TX - Fertilizer plant explodes in West, Texas

[MsFacetious]

Press conference with D.L. Wilson:

Turning off gas to those areas.
Do not need anymore help, Fire and EMS STOP coming.
Tomorrow morning the Mayor is going to speak.
Right now over 100 injuries.

We do have confirmed fatalities. Number is not current yet.
Could go up by the minute, in there searching the area.
Trying to make sure it's safe with the wind and fumes.

Massive, just like Iraq just like OKC. You can imagine the damage.

At least 75 houses and apartment complex with 50 units that was skeletonized.
Nursing home with 133 people, unknown injuries but are evacuated.
All injuries have been removed and taken to Waco.

Many people helping us. Going back in for another house by house search. Doing that all night.
Command post for LE and command post/triage center for EMS.

It's still smoldering. Still is other active ingredients, possibility of another explosion.
Firefighters cannot get close to fight the fire. They've cleared the area due to fumes.

Cannot confirm or deny number of fatalities, hopefully will know by 6am.
"It's going to be a number."

 

[marlap]

Press conference starting

Over 100 injuries

Confirmed fatalities, no number yet

Houses nearby look like Oklahoma bombing

Nursing home residents have been evacuated, though some injured

They are doing house to house searches looking for injured and deceased

Still cannot get firefighters into the plant, the plant is still smoldering

Worried about the north wind...may have to evacuate more homes

 

[sarx]

My thoughts are with all of those affected by this tragedy. This poor town.

 

[eileenhawkeye]

In the OKC bombing, the fertilizer used fit in a truck. Here, we have an entire plant that exploded

 

[JustyThoughts]

My heart and prayers go out to these dear people in Tx. They are going through one hell night tonight. Prayers for the responders, helpers, docs and comforters.

 

[eileenhawkeye]

Is it "normal" for a fertilizer plant to be that close to homes and businesses?

 

[Sporky]

Is it "normal" for a fertilizer plant to be that close to homes and businesses?

I was going to ask the same thing!

 

[SilkySifaka]

Piers interviewed a woman whose husband is a west volunteer fire fighter and she said she has talked to him so it cant be the whole force

 

[wsreader]

I keep flipping between the channels, who can sleep right, and fox 4 just said entire volunteer fire fighters are missing. Should be an update soon, so will hang on for that.

These strong winds we're having has got to make it harder for them in West. I remember when the Ennis plant blew up. The smell was so strong and so horrible for so long.

 

[Sporky]

These strong winds we're having has got to make it harder for them in West. I remember when the Ennis plant blew up. The smell was so strong and so horrible for so long.

When did the Ennis plant blow up? That's where I am from and I don't remember that.

 

[SilkySifaka]

30 members and 22 guests, guests please join us and give us your input, promise we don't bite, we could all use more people as we follow this. Makes you feel less alone

 

[wsreader]

When did the Ennis plant blow up? That's where I am from and I don't remember that.

I think it was about a year ago. I drove thru several days later and it was terrible still. I can't imagine how the people in West are dealing with that on top of all that's happening.

 

[marlap]

They are saying on CNN that they need to get people further away and a lot if people at ground zero don't have power....aren't getting the message to evacuate.

They said the high winds are making it dangerous.

They said the blast registered as 2.5 on the Richter scale.

Nursing home took huge hit.

 

[sarx]

I know they are saying they don't need more personnel, but I hope they aren't turning away qualified EMS. This is going to go on for some time and they're going to need to rest EMS. Hopefully they're just staging them somewhere. State and Fed should be there by now to start helping.

 

[HMSHood]

When did the Ennis plant blow up? That's where I am from and I don't remember that.

Ennis explosion happened in 2007.

http://www.elliscountypress.com/news/7519-explosion-rocks-ennis-plant.html

 

[CHERIE.T]

The entire West Volunteer Fire Department that responded to the fire is missing. -NBC5 #WestExplosion #WestTX

The Mayor said it was only 5 or 6 firefighters.
I'm going to continue to believe that it was all 33 of them.

The Texas City disaster - April 16, 1947

Texas City Disaster - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Oh my goodness! Continuing prayers.

 

[MsFacetious]

Abbott Community Center is where everyone has been sent.
IF you are looking for someone, call or go there.

 

[eileenhawkeye]

I really hope there was no foul play!

 

[MsFacetious]

It was a fire that then spread and exploded.
How that fire started will be key.

 

[eileenhawkeye]

West Fertilizer Co. reported having as much as 54,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia. The OKC bomb was 4,800 pounds