US authorities issue storm surge warning for Freeport in Texas as Hurricane Laura looms

Tom Brown

26-Aug-2020

LONDON (ICIS)–The petrochemicals hub of Freeport in Texas is facing possible life-threatening flood waters when Hurricane Laura hits the area, according to guidance from the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) on Wednesday.

The agency has issued a storm surge warning for the area from Freeport to the mouth of the Mississippi river near New Orleans in Louisiana, indicating the risk of severe flooding from water moving inland from the coastline.

“This is a life-threatening situation,” the NHC said of the Freeport warning.

“Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions.”

The NHC also warned of hurricane-like conditions from San Luis Pass, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana. Hurricane Laura is expected to make landfall tonight US local time.

A storm surge watch, indicating potential life-threatening flooding, is also in place for the mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

Source: NHC

Freeport is home to a significant amount of US Gulf Coast petrochemicals capacity, with Dow’s mega-complex in the region producing ethylene and polymers, BASF producing acrylic acid chain and caprolactam products, and Olin caustic soda chain materials.

Shintech, the SI Group and MEGlobal also have operations in the area. Many producers in Texas and Louisiana have shut down production ahead of the hurricane making landfall, and more than 84% of Gulf of Mexico oil production capacity has been shut down.

Laura is expected to strengthen to a Category 4 hurricane as it approaches the US Gulf Coast, defined as capacity to severely damage homes, for uprooted trees and downed power poles potentially isolating residential areas, and power outages to last for weeks or months.

Most of the area to bear the brunt of the hurricane will be uninhabitable for weeks or months, the NHC said. The storm is large, with hurricane-force winds extending up to 70 miles (110km) from the centre. Data from a buoy located east of the eye of the hurricane this morning indicated wave heights of 11 metres.

Thumbnail picture: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) imagery showing the storm over the northern Atlantic Ocean earlier in the week. Source: NOAA/AP/Shutterstock.

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