(The following article by Jeff Montgomery was posted on the News Journal website on September 13.)
DOVER, Del. — Odors from a leaking rail car wafted across some Dover-area streets hours before factory managers reported a leak and emergency on Aug. 25, some residents charged tonight.
The testimony came during a public hearing attended by House and Senate lawmakers looking into an incident at Dow Reichhold Specialty Latex. The pollution release triggered more than 24 hours of road closings, take-shelter warnings that affected thousands and evacuations of dozens of homes.
Emergency officials said the public never was threatened by strong-smelling vapors from the styrene liquid — used to make common plastics — that spewed from the railroad tank car parked on a spur just north of Dover.
But several people among the more than 40 citizens attending criticized the company and emergency and social service agencies for communications shortcomings during the episode, first reported by the company at about 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 25.
Problems ranged from late warnings and sketchy guidance to an evacuation shelter without cots or basic equipment.
“The leak was discovered many hours before people were alerted and evacuated. That demands investigation,” said Dover resident Margaret McKay. “The system failed the people of this community, and they’re entitled to know why.”
Emergency officials used an automatic phone messaging system to advise residents within 5 miles of the plant to stay indoors late Friday and part of Saturday. They later ordered evacuations of homes within 1,500 feet of the plant.
Some residents complained they were skipped or received garbled or late warnings. Others who rely on cell phones never received warnings because the system targets conventional wired systems and registered cell users only.
“The notification system did not work,” said Janice Sibbald, president of the civic association representing the Crossgates community in Dover. “We still do not know who or what or where to call to get information in an emergency. We smelled this awful odor and couldn’t get anyone to talk to us about it.”