Residents in Rockdale County are being strongly advised to continue to shelter in place following reports from environmental agencies that revealed the presence of chlorine gas in the air. The Rockdale County Emergency Management Agency, acting on information from the Environmental Protection Division and the Environmental Protection Agency, issued the advisory to ensure public safety.
The Details: The air quality concerns stem from an incident at BioLab, where chlorine gas, a harmful irritant, was detected by EPA and EPD air quality surveys. However, BioLab has yet to release any information on the chemicals involved, leaving the public reliant on EPA reports to understand the full extent of the risk instead of information from BioLab on which chemicals they know were involved.
As the situation continues to evolve, residents are urged to keep windows and doors shut and turn off air conditioning systems to avoid exposure to the gas.
Road Closures and Safety Measures: The Georgia Department of Transportation has also recommended that I-20 remain closed in both directions between Turner Hill Road and Almon Road. The closure is due to the unpredictable wind patterns, which could cause the irritants to shift direction. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and are prepared to extend the closure as needed.
How You Can Help: Residents are being asked to refrain from calling 911 for non-emergency situations due to an overwhelming number of calls. Instead, non-emergency inquiries can be directed to the EMA Hotline at 770-278-8300 or the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at 770-278-8200.
The county also advises residents to stay updated on the situation by monitoring Rockdale County’s official website and social media for the latest developments.
For now, the shelter-in-place order remains in effect, with no clear timeline on when it will be lifted.
