Hundreds were evacuated from their homes and 36 were injured—at least four critically—after a chemical spill occurred in Weatherford, Oklahoma, late on Nov. 12.
Most of the 500 to 600 people who went to a shelter overnight following the spill were allowed to return to their homes on Nov. 13, according to Weatherford Police Chief Angelo Orefice. No fatalities have been reported.
During a Nov. 13 press conference, Orefice cautioned residents to protect themselves from any lingering traces of the anhydrous ammonia gas that spewed from a tanker truck parked behind a hotel the night before.
According to the Weatherford Daily News Facebook page, the gas release took place shortly before 10 p.m. on Nov. 12.
Several people in the immediate area reported trouble breathing, and 36 were taken to a local hospital, Orefice said.
Eleven were taken by ambulance to other hospitals. Four of the most critically injured were flown to hospitals in Oklahoma City, he said. Orefice had no further information on their conditions or where they had been taken.
Specific details on how the spill occurred or how much of the chemical was released were not available because the area around the truck was still unsafe. Orefice said the truck driver, who was staying at the hotel, was cooperating with investigators.
Investigation Ongoing
“It’s an accident as far as we’re concerned until we get more involved [in investigating],” Orefice said.
Residents of evacuated nursing homes were being held pending testing and cleanup of their facilities.
Schools were expected to remain closed for the day, although some extracurricular activities may be resumed. Orefice asked owners of businesses in the affected areas to allow officials to test the air in their buildings before they opened.
He recommended that homeowners ventilate their homes, wash clothing, and be cautious with any food that may have been exposed to the chemical.
“If you don’t feel comfortable, throw it away,” he said.
Orefice asked the public to avoid the affected areas for the time being and asked for patience.
“The cleanup’s going to take a while,” he said.
Krystal Blackwell, who was evacuated, said emergency officials were wearing gas masks and knocking on doors.
“It was a little crazy to wake up to,” Blackwell told KWTV-TV. “I really thought it was a kind of dream.”
A number of state and local agencies responded, including hazmat crews and an Oklahoma National Guard unit that supports first responders during emergencies.
An exit from Interstate 40 to Weatherford was shut down, authorities said.
Anhydrous ammonia is used as a fertilizer to help provide nitrogen for corn, wheat, and other crops. If a person comes in physical contact with it when it is in gas or liquid form, it can cause burns. Last week, an anhydrous ammonia leak caused by an explosion at a plant north of Yazoo City, Mississippi, prompted evacuations for nearby residents.
Weatherford has about 12,000 residents and is about 70 miles west of Oklahoma City.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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