Chemical spill forces employees to evacuate from Madison County defense company

An as yet unidentified chemical spill a V2X, formerly Vertex Aerospace, prompted Madison County emergency responders to call for an evacuation Friday morning of the immediate areas surrounding the facility in Madison County.

Madison County Fire Coordinator Minor Norman said the spill was reported at approximately 11 a.m. at the company located at 555 Industrial Drive South.

An employee of the company said a FedEx making a delivery to the facility was discovered to have leaking hazardous martial inside the truck filling the building with the odor of a chemical irritant that smelled like "ammonia sulfuric acid."

All employees were evacuated from the site just south of the Interstate 55 Gluckstadt exit on the east side of the interstate, and sent home.

"We are diverting traffic away from the area and asking people to stay away," Norman said.

Norman said the cause and nature of the spill are still under investigation.

Madison County Public Information Officer Heath Hall said the county is assisting in the operation, but that the City of Gluckstadt is taking the lead role.

A public notice posted at the Gluckstadt Police Department website is asking all residents to "avoid the area near Vertex and Levi's due to a potential chemical spill. First responders on scene."

Gluckstadt Assistant Police Chief Barry Hale reported at approximately 1 p.m. the radius of the evacuation area was 1 to 2 miles and that at present no injuries have been identified.

"Members of the Gluckstadt police and fire departments as well as the Madison County Sheriff's Office are on the scene to evaluate the situation," Hale said. Hazardous Materials Safety Assistance Team officers were also en route to the scene, he said.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Employees evacuated from Madison County business due to chemical spill