Major resin production sites in the Houston area weren't much affected by heavy rains and flooding that hit that area on April 17 and 18.
Some parts of the Houston metro region received more than a foot of rain. In Harris County, more than 1,800 high-water rescues were conducted. More than 700 homes and 400 apartments were flooded. Schools in many areas were closed for two or three days.
Representatives of several firms with resin-making operations on the U.S. Gulf Coast near Houston — including Dow Chemical Co., ExxonMobil Chemical Co.; LyondellBasell Industries and Formosa Plastics Corp. USA — each told Plastics News their production was unaffected, although some employees were unable to make it to work because of road conditions.
One of Nexeo Solutions' Houston-area resin distribution facilities briefly lost power, but shipments to customers were unaffected. Birch Plastics Inc. — a recycler and compounder in Houston's South Loop area — also was unaffected by the heavy rains.
Kraton Performance Polymers' office — which is north of downtown, near George Bush Intercontinental Airport — was closed on April 18 because of travel restrictions in the area, but reopened April 19.
All of these firms are hoping their luck holds out — especially since weather forecasters are projecting a chance of thunderstorms on four of seven days between April 26 and May 2.