Traffic is backed up for miles as Interstate 10 has been closed in both directions through the Mobile area.
Early this morning, a tanker truck carrying the chemical epichlorohydrin turned over just off Interstate 10 in West Mobile. Evacuation orders were issued for areas in a radius of the accident site. The Alabama Department of Transportation expects the chemical clean-up to take about 12 hours.
The overturned tanker was carrying about 5,000 gallons of epichlorohydrin, a chemical used in making plastics, solvents and various other synthetic materials. Epichlorohydrin is a colorless liquid with an irritating, chloroform-like odor. Exposure can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, respiratory distress, cough, cyanosis, inflammation in the eyes and lungs, and painful irritation and sensitization of the skin.
I added this photo especially for "Plowboy" Kurt, and you others that were recently in the area for The GCWR. Traffic is bumper to bumper along US Hwy.90 (Government Blvd.) in West Mobile, just off Interstate 10. The blue dot on the right side of the photo is The Red Roof Inn where many of The GCWR guests stayed last month. The red dot in the upper middle of the pic is the neighborhood where I grew up, and where my parents still reside today. My parents home is about 1/2 mile from the accident site.
Our church day care center where granddaughter Grace goes was also evacuated. So we have her company for the remainder of the day. She's napping right now. Bless her heart. Other than that, it's another fine day along The Gulf Coast. Temperatures are closing in on 80, as I type.
Have a good one!
~Percy
www.PercyPringle.com
