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The largest refinery in the United States is shutting down in advance of Hurricane Laura. It won't be safe for workers to travel to and from work. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-weather/hurricanes/article/Motiva-to-shut-down-Port-Arthur-refinery-ahead-of-15513306.php
2. This is mere compliance with local evacuation orders. With history as a guide it also reminds us that a severe storm in this region of the USA exposes our unwillingness to regulate the petrochemical industry. Look at the impact of Hurricane Harvey. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/In-Houston-and-beyond-Harvey-s-spills-leave-a-12771237.php
3. And just because a plant is "closed" doesn't mean that first responders and local residents won't be placed in enormous danger (even more than usual). Remember the exploding Arkema plant in 2017? https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/For-Crosby-residents-a-bitter-taste-about-12771298.php
4. What do you think happens to flood water when it inundates a petrochemical facility? It's not kept on site for appropriate remediation and treatment, that's for sure. https://www.texasobserver.org/dirtying-the-waters-texas-ranks-first-in-violating-water-rules/
5. The fence line in Port Arthur, Texas is a misnomer--the whole community shares the air, water, and soil of the petrochemical facilities that pump money out of the community and leave waste and cancer behind. #slowdisaster. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/30/us/port-arthur-flooding.html
6. Rather than providing a time for extra caution, disaster provides "emergency" regulatory relief for petrochemical polluters. Disaster in America is an excuse to pollute more, not a moment for restraint. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/climate/epa-coronavirus-pollution-rules.html
7. The experience of African Americans in Port Arthur after Hurricane Harvey shows us where structural racism and #slowdisaster meet. Storms there don't end, they just get forgotten by the rest of us. https://www.texasobserver.org/hurricane-harvey-one-year-later-port-arthur/
8. John Beard is an environmental justice activist in Port Arthur. He has worked tirelessly to advocate for for disaster-environmental justice after Hurricane Harvey. I wrote to him yesterday, and it looks like he will have to evacuate. https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/3a8nk3/sentenced-to-death-what-its-like-living-in-a-cancer-plagued-oil-town
9. John Beard, Port Arthur City Hall, 2019.
Environmental justice advocates like John Beard haven't had time to gain justice for victims of Hurricane Harvey, not to mention justice for the everyday disasters in this petrochemical "sacrifice zone." Here comes another hurricane,
Environmental justice advocates like John Beard haven't had time to gain justice for victims of Hurricane Harvey, not to mention justice for the everyday disasters in this petrochemical "sacrifice zone." Here comes another hurricane,
10. Combine that #slowdisaster history w/COVID-19 & you have a disaster for which the USA does no planning, & offers no justice. /end
For more: check out the MAY 14 #COVIDCalls w/John Beard & Beaumont Enterprise reporters @jd_journalism & @KaitlinBain https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgxa_-w98BhAIiwbw2dxKlQ?view_as=subscriber
For more: check out the MAY 14 #COVIDCalls w/John Beard & Beaumont Enterprise reporters @jd_journalism & @KaitlinBain https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgxa_-w98BhAIiwbw2dxKlQ?view_as=subscriber
