On down to wharton, they say. We can use every hand. Reporter martin savidge, thank you very much. And thanks to you for joining us. Our breaking News Coverage continues now with ac 360. Houston. A week after Hurricane Harvey came ashore, the reminders that this is not over keep coming and theres a new one that just happened. Explosions and a massive fire at the Chemical Plant 25 miles northeast of houston. It began with flooding, followed by a power outage, and the equipment to keep explosive chemicals cool shut down. Early yesterday morning came the first fire. Late today, a large explosion, followed by the large fire that has thankfully died down again. For obvious reasons, cnns brian todd is not here but joins us with the latest. What do we know exactly about this fire . Reporter we can tell you that officials have told us for
most of this week they expect that incidents like this to occur and they just posted a statement moments ago saying that the redundant Refrigeration Systems that cooled those toxic peroxide chemicals that they knew those systems had failed and this was all heatingago, an. They also had an 11person team
that was there when the hurricane hit friday night. They were there through the weekend and they basically became aware of the fact that this plant was heavily flooded and the Cooling Systems for those organic peroxide chemicals were going to fail. And they did fail. This is what was expected. The company is treating this as if, look, we all expected this. There are going for more incidents like this. Were just going to let it burn out. Brian, just to be clear, i know the area has been evacuated, but people seeing this, they hear chemicals and fire, are going to be concerned about the affects of that stuff in the air. Reporter absolutely. What is interesting is a couple of days ago, they sent some local deputies to the scene to check things out and make sure people were out of there. Some of the deputies were treated for smoke inhalation, but they termed it was not toxic. So they were treated and
released. But you see images like this and you know whats inside that plant and they have to be concerned about a Toxic Emnation that could affect areas even beyond the 1. 5 miles. Another fortunate thing, there hasnt been a lot of wind in this area. Its heavy air around houston and points east. So not a lot of wind after the hurricane, so whatever is burning the company is saying theres no danger from whats going into the air, correct . Reporter they have said that. They have not indicated at all theres any danger. Now, i have to say also they havent given a whole lot of other information other than to say we expected this, and were going to let it burn out. And they at one point did apologize for a lack of information on this thing. But were not getting a lot of information tonight other than to say theyre going to let this burn out. Brian, i appreciate the
reporting. Joining us now is retired general russel honore, who led the Military Efforts in katrina 12 years ago. When you see a fire like this, it raises concerns but it tells a story of what happens, where theres all these ripple effects and sometimes you cant predict at the outset and a lot of people dont think about it, whether Its Beaumont Last Night Running Out of Drinking Water or this fire. Thats right. You lose control of whats happening. In this particular case, anderson, the company is the main spokesman, opposed to the epa who we pay a lot of money to control this, which is region six out of dallas. They should have a representative there, an incident commander, supervisor. Yet we got a French CompanyPublic Affairs officer informing the people of texas whats happening. Dont worry about it, be happy. I get concerned when theres a equal 1. 5 mile circumference. Because even with little wind, theres a jet stream that will carry that chemical to a certain direction. And thats what the federal government should be telling the people of texas, where is the plume and what direction that chemical is going in once it burns. The easy way to tell it is to see what direction the smoke is going, because its getting in a jet stream, and its going somewhere in the four different directions. So if its concerning, when they talk about toxic, its toxic, and they operate with an exception to the clean air act. In a situation like what were having is the texas epa . Theyre allowed to release certain amount of toxins into the air, because it is a toxic chemical. You heard the Public Affairs office say earlier, its relative to concentration and how close you are to it. The sheriffs got sick. Again, just to tell folks, i believe thats a coast guard helicopter. I see red, so i assume that, passing overhead. Its a common sight even in houston now. Even though theres not the same kind of rescues on roof tops weve been seeing and other parts. Its one of the things that surprised me yesterday is how much how many air assets are flying over beaumont, port arthur, and how difficult it is a lot of it is just the pilots turning around, looking up, looking left and right to know where all the air traffic is. A Senior Army Officer once
