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<\/a><\/p>\nThe Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n A fire or explosion looks likely in Crosby, where a chemical plant owned by Arkema Inc. currently sits submerged under six feet of floodwater.<\/p>\n The organic peroxides used in the site\u2019s manufacturing process\u00a0have begun to heat up\u00a0after the plant lost its primary source of power, then the power from its back-up generators. Without electricity to power refrigeration, the chemicals could degrade, ultimately leading to some type of explosion or fire.<\/p>\n \u201cThe materials could now explode and cause a subsequent, intense fire,\u201d Rich Rowe, Arkema\u2019s president and CEO, said Wednesday. \u201cThe high water and lack of power leave us with no way to prevent it.\u201d<\/p>\n The facility evacuated all of its employees Tuesday, and approximately 300 people living within 1.5 miles of the plant have been voluntarily evacuated as well. Rowe described this evacuation radius as \u201cconservative,\u201d and said he expects that the effects of a fire or explosion would be contained on the site\u2019s facilities.<\/p>\n The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors.\u00a0Become one<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n