Chemical Fire at Perdue Forces Evacuations at Accomac Plant
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CIRCULATION 15,000 Free July 19, 2019 Chemical Fire at Perdue Forces Evacuations at Accomac Plant By Linda Cicoira Heavy smoke blew northwest in- to the sky from tanks where chemical explosions occurred at around 3 p.m., Wednesday, at Perdue Farms, in Ac- comac, while hundreds of employees were evacuated and others were kept from starting their shifts. “We can confirm a fire outside of our Accomac facility,” Danielle Ter- gis, of Perdue Corporate Communica- tions, said Wednesday night. “Out of an abundance of caution we have evacu- ated the facility. There are no reported injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation.” Tergis released a statement Thurs- day, in which she said the incident had been resolved and the plant was back in operation. Accomack County used its Code Red Alert System to call landlines in the nearby communities and notify people by cellphone who had signed up for the Photo Courtesy of Accomack County and Virginia Department of Emergency Management service. They were told to stay inside and avoid the smoke. Peracetic acid tanks burn Wednesday at the Perdue plant in Accomac. The Accomack County Public Safety photo was taken by a Virginia Department of Emergency Management drone. workers, volunteer firefighters and res- was no food and water for them in put water on the chemicals or they will cue personnel from six local companies, sight. The birds were recently taken explode.” Hart reported that one tank and hazmat experts responded. Some away from the cooling units in their contained peracetic acid and the other stayed on the scene for hours waiting modern houses and the heatwave ex- contained sodium chloride. for the fire to go out as it couldn’t be acerbated the situation. County Administrator Mike Ma- battled in the usual manner. No inju- On Facebook, people shared the son said Thursday morning that both Photo by Linda Cicoira ries were reported. news, prayed, inquired about fellow contained peracetic acid. A third party Chickens destined for the Accomac Across Lankford Highway where employees, and speculated about the will handle clean up, he said, but didn’t Perdue plant were given a temporary others were renovating the former dangers and the financial loss. know who that would be. reprieve, but were still subjected to B&G Market, witnesses said they County supervisors were preparing “They are monitoring the air on the scorching outdoor temperatures. heard two loud explosions. The park- for their monthly meeting and Chair- north side, telling people not to go out- uation if anything happens Mike (Ma- ing lot there was filled with plant em- man Donald Hart started the session side. (It is) not a situation where it will son) and I may have to leave.” ployees dressed for work with nowhere with a brief report. cause death but could do other dam- Hart is also the county director of to go. Tractor-trailers loaded with live “Two tanks caught on fire which are age. It’s going to be hours. The place emergency services. Public Safety Di- chickens were also parked. The chick- both near a fuel tank,” Hart said. “They has been evacuated. We have to wait rector C. Ray Pruitt was already on the ens peeked out of their cages. There are worried about that now. You cannot … We’re in the middle of a hazmat sit- scene, Hart said. 2 • EASTERN SHORE POST • JULY 19, 2019 Accomack EDA Head: Airport Traffic Could Increase from Wallops Overflow By Linda Cicoira port and assistance of Accomack Coun- from Roanoke College with a bachelor’s vice permit portal, which will be going Accomack Airport could see an in- ty to get it all to meld together.” degree in business administration. public from the county website https:// crease in traffic if commercial over- Margaret Lindsey, a certified pub- “Prior to working in the public are- co.accomack.va.us on Aug. 1. flow from Wallops Island is sent there, lic accountant from Roanoke, Va., na, she was an auditor for KPMG The new feature will allow contrac- Chairwoman Stella Rohde, of the Acco- has been named the new Accomack (an auditing network of profession- tors and residential users to apply for mack Economic Development Authori- County finance director, County Ad- al firms) and worked for other ac- permits, pay fees, request inspections, ty, told members of the county board of ministrator Mike Mason announced counting firms as well,” said Mason. check on a neighbor’s construction, supervisors Wednesday. Wednesday at the county board of su- “Her interest in government account- and more. Rohde has been talking with Dale pervisors meeting. Lindsey is expect- ing started when she served on audit “You don’t have to come in any- Nash of the Mid-Atlantic Regional ed to report to work in early August teams for state and local municipali- more,” said Morrison. “You can pay on- Spaceport and