ODESSA, Texas — Mark Rodriguez lived in his home in Odessa for 17 years but on July 23, 2024, he and his family were forced to leave their house following a large fire at a chemical storage facility down the street.
In fact, the Permian Basin Containers site stands just feet away from the property. The Rodriguez family can’t go back home yet, but from time to time they stop by.
Forty-three days after that somber day, Rodriguez returned back home to see the front and backyard of his home inundated by water following the heavy rain fall Ector County experienced that week.
“Seeing your house like this now...what's going through your head?” Rodriguez was asked.
He was hesitate to answer, holding back tears.
“I have moments where I get a little discouraged and depressed with it all, you know who wouldn't?” Rodriguez said. “But I’m trying to be like the rubber ducks, stay cool on top and paddle like crazy underneath to stay afloat.”
According to Rodriguez, his property used to flood when it rained a lot but not as bad as it did the week of Sept. 2.
Crews have dug up parts of the land and the runoff water from the fire site has flowed heavily into his property, creating large stagnant ponds of water.
When asked what he was most worried about when it came to the runoff water, Rodriguez said, “The smell. Can you smell it? When we go in the house you have to wear a mask.”
The water in his backyard looks different compared to any other rainfall water runoff.
“It’s darker,” said Rodriguez.
According to Rodriguez, some of the nearby residents have hired their own water testing services. Now with the water runoff following the rainfall, many of those involved may have to do more water tests.
On Aug. 26, attorneys for 20 Ector County residents and Allbright & Associates filed a lawsuit against the owners of Permian Basin Containers in Odessa, amid ongoing issues at the site since the large fire on July 23.
According to the lawsuit, residents are accusing the owners of gross negligence which resulted in emergency evacuations and unleashed massive quantities of cancer-causing chemicals into local water sources.
The TCEQ is doing an investigation. As of Wednesday, the investigation is ongoing.