A shelter-in-place has been lifted for La Porte residents on Monday after a chemical leak emergency at a nearby plant, La Porte Emergency Management announced.
According to an alert from the city, residents south of Fairmont between Bay Area and S. 16th Street needed to immediately shelter in place.
Officials had asked those in the area to proceed to the nearest building to seek shelter, close all doors and windows, and turn off cooling or heating systems. The order was lifted at 1:16 p.m.
According to officials, a process upset at the ALTIVIA Chemical Complex prompted the release of the chemical phosgene, a colorless gas with a suffocating odor similar to musty hay. Emergency responders are performing fence line monitoring.
Exposure to phosgene may cause irritation to the eyes, dry burning throat, vomiting, cough, foamy sputum, breathing difficulty, and chest pain; and when liquid: frostbite. Workers may be harmed from exposure to phosgene, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
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