Explosions, black smoke reported at flooded Houston-area Arkema chemical plant


The Harris County Emergency Operations Center reported two explosions and black smoke early Thursday from a flooded Arkema chemical plant in Crosby, Texas, about 25 miles northeast of Houston, the company said in a news release. After the explosions, at about 2 a.m., Harris County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to keep people away from the area; one was taken to the hospital after driving through a plume of smoke and nine others drove themselves to the hospital. The fumes are not expected to be life-threatening, sheriff's department spokesman Jason Spencer told the Houston Chronicle, citing the county fire marshal.
On Wednesday, Arkema's North American chief executive, Rich Rowe, warned that since the main power and backup generators had failed due to flooding at the plant from Super Storm Harvey, tanks of volatile organic peroxides were heating up and "there is no way to prevent an explosion or fire." Harris County authorities ordered an evacuation in a 1.5-mile radius around the Arkema facility. "Based on very early information, residents in nearby area should just shelter in place for the moment," Sheriff Ed Gonzalez tweeted at about 5 a.m., adding that he and Spencer were on their way to the plant.
In a worst-case scenario Arkema submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency in 2014, a chemical release at the Arkema facility could affect 1.1 million people over a 23-mile area. On Wednesday, at least one Crosby resident, Stanley J. Roberts Sr., was not impressed with the amount of information Arkema or local authorities were sharing with the community. You can watch his interview with The Associated Press below. Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Film reviews: The Phoenician Scheme, Bring Her Back, and Jane Austen Wrecked My Life
Feature A despised mogul seeks a fresh triumph, orphaned siblings land with a nightmare foster mother, and a Jane fan finds herself in a love triangle
-
Music reviews: Tune-Yards and PinkPantheress
Feature "Better Dreaming" and "Fancy That"
-
Withdrawing 529 plan funds for college? Here's what to know.
the explainer Maximize the amount you have stashed away for your education
-
Crypto firm Coinbase hacked, faces SEC scrutiny
Speed Read The Securities and Exchange Commission has also been investigating whether Coinbase misstated its user numbers in past disclosures
-
Starbucks baristas strike over dress code
speed read The new uniform 'puts the burden on baristas' to buy new clothes, said a Starbucks Workers United union delegate
-
Warren Buffet announces surprise retirement
speed read At the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the billionaire investor named Vice Chairman Greg Abel his replacement
-
Trump calls Amazon's Bezos over tariff display
Speed Read The president was not happy with reports that Amazon would list the added cost from tariffs alongside product prices
-
Markets notch worst quarter in years as new tariffs loom
Speed Read The S&P 500 is on track for its worst month since 2022 as investors brace for Trump's tariffs
-
Tesla Cybertrucks recalled over dislodging panels
Speed Read Almost every Cybertruck in the US has been recalled over a stainless steel panel that could fall off
-
Crafting emporium Joann is going out of business
Speed Read The 82-year-old fabric and crafts store will be closing all 800 of its stores
-
Trump's China tariffs start after Canada, Mexico pauses
Speed Read The president paused his tariffs on America's closest neighbors after speaking to their leaders, but his import tax on Chinese goods has taken effect