atlanta living tagged interest

CONYERS, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - The sight of a massive toxic plume stretched across Conyers is beginning to feel like the new reality for people who call Rockdale County home.

The county’s new shelter in-place order allows people to go outside during the day, but not at night.

Paula Page-Williams could see the plume as she drove down Interstate 20 to visit family in Conyers.

>> LATEST UPDATES

“He had to evacuate. They made him leave,” said Angela Page-Williams, who lives in Stone Mountain. On her phone she pointed out pictures of her nephew’s house with a big cloud above it. “This is his house. This is how close it was,” said Page-Williams.

The plume was caused by water interacting with a re-active chemical during a fire Sunday at this sprawling BioLab plant in Conyers. Getting the plume to dissipate is proving to be a challenge. Rockdale County fire rescue said as part of the cleanup process crews are moving so-called supersacks full of chlorine chemicals.

RELATED: Environmental group: Air quality readings after Rockdale County chemical fire ‘concerning’

“We discovered that those supersacks had disintegrated. Thus, the product is spilling out and mixing more with the water and having a negative impact on the plume,” said Chief Marian McDaniel, Rockdale County Fire Rescue.

In nearby Newton County, Paula Amado’s two kids went back to school. Classes were canceled for several days, first due to Helene and then due to the toxic plume.

RELATED: Some Conyers residents calling for BioLab to shut down in wake of dayslong chemical fire

“It’s still scary because of the smell and everything and I know there’s a lot of personnel, staff from the school they live around there they’re affected too,” Amado, who lives in Covington, said.

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency said state and federal entities conducting overnight air quality testing near the plume found chlorine levels above safe levels for humans.

RELATED: Air quality scientist answers health questions over Conyers chemical plant fire

GEMA also said shifting weather patterns could push a haze from the plume into Atlanta by Thursday morning.