|
|
Post by tracyarts on Mar 18, 2019 2:22:00 GMT
Well, this sucks.
A tank caught fire at a petrochemical storage facility on the Houston ship channel at around 10:30-ish this morning. Shelter in place was issued for the town, freeway closed, etc...
(I live about 3 miles from it).
It's been burning all day, fire not under control, it's gotten worse, multiple tanks involved now. We're still stuck under a shelter in place. Might be lifted in the morning? Might not.
Apparently all they can do is let it burn and try to keep it from spreading.
The news helicopter footage of the fire now that it's getting dark looks like some kind of dystopian armageddon scene.
"They" say there's no danger as of yet, but my eyes, nose, and throat have been irritated all day. We know Naptha was in the first tank that went up. Not sure about the others. But multiple agencies and outside contractors are monitoring air quality. The weather is working in our favor, letting the smoke rise and disperse.
This fire has been belching a massive column of black toxic smoke into the sky for going on 11 hours now, with no signs of letting up. Dispersing just means no rushed evacuations from the immediate area, the toxins will still come down eventually. Over a much wider area now.
I'm wondering if it will get bad enough that they'll call for evacuations overnight while everyone is sleeping. That would be a clusterfuck of epic proportions.
We probably should have just gotten the hell out earlier, but we went with the advice of the city office of emergency management and stayed put. Got my bug out bags ready though.
And there was another fire a few more miles away at a different facility yesterday.
It really is unacceptable.
|
|
|
|
Post by mom on Mar 18, 2019 2:29:12 GMT
Its totally unacceptable. My family is in Lake Charles and I dread this type of situation for them one day. It's coming...
|
|
|
|
Post by yivit on Mar 18, 2019 2:41:00 GMT
The second tank is xylene.
I'm over at hwy 3 and bw8 area (a good 10-plus miles from you) and it's been bugging me all day as well (eyes itching, headache), even though they did NOT state my area as "in the path" of the plume/contaminants. The areas they DID state, though, are downwind of me as the crow flies form the tank farm, so yeah I'm in the path. I can't imagine how bad it is closer like you are. DPISD is waiting to see if they life the shelter-in-place by early morning or not before deciding on school tomorrow. PISD is watching it for possible cancellation too.
Be careful.
|
|
|
|
Post by crazy4scraps on Mar 18, 2019 2:55:12 GMT
I’m sorry, how awful. I hope the mess is quickly contained and that everyone in the area is safe!
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 4, 2024 22:32:11 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2019 4:24:18 GMT
Does your cities provide shelter in place kits?
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 4, 2024 22:32:11 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2019 4:30:52 GMT
Turn off your outside air.
Cover your windows with plastic sheeting and duct tape it in place. Tape your doors.
I would use only bottled water to cook with and drink.
|
|
|
|
Post by tracyarts on Mar 18, 2019 4:48:39 GMT
No, they provide instructions though. This time, it's stay indoors, keep windows and doors shut, and don't run any ventilation or central heat/ac systems. We have a "safe room" kit to seal off a bathroom in case of a very serious leak/spill though. But it wasn't provided, we put it together ourselves. Does your cities provide shelter in place kits? |
|
|
|
Post by **GypsyGirl** on Mar 18, 2019 5:07:24 GMT
 This photo was taken about 4:30 pm today from the Memorial Park area, about 25 miles from the fire. That's downtown Houston in the background. All that dark smoke above the horizon is from the fire. DD was just at this facility on Friday afternoon and when she told me that my heart skipped a few beats. Very thankful that all the 30 people at the facility are accounted for and safe. tracyarts and yivit - take care. Hopefully this is over soon. |
|
|
|
Post by laurasw on Mar 18, 2019 5:19:08 GMT
I'm in Pearland and could see the dark smoke all day. There were people taking pictures of it from the grocery store parking lot this evening. Hoping there is better news in the morning and that there aren't any serious repercussions from this. One good thing is that it's not summertime where you would really be missing running the AC!
|
|
|
|
Post by **GypsyGirl** on Mar 18, 2019 14:51:38 GMT
tracyarts - How are you doing this morning? Are you planning to leave, especially since the fire has now spread to a total of 8 tanks? I hope that you are able to get to an area with better air, though that won't be in Houston today. We are already getting the smoke here. Since I have asthma I've cut off the a/c and plan to stay in today. My earlier photo was from 4:30 pm yesterday. The first photo was taken in the same area earlier this morning. The second photo was taken from a downtown office building.  From downtown: 
|
|
|
|
Post by teri on Mar 18, 2019 17:17:59 GMT
I'm at Hwy 3 and College area City of South Houston. The smoke looks terrible, I don't see how the air can be just fine for us. This was yesterday driving down Spencer  even at 7am this morning down hwy 3 the smoke was much worse since more tanks are now burning |
|
|
|
Post by **GypsyGirl** on Mar 18, 2019 19:15:09 GMT
The smoke looks terrible, I don't see how the air can be just fine for us. This was yesterday driving down Spencer I don't have a lot of faith in the reports that the air is fine. Sounds like a lot of CYA to me. We have the smoke on the West side of Houston now. My a/c has been off all day. Not taking any chances since I have asthma. |
|
|
|
Post by Merge on Mar 18, 2019 19:18:13 GMT
I was just going to say - I'm at work on the west side and am starting to lose my voice. Not sure if it's chemicals or pollen.
|
|
|
|
Post by missmcd on Mar 18, 2019 19:50:09 GMT
I couldn't believe how bad it was this morning while driving to work, it's very scary!
|
|
|
|
Post by yivit on Mar 18, 2019 23:52:51 GMT
The plume seems to be lighter in color this afternoon. They just said oak pollen is extreme today so I can't tell which thing is causing my throat itch and tightness (probably a combination). I was just watching the news and we have winds shifting yet again tomorrow, so the plume may head towards College Station tomorrow and then shift south Wednesday (which would put it over work).
|
|
|
|
Post by tracyarts on Mar 19, 2019 0:33:52 GMT
This morning, not too far from my house. Taken on the main street running through Deer Park, facing away from our neighborhood, towards the fire. I stayed in, DH went to work, he took it on the way.  I decided to stay, we don't have anywhere convenient to go. The sensitivity symptoms are no different or worse than they were after Harvey, or any other day when a facility has a startup or burns a flare. Most of my neighbors are feeling the same. Allergy type symptoms from the chemicals in the air. Itchy eyes and sinus issues. A few with respiratory problems left, but most are staying unless the smoke plume descends and the winds change. The city says the air is safe, well everyone I talked to are having the same symptoms, so obviously there's an issue. It's all double talk and bullshit from the authorities. As always. |
|
|
|
Post by Patter on Mar 19, 2019 10:03:18 GMT
Wow, just want to say how scary! Those chemicals in the air would freak me out! They may say it's not an issue now but how will it affect people years from now?
|
|
