Information for evacuees
Hundreds of people have poured into Texas A&M’s Reed Arena and A&M Consolidated Middle School, which have opened as shelters for Bryan and rural Brazos County residents.
Residents and workers in Bryan, as well as parts of rural Brazos County, were asked to evacuate after a fire at a Bryan plant at about noon created a chemical cloud that’s been slow to leave the area. Texas A&M University’s flagship campus and Blinn College in Bryan both have closed until further notice.
Reed Arena, which seats 12,500, is a block off Wellborn Road on Olsen Boulevard; A&M Consolidated Middle School at 105 Holick in College Station.
Should you leave your house?
The evacuation is mandatory for people north of University Drive and Hardy Weeden Road from the Brazos River in west Brazos County to the eastern Brazos County line, which means most of Bryan. Drive south and do not travel into the smoke.
Who to call?
Authorities said 911 dispatchers in Brazos County have been inundated with non-emergency calls related to the chemical cloud in Bryan.
Officials are asking people with concerns and questions to call 821-1000, which is the Brazos County Emergency Operations Center in downtown Bryan.
A shelter has been set up at Reed Arena on the Texas A&M University campus for residents needing a place to stay.
Anyone with significant signs of respiratory distress should call 911.
Where to take your pets
Pearce Pavilion is across the street from Reed Arena and volunteers there will house your household pets.
The following roads are closed:
F.M. 2818 SB at Texas 6 west frontage road (North of town)
Texas Ave SB at Texas 6 (North)
F.M. 974 SB at Texas 6 west frontage road
Tabor Rd. at Texas 6 west frontage road
Texas 21 westbound at Texas 6 west frontage road
F.M. 158 westbound at Texas 6 west frontage road
F.M. 1179 westbound at Texas 6 west frontage road
Texas Ave. northbound at F.M. 60 (University Drive)
Traffic is being required to turn left or right to head east/west down F.M. 60
F.M. 2818 NB at F.M. 60
F.M. 1179 (Villa Maria) eastbound at Texas 47 (West side of town)
F.M. 1688 (Leonard) eastbound at Texas 47 (West side of town)
Texas 21 eastbound at Texas 47
Traffic required to turn around or head southbound on Texas 47
F.M. 1687 eastbound at F.M. 2818
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Published Thursday, July 30, 2009 3:35 PMFire forces evacuations
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Fire officials are asking all Bryan residents and businesses to evacuate south to College Station as a precaution after a blaze at a chemical plant on Texas 21 shot a plume of cream-orange smoke that can be seen for miles.
No time limit has been placed on the Thursday evacuation order, but officials said they hope the chemical cloud will continue to fade in time for residents and business owners to return tonight.
Fire Chief Mike Donoho said everyone north of University Drive in Bryan should leave the city limits until further notice.
“I’m sorry if it’s an inconvenience to people, but we’re erring on the side of caution,” Donoho said. “This is a dangerous chemical and we don’t want to wait and see if it’s going to be bad. We need to take action now.”
Evacuations started just after the noon fire within a four-mile radius of the factory, which is between Texas 47 and F.M. 2818.
Hospitals in Bryan and College Station were put on notice that they soon will be receiving patients experiencing respiratory problems from inhaling the chemicals.
Authorities urged anyone who can "smell it or see it" to leave the area immediately.
Government officials have activated the Community Emergency Operations Center in Downtown Bryan. A worker at the center who answered the phone said they were trying to get a handle on the situation just before 3 p.m.
“Right now we really don’t know,” he said, when asked what the public should be doing. “We have a lot of misinformation and we are trying to get some confirmed information. They are talking about evacuating a lot of the area of Bryan.”
More specifics were expected soon. People need to evacuate going south, away from the smoke, he said.
No injuries have been reported and firefighters are letting the chemical burn off rather than fight the dangerous fire up close. The chemical is an irritant to the respiratory system, the skin and eyes.
A shelter has been set up at Reed Arena on the Texas A&M University campus. Anyone with pressing concerns or questions should call the fire department at 209-5960.
Texas 21 between F.M. 2818 and Texas 47 was closed, as well as all roads leading to Texas 21 in the area, officials said.
Motorists trying to get into Bryan and College Station on Texas 21 from Caldwell need to take Texas 47, which goes to F.M. 60.
Dispatchers on police scanners discussed that the chemical that caught fire — possibly from a worker welding — likely was ammonium nitrate.
Bryan Fire Department Lt. Blake Barrentine said the fire at the El Dorado Chemical Company began around noon, and officials with his department, along with the Brazos County Precinct 4 Fire Department and the College Station Fire Department’s hazardous materials team are on the scene.
The Brazos County Sheriff’s Department and Texas Department of Public Safety are assisting, he said.
No casualties or injuries have been reported, he said.
Government officials have activated the Community Emergency Operations Center in Downtown Bryan. A worker at the center who answered the phone said they were trying to get a handle on the situation just before 3 p.m.
“Right now we really don’t know,” he said, when asked what the public should be doing. “We have a lot of misinformation and we are trying to get some confirmed information. They are talking about evacuating a lot of the area of Bryan.”
Bryan officials said that the city's compost facility was evacuated, which may cause some interruption in service for the residential brush and bulky collection today. Routes not collected today will be collected as soon as possible, officials said.
• Eagle staff writers Matthew Watkins, Stuart Villanueva and Michelle Casady contributed to this report.
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