The safety of our employees and the security of our manufacturing facilities are matters of primary concern,” said Thomas L. Archibald, vice president and director of operations and engineering.

The company has temporarily suspended production at its Deer Park (Houston), Lone Star and Bayport, Texas facilities, as well as a facility in Weeks Island, Louisiana. The company also has placed its salt mine operation in Grand Saline, Texas, on standby. The weather is out of our control,” said Archibald. As soon as the storm passes through, we will assess any impact and get our facilities up and running again as soon as possible.”

The affected sites employ a total of a little more than 1,500 people, or approximately 9 per cent of the company’s global workforce of 16,700. The Deer Park plant, which makes acrylate and methacryate??? monomers is the company’s largest manufacturing site. It employs approximately 850 people.

The company has notified customers of the temporary shutdown, and will provide updates on the status of its facilities after the hurricane passes through the area.