DEER PARK, Texas — Some Deer Park residents told us they didn't hear the warning sirens alerting them to Thursday's shelter in place.
Here's a timeline of what happened while many of you were sleeping:
- 2:54 a.m. International Terminals Company reported elevated levels of Benzene
- 3:23 a.m. I.T.C. posted a shelter in place
- 5:03 a.m. City of Deer Park issued an alert asking people to stay indoors
- 6:48 a.m. Ready Harris followed with an email also directing people to shelter in place
- 11:40 a.m. Deer Park's shelter in place was lifted
KHOU 11 News learned two of Deer Park's sirens were down and are scheduled to be replaced.
New numbers from ITC show between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. there were 51 Benzene detections. With a peak of 10.55 parts per million, that's almost five times ITC's own threshold for what's safe.
Harris County Pct. 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia says something has to change.
"I have very, very low confidence in ITC, I have been the most vocal person to say, I'm frustrated as to how they've handled this," he said.
Garcia told us it's still an active scene and there's always the possibility what happened last night could happen again.
If you're worried about not hearing sirens in Deer Park, you can sign up for a phone call or text when there's an emergency by clicking here.
RELATED COVERAGE:
- Researchers, local agencies collecting water samples from Galveston Bay after ITC fire
- Deer Park residents at mobile clinic voice health concerns about ITC fire
- ITC creates claims hotline for businesses, residents impacted by tank fire
- Ominous morning announcement warns to "shelter-in-place"
- Expert: Flaws found in Harris County’s emergency website
- Free mobile health clinics, 'Ask My Nurse' hotline aid Deer Park residents
- Deer Park residents relieved shelter-in-place is over
- Crews working to empty ITC tank that emitted benzene vapors
- How to check air quality levels in your area
- What is benzene? Signs & symptoms of chemical that caused Deer Park shelter-in-place
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