Bayer Crop Science http://www.bayercropscience.us/who-we-are/lubbock in Lubbock reported a hydrogen chloride gas leak late last night or early this morning http://www.kcbd.com/story/22201407/hazmat-crew-en-route-to-bayer-crop-sciences. Bayer Crop Science has a really good safety history.
Residents in the area of the leak were evacuated in the wee hours of the morning. Some went to relatives, some to hotels, some to the Salvation Army http://www.uss.salvationarmy.org/uss/www_uss_lubbock.nsf. Guadalupe Elementary School http://guadalupe.lubbockisd.org/ was closed for 5-9-13, as was the Guadalupe Early Childhood Learning Center http://www.guadalupecenter.org/EarlyChildhoodEducation. I am sure other businesses were also closed for the duration.
A HazMat http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hazmat crew from Dallas came to help with the clean up of the situation, and by tonight, that has been accomplished. People were allowed to return to their homes http://lubbockonline.com/local-news/2013-05-09/lubbock-residents-evacuated-during-chemical-spill-recall-scare.
The news has not reported any injuries as a result of the leak. It seems that by being proactive once the gas leak was detected, people were alerted, and the evacuation and containment procedures kept people safe.
Lubbock experienced a devastating, deadly tornado on May 10, 1970 http://lubbockonline.com/lubbock_tornado_home_page. It is my belief that because of that experience, the residents and government of Lubbock take disaster response very seriously. I know that during the Hurricane Katrina http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/special-reports/katrina.html evacuation and follow up, the city of Lubbock provided stellar assistance. So much so, that we were noted as a model for other communities, and told if similar storms or emergency situations occur, Lubbock will be a first place evacuation site. We have been put on notice for emergencies more than once.
Well, Lubbock is safe tonight. This is a blessing.
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