HOCKLEY, Texas – A detected gas leak has caused a Waller ISD elementary school to evacuate and two other schools to shelter in place Friday morning, according to officials.
The Spring Creek Fire Department said a gas leak was detected at Roberts Road Elementary, and as a precaution, everyone inside the building was safely evacuated as emergency responders address the issue.
Recommended Videos
Spring Creek FD said two pediatric patients were hospitalized for respiratory complaints.
Families are asked to avoid the area.
Waller ISD issued a statement to families:
Spring Creek Fire Department has detected gas near Roberts Road Elementary (RRE), and gas levels within the building are not safe. The building has been evacuated and students are safe outside. Waller ISD (WISD) has activated its crisis response team. For your safety and the safety of our RRE family, please DO NOT come to RRE. WISD buses are en route to transport students to Waller High School (WHS) at 31213 Waller Spring Creek Rd. RRE parents/guardians may go to the Daikin Stadium parking lot to be ready to pick up their children. Diakin Stadium is located at 20735 Stokes Rd. Parents/guardians should bring their IDs to pick up their children. Please enter gates D or E off Stokes Road. We are asking parents/guardians for their patience and partnership as we work to keep students safe. At this time, all students and staff are safe. Should this change, families will be notified as soon as possible.
Waller ISD
A shelter-in-place order was initiated for nearby Lowe Elementary. School leaders said all Lowe staff and students are safe.
Cy-Fair ISD officials also said the gas leak caused the odor to reach Salyards Middle School, about five miles southwest of Roberts Road.
Cy-Fair families were notified of the gas leak around 9:50 a.m. and issued a shelter-in-place at the middle school as a precaution. The Cy-Fair Fire Department, CenterPoint and Harris County HazMat crews are responding.
“The facilities department shared that there is no immediate danger to our campus, but has instructed us to close outside air dampers to keep the building from pulling in outside air. Instruction is continuing as planned inside the building,” Salyards principal Steve Miller said.
Officials later said they identified the source as mercaptan, a “foul-smelling but harmless sulfur compound.”
Officials traced the leak to a company on Premium Drive that specializes in railcar cleaning. The leak allegedly happened during a cleaning process.
The Harris County Fire Marsha’s Office said the leak has dissipated and there is no active threat to the public.
KPRC 2 News reached out to CenterPoint for more information:
CenterPoint Energy is committed to the safety of the natural gas customers and communities we are privileged to serve in the Greater Houston area.
CenterPoint crews responded to reports of an odor in the Hockley and Northwest Houston area and worked alongside first responders to investigate the source and take appropriate safety actions and precautionary measures. Our crews will remain on site and engaged as needed.
The Harris County Fire Marshall’s Office has identified the source of the odor and has determined there is no active threat to the public. We refer additional questions to that agency for further information.
Safety is CenterPoint’s top priority. If you smell natural gas, leave the area immediately on foot and tell others to leave, too. Once safely away from the area, contact CenterPoint at 713-659-2111 or 888-752-8036 and the company will send a trained service technician immediately.
CenterPoint