'Chemical Emergency' That Added To Texas Catastrophe Is Contained, Says Officials

La Porte area firefighters and a Harris County Hazmat unit reportedly controlled a chemical spill Monday after a pipeline broke on the northeast side of La Porte, 20 miles away from Houston during Hurricane Harvey. The spill prompted officials to declare a "chemical emergency."

The city of Shoreacres and the La Porte police indicated that after 7 p.m., the issue was resolved with no injuries.

"We have given the all clear," La Porte Police Sgt. Bennie Boles told the Houston Chronicle Tuesday. "Roadways are opened."

"This is an All Clear Notice," the city of Shoreacres said in a statement released Monday. "The chemical release has been contained and the Shelter in Place has been canceled. Repeating, this is an All Clear Notice. The Shelter in Place has been canceled."

Officials indicated that the chemical that escaped into residential areas was anhydrous hydrogen chloride, "which presents symptoms of eye, throat, and nasal irritation," according to a statement released by the city of La Porte.

Hydrogen chloride is a destructive poisonous gas that "can cause serious or permanent injury," according to a federal report. It is a colorless gas with a strong odor capable of eating through metal and bone and can irritate the respiratory system. It is commonly used in the production of rubber, pharmaceuticals, gasoline refining, metals processing and chemicals.

Officials warned residents of La Porte, Shoreacres and Baytown Monday evening to stay inside, shut off air conditioning and keep their doors and windows closed.

Officials also ordered residents to seek shelter in place in areas located on the northeast side of La Porte, in an area in Farrington Road in the west, Texas 146 on the east and North Avenue H in the south.

Because of the emergency warning, the city of Baytown closed local Fred Hartman Bridge. A hazmat team arrived on the scene by 6:30 p.m. and worked with local firefighters and the pipeline company, while Harris County pollution control officials checked air quality, spokeswoman Rachel Moreno told the Houston Chronicle.

"Our team has cleared the scene and is headed home," Moreno said.

La Porte residents posted questions on the city official Facebook page at 5:00 p.m. seeking information regarding the chemical emergency. The city posted information about the shelter-in-place order around 5:30 p.m.

La Porte resident Amy Martin told the Chronicle that she received a phone call, an automated text message and an email from the city, advising residents to seek the shelter in place due to a "chemical emergency."

A few minutes after she received the notifications, sirens began to sound outside, Martin told the Chronicle. She said that she turned off her air conditioning as previously instructed by officials. She added that she didn’t receive an all clear notification until 6:20 p.m.

Local news reported that the chemical spill came from a pipe installed by a company called Valero. Company spokeswoman Lillian Riojas told the Chronicle in an email that the spill wasn’t due to the Valero infrastructure.

"It's not our asset," Riojas said. "Hopefully the city of La Porte can identify the company."

La Porte police didn’t release the owner’s identity but told the Chronicle that "the company responsible for the line and the cause of the leak is being investigated and will be determined at a later date."