In a zone of powerful floods in Michigan was a chemical plant: what it threatens

A large chemical plant and two hazardous waste fields were in the path of flood waters flowing through two broken dams in downtown Michigan, writes NBC News.

Photo: video frame YouTube / Click On Detroit | Local 4 | Wdiv

About 10 residents of areas along the Tittabavassi River in Midland County, Michigan began to evacuate on the evening of May 000. On the same day, flood waters reached Dow Chemical Co.

It was expected that they would reach their highest points by the evening of May 29, but the river level rose to the level of the flood 3 hours ahead of the predicted time. Officials said the water level would drop to normal after a few days.

Dow said it has completed its “flood preparedness plan” and is working in coordination with Midland County authorities and the US Coast Guard.

“All operating units have been safely closed, with the exception of locations required to safely contain chemical waste. All railway cars are protected, the company said in a statement. “Only essential personnel are on site to monitor and manage the situation. No injuries were reported among employees.”

On the subject: Broken dams, flooded houses, thousands of evacuated: a massive flood occurred in Michigan

In the evening of May 19, the plant management announced that the flood waters were mixed with the contents of the pond used for storm and groundwater. At that time, there were no registered spills of hazardous chemical products, and no threats to residents were reported.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it is closely monitoring two nearby EPA Superfund sites, the Tittabawassee River and soil contamination sites in Midland. Superfund sites are environmentally contaminated areas that have been selected by the EPA for cleanup.

The EPA says the massive floods in the region in 2017 did not cause additional harm to the environment.

"The Environmental Protection Agency stands ready to assist the State of Michigan in assessing and responding to any public health and environmental impacts associated with the Tittabawassee River Superfund site and the Dow Midland plant due to ongoing flooding," the agency said in a statement released by May 19.

Midland is the headquarters of Dow Chemical Co. For more than 120 years, the company has 9000 workers and contractors, which is quite a lot for the city with 42 inhabitants and the district, where 000 people live.

On the subject: How to insure home and property from floods in the US

Midland has two public high schools - the Herbert Henry Dow School, named after the company's founder, and Midland High School, whose sports team is nicknamed the "Chemists".

Late in the evening of May 19, city authorities wrote on Twitter that the disaster could have had more devastating consequences if it had not been for the residents' reaction to the official warnings.

The same message says that about 11 people were evacuated without a single victim or serious injury. The residents were thanked for their cooperation with the city administration.

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