Chemical Spills: A Guided Tour

Thousands of chemicals are used here in the U.S. and in other industrialized countries to manufacture the goods our economies rely on. Many are hazardous: They may be toxic (poisonous), flammable, or reactive. They are sometimes involved in dangerous accidents.

This tour will give you an overview of hazardous chemical spills and discuss some of the software used by emergency responders and NOAA Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) scientists to assess spills and protect the public.

Part 1

In the photo at right, a 1995 explosion and fire engulfed a chemical storage facility 2 miles from downtown Savannah, Georgia. Chemicals escaping from damaged tanks reacted together to form hydrogen sulfide and other poisonous gases.

While nearby residents were evacuated, OR&R scientists and others worked to safely dispose of the spilled chemicals and decontaminate the area.

Below is a view of the facility after the fire was put out. A mixture of escaped chemicals has pooled within the protective concrete berm surrounding the burned tanks. This chemical mixture was so caustic that it eventually corroded some sections of the thick berm.