The plant had organic compounds for use by manufacturers. The flooding knocked out the primary power feed to the plant, and both of their back up power systems. The skeleton crew left to man the plant notified the fire department about the potential for a reaction between the warming organic peroxides, and then moved to a safe location. The materials became warm enough to react and an explosion resulted. I cannot recall the exact organic peroxide compounds involved.

Not a radioactive release and the area was evacuated in a 1-1/2 mile radius of the plant, according to thr NPR broadcast yesterday.The law enforcement officers were taken to a hospital for examination as a precaution. It was not involving nuclear materials, organic anhydrides of some kind that must be kept refrigerated caused the explosion.

Bill

Edit: The news this evening identified the compounds as organic peroxides, I misunderstood what was said on the radio. The resulting fire is being allowed to burn out so no responders are endangered. 19 were sent to the hospital with several different complaints. No word on their conditions. The Crosby law enforcement is saying the smoke plume is potentially hazardous and moving people back and out of the wind.