A chemical fire, explosion or toxic release occurs every two days in the U.S., according to data compiled by the Coalition to Prevent Chemical Disasters, a group of environmental justice organizations.
At least 25 chemical incidents have occurred in Texas so far this year, the most of any state, according to the data, which is compiled from news, industry and government reports.
About a third of facilities that store hazardous chemicals are located in areas that are susceptible to natural hazards made worse by climate change, such as wildfires and storm surges, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Chemical incidents can impact the health of people living and working nearby.
In 2019, a group of chemical tanks in Harris County caught fire in a massive blaze that burned for days at Intercontinental Terminals Company’s Deer Park facility.
A Texas Tribune investigation revealed earlier this year that hundreds of people experienced symptoms of benzene exposure — including dizziness, a rapid heart rate and headaches — and that dangerous levels of benzene, a known carcinogen, remained in the air for weeks after public health measures were lifted.
Last year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it would update its Risk Management Program for chemical facilities to improve emergency preparedness and expand public information about chemical hazards. The new rule is expected to be finalized by the end of the year.
The Texas Tribune interviewed pollution and public health experts, as well as environmental justice advocates, about what Texans can do to avoid chemical exposure during a chemical emergency near you.
Gather some useful supplies before a chemical emergency occurs. Yvette Arellano, founder of Fenceline Watch, an environmental watchdog organization, said “the way you prep for a chemical disaster and a natural disaster is so similar because you’re trying to protect yourself against what is outside. You are trying to protect yourself from the chemicals in the air.”
The difference, said Shiv Srivastava, a policy researcher at Fenceline Watch, is that “it’s always chemical season.” A basic disaster kit should include food, water and other supplies to last for several days, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Most supplies can be bought at home improvement stores.
