Harris County Sheriff's Office Update on Deer Park Chemical Odor Incident

Incident Overview

• 🚨 A call was received around 7:30 AM regarding a suspicious odor near Tidal Road and 225 in Deer Park.
• 🤝 Multiple agencies responded, including the Sheriff's Office, Deer Park Fire Marshal's Office, and combined plant emergency response units.

Health and Safety Assessment

• 🏥 Two Shell operators were transported to the hospital as a precautionary measure due to complaints of nausea and headache.
• 📊 Air quality is currently being monitored by TCE, hired by the city of Deer Park and Shell, and has been reported as safe and not a risk to the public.
• ⚠️ Monitoring will continue throughout the day by OEM and plant personnel to ensure air quality remains at a safe level.

Investigation and Source Identification

• 🔍 The source of the odor and the specific chemical involved have not yet been identified.
• 🏭 While Shell employees were transported, it is not confirmed that the leak originated from their facility, and no company has claimed responsibility.
• ❓ The incident was first detected around Tidal Road and 225, with initial reports suggesting the Lubrizol chemical plant as a possible origin, though this is unconfirmed.

Ongoing Operations and Protocols

• 🏢 All businesses in the area remain open during the investigation.
• 📝 The Sheriff's Office will create an investigative report documenting the incident and their efforts.
• ⚙️ The industrial unit liaison team explained that plants have continuous air monitoring systems and sensors that can trigger due to different chemicals, which is a routine safety measure.
• 🤝 The operation is a joint effort involving numerous agencies and plant emergency response teams working to ensure public safety.