Chemical Plant Explosion in Shepherd, Texas, Prompts Shelter in Place

SHEPHERD, Texas (PCOEM) – This morning, Polk County OEM was contacted by the Livingston Volunteer Fire Department that Sound Chemical Solutions, a chemical plant located at 731 FM1127 in Shepherd, Texas had caught fire and that a plume of smoke was heading towards the Livingston area. At approximately 9:30 a.m., OEM provided the public with Shelter-in Place instructions, and asked homes and businesses from the Polk County and San Jacinto County border to Leggett along the Hwy 59 Corridor to turn off their HVAC systems at the direction of responders on scene, as it was unknown what chemicals were in the air.

North and Southbound traffic on US Hwy 59 from Goodrich to Shepherd is shut down. Goodrich ISD staff and students have been evacuated to Onalaska ISD, and Livingston ISD is sheltering in place.

According to records recently received from TCEQ. the plant has reported housing Wood Turpentine, Phosphoric Acid, Xylene. Diesel Fuel, IMP-IC-2012, Sulfuric Acid, DA-121, NP 9, Isopropyl Alcohol, IMB-BAC-2, AZA-121 Dispersant, and Acetic Acid These chemicals are known to have acute toxicity, carcinogenicity, and reproductive toxicity, and may cause serious eye damage or eye irritation, skin corrosion or irritation, aspiration hazard, and organ toxicity.

According to San Jacinto County Emergency Management, Sound Resource Solutions makes solvents for glue and paint remover. The Polk County Emergency Operations Center in Livingston has been activated and is relaying information to the public and supporting responders in the field. The response operation may take some time, as responders have had to request fire suppressant supplies through mutual aid.

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