Atchison, Kansas residents told to shelter in place after chemical spill

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

U.S. | Fri Oct 21, 2016 | 11:24am EDT

Atchison, Kansas residents told to shelter in place after chemical spill

Residents in the town of Atchison, Kansas were being advised by city and county officials on Friday to stay indoors after the spill of an unknown chemical at a facility in the town.

"There has been an incident. Until further notice, close all your windows, turn off your air and furnaces, and stay indoors," the city of Atchison said in a statement on social media.

The county's emergency management division called the incident a "chemical spill," in a separate post.

(Reporting by Ben Klayman and Timothy Mclaughlin; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-kansas-chemicalspill-idUSKCN12L1ZG

[2naSalit]

1. That's not a whole hell of a lot of info...

Makes me skeptical about what is really going on. It's not like the government of Kansas is interested in the welfare of its citizens, treats them all like young children incapable of reasoning or understanding reality.

[Eugene]

2. A new LBN thread with an AP link gives more information.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141603233

There is a cloud of chlorine and sulfuric acid.

[2naSalit]

3. Thanks

That's a big problem and should probably be in the category of disaster.

[Eugene]

4. Update at Reuters link: Dozens treated after chemical accident in northeastern Kansas

Source: Reuters

U.S. | Fri Oct 21, 2016 | 2:11pm EDT

Dozens treated after chemical accident in northeastern Kansas

By Dave Kaup | ATCHISON, KANSAS

Dozens of people were treated for respiratory problems after a chemical spill at an MGP Ingredients Inc facility on Friday generated a chemical cloud over the northeastern Kansas city of Atchison before authorities declared the threat over.

Authorities evacuated children from local schools, urged residents to remain in their homes and advised people not to enter the city of about 11,000 people located about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Kansas City, Kansas. They later said the cloud had dissipated and the danger had passed.

The two chemicals involved in the spill were identified by a city official as sulfuric acid and sodium hypochlorite. MGP Ingredients makes bourbon and rye whiskeys, gins and vodkas, according to its website.

"The cloud was massive," Atchison Fire Department Chief Ted Graf said. "I'm not even sure how to describe it."

Thirty-four people were treated for respiratory discomfort after the spill although the injuries were minor, Trey Cocking, Atchison city manager, told reporters. Cocking described the effects of the chemical cloud as being like mustard gas, a chemical weapon.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-kansas-chemicalspill-idUSKCN12L1ZG

[yortsed snacilbuper]

5. Koch brothers love it.

Koch Industries, Inc. is an American multinational corporation based in Wichita, Kansas, United States, with subsidiaries involved in manufacturing, trading, and investments. It was founded as Wood River Oil and Refining Company in 1940, and later as Rock Island Oil & Refining Company.

[Separation]

6. Interesting

That this happened from what was probably a bourbon distillery. The way the cloud was described you would have thought that this was from a chemical waste dump.