On Monday, August 24, Orion Engineered Carbons issued the following statement to customers regarding preparations for the storms expected this week.
Orion Engineered Carbons Monday, August 24, 2020 Update to Customers Regarding Hurricanes Laura and MarcoIn light of 2 tropical systems forecasted to arrive in the Southern LA area starting on Monday, August 24th, Orion’s Ivanhoe, Louisiana facility was safely taken down over this past weekend and the storm gate was installed on Sunday, August 23rd. Tropical system Marco will be impacting the Ivanhoe area over the next 24 – 48 hours. Tropical system Laura’s current uncertainty of landfall and intensity will very likely require this plant to stay down and closed until after Laura has cleared the Gulf Coast. Orion’s Orange, Texas facility is being taking down on Monday, August 24th, afternoon and will close its access gates shortly thereafter. This plant will also very likely stay down until Laura has cleared the Gulf Coast.Restart dates will be determined upon evaluation of the sites, most likely to be performed after Thursday, August 27th. The timing of this evaluation will vary depending on where Laura makes landfall, access to the site and supply sources such as electrical power.Please also note that we expect rail delays on any railcars shipped late last week that are on an easterly route as the railroads have now closed flood gates both in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas. The resumption of rail movement will not occur until after both storms have cleared the area and track/bridge damage assessment has been completed and any actual damages repaired.For further information about your specific order(s), please contact your Orion Customer Service Representative and/or Sales Representative.We will provide periodical updates as the situation develops over the course of this week.