(Georgetown, Jan 8). UPDATE – At 10:50 pm Georgeotwn Police Department reports that the shelter in place notice has been lifted. The incident has been resolved and crews have cleared the scene.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Due to a hazardous materials incident at the Perdue plant in Georgetown, all residents within 1/2 mile of the Perdue plant has been advised to shelter in place. Perdue Farms processing plant is located at 20621 Savannah Road in Georgetown, Delaware. Local daycare has been evacuated.
At this time emergency personnel are on scene including crews from Georgetown Fire Company, Georgetown EMS/Station 93, Sussex County Department of Public Safety, and Delaware DNREC.
Workers reporting a chemical leak, mixture of PAA (peracetic acid) and caustics, with a white cloud visible going airborne. Units establishing a 300 meter isolation zone and closing area roads. Reverse 911 calls are being made as reports of odors are coming from the community. Hazmat and EMS teams are staging in the area of the Delaware Coastal Airport.
Peracetic acid (PAA) is a combination of hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid. It is a strong oxidizer effective against a wide range of pathogens and is used to disinfect poultry production water lines.
All railroad traffic has been halted from Carload Express.
The Delaware Emergency Management Agency has confirmed that an Emergency Alert System message advising a statewide shelter in place was sent in error. The alert is only applicable within a half-mile radius of the incident in Georgetown, Sussex County.
Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
