Under a Noxious Cloud of Fear

A toxic gas leak rocks "Chemical Valley" residents

As dozens of golfers were enjoying their Sunday at the Shawnee Park course, they gradually found themselves enveloped by a dense, milky white cloud. About a mile away, Barbara Cyrus of Institute, W Va. (pop. 500), stepped out to pick up the newspaper and detected a strong odor that she compared to Kitty Litter. "It just hit me in the face," said Cyrus. "I knew it was coming from Carbide." It was not until 36 min. after plant operators discovered the leak that the local volunteer fire chief sounded a siren to warn the community about the cloud of toxic chemical...

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