Parish official: Text alert of toxic fume warning believed to be hoax

St. Mary Parish officials are investigating a text message alert sent out this morning warning of a toxic fume warning that they believe to be a hoax, St. Mary Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security Director Duval Arthur said.
The text Arthur provided The Daily Review states, “Toxic fume hazard Warning in this area until 1:30 PM Take Shelter. Check Local Media and columbiachemical.com.” The phone number it came from is 646-586-5960, Arthur said.
“We don’t have a Columbia Chemicals in St. Mary Parish,” Arthur said. A telephone company is helping officials trace the number from which the text came, Arthur said. Columbian Chemicals Company in Centerville has not made any kind of chemical release, Arthur said.
Officials believe the text is not a credible incident and is possibly a hoax because of 9/11, Arthur said. “We haven’t quit investigating this. If we can find out who did it, we’re definitely going to bring charges against them for terrorizing,” Arthur said.
Arthur was told by other people who received the text that it came from a phone number consisting of seven zeros, he said. “We’re assuming it’s the same person, but, believe me, if I can find out who it is, and I can put a name on it, I will definitely pursue criminal charges against them,” Arthur said.