told me, fly your airplane, son. If the instruments are not working, we had over 200 aircraft in new orleans without instruments, because all the instrumentation was broken until the iwo jima got there. This is just good training and a tribute to our pilots who are flying the airplanes. And hovering spot on, 150 feet up. Incredible. General honore, appreciate it. At this time last night, our gary tuchman wases a Baptist Hospital in beaumont, and they had begun Airlifting Patients out because the Drinking Supply had gone down. The river east of the city was expected to crest only today. Today 80 patients were still in the hospital, including 11 preemies in the nicu. Continue here, another potential threat is over the horizon. Hurricane irma has a lot of forecasters watching very carefully. Our alison is in the Weather Center tracking the storm and joins us now. Its a long way off, but what is the latest in terms of strength, location and possible landfall . Its now back up to a category 3 storm. It went through a weakening phase, going back to a category 2. But right now where it sits, it went through a Eyewall Replacement Cycle where its trying to regroup and reintensify, and it did just that. So winds are back at 120 miles per hour, looking like a relatively healthy storm at this point in time. But its over the middle of the atlantic. No land anywhere in sight. So the question is, where does it go in the short term . It takes a dip to the south and its going to encounter some
warmer water, allowing the storm to intensify even more, perhaps up to a category 4, if not stronger than this. B this is just what its going to do in the next five days. So where do you see longterm . Obviously its hard to model something this far out. Right. So after five days, that becomes the big question. Well take a look at two of our top models. In the short term, the next five to seven days, they really dont vary all that much. Its once we start getting towards the caribbean. Thats where you see them spread. This reddish pink color, this is the american model. The european model takes a southerly and west track. This takes it towards florida and the gulf. The american model takes it north and east to the atlantic. This would have a much better
chance impacting the carolina coast or the northeast. But again, were talking a timeline of next weekend at the earliest. So a lot can change. But its nice to know what some of the models are happening so well have an idea of what to expect. Yeah. Alison, thank you for that. Reports of food and water running low in west houston. Well get a live update on the situation there next. And a lot happening in the white house, including the departure of one of the president s closest aides dating back decades. Details next. Knowing where you stand has never been easier. Except when it comes to retirement. At fidelity, you get a Retirement Score in just 60 seconds. And well help you make decisions for your plan. To keep you on track. Its your retirement. Know where you stand. For a refreshing taste that shines brighter. Blue moon. Even though some parts of houston are drying out, the situation is getting worse in parts of the city, including west houston where food reports of food running low. Nick valencia joins us with the latest on that. I understand people are starting to run out of food and water. What are you seeing and are there plans to get supplies to folks there . Reporter barker cyrus is still under water a week after Hurricane Harvey hit here. This situation is almost as desperate as ever. The mayor is telling people to get out while they can, but in some cases they remain stranded. Thats why people are taking matters into their own hands. We joined a group of First Responderi Eers that came here washington, d. C. To help those stranded. One of the people that we saw them rescue on one of the twoRescue Missions was an elderly man who was standing at a gas station in flooded water, just aimlessly walking around. He was waiting for help. Another person was terry gay, who was running out of food and water. He had been stranded in the Apartment Complexes back there for over a week. It was just now that he was emerging, because he was running out of su polippliesupplies. Anderson . If you could have your Cameraman Push past and show us Whats Going On. Are some of the people who are now leaving, were they trying to ride out the storm . Reporter thats right. Theyre just now coming out. Part of Whats Going On steve, if you want to zoom in there the Rescue Missions are wrapping up. This cue of people here, the crowd was swelling, dozens of people were here waiting to try to get back in. Part of these civilian boats dipping into this water here,
taking individuals that hadnt been back to their home since Hurricane Harvey hit, a lot of people hoping they could find medication, documents, important reports, this is the last of what remains of those people hoping to catch a ride. One thing the residents said that we got on that truck, one of if thithe things theres an t going back there accelerating and causing wakes and pushing this flood water to places it hadnt been before. So people who are coming to help in some situations, theyre making the situation even more complicated. Anderson . Yeah, i know, from being been on those airboats they kick up a wake. Youre seeing people saying slow down. Most of the airboat operators are aware of the wake issue and they go through these neighborhoods and try to go through slowly. But theyre powerful boats. That can cause issues. You may have noticed Gasoline Prices have risen, an average of almost 17 cents a gallon since the storm. Texas Governor Greg Abbott tried to reassure texan there iss plenty of gas in the state. So alison, lines were wrong and stations were closed yesterday. Has it gotten any better today . Reporter it really hasnt. These long lines continue. This Line Wrapping around the corner. And if you drive around dallas, if you didnt see a line at the gas station, it was probably because the gas station was out of gas. In fact, this one that were at is almost out of gas completely. Its only got two pumps working. So some of these drivers may be out of luck. One other thing i saw different today, the frustration and the tension building. One driver in a red camaro was waiting, running out of gas, right there in line, and having to push his car to the pump. Another driver getting in a
