In the wake of a toxic disaster, Roseland parents still struggle to keep their children safe

Roseland Residents Navigate Health and Cleanup Concerns One Year After Smitty’s Supply Explosion

The August 22, 2025, explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland, Louisiana, deposited oily residue on homes, churches, schools, and playgrounds. The incident prompted federal and state environmental responses that continue into 2026.

Elbert McGee, 63, has lived his entire life in the same Roseland house where he grew up. As a child in the 1960s, he regularly walked with his father to the Tangipahoa River to fish for bass, crappie, and catfish. After the explosion, McGee stopped using the river and now travels three hours to Grand Isle for fishing. He has eight children and grandchildren and works at a chemical facility more than an hour away.

McGee’s 15-year-old son, Markel, experienced nosebleeds in the weeks after the explosion that caused school absences. A family friend undergoing cancer treatment developed respiratory symptoms. Neither case has received a confirmed causal link to the incident from medical authorities. McGee has spent more than $20,000 replacing his roof, siding, and excavating soil around the property. He has expressed concern about raising children in the area but stated he has no immediate alternative housing options.

The Tangipahoa River is not a source of drinking water for the community, and local water treatment systems were not affected by the release, according to EPA statements. A subsequent chemical spill from a related facility did enter the drinking water supply, prompting additional local monitoring.

The EPA has reported recovering 2.15 million gallons of material mixed with water from the site. In January 2026, the agency issued an administrative compliance order requiring Smitty’s Supply to address hazardous waste violations under CERCLA. Cleanup operations have involved 269 personnel, and the company has stated it completed remediation requirements under the consent order and submitted a final report to the EPA.

McGee said local officials initially told residents the area was safe for outdoor activities. He took his son to a physician after the nosebleeds began but reported the visit did not include an examination and attributed the symptoms to normal causes. Dozens of animal deaths were reported on farms and along riverbanks in the following months.

Parents in Roseland have described ongoing uncertainty about soil safety, outdoor play, and which symptoms warrant medical attention. Some have replaced exterior surfaces of homes or limited children’s time outside. Pam Bean, whose two granddaughters attend Roseland Elementary, said the lack of direct assistance has left many households managing cleanup independently. The town’s median annual income is just over $17,000.

Markel McGee, now a junior, has stated he plans to leave Roseland after graduation. His father noted the change in the teenager’s attachment to the area where previous generations fished and swam.

Smitty’s Supply owner Ed Smith, who attended high school with McGee, has not made public statements about the incident since the explosion. Smith and his family reside in a town 25 miles away. McGee has said he believes the company’s response reflects the demographics of Roseland.

In April 2026, resident Candice Hart participated in a protest while holding her daughter’s hand. She reported respiratory issues in her child since the explosion and said parents had contacted school officials for months. Hart stated no parent should have to choose between education and health.

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality did not respond to requests for comment. Smitty’s Supply issued a statement confirming completion of remediation steps under the EPA consent order.

McGee continues industrial employment despite known occupational exposures, citing the need to support his family. He has described the tension between economic necessity and environmental conditions in the region. Cleanup and monitoring activities remain active under federal oversight as of mid-2026.