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10/25/2024

WT Staff

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October 25, 2024 932 am EDT

Timeline of events Rockland County Biolab Fire Incident

 Biolab Fire Incident Overview Oct 2024 From Rockland County
At approximately 5:30 am on Sunday, September 29, 2024 Rockdale County Fire Rescue responded to a roof fire at Biolab in Conyers, GA. The building at Biolab contained Chlorine compounds and is a water reactive chemical. Resulting in a plume. Rockdale County and Emergency response agencies from across the state responded to assist, including Environmental Protection Agency, The Environmental Protection Division, Georgia Emergency Management and local first responders from neighboring counties.

The chemicals detected by EPA air monitoring include:
  • Chlorine, chloramine and chlorine compounds
  • Carbon Monoxide
  • Hydrogen Chloride
  • Phosgene
Shelter-in-Place Order Timeline

The initial response of Rockdale County and initial news release the day of the fire incident Sept 30 urged all County residents to take shelter indoors, while the Interstate 20 was closed. From that first news release, "Rockdale County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), based on information received from the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), strongly advises all Rockdale County residents to continue to shelter in place. Additionally, in the best interest and safety of the public and all citizens, it is recommended that businesses close operations until shelter-in-place is lifted."

"This information is based on air quality surveys conducted by EPA and EPD, which revealed the harmful irritant chlorine, which was detected in the air emitting from the incident location of Bio Lab. For everyone sheltering in place, the best practice is to turn the air conditioning off and keep windows and doors shut. On the Georgia Department of Transportation recommendation, Interstate 20 will remain closed eastbound and westbound from Turner Hill Rd to Almon Rd. The need to keep Interstate 20 closed is based on unpredictable path and wind direction, which could change the direction of the irritants in the air."

Later that same day, the shelter in place recommendation was rescinded based on acceptable air quality results from the EPA. Sep 30, 2024 "Rockdale County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is lifting the Shelter in Place recommendation and the evacuation zone for Rockdale County effective immediately. The latest readings from monitoring the last 24 hours via EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) with results showing Rockdale County with an average level of all readings at .09 well below the action level (.5) as of the last reading (September 30 at 4:59 pm). Rockdale County Water Resources has tested the water, and it is deemed safe. The EPA will continue to monitor the air quality readings. Citizens can expect to continue to see clouds until its fully dissipated."

The following day, Oct 1, the Shelter in Place order was re-issued for the entire County. "At 3:30 a.m., on Oct. 1, 2024, a notification came in from operations at Biolab that a plume was hovering over the county because of over-gassing of the product. The plume has been moving across the county, influenced by the weather. The EPA has been actively monitoring air quality. Residents are urged to shelter in place if the plume or smell of chlorine is over their area until the cloud has passed. This is especially critical for individuals with respiratory conditions. It is essential to stay aware of the wind shifts. Due to inversion, the plume is more prone to shift during the evening, and it is recommended to stay inside during evening hours if possible and keep emergency alert notifications on your phone active."

By Oct.7, the Shelter in Place was rescinded for all but those in a two-mile radius of the Biolab Facility in Conyers. Ten days later, the need to shelter-in-place was declared over for all Rockdale County residents. Oct 17, 2024 "The Rockdale County Emergency Management Agency (RCEMA) has lifted the shelter-in-place order for the entire county, following successful and continuous clean-up efforts. Rockdale County EMA and the Unified Command are aligned in recommending the lifting of the shelter in place to allow businesses, schools and the Rockdale County Community to resume normal activities. The decision comes after 72 hours of air monitoring showed no significant spikes, and there is no longer a visible plume. This includes the area within a two-mile radius of the BioLab facility."

Drinking Water Safety
Rockdale County drinking water is sourced from surface water with an intake in Big Haynes Creek, part of the Ocmulgee River watershed. See the yellow tag on our map to the right for an approximate location of the raw water intake within the watershed. Nearly a month following the fire, here is what we have been told about the security of Rockland County's raw drinking water source.
  • Sep 30 news release: "Rockdale County Water Resources has tested the water, and it is deemed safe. The EPA will continue to monitor the air quality readings."
  • Oct 1 news release: "Rockland County, GA: Water samples are being tested three times daily, and all results have returned safe levels. Streams downstream from the Biolab facility do not feed into the Hanes Watershed, a source of the county’s drinking water."
While the creeks in the vicinity of the fire do not flow into Big Haynes Creek where the Rockland County water supply is sourced, the movement of the plume is another vector for contaminants to reach surface water. WaterToday Georgia has reached out to Rockland County and to the EPA for a word on how contaminant particulates in the toxic plume behave, and whether there was a transfer of any of the chemicals of concern to any surface water of the State of Georgia. More to follow.

Pacific Ocean - Hurricane Kristy Advisory Number 16 issued by National Hurricane Center 8am Oct 25
KRISTY WEAKENING
At 800 AM PDT (1500 UTC), the center of Hurricane Kristy was located near latitude 15.8 North, longitude 124.8 West. Kristy is moving toward the west-northwest near 14 mph (22 km/h). A turn toward the northwest is expected later today, and a northwestward to north-northwestward motion at a slower forward speed is expected over the weekend.

Maximum sustained winds are near 125 mph (205 km/h) with higher gusts. Kristy is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Steady to rapid weakening is expected during the next few days, with Kristy expected to become a post-tropical cyclone on Sunday.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles (45 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles (165 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 952 mb (28.12 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
Swells generated by Kristy will affect portions of the west coast of the Baja California peninsula beginning today and continuing into the weekend. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.

NEXT ADVISORY Next complete advisory at 200 PM PDT.

Forecaster Kelly
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