The Dow chemical plant in Plaquemine evacuated employees from some parts of their facility today due to a chlorine leak reported shortly after 3pm. As of 3:30pm, an official with the Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office said the leak had been contained, and was not related to fire and smoke seen at the plant, which was described as a controlled burn at a different part of the facility.
According to Sheriff Brett Stasi, people living on Highway 1148 due west of the plant are asked to shelter in place. The wind is currently blowing from the plant, toward that area, and Iberville Parish Emergency Preparedness officials say there is a smell of chlorine in the air, even though monitoring equipment does not show harmful levels of the chemical. At this point, the shelter in place order is described as precautionary.
Deputies are closing LA 1 in both directions.
This is a developing story, stay with BRProud.com and Local33 and Fox44 News for more details as they emerge.