Several hospitalized following chemical emergency in Pocomoke

POCOMOKE CITY, Md. – Worcester County officials are providing an update following a chemical emergency Thursday in Pocomoke City that resulted in multiple people being hospitalized.

The Worcester County Special Hazards Response Team responded to the chemical emergency on Broad Street in Pocomoke City around 12:04 p.m. where officials were alerted of at least one known victim.

Emergency crews arrived and confirmed there was one priority patient who had been exposed to Iodine Monochloride. It was later learned there were two other victims, an additional employee and a first responder who encountered the first patient during treatment.

Initial efforts were to confirm all chemicals involved and identify proper decontamination procedures to treat the patients before they were transported to a nearby hospital.

Iodine monochloride to some extent reacts with water to produce an acidic gas. All of the victims at the scene reported respiratory irritation and were decontaminated at the scene before being transported to Tidal Health hospital in Salisbury for further evaluation and treatment.

Hazmat team members made entry in fully encapsulated chemical resistant suits into the facility to document and render the scene safe before cleanup operations could commence. The situation was brought under control and turned back over to RICCA Chemical Company.

Pocomoke City was assisted by Stockton, Snow Hill, Girdletree, Oak Hall and Greenbackville fire and EMS companies. Hazardous materials technicians from the Ocean City Fire Marshal’s Office and the Worcester County Department of Emergency Services also responded to the scene.