PHOTOS: The city of Deer Park has lifted its shelter-in-place order after air quality readings showed lower benzene levels near a petrochemical storage facility where several holding tanks burned for days, according to Harris County officials.
Emergency crews were still working to attack the source of the benzene exposure, which is believed to have escaped from one tank at the Intercontinental Terminals Co. facility in Deer Park, officials said Thursday.
The city of Deer Park previously issued a shelter-in-place alert after elevated benzene levels were detected in the chemical storage facility earlier Thursday, officials said.
Around 4 a.m., benzene readings peaked at levels that could be cause for health concern, according to data supplied by ITC. Benzene levels dropped dramatically as the morning continued, ITC said.
As of 11:40 a.m., county officials received consistent readings of benzene levels "below the actionable limit."
Galena Park, northwest of Deer Park, also issued a shelter-in-place order, the mayor said. It's unclear whether they have lifted their orders.
The alerts come after a massive fire burned through the chemical storage facility for three days in the city and wafted a miles-long plume of black smoke in the air. The fire was extinguished Wednesday.