ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. — Rockdale County residents are still grappling with impacts after a fire broke out at BioLab in Conyers Sunday morning.
As a result of a chemical reaction from the fire, a large plume billowed into the sky all day.
While county officials work to investigate this fire, residents had to evacuate or shelter-in-place.
TJ Lamar was jolted out of her sleep.
"We got woken up by the police knocking on the door at like 6 a.m," Lamar said. "They [were] like 'Y'all have got to go.'"
Lamar said police were warning her of potential danger. She was one of the at least 17,000 the Rockdale County Emergency Management Director said were evacuated. So, Lamar and four others in her home dashed out of the door with a wallet and the clothes on their back.
"My eyes were burning. You could smell the chlorine in the air," Lamar said.
Michaela Edwards, on the other hand, was told to hunker down. She didn't even know what was going on until her son called her in a panic. She described the colorful clouds she could see from her window.
“Oh my God, the sky is literally red. Something’s wrong. Of course, I freaked out inside. And I started closing all the vents and [trying] to make sure everything is cut off," Edwards said.
Edwards said it was like something you'd see on television.
"You know how on a cartoon movie when something explodes, it's like multiple clouds just climbing out of each other? That's the best way I can describe it," Edwards said.
Edwards said it looked like the smoke was slowly coming in her direction.
"Nothing but thick, black smoke coming directly toward the house," Edwards said.
Authorities shut down roads. So, Lamar decided to take a day trip to Atlanta until the situation was under control.
"By the time we came back, thinking it would be over, but it was worse," Lamar said.
Rockdale County announced a shelter at 218 Scout Road. That's the Bert Adams Boy Scout Camp. Lamar had no choice but to head there.
"I don't have anything: I don't have my car, I don't have my things--nothing," Lamar said.
Red Cross brought supplies. In the shelter, dozens were coming in for food and cots for the night. The entire county was asked to shelter in place until midnight.
However, many residents are now asking the same question.
"What will be the true underline of what's been exposed into the atmosphere?" Edwards said.
Early Monday, the county said the testing confirmed the presence of chlorine. What, if any, other chemicals might also be involved is still unclear. The county emergency management director said she's not yet sure how dangerous the air is.
Acompany representative with BioLab shared this statement:
“We are actively responding to an occurrence at our facility in Conyers, Georgia. Our employees are accounted for with no injuries reported. Our team is on the scene, working with first responders and local authorities to assess and contain the situation. As always, the safety of our community remains our top priority.”
Edwards is now worried about potential impacts to the health of her loved ones.
"That's like my major concern—it's not only thinking about myself but also my kids and my family," Edwards said.
If you need medical attention, you're asked to go to a medical facility outside of Rockdale County.