Deer Park officials are addressing concerns over technical issues with the city’s emergency alert system that left many residents without critical information during a deadly chemical release at the PEMEX plant.
The gas release killed two people and another 35 were treated for hydrogen sulfide. The deadly gas release also sparked a shelter-in-place order and closed down sections of Highway 225.
According to the City of Deer Park, the CodeRED alert system they use to notify residents of emergencies experienced technical difficulties.
Some residents received incorrect or duplicate messages, while others didn’t receive any alerts at all.
The city’s staff had to use CodeRED’s support phone line to send out notifications, resulting in messages with spelling and grammatical errors.
BACKGROUND: At least 2 dead, 35 others treated after chemical release at industrial plant in Deer Park
“Staff worked diligently to find a workaround to get notifications out through the system and eventually had to operate through their support phone number to issue notice,” the city said in a statement. “We are working with CodeRED to address these technical issues.”
Residents left frustrated after chaotic communication
The problems arose just as emergency officials were trying to communicate the dangers of the hydrogen sulfide release at the Deer Park PEMEX facility.
The highly toxic and flammable chemical was released around 4:40 p.m., triggering a shelter-in-place for the entire City of Deer Park and surrounding areas, including north Pasadena.
The order advised residents to stay indoors, turn off air conditioning, and close all windows and doors until the situation was contained.
The City of Deer Park acknowledged that many residents were frustrated by the conflicting alerts and lack of clear communication. Some reported receiving multiple messages, while others were left in the dark entirely.
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Timeline of the incident and response
The incident began when hydrogen sulfide, a hazardous gas known for its “rotten egg” odor, was released at the PEMEX plant, which led to the evacuation of the facility and sent plumes of gas into the surrounding area.
The release caused immediate concern, and multiple emergency agencies, including Deer Park’s Emergency Management Team, the Pasadena Fire Department, and Harris County Pollution Control, responded to monitor air quality and assess the risk to the community.
The entire City of Deer Park was under a shelter-in-place order, later extended to north Pasadena. Highways were shut down, and residents in the affected areas reported smelling the noxious gas for hours before being given the all-clear.
The shelter-in-place was lifted around 9:30 p.m., but residents continued to voice concerns over lingering odors and the safety of the air quality.
Investigations and future improvements
Deer Park officials say they are working closely with CodeRED to prevent future issues and are reviewing the city’s emergency response plan.
Residents with concerns about last night’s alerts or who did not receive notifications are encouraged to contact the City of Deer Park’s Office of Emergency Management. Anyone with information related to the chemical release or who may have been affected is also urged to reach out to the Harris County Pollution Control Department for follow-up and further evaluation.
The investigation into the PEMEX facility’s gas release is ongoing, and officials are working to determine what led to the hydrogen sulfide leak.
PEMEX has confirmed that the incident was contained to their site and that flaring was used to safely manage the excess gas.