The Valero facility in Texas City is “experiencing an upset,” resulting in elevated sulfur dioxide emissions. Texas City Emergency Management reported the issue and closed Loop 197 from FM 519 to 605 South Loop as a precaution. Air quality monitoring has shown no harmful levels of SO2, but officials said the road will stay closed for several hours, as per KHOU.
Valero, the Texas City Fire Department, and CTEH crews are monitoring the scene with equipment, and no sulfur dioxide has been detected in the surrounding community. Texas City Emergency Management said in an update before 9 p.m. that conditions at the Valero facility had improved and there was "no need for a citywide notification or siren activations," according to KHOU.
Residents can check air quality and updates through the city’s situational awareness tools. Click2Houston reported that officials said there is no threat to the public, and monitoring is ongoing.
