April 23, 2002 -- The Contra Costa County Health Services reports that a shelter-in-place order is under way for Martinez due to a sulfur dioxide release at the Shell refinery this afternoon.
Health Service spokesman Jim Gallagher said the release happened at 12:38 p.m. when unit number three malfunctioned.
"They're getting it shut down as we speak," he said.
A cloud was visible for a period of time, he said, and the warning sirens were sounded for the shelter-in-place alert.
Winds are coming out of the northwest at about 5 mph, he said, and they are blowing the material into Martinez.
"People should go inside, seal off intakes to buildings and turn on their radios and TV's for better information," he said.
Yep. H must be fundraising in CA again.... Please keep her this time.
If the winds are blowing out of the NW, that means that they are pushing this stuff more inland, wouldn't it?