West Virginia Chemical Spill; Hundreds Reporting Exposure Symptoms

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Elk River Chemical Spill

West Virginia residents, by the hundreds, are complaining of exposure symptoms after a crippling chemical spill compromised the public water supply for thousands of people and forced the closure of schools, businesses and restaurants in the state capital.

By Friday night, 737 people had called the West Virginia Poison Center to report concerns or symptoms related to the spill which includes nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, rashes and reddened skin according to state health officials. The director of the state’s poison control center, Dr. Elizabeth Scharman, said the symptoms vary “from very mild too much more bothersome.” She tole Reuters at least 70 people have been seen by an emergency room doctor, though only a handful have been admitted to hospitals.

As the spill enters its third day Saturday, about 300,000 people in nine different counties are left without being able to drink, bathe or wash dishes and clothes with their tap water. The only allowed use of the water was for flushing toilets. There are no current estimates and when safe, quality water may become available again.

Federal authorities began investigating how the foaming agent escaped from the Freedom Industries plant and seeped into the Elk River. Gary Southern, president of Freedom Industries, apologized Friday for disrupting so many lives in southern West Virginia and said the company still does not know how much of the chemical spilled from its operation into the river. “We’d like to start by sincerely apologizing to the people in the affected counties of West Virginia,” Southern said. “Our friends and our neighbors, this incident is extremely unfortunate, unanticipated and we are very, very sorry for the disruptions to everybody’s daily life this incident has caused.”

Governor Earl Tomblin said the Federal Emergency Management Agency and several companies were sending water and other supplies for residents. “If you are low on bottled water, don’t panic because help is on the way,” Tomblin said.

Jeff McIntyre, president of West Virginia American Water said officials are reportedly working with a Tennessee company that makes the chemical to determine how much can be in the water without it posing harm to residents. “We don’t know that the water’s not safe. But I can’t say that it is safe,” McIntyre said Friday.

State Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Tom Aluise said that the tank that leaked holds at least 40,000 gallons but officials believe no more than 5,000 gallons leaked from the tank. Some of that was contained before escaping into the river, Aluise said. Freedom Industries was ordered Friday night to remove chemicals from its remaining above ground tanks, Aluise added. The company was already cited for causing air pollution stemming from the odor first reported Thursday, he continued.

Southern said the company has been working to remove the chemical from the site and take it elsewhere. Vacuum trucks were used to remove the chemical from the ground at the site. “We have mitigated the risk, we believe, in terms of further material leaving this facility,” Southern said.

The primary component in the foaming agent that leaked is the chemical 4-methylcyclohexane methanol.

Meanwhile, store shelves are obviously running dry on bottled water but there are reports of truckloads of bottled water coming in and distribution points are being set up.

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After serving in the United States Navy for 22 years I retired from the service late in 1991. Having always loved the southwest, shortly after retiring, I moved to the Albuquerque area where I have resided since. Initially I worked as a contractor for approximately 6 years doing cable construction work. That becoming a little dangerous, at an elevated age, I moved into the retail store management environment managing convenience stores for roughly 16 years. With several disabilities, I am now fully retired and am getting more involved with helping Pastor Dewey & Pastor Paul with their operations at FGGAM which pleases my heart greatly as it truly is - "For God's Glory Alone". I met my precious wife Sandy here in Albuquerque and we have been extremely happily married for 18 years and I am the very proud father to Sandy's wonderful children, Tiana, our daughter, Ryan & Ross, our two sons, and proud grandparents to 5 wonderful grandchildren. We attend Christ Full Deliverance Ministries in Rio Rancho which is lead by Pastor's Marty & Paulette Cooper along with Elder Mable Lopez as regular members. Most of my time is now spent split between my family, my church & helping the Pastors by writing here on the FGGAM website and doing everything I can to support this fantastic ministry in the service of our Lord. Praise to GOD & GOD Bless to ALL! UPDATED 2021: Rick and Sandy moved to Florida a few years ago. We adore them and we pray for Rick as he misses Sandy so very, very much!

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