Midland, Michigan, home of Dow Chemical Co., has been under a flood watch for the last several days. On May 20, flood waters overwhelmed the area and two dams on the Tittabawassee River were breached. The result: flood waters were “commingling with on-site containment ponds” according to a Tweet from the chemical company.
Dow Chemical Tweet confirms containment ponds were breached.
“Dow’s local emergency operations center is fully activated and is implementing its flood preparedness plan. All operating units on site have been safely shutdown, except for facilities needed for safely managing chemical containment, and all railcars are secured. At approximately 10:00 a.m. Eastern it was confirmed there were flood waters commingling with on-site containment ponds. We immediately partnered with the US Coast Guard to activate emergency plans. Only essential staff are onsite to monitor and manage the situation with no reported employee injuries. We will continue to engage with our site tenants and Midland County officials and take immediate action to ensure the safety and security of our employees, community and the environment.”
An article in the Detroit Free Press notes that company officials said the flood waters were mixing "with an on-site pond used for storm water and brine system/groundwater remediation," adding, "The material from the pond commingling with the flood waters does not create any threat to residents or environmental damage. There has been no reported product releases."
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said at a news conference that she is in contact with Dow officials and the company closed the chemical plant on Tuesday. "I know they have extensive flood plans that they started executing," the governor said. “At this juncture, the plan is working, and they’ve been able to save any real damage from happening.”
Midland has been the headquarters for Dow Chemical Co. for more than 120 years and employs 9,000 workers and contractors. Worldwide, it has over 100 plants in over 30 countries and has over 36,500 employees.
