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First responders sue Arkema for $1 million following explosions at Crosby plant
Retweeted by David Fahrenthold: https://twitter.com/fahrenthold
Suit against @Arkema_Inc describes the scene:
"first responders began to fall ill in the middle of the road."
Link to tweet
First responders sue Arkema for $1 million following explosions at Crosby plant
By Keri Blakinger and Matt Dempsey Updated 2:28 pm, Thursday, September 7, 2017
Seven first responders injured after explosions at the troubled Arkema chemical plant in Crosby are now suing the company for at least $1 million. ... On Thursday, barely a week after the first blast of decomposing chemicals rocked the small town, Houston lawyers Kimberley Spurlock and Misty Hataway-Cone launched a legal battle in Harris County court, accusing Arkema of gross negligence.
Despite past flooding events and advance notice of the impending destruction of Hurricane Harvey, Arkema "ignored the foreseeable consequences of failing to prepare," the suit claims, leaving trailers of volatile chemicals susceptible to explosion after flooding knocked out the electricity and ability to cool the heat-sensitive compounds.
The first of nine trailers of organic peroxides exploded early on the morning of Aug. 31, landing a number of first responders in the hospital following exposure to fumes from the chemicals, which ignited and left a 40-foot plume of black smoke that officials later compared to a campfire.
"Although the explosions had occurred, no one from Arkema alerted the first responders who were manning the perimeter of the arbitrary mandatory evacuation area," lawyers said Thursday in a press release. "Immediately upon being exposed to the fumes from the explosions, and one by one, the police officers and first responders began to fall ill in the middle of the road."... Emergency medical personnel arrived on scene, and were overcome by fumes before even exiting their vehicles, lawyers allege.
By Keri Blakinger and Matt Dempsey Updated 2:28 pm, Thursday, September 7, 2017
Seven first responders injured after explosions at the troubled Arkema chemical plant in Crosby are now suing the company for at least $1 million. ... On Thursday, barely a week after the first blast of decomposing chemicals rocked the small town, Houston lawyers Kimberley Spurlock and Misty Hataway-Cone launched a legal battle in Harris County court, accusing Arkema of gross negligence.
Despite past flooding events and advance notice of the impending destruction of Hurricane Harvey, Arkema "ignored the foreseeable consequences of failing to prepare," the suit claims, leaving trailers of volatile chemicals susceptible to explosion after flooding knocked out the electricity and ability to cool the heat-sensitive compounds.
The first of nine trailers of organic peroxides exploded early on the morning of Aug. 31, landing a number of first responders in the hospital following exposure to fumes from the chemicals, which ignited and left a 40-foot plume of black smoke that officials later compared to a campfire.
"Although the explosions had occurred, no one from Arkema alerted the first responders who were manning the perimeter of the arbitrary mandatory evacuation area," lawyers said Thursday in a press release. "Immediately upon being exposed to the fumes from the explosions, and one by one, the police officers and first responders began to fall ill in the middle of the road."... Emergency medical personnel arrived on scene, and were overcome by fumes before even exiting their vehicles, lawyers allege.
