Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Hurricane Laura's Wake: Chemical Fire And Fears Of Virus Super-Spreading
New Orleans Times-Picayune: Chemical Fire In Lake Charles After Hurricane Laura's Landfall Prompts Shelter-In-Place Order
Hours after Hurricane Laura made landfall early Thursday, a large chemical fire erupted at a chlorine production plant just west of Lake Charles, sending a billowing plume of smoke for miles and prompting an emergency alert for people to take shelter from chlorine gas and other harmful emissions. The sprawling BioLab Inc. complex just south of Interstate 10 in Westlake caught fire around 9 a.m., about seven hours after the hurricane blasted through the area. (Baurick and Mitchell, 8/27)
NPR: Chemical Fire Burns Near Lake Charles, La., In Aftermath Of Hurricane Laura
A chemical plant in Westlake, La., that caught fire during Hurricane Laura is still burning Thursday evening. The facility, BioLab Inc., makes chlorine for swimming pools. Officials are unsure exactly when the fire started, but Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) Press Secretary Greg Langley said his agency was informed of the fire around 9 a.m. local time. (Dean, Wendland and Westwood, 8/27)
The Washington Post: Fire Burns At Louisiana Swimming Pool Chemical Plant
Fire raged Thursday at a Louisiana chemical plant damaged by Hurricane Laura, pumping dark smoke carrying chlorine gas into the sky, raising public health alarms and prompting the governor to warn residents to turn off their air conditioners, seal their homes and stay indoors. In the Lake Charles region, dotted with chemical plants and oil and gas refineries, trouble began early Thursday at a BioLab plant that manufacturers chlorine for swimming pools and disinfectants. An unknown amount of chlorine began to decompose sometime during the storm, generating heat and igniting, Louisiana State Police Superintendent Kevin W. Reeves told reporters, adding that the cause was under investigation. He said a small crew from BioLab tried to extinguish the flames before calling state police for help shortly before 10 a.m. local time as black clouds billowed from the plant. (Mufson and Fears, 8/27)
Also —
NBC News: Fears Mount Hurricane Laura Could Be COVID-19 Super-Spreader In Already Struggling Texas And Louisiana
Texas and Louisiana were still struggling to contain the pandemic as Hurricane Laura bore down on them, and now officials fear a new wave of COVID-19 infections will come in the wake of the massive storm. But it will take time before they know for sure. (Murphy and Siemaszko, 8/27)
The Washington Post: After Hurricane Laura, Concerns Mount Over Its Potential Impact On The Pandemic
Officials on Friday were assessing the damage wrought by Hurricane Laura and its potential effects on the spread of the coronavirus. The pandemic had complicated evacuation and shelter plans before Hurricane Laura slammed ashore in southwestern coastal Louisiana early Thursday as one of the most powerful storms to strike the Gulf Coast in decades. But authorities cautioned that any potential impact on infection rates won’t be known for days to come. “We’re basically going to be blind for this week because we’ll have to discontinue much of our community-based testing,” Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) said before the hurricane made landfall, citing the disruption of testing in the region. (Noori Farzan and Noack, 8/28)
NPR: FEMA Assesses Hurricane Damage, Taking COVID-19 Precautions
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Thursday that while the impact of Hurricane Laura was less catastrophic than initially predicted, the storm significantly damaged many communities and remains a threat to parts of several Southern states still in its path. FEMA officials said on a call with reporters that it is working to assess the damage and distribute aid to people in need — while taking precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. (Treisman, 8/27)
NPR: COVID-19 Complicates Response To Hurricane Laura, Spurs Fears Of New Outbreaks
Texas and Louisiana were already struggling to contain the spread of the coronavirus when Hurricane Laura hit early Thursday, and now some experts are warning mass evacuations could be responsible for a new wave of infections. More than half a million people were ordered to leave parts of those states in the largest evacuation since the coronavirus pandemic began. Many who heeded those warnings were directed to stay in government-paid hotel rooms or sleep in their cars since officials didn't want to open mass shelters and risk the spread of COVID-19. (Raphelson, 8/27)
