A fire and explosions at a local chemical plantappear to have released hazardous gases over a Raleigh suburb. About 100 houses have been evacuated and folks are being warned to stay inside with windows closed while firefighters respond.
*UPDATE* As of 12:40 am, half the town of Apex (pop. about 32,000) is being evacuated. A state of emergency has been declared.
UPDATE 3:30 AM We're heading out of town, to a Greensboro/High Point hotel until day breaks and we have more of an idea what we're looking at. As y'all have said in the diary, better to have a funny story to tell about how foolish we were to be spooked than a tragic story to tell about how idiotic we were to risk lives and health. We've picked a hotel w/ internet access, of course, so we'll be in touch. Many, many thanks for all the company and advice through this long night.
APEX, N.C. -- Authorities evacuated Apex residents and closed downtown streets late Thursday evening after a volatile industrial fire began spewing potentially hazardous smoke.
Apex Town Manager Bruce Radford said fire crews were at the scene of an extremely dangerous blaze at the Enviro-Chem Environmental Services plant on Investment Boulevard. There have been multiple explosions at the plant, and Radford said chemicals at the plant pose a potential danger for nearby residents.
Authorities evacuated about 100 residences near the downtown area after the fire began, said police. Several streets have been blocked off.
I live about 15 miles north of this scene. Suddenly I'm wondering where my duct tape and plastic sheeting is, and no, I'm not planning some new romantic activities with Mr. Brown.
So I ask you, do you feel safe? While our military was ordered to chase "bad guys" overseas, what has been done to secure local targets? While congress was ordered into emergency sessions to interfere with Michael Schaivo's heartache of a decision, what was being done to secure our food and water supplies? While our deficit bloomed, what was done to make sure that local first responders had the tools and equipment they needed to deal with exactly the kind of emergency that's unfolding right now, just down the road from my home?
While the controlling party in our government worried about how to cover up sexual advances to underage boys by one of their own, while they made noises about a culture of life and keeping `Merikans safe, nothing has been done to secure "soft" targets such as this chemical plant in the middle of a classic suburban neighborhood.
No, I'm not suggesting that this fire is the act of terrorists--but the fact is, there's not much to stop the bad guys if they had wanted to cause this kind of scene- or worse.
I'm praying that maybe even by the time you read this, the fire will be under control and the all clear signal will have sounded. But maybe an investment into that duct tape and plastic sheeting isn't such a bad idea after all, because while it seems my government can protect a pedophile, I'm not at all convinced it can protect me.