Rockdale County has released yet another update regarding the ongoing BioLab fire, but rather than bringing clarity, it seems to be leaving residents even more confused. The county’s advisory, issued late last night, asks residents to shelter in place—but only if the fire’s plume drifts into their vicinity or if they detect a “strong odor of chlorine.”
For many, this raises the question: How exactly are residents supposed to track the movements of an unpredictable plume?
With the advisory stating that the fire’s plume has “consistently shifted throughout the night,” locals are left wondering when and where they should be taking shelter. The county’s advice seems dependent on each individual’s nose, encouraging those with respiratory issues to play it safe by staying indoors, but offering no clear guidance on specific areas under threat.
This vague guidance has left many residents feeling as if they’re left to figure it out on their own. Despite reassurances that updates will come “as quickly as possible,” the current lack of clear boundaries for the plume leaves the public uncertain. Residents with respiratory issues are especially concerned, relying on shifting winds and unclear warnings to gauge their next move.
TOO MANY ADS? GO AD-FREE
Did You Know?: The ads you see on this site help pay for our website and our work. However, we know some of our readers would rather pay and not see ads. For those users we offer a paid newsletter that contains our articles with no ads.
What You Get: A daily email digest of our articles in full-text with no ads.
To add to that, BioLab officials are still mum on exactly which chemicals were released into the air over Conyers as a result of the fire. While they have released several statements on the fire and its aftermath, they have not responded to questions regarding the chemicals involved.