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HCPH| Harris County Public Health Issuing Shelter in Place after Active Chemical Leak at West Harris County Warehouse
HOUSTON — Harris County Public Health (HCPH) has issued a Shelter in Place (SIP) after an activeAnhydrous Ammonia (ammonia gas) chemical leak occurred early this morning at a 99 Cents Only Storedistribution center in west Harris County located in the 23600 block of Colonial Parkway near GrandParkway.

HCPH is working with its response partners at the local, state, and federal levels to monitor events related tothe chemical leak and at this time, no injuries are reported. Our public health focus remains on the health andsafety of the entire Harris County community.

For residents living in the area and out of an abundance of caution, the boundary for the SIP is a 2 square milearea:

  • Southern boundary: Kingsland Blvd between Hwy. 99 & S. Mason Rd.
  • Eastern boundary: Mason Rd. (N. & S. portions) from Kingsland Blvd. North to Mason Creek.
  • Northern boundary: Mason Creek between Hwy. 99 & N. Mason Rd.
  • Western boundary: Hwy. 99 between Kingsland Blvd. & Mason creek with a small section to the NW of the I10 & 99 intersections between Colonial Pkwy. & Mercantile Pkwy. Extending westward to 23623 ColonialPkwy. This area DOES NOT include Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define SIP as follows:

  • Get inside. Bring your loved ones, your emergency supplies, and when possible, your pets,
  • Find a safe spot in this location.
  • Stay put in this location until officials say that it is safe to leave.
HCPH will provide an update once the SIP has been lifted.

HCPH also continues to work with its healthcare partners and recommends that any individuals who live in thearea and have health concerns should contact their healthcare provider, or if more serious, call 911.

If you do not have a healthcare provider, you can find a local health center near you athttps://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/, or you can call the Harris Health System’s ‘Ask My Nurse’ helpline – openfrom 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily – to help answer basic health questions. The number is (713) 634-1110.

For complaints resulting from the chemical leak or for general water or solid waste pollution complaints, pleasecall the Harris County Pollution Control Services Department at (713) 920-2831. 

HCPH reminds the public to continue to stay informed on this active chemical leak. Residents can also stay upto date by following ReadyHarris on social media: Twitter @ReadyHarris and Facebook ReadyHarris. Tolearn more, please visit: www.hcphtx.org and www.cdc.gov.