Woodridge, NY – Today, Sunday, April 25, 2021 at 12:12 pm, the Sullivan County 911 Center received a report of two employees at the Newburgh Egg processing facility, 17 Novogrodsky Rd., Woodridge, having a possible allergic reaction. Mobilemedic EMS arrived a short time later and immediately requested the Woodridge Fire Department for a possible chemical leak.
Woodridge firefighters responded and, along with the Woodridge Police Department, started to evacuate the facility. Shortly thereafter, all 95 people working in the facility were successfully evacuated and accounted for.
Orange County Hazard Materials Response Team responded, as well as the Rolling V Bus Transportation Services. All the employees were evaluated for any illness, and in total, 19 were transported to Garnet Health Medical Center – Catskills in Harris, all for non-life-threatening injuries. All were complaining of dizziness and headache, with a few complaining of shortness of breath.
While the cause of the exposures and the chemical involved are still under investigation, it is believed that there was a small leak in one of the supply lines involved in the processing and preserving of the eggs.
Part of the facility has been temporarily closed for inspection and repair. The unaffected sections remain open.
The following departments and agencies responded to the scene of the chemical leak or were standing by to assist and cover other emergency calls:
- Woodridge Fire Department
- Rock Hill Fire Department
- Fallsburg Fire Department
- Mountaindale Fire Department on standby
- Mobilemedic EMS
- Mamakating EMS
- Mountaindale EMS and Woodbourne EMS on standby
- Woodridge Police Department
- Fallsburg Police Department
- Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office
- New York State Police
- Sullivan County Office of Emergency Management
- Sullivan County Bureau of Fire
- Sullivan County Bureau of EMS
- Orange County Hazardous Materials Response Team
- NYS DHSES OFPC Special Operations