Ammonia Leak Rousts Hundreds of Tourists From Hotels on Mississippi Coast

The Associated Press ^ | February 23, 2003 | The Associated Press

[all4one]

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - A cloud of ammonia leaked from a chemical plant early Sunday, forcing tourists to evacuate eight hotels along the Gulf Coast. Authorities said it appeared someone had tried to steal the chemical, possibly to make illegal drugs. Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport was also shut down for seven hours, and several churches canceled or postponed Sunday services after police advised residents to stay indoors.

A couple of emergency workers had to be treated but no other injuries were reported, police Sgt. Joseph Ashmore said.

Anhydrous ammonia, used to make fertilizer, is highly explosive. Exposure irritates the skin and airways and can be fatal.

The evacuation from about 2:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. affected eight hotels near the Gulf of Mexico shore that were filled or near capacity, as well as an all-night Wal-Mart and several small restaurants, Ashmore said. Officials also closed a 10-mile stretch of Interstate 10 and a 3-mile section of U.S. 49 and surrounding streets after a policeman spotted the chemical cloud.

Occupants in more than a combined 950 rooms in the eight hotels were evacuated and told to head north.

Some hotels reported that most guests had returned after the evacuation was lifted. "They're still drifting back in," Motel 6 assistant manager Nancy Secrist said early Sunday afternoon.

Ashmore said investigators had found evidence that someone who apparently planned to use anhydrous ammonia to make crystal methamphetamine had tampered with a 2,000-gallon tank at the Channel Chemical plant. About 600 gallons was missing, though investigators didn't know how much of that had leaked.

Last May, an ammonia leak caused by a thief who stole the chemical from a food processing plant at Arlington, Wash., forced the evacuation of about 1,500 people. That theft also was probably linked to manufacture of methamphetamine, police and fire officials said.

[all4one]

"Anhydrous ammonia, used to make fertilizer, is highly explosive. Exposure irritates the skin and airways and can be fatal."

I know that there are train derailments, oil refinery fires, chemical leaks and other assorted accidents across our country every day; but this particular sentence peaked my interest. I don't think, at this time, there is such a thing as being too cautious or too alert to these "accidents".

I hope that everyone in this area is ok, and that there are no lingering affects or danger to people in this area.

[spunkets]

"About 600 gallons was missing, though investigators didn't know how much of that had leaked."

I'd guess in the neighborhood of 600 gals.

"Anhydrous ammonia, used to make fertilizer, is highly explosive."

Is not!

I drove though a cloud of this stuff at o'dark hundred one night on my Harley. After I got through it I called the Sheriff. I didn't stop at the Co-op to shut off the valve, because they don't allow self defense in WI and the cloud wasn't a danger to anyone. Except of course the Co-ops wallet.

[all4one]

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Anhydrous ammonia is a hydroscopic compound, which means that it seeks water from the nearest source, including the human body. This attraction places the eyes, lungs, and skin at greatest risk because of their high moisture content. Caustic burns result when the anhydrous ammonia dissolves into body tissue.

Most deaths from anhydrous ammonia are caused by severe damage to the throat and lungs from a direct blast to the face. When large amounts are inhaled, the throat swells shut and victims suffocate. Exposure to vapors or liquid also can cause blindness.

An additional concern is the low boiling point of anhydrous ammonia. The chemical freezes on contact at room temperature. It will cause burns similar to, but more severe than, those caused by dry ice.

Under normal temperature and air pressure, anhydrous ammonia is a colorless gas. However, anhydrous ammonia is used and transported under pressure as a liquid. All equipment used for applying or transferring liquid anhydrous ammonia must be designed for use under high pressure to avoid ruptures or breaks.

Anhydrous ammonia has a distinct odor, which humans can detect in concentrations as small as 5 parts per million (ppm). When used in fertilizer, anhydrous ammonia has a concentration of about 1,000,000 ppm. Brief exposure to concentrations of 2,500 to 6,500 ppm can result in death.

From the above information, I think that you and your Harley were lucky.

[gulfcoastgumbo]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/849847/posts

[spunkets]

"I think that you and your Harley were lucky."

Nah, it's the same stuff you sniff when you open a bottle of Bo-Peep, or smelling salts the nurse puts under your nose to wake up the passed out patient. Just hold your breath, back out, or fly through. Flying though would be easy in this case if I had too. Also there's always a breeze, even if it is slight, so it's limited to a stream. It's also diluted with air, because of diffusion. It's only bad when it's concentrated and contained, or you're in the heavy stream near the dump point.

Approach the stream from the backside, hold your breath, squint if you have to, and shut it off. There are othe chems that would be tough to deal with this way. In this case is wasn't the gas, it was the possibility the theives were still there. Since the plume was spreading across miles of fields w/o farm houses, I took a pass and called the Sheriff.

[jrushing]

I wonder how a thief would unload & transport the pressurized ammonia?? This seems to happen a lot around here. They would have to have some type of high pressure hoses & pressurized tank wouldn't they??

[spunkets]

It requires special tanks and regulators. Since they don't care about ruining things, they'll settle for a propane tank. That means they might blow a pressure relief plug, or a hose, right away during the theft. When they do, they run away and leave the mess for someone else to clean up.

[sonofatpatcher2]

Re: ...Anhydrous ammonia, used to make fertilizer, is highly explosive.

I thought anhydrous ammonia was a byproduct of eating red beans and cornbread. Just goes to show ya' learn something new every day.

[BARLF]

Anhydrous ammonia, used to make fertilizer, is highly explosive."

Anhydrous is used to make Urea. Anhydrous is also a fertilizer in it's liquid form. Anhydrous tanks pulled behind a tractor insert the liquid into the soil. Farmers use this method of applying nitrogin, either before or after corn is planted in the spring.

As far as I know it is not highly explosive in liquid form but urea and nitrate can be and are in some cases, highly explosive.

You are right, stay downwind and use protective clothing to close the valve. Contact with the skin is very, very bad.

[spunkets]

Yes, I know they drill it in. I'd never use it as a fertilizer though, because the high pH kills most of the soil bugs. I prefer to maintain the soils natural composition as much as possible. Manure, legume tillage, neutral mixes of urea, or ammonium nitrates are a better choice, although the manufactured stuff is more expensive.

Urea is made by condensing ammonia with carbon dioxide over catalysts. Only compounds with nitrates are explosive. Industrially the nitrates are made from burning ammonia, but that requires a catalyst and high temp, or very high temps w/o catalyst.

[BARLF]

I think Anhydrous is being used less and less by farmers on their corn. Partly because of the danger involved but also it's time consuming. It has been common practice for several years to use urea flown on by the flyboys. The farmer never has to touch the fertilizer so their time can be put to better use.

It cost the fertilizer dealer less to store and handle urea and nitrate,too.