From the disastrous 2019 chemical fire in Deer Park to ordinary pollution from industrial plants, exposure to hazardous chemicals is a common reality for people living near the Houston Ship Channel.
Air-quality data from the state in some communities, like Cloverleaf and Channelview, are often inadequate and difficult to access. Information on how to avoid exposure during a chemical emergency and the potential public health consequences of these incidents doesn’t always reach affected communities.
Las comunidades que viven a lo largo del Canal de Navegación están constantemente expuestas a sustancias químicas tóxicas. Esto se debe a incidentes como fugas de emisiones, derrames químicos y explosiones provenientes de las plantas industriales en el área. Un ejemplo es el desastroso incendio del 2019 en Deer Park.
Datos públicos sobre la calidad del aire en Cloverleaf, Channelview y otras comunidades suelen ser insuficientes o difíciles de interpretar. Las comunidades afectadas no siempre tienen acceso a información sobre cómo protegerse durante un desastre químico.
Join us at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 at the Galena Park Library for a community information session featuring workshops in English and Spanish on how to:
• Monitor the air quality in your area. Workshop leaders include Juan Flores, Air Alliance Houston's community air monitoring program manager.
• Protect yourself during chemical events and watch out for potential symptoms of chemical exposure. Workshop leaders include environmental epidemiologist Dr. Inyang Uwak and Natalie Johnson, environmental toxicologist at Texas A&M University School of Public Health.
• Make your concerns heard. Workshop leaders include Erandi Treviño, coalition organizer for Healthy Port Communities Coalition, and Yvette Arellano, founder of Fenceline Watch.
Los invitamos a una reunión comunitaria el sábado, 10 de agosto a las 10 a.m. en la biblioteca Galena Park para aprender más sobre el tema. Habrá varias sesiones en español e inglés sobre cómo:
• Mantenerte informado sobre la calidad del aire en tu área.
• Protegerte durante una emergencia química y reconocer los síntomas relacionados con químicos tóxicos.
• Cómo prepararte para compartir tus preguntas y preocupaciones sobre emergencias químicas con las autoridades.
Email us at events@texastribune.org
The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
mandanos correo electronico events@texastribune.org
The Texas Tribune es una organización de noticias no partidista y sin fines de lucro que se financia en parte con donaciones de miembros, fundaciones y patrocinadores corporativos. Los partidarios financieros no desempeñan ningún perspectiva en el periodismo del Tribune. Encuentre una lista completa de ellos aquí.
Saucedo-Herrera is the president and CEO of greater:SATX, a regional economic partnership charged with growing and diversifying the eight-county San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA. During her seven-year tenure at the helm of San Antonio’s economic development team, greater:SATX has secured over 23,000 jobs for the region through recruitment and expansion projects that include work with Ernst & Young, Victory Capital, Navistar and Aisin.
Kamerlander is president and CEO of the Greater San Marcos Partnership. He formerly served as director of Lockhart Economic Development, where he developed the city’s first economic development strategic plan to promote Lockhart as a destination for job creation and investment. The successful program saw the development of a LEDC-owned 75 acre-acre industrial park housing Lockhart’s most recent announcement, The Ziegenfelder Company, a frozen treat manufacturer. The project included a $46 million investment and is creating 100 new jobs.
Latson is the CEO of Opportunity Austin. Previously, he founded and served as executive director for ARMA, the Austin Regional Manufacturers Association, a business group focused on strengthening the advanced manufacturing community through advocacy, workforce development and networking. Latson is also a member of Gov. Greg Abbott’s Semiconductor Taskforce.
Packer is president and CEO of the New Braunfels Chamber, a membership organization representing more than 1,600 businesses. The chamber advocates for sound public policy, serves as the destination marketing organization for New Braunfels and manages Confluence, a public-private economic development initiative.
Cisneros is chair of the infrastructure investment firm American Triple I. He is also vice chair of the board of directors and equity owner of Shank Williams Cisneros & Co. LLC and principal of Siebert Williams Shank & Co. LLC. He was mayor of San Antonio from 1981-89 and secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under President Bill Clinton from 1993-97.
