Refinery Fire, Inner Harbor, Corpus Christi, TX

Corpus Christi, TX | 2023-May-17

Initial Notification: On May 17, 2023, the Valero Refinery in the Inner Harbor area of Corpus Christi experienced a fire in their heat exchanger, releasing an unknown amount of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide. NWS Corpus Christi smoke plume trajectory predicted the smoke cloud from the fire to pass over the Sector office and portions of city of Corpus Christi. Sector Corpus requested assistance with effects analysis and response options in event of exposure to hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide. SSC, in conjunction with public health officer from ASTDR, recommended shelter-in-place, and directed IMD personnel to Annex 5a, the Public Health and Safety Community Air Monitoring Protocols, which contain exposure information. Poison Control Centers were notified of the release.