Residents in Texas City breathed a sigh of relief yesterday afternoon as the shelter-in-place order enacted earlier in the day was lifted following an incident at the Marathon Galveston Bay Refinery. The city officials lifted the order after a chemical leak of sulfur dioxide prompted authorities to advise locals to stay indoors, the Houston Chronicle reports. The leak was reported Sunday morning and initiated the precautionary measures that impacted the area south of FM 519.
While the order was in effect, residents were urged to switch off any heating or air conditioning systems and to seal their doors and windows tightly. Despite the potential threat, there were no residential areas directly affected by the chemical release and air monitor readings did not indicate an immediate physical danger. "There were no reported injuries," officials confirmed to the Houston Chronicle.
The shelter-in-place advisory, which was broadcast at 9:13 a.m. on Sunday via social media, was the city's response to the sulfur dioxide release caused by operational issues at the refinery around 8:45 a.m that day. Joe Tumbleson, Texas City Emergency Manager, informed ABC13 in an interview that the alert was a precautionary step and no medical issues or calls were reported in connection with the chemical release. Roads that were temporarily closed included Loop 197 at SH-146, 519 at SH-146, and 4th Ave S at Loop 197.
As part of their emergency protocols, the city provided guidance on 'how to shelter in place' during such chemical emergencies, including turning off any systems that circulate air and sealing openings with duct tape and plastic sheeting. Post-advisory, residents were expected to stay informed via emergency updates until an all-clear was given. "The City of Texas City has lifted a shelter in place that it had issued for an area south of the refinery," said a representative of Marathon Galveston Bay Refinery in a statement obtained by ABC13.
Harris County Public Health officials advise monitoring symptoms such as skin irritation and difficulty breathing which may signify chemical exposure, especially for those with preexisting respiratory conditions. Marathon Petroleum assured that refinery emissions had returned to normal levels and highlighted that their personnel had resolved the operational upset causing the increase in sulfur dioxide emissions.
