Cobb to monitor effects of Rockdale chemical plant fire

Here’s what Cobb County Government and the Cobb Emergency Management Agency released late Wednesday afternoon, after saying on Monday the Rockdale chemical plant fire posed no local threat:

“The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) has issued an advisory stating that a shift in weather patterns could push smoke from the BioLab facility in Rockdale County toward metro Atlanta. Winds from the southeast are expected late Wednesday. As the smoke settles near the ground after sunset, ‘there is a high likelihood that people across Metro Atlanta will wake up Thursday morning seeing haze and smelling chlorine.’

“While it is unlikely that any haze reaching Cobb County will contain chlorine at harmful levels, the GEMA advisory notes, ‘It is important to know that as the air settles each evening, smoke also settles toward the ground. As the air lifts back up in the afternoon and evening, the smell and haze should dissipate. Chlorine has a very low odor threshold, meaning you can smell it before it reaches a harmful level.

“ ‘We are working closely with GEMA and the EPA, and we are prepared to conduct air testing in Cobb County if necessary,’ said Cobb Emergency Management Agency Director Cassie Mazloom. ‘We requested testing earlier this week, and the EPA reported no traces of chlorine or hydrogen chloride were found.’

“Cobb County Fire Department’s HazMat team will also be on standby to conduct air quality testing should calls come in.

“No shelter-in-place advisories have been issued for Cobb County at this time.

“The shift in winds could last several days. Although chlorine concentrations are not expected to be hazardous, individuals with sensitive respiratory conditions should follow the Georgia Department of Public Health’s precautions, which are listed [here].‘