harvey damaged a chemical manufacturing plant in Crosby, Texas, causing two trailers containing volatile chemical compounds to explode and another to catch fire on August 31.

On September 3, officials from the company set controlled fires at the six remaining trailers at the facility, fearing other accidents were possible that could endanger the health and safety of area residents and company employees. The fires caused plumes of black smoke to fill the area around the compound and sent some emergency responders to the hospital, according to NBC News.

Hurricane causes fires, company creates more to ensure safety

The plant, located 30 miles northeast of downtown Houston, manufactures organic peroxides, which are used to make various plastics. The peroxides need cool temperatures to remain stable and they were housed in refrigerated trailers. Excessive flooding from the storm cut electricity to the site and also prevented backup generators from working, rendering the cooling units inoperable.

A team of 11 staff members then moved the trailers containing some of the most dangerous substances, like the highly contaminable sulfur dioxide and isobutylene, to safer areas of the compound before authorities ordered them to evacuate. According to the New York Times, the movement of those chemicals largely prevented a more severe and dangerous event from occurring. Release of sulfur dioxide and isobutylene could have affected more than one million people over a 1,600-square-mile area of eastern Texas.

After the initial three fires burned out, company officials monitored the six remaining trailers via aerial surveillance for two days. They noted the occurrence of decomposition in some chemicals and expected a second series of accidents to result. The trailers did not ignite. So to preserve time and safety, the company decided it was safest to induce fires manually and burn the last of the problematic chemicals, according to statements made the company president during a press conference held following the fires.

On Monday, area residents were allowed to return to their homes.

Following Hurricane Ike in 2008, which caused $50 billion in damage, the company said flooding and power-loss were threats to its Crosby facility. Tom Neltner, Chemicals policy director at the Environmental Defense Fund, told the New York Times an emergency prevention and response plan was crafted but significant portions of it failed to be implemented and preparation for a new severe weather event was lacking.

Last year, OSHA cited the facility for major violations in its handling of dangerous and reactionary chemicals. The company paid $91,000 in fines.

The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board is conducting an inquiry into facility. Johnnie Banks, a CSB investigator, said the agency will review the company's official risk management plans and whether or not the sensitive organic peroxides and other chemicals that may have caused the accidents were addressed in them.