BREAKING: Hazardous materials incident from Perdue prompts shelter in place order in Georgetown

GEORGETOWN, Del. – Georgetown Police issuing an alert advising area residents to shelter in place due to a hazardous materials incident stemming from the local Perdue plant.

According to the Georgetown Fire Company, as of 7 p.m., Wednesday fire crews, Sussex County public safety personnel, DNREC officials, and members with the Delaware State Fire School were on the scene of a hazardous materials incident at the Perdue processing plant on Savannah Road in Georgetown.

Officials emphasized the need for the immediate area, within a half-mile radius of the Perdue plant, to shelter in place and stay inside until further notice Wednesday evening.

WMDT’s Rob Petree spoke to Georgetown Mayor Bill West who said the incident stemmed from two chemicals being mixed together at the facility.

“We’ve had somebody mix two chemicals together at the Perdue plant that has put off a smell,” Mayor West explained. “We’ve got a chemist in route to tell us what they are and if there’s anything we need to do.”

We were able to speak to Lewis Briggs with the Georgetown Fire Company who provided more information as to what happened and what those chemicals were that caused the incident.

“When fire crews arrived they were advised of a cloud, a chemical cloud that was released from the plant,” Briggs explained. “Crews immediately began to clear the area and tell residence in the area, immediate area to shelter in place.”

At least four workers were treated at the scene for irritated eyes and a cough as a result of the chemical exposure.

WMDT News spoke to Tom Ryan with Perdue who told us that the incident happened after a chemical supplier accidentally mixed peracetic acid (PAA) into a caustic chemical tank, creating a smoke plume that has since dissipated.

While the smoke plume may have dissipated, the smell hasn’t. Mayor West says residents will likely be able to smell it for days to come, but that they shouldn’t be concerned.

The shelter in place order was lifted shortly after 9:30 p.m. Wednesday.