July 21, 2021- 10:44 a.m.
Officials in La Porte on Wednesday morning issued evacuation order for part of the east Harris County city due to a chemical incident.
People within a half-mile radius surrounding a Dow Chemical plant at 13300 Bay Area Boulevard should evacuate immediately and follow instructions from first responders, according to the city.
At a press conference, La Porte Chief of Police Steve Deardorff said air monitoring was underway, and police earlier drove through the neighborhoods with a P.A. system to ask people to leave the area.
He noted, however, the evacuation order was voluntary as a precaution — not mandatory. He also said few homes were in the actual evacuation area, perhaps 10 or so.
Authorities have not yet confirmed what chemical may have been released, if any. Views from Air 11 showed several tanker trailers getting sprayed by firefighters. There were no flames or smoke visible as of 9:05 a.m.
