LA PORTE, Texas — Emergency officials in La Porte have issued a shelter in place order after a chemical leak in the city.
La Porte is located about 25 miles southeast of Houston.
Emergency management officials say a Rohm & Haas Chemical Plant, a subsidiary of Dow Chemical Company had a release of the chemical hydroxyethyl acetate, which is used in several industries including acrylic nails.
Update: TCEQ is responding to an air release of hydroxyethyl acetate at the Rohm & Haas Chemicals Bayport Plant, a subsidiary of Dow Chemical, located at 13300 Bay Area Blvd. Dow reported that a “process upset” had resulted in an air release of the chemical around 7:32 a.m. pic.twitter.com/qqAkU0ELOO
— Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (@TCEQ) July 21, 2021
Officials in La Porte are urging people who live near the plant to stay indoors. Close all their windows and doors and turn off their air conditioning until they are instructed otherwise.
Dow representatives say there is no indication of any off-site impact.
They say the shelter in place order is out of an abundance of caution.
