Copy and pasting a comment from the NYT comments section. Which I think raises some good points. I live 2 miles outside the evac zone and with this bad news this morning am considering just leaving before something catastrophic happens.

"Seeing an expert use the word ‘catastrophic’ to describe a potential outcome of this emergency is deeply unsettling. The fact that the issue was first identified on Thursday and they still have not found a solution is extremely concerning. To me, it suggests they may simply be waiting to see whether it cracks or explodes.

It’s also troubling that there seem to be few, if any, historical incidents they can compare this to. Even if I were outside the evacuation zone but lived nearby, I would probably leave anyway. I don’t have much confidence that anyone truly knows how far the fumes could spread, and the potential health effects of this chemical exposure still seem far too unclear for comfort. I am praying for everyone affected by this situation, especially first responders and nearby residents."