Peter Bale, CEO of Sen- and will be introduced to county su- ties. She and her husband, Will, an av- line too. Will have two kiosks in the of- tinel Robotic Solutions LLC. She also pervisors later that month. id fisherman, are excited to be moving fice too … It’s a really great tool for the said she has been on several tours of Mason, who served in the finance to the Shore and look forward to be- community.” NASA lately to learn about the indus- capacity for years, said Lindsey “in- coming Shore residents.” Appointment to various commis- try. The chairwoman said the traffic terviewed fabulously” and is already Accomack supervisors also voted to sions and committees were also made could be diverted to Melfa because air- emailing him about Virginia Retire- amend the fiscal 2020 budget to reflect and include Ricky Ross to the Acco- space is so restricted on Wallops. ment System investment assump- $8,382,558 in federal and state fund- mack-Northampton Planning Dis- Rohde also thanked the supervisors tions. She most recently worked for ing, other initiatives for public schools trict Commission, Richard Jenkins to for providing her group with an office the City of Roanoke and has more and for $5.1 million for the Public Li- the Accomack-Northampton Regional at the county airport. She boasted that than a decade of experience in gov- brary and Eastern Shore Heritage Housing Authority, Jay Davenport to the EDA members are all dedicated ernment accounting for both munic- Center construction project. the board of directors of the Eastern and bring different insights to their ipalities and public school systems, Assistant County Administrator Shore Public Library, John Harvey to board. “It really is wonderful. They Mason continued. Rich Morrison also reported to the the Greenbackville Harbor Commit- might discuss stuff but they don’t ar- Lindsey is licensed in Virginia, Penn- board about the county’s new con- tee, and Beth Onley to the local fi- gue stuff.” There is “outstanding sup- sylvania, and Alabama. She graduated struction and environmental self-ser- nance board. Eastern Shore Post is YOUR hometown newspaper. Read it FREE Every Friday. JULY 19, 2019 • EASTERN SHORE POST • 3 CLEARANCE HOT DEALS AT HERTRICH OF POCOMOKE WE SAY YES WHEN OTHERS SAY NO – GUARANTEED CREDIT APPROVAL STK#R2129A STK# R2170A STK#R2100A 2010 KIA OPTIMA 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER 2011 FORD F150 2014 NISSAN ALTIMA STK#R2117A FEATURED! FEATURED! FEATURED! NEW ARRIVAL! ONLY $6,966 ONLY $13,966 ONLY $14,977 $127/MO 2014 DODGE JOURNEY 2015 FORD FOCUS 2014 FORD ESCAPE 2013 SUBARU FORESTER 2017 KIA SOUL STK#J19022A STK#D19022B STK#19020A STK#R2167A STK#R2168 NEW ARRIVAL! NEW ARRIVAL! $129/MO $133/MO $136/MO $199/MO $214/MO 2016 FORD FUSION 2017 HONDA FIT 2017 TOYOTA CAMRY 2017 CHEVY MALIBU 2016 GMC TERRAIN STK#S4661 STK#R2152A1 Certified STK#19075A1 Certified STK#S4728 Certified STK#S4658 NEW ARRIVAL! 7-YEAR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY! 7-YEAR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY! 7-YEAR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY! $219/MO $224/MO $243/MO $246/MO $274/MO PAYMENTS BASED ON APPROVED CREDIT WITH 72/MO TERM. @ 5.99% APR. NOT ALL WILL QUALIFY. $2500 DOWN CASH OR TRADE. TAX, TAGS, TITLE, AND DOC FEES NOT INCLUDED. HERTRICH OF POCOMOKE NOW HIRING TECHNICIANS 888-652-4309 www.HertrichofPocomoke.com STOP IN OR CALL 302-648-JOBS HERTRICH CARS NOT LABELED CERTIFIED DO NOT INCLUDE A 7 YEAR WARRANTY. 4 • EASTERN SHORE POST • JULY 19, 2019 Photo courtesy of NASA/Patrick Black Gov. Northam Welcomes New Payload Processing Facility Dave Pierce, director of the NASA Wallops Flight Facility, at far left, and Dale Nash, executive director of Virginia Space, listen as Gov. Ralph Northam speaks during the new payload processing facility’s ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) last week. “The new MARS Payload Processing Facility enhances the Wallops complex and is a critical part of our commitment to serve as a world-class center for space research, ex- ploration, and commerce,” said Northam. “This investment will continue to position the Commonwealth as the premier leader in the aerospace industry.” JULY 19, 2019 • EASTERN SHORE POST • 5 Sweltering Summer: Four More Days of Dangerous Heat Ahead By Connie Morrison Management Coordinator Brian Rush. hat wide enough to protect your face. The dog days of summer will bite hard The town is prepared for all emergen- • Wear loose, lightweight, light-col- Signs: Heavy sweating, paleness, mus- this weekend. Early in the week, the Na- cies, including a large number of over- ored clothing. cle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, tional Weather Service issued an exces- heated tourists. “This is something we • Drink plenty of fluids to stay hy- headache, nausea or vomiting, or fainting sive heat briefing for Friday through plan for,” he said.