Posted on 08/31/2017 5:41:17 AM PDT by texas booster
The Harris County Emergency Operations Center reported explosions and black smoke coming from the Arkema chemical plant in Crosby early Thursday, the company said.
Arkema said Harris County officials notified the company about the explosions around 2 a.m. Thursday, adding that residents may hear additional explosions because the product is stored in multiple locations within the plant, which is 25 miles NE of downtown Houston.
Nearby residents should stay inside, turn off their air conditioning and close their windows and doors.
"You shouldn't be here, but if you haven't left, shelter in place," Arkema spokesman Jeff Carr said.
The company initially reported two box vans full of chemicals exploded. Wednesday morning, the company clarified there was just one van that exploded with multiple containers inside.
The company expects additional explosions, as the other vans combust, Carr said.
The plant has nine box vans with 36,000 pounds of organic peroxide in each. The organic peroxide is stored in 15-pound containers, said Harris County Fire Marshall spokeswoman Rachel Moreno.
Three of the vans lost refrigeration by Wednesday morning. Six of them had not,Moreno said.
The explosions started about 1 a.m., causing flames and 40 feet of gray smoke that later turned black.
The company said it had agreed with local authorities that, because of the volatile chemicals involved, "the best course of action is to let the fire burn itself out."
... Within 2 hours of the explosions, sheriff's deputies were dispatched to block off roads in the area and a stream of fire trucks headed to the scene.
Highway 90 was blocked in both directions at Crosby Eastgate...
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
Where’s the video? They could have made a fortune on pay-per-view on this one.
Been following this quite closely. There are 9 reefer box trucks with organic peroxides. 3 trucks cooling has failed. The organic peroxides are not made there but used as catalysts. If they rise above 30 F exothermic reactions start occurring. It is an exercise in stupidity in MHO. We are talking small containers... Gallon jug sized or so. They should have sprayed those things top to bottom inside with dry ice used for sand blasting. Would have bought at least 3 days. Rinse, repeat.
Arkema really woulda, coulda, shoulda done better.
We can blame this on
1) man made climate change or
2) the Trump administration’s cuts to the school lunch program or
3) White supremacy.
[Risk Management]
Oh we’ve got just the guy for that. He’s the opposite of every guy you’ve ever met. Worked for Steinbrenner. He tried listening to a book on tape.
Couldn't see much, and couldn't determine if the vids were covered under “fair use”. They should be but for such a limited benefit decided to save electrons for the FR masses.
Or, perhaps give him/her a raise as they might rather let it fail and have the insurance companies pay for some needed improvements.
My neighbor had a small fire in his kitchen (because he put his burning pipe tobacco in the garbage can). He not only got a free kitchen upgrade, but also got many, many repairs/upgrades done that were already badly needed, e.g., replaced his filthy dirty dog stinky carpet throughout the house and painted his filthy dirty walls throughout the house. The insurance company spent $80,000 on a $150,000 house.
THANK GOD FOR THE GOVERNMENT.
Without the governments constant eagle eyes none of the plants employees or owners would have been aware of the explosions.
Never forget that old standby, the “ism” of your choice, lol. Will racism do in this instance?
“Arkema has not been characterizing the combustions as explosions, calling it “an overpressurization that was followed by a fire,” Carr said.”
“The plant has nine box vans with 36,000 pounds of organic peroxide in each.”
That’s over 150 *tons* of a *catalyst* (catalysts are typically used in small amounts relative to the material they’re used with). I realize they’re the ones that make the stuff rather than use the stuff, but I’m not sure I see why they need to keep around that much inventory.
OK, dumb question. If the chemicals were stored in vans, why didn’t they drive it out when the plant started flooding?
Exactly what I was wondering. I pictured a stopped processing line running coolant from backup power. Refrigeration trailers seem like a no brainer to move to higher ground.
Why were the vans even there? With the risk you would think they would have moved them well out of the storm area.
LOL. Didn’t see your post, Raebie.
Technically correct. The difference between an explosion and an overpressure is basically the rate or speed of the sudden expansion. However, as a mechanism for ruining your day if you are in proximity, an overpressure will do the job.
Normally the product would be stored in a refrigerated building supplied with electrical power. When the power went out, they had a couple of diesel generators as backup. When the generators went underwater, they moved the product to refrigerated trucks. At that point, I suspect that they had to decide whether it was safer to put the trucks on the road in the storm or leave them on site and hope they wouldn’t fail.
4) Confederate Statues.
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