Explosion rocks Texas City refinery
One of the things one must adapt to in living in this area is the large number of refineries and chemical plants. You get used to phrases like "shelter in place"- which is never a good thing, by the way. Every now and then, though, something goes BOOM! and then the fun REALLY begins....
(TEXAS CITY, TX) — An explosion apparently caused by a fire at the BP refinery forced the evacuation of the plant Tuesday night.
There were no reports of injuries, said B.C. Clawson, Texas City emergency management coordinator. BP spokeswoman Annie Smith said all workers had been accounted for. She did not know how many people were on duty.
Smith said it wasn't immediately clear whether the fire began in a furnace in a gasoline producing unit at the plant.
Clawson said the request for people to stay in their homes was lifted at 9 p.m., about two hours after the fire broke out....
Roads leading into the petrochemical complex were closed as a precaution.
Clawson said there was no danger of the fire spreading.
"We were told that it's contained in the unit," Clawson said.
The Texas City refinery is the largest of BP's four refineries in the Houston area. It has the capacity to refine 435,000 barrels of crude oil daily.
In this case, it appears there were no injuries or fatalities, and we should all be thankful for that. Part of me can't help but wonder what it will take before government and industry recognize the risks that they are forcing thousands of us to assume. Is it going to take the complete immolation of a plant, along with the attendant deaths of hundreds, if not thousands, of neighboring residents? Is it going to take the sickening and/or death of hundreds of thousands downwind from an airborne toxic chemical release? Nevermind that any and all of these plants are wide-open targets for any and all manner of terrorism. Security, or the lack thereof, is the petrochemical industry's dirty little secret 'round these parts.
Texas City is only 15 miles down Hwy 146 from Seabrook, so the danger is both personal and real. Yes, I understand the economic necessities and realities involved here. Thousands depend on the various refineries and chemical plants to support their families. Sometimes, though, it does feel as if those of us living here are doing so on top of a just-barely contained disaster in the making. Such is the risk we all assume in living on this part of the Gulf Coast.
Once something terrible does happen, there will be the attendant weeping and gnashing of teeth by those demanding to know why nothing was done to prevent the disaster. Of course, that would take money, and a willingness on the part of government and industry. As in the case of 9.11, that willingness and the accompanying sense of urgency will not be evident until thousands of innocent Texans die. Now, THAT'S leadership....