fight with a Gas Attendant about his place in line. That Gas Attendant having to spray him with pepper spray just to break up the fight. I shot that with my iphone today. You know, as long as we see these refineries shut down, well see these gas supply disruptions. But exacerbating the problem, anderson, is a lot of drivers are feeling panicked. They are feeling the need to fill up their tanks and the canisters. Thats really just making the problem worse. Anderson . You know, we also heard reports, we talked about the rising prices, average of 17 cents. Even Price Gouging in some places. Reporter yeah, and prices legitimately are rising because of this supply crunch. But yes, the Texas Attorney general has said that its office has received hundreds of complaints and phone calls about gas stations around dallas even, Gas Stations Gouging consumers,
charging 6 to 8 a gallon for gas. Thats way too much. And these gas stations certainly opening themselves up potentially to some hefty fines. Anderson . Alison, thank you very much. Ahead, one womans homecoming, a lot of people are trying to get back to their homes for first time. We went out with one woman who went to her house by canoe. Well tell you what she saw ahead. Sailin away on the crest of a wave, its like magic rollin and ridin and Slippin And Slidin Its Magic introducing the all new volkswagen tiguan. Higher and higher, baby the new king of the concrete jungle. When heartburn hits fight back fast with tums chewy bites. Fast relief in every bite. Crunchy outside. Chewy inside. Tum tum tum tum tums chewy bites. Scuse me. Mind if i sit here . Not if you want your phone to work. Let me guess, cant livestream your lobster roll. And my mobile pay isnt connecting and i just got an unlimited plan. Right plan, wrong network. You see, verizon has americas largest, most reliable 4g Lte Network and now unlimited plans start at 40 per line, you know what im saying . Oh, this is your seat. Definitely. Yep. Just tucking it in. I wasnt gonna pull it out. Introducing unlimited for all. All the data you want on the network you want. Now starting at 40 per line for four lines. [woman] so youre saying you didnt eat this ice cream . [man] baby, i swear on my lucky shirt. I ate it. [burke] frightning bolt. Seen it. Covered it. We know a thing or two because weve seen a thing or two. We are farmers. Bumpadum, bumbumbumbum gloria always went big. So we helped her plan a Memorial Service that no one would soon forget. This ones for you, gloria. Only a Dignity Memorial Professional can celebrate a life like no other. Find out how at sanfranciscodignity. Com. Today, houstons mayor, the governor, they all spoke to the
knnumerical dimensions of the disaster, just a situation about 70 trillion gallons of rain, or 136,000 homes and buildings flooded, its a situation unfolding person to person. Some of them now just returning home. Susan peterson has to use a canoe to get to her house. Its probably a quarter of a mile from here. Shes waited all week for the water to recede, but she cant wait any longer. She needs to see whats happened to her home. She invited us to go with her. The water too deep and dangerous in some spots to walk through. Thats quite a current. So this is your house if in her front yard, one of her cars is completely submerged. Only the roof visible. Thats one of your cars . Its a 91 cavalier. From the outside, the house doesnt look too bad. So are there stairs here . Yeah, there are stairs under here. But inside is another story. The kids bedrooms and bathrooms are down the hall. I mean, that was ground level. The two lower levels of the house are under water. The garage, her office, and three bedrooms. Mold is already visible on the ceiling. Susan looks for her four cats, but finds no sign of them. Guys . Does it help to see it, or does it no. I think i probably would have been better waiting till the water was down. After about 15 minutes inside, she decides to leave. Shes not sure how to begin to rebuild. Shell come back later with her kids to search for the cats. For susan and so many others here, the difficulty of the days ahead is all too clear. Its overwhelming . Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Well, anyone returning to a flooded home or staying put in one faces a set of potential hazards that most people dont ordinarily plan for, which is why were glad to have the expertise of dr. David purse, houston ems director. A lot of folks just like susan are returning to their homes. Theres water in it, theyre already seeing mold. What are the potential hazards . What should people do . One thing to worry about is whats in the water or whats not in the water. If theres a Missing Manhole company. So i warn people walking through the water. Even if it seems shallow, if theres a Drainage Ditch thats open and you cant see it. Right, if its just a couple feet deep, especially if theres a Drainage Port there, there could be a tremendous force of water that could suck you in. It seemed really calm while canoeing, then we were in the turnlt and got pushed. Theres a lot of dangers people cant see. Those are the physical dangers, much less the chemicals and organisms we worry about. Inside a house, mold. We were talking before, theres a lot of different kinds of mold. Right, right. What do people do . Well, theres lots of different mold, but you cant tell the good mold. Theres no such thing as a good mold. Theres not bad and bad. But everything is wet, you just got to get rid of it. Carpeting, bedding, that all needs to go. Dry wall. Dry wall. And wherever the water needs to one cup of bleach to one gallon or stronger. But theres a couple of gallons and people want to make it stretch. So thats the minimum concentration. For the longer the water stays in a house, the more difficult it i