La. Chemical Leak, Baton Rouge Ordered 'Shelter In Place'

Louisiana Emergency officials have closed airspace and State Police have asked everyone in downtown Baton Rouge to shelter in place and stay off of the Mississippi River levee due to an explosive chemical leak on the other side of the river Monday.

Lightning caused an explosve chemical at an ITC chemical plant in Port Allen to leak, according to WBRZ.

Roads were closed and emergency officials took action but after winds picked up, there was added concern the chemical could drift across the river and explode in Baton Rouge, that nestles on the other side of the river.

The leak at Intercontinental Terminals Company (ITC) on River Road in West Baton Rouge Parish happened after lightning hit a container, releasing a combustible chemical, butadiene, according to officials.

[See the Butadiene Right To Know Hazardous Material Fact Sheet]

Crews sprayed water on the tower to contain the leak, but the wind was a concern, they said.

Emergency officials closed airspace around the plant because they said the chemical was combustible. The Department of Environmental Quality also sent out two air quality monitors to check conditions at the site, and said they had received some odor complaints in the area of the plant.

Officials had closed LA 1 and North River Road from Lafiton Lane to U. S. 190.

LA 1 repopened around 3:10 p.m. but North River Road remains closed from Rosedale Road to U. S. 190. 

Source: WBRZ