TX - Fertilizer plant explodes in West, Texas

[Softail]

Should be an interesting day. I saw on facebook that Westboro Baptist church is going to picket the memorial. Sure enough I googled their website & they have announced they are going. I'm not going to provide the link because of its very offensive name..........just can't even bring myself to type it.

No doubt the Secret Service will cause the church to reconsider their plans.

:notgood: I just don't get it.

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

:doh: That is just wrong. One would think that some other agency could come and fill the gap. Dallas, Austin, Waco.... Pulling people from West, baffles my mind. These people should not have to work the event.

I don't want to make this thread about politics, as I have my opinions of this POTUS. But I'll :shush: about that.

I don't want to make it about politics, either...so I won't. But I think there is an education here about how much a small/short visits take, as far as preparations and planning. (And rightly so, of course. Usually, we have longer preparation time available, and we aren't having to pull resources from already stretched agencies. We started hearing inklings last Friday, but didn't hear anything over the weekend - many of us could have worked the weekend to do preparations, but nooooo, haha).

Yes, other agencies will fill in gaps as best they can, up in West. But for example, the guy I mentioned talking to just a short while ago, works as the Regional Coordinator for a big EMS company there. So now he'll miss several hours of boots-on-the-ground supervision/coordination while he comes down to a briefing meeting. Then, the day of the visit, yes, there will need to be an influx of ambulances/EMS ready at the Baylor site. The EMS crews and equipment are already stressed from losing West resources and long hours/days.

Local hospitals are now having to do their preparations for a POTUS visit (thank goodness we're so used to hosting a POTUS visit, after 8 yrs of Bush's visits to Crawford). As if they haven't been stretched enough in the last several days.

Waco Fire will be attending in support of their fallen colleagues, but now several stations will not be able to attend (as many as could have, knowing some had to stay at stations anyways in case of fires/rescues in Waco), as they've got to do their job for the visit. Same with Waco Police, McLennan Co SO, and DPS. In fact, we draw heavily on DPS and the SO for traffic control for these events.

Anyways, it'll all work out and I hope it's a wonderful memorial for the families and friends, and the community that is mourning. I'm sure it will be a sight to see with police/fire/EMS from all over, attending.

God Bless West.

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

Should be an interesting day. I saw on facebook that Westboro Baptist church is going to picket the memorial. Sure enough I googled their website & they have announced they are going. I'm not going to provide the link because of its very offensive name..........just can't even bring myself to type it.

No doubt the Secret Service will cause the church to reconsider their plans.

Thank you for being so respectful and not even mentioning their names! Ugh! :banghead::banghead: I don't get them, either.

 

[mysteriew]

They just played clips on HLN of two of the 911 calls.

One was absolutely chilling. It sounded like a fireman, he outlined what he knew was involved then

"We need as many firefighters as you can get from East Texas"

Absolutely chilling

 

[margarita25]

I did some time at Baylor. Beauuuuuuttttttiful campus. Extremely conservative.

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/West-Prepares-To-Bury-Its-Dead-203992381.html


Article discusses Pres Obama and Mrs Obama attending (they don't metion Valerie Jarrett will be there, also)...and then a recap of services scheduled for several of the victims.


P.S. I read an article about Kenneth Harris (nicknamed "Luckey") over the weekend. I need to find it and post it here - OMG, it's just cute in a funny kind of way as to how he got his nickname of Luckey. Bad luck seemed to follow him, but he always endured. The real lives of these guys.............

 

[Softail]

http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/West-Prepares-To-Bury-Its-Dead-203992381.html


Article discusses Pres Obama and Mrs Obama attending (they don't metion Valerie Jarrett will be there, also)...and then a recap of services scheduled for several of the victims.


P.S. I read an article about Kenneth Harris (nicknamed "Luckey") over the weekend. I need to find it and post it here - OMG, it's just cute in a funny kind of way as to how he got his nickname of Luckey. Bad luck seemed to follow him, but he always endured. The real lives of these guys.............

Thanks for posting this link!! OMG! That in loving memory video at the top, absolutely heartbreaking! :cry:

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

Just heard on the 5pm news that the death toll has now increased by 1, now at 15

Prayers to those needing comfort..........

 

[Sonya610]

Maybe having POTUS attend will make the victims feel better and it will make it all worth it. I dunno.

Uhhh....we are talking TEXAS. No, I don't think having the president attend and all of the extra security and headaches are going to be worth it to those people.

Many of those people that are attending will be just plain ANNOYED if he causes any inconvenience whatsoever.

One of our clients lives in MD and very very close to where Obama was giving election speeches a few months ago, roads were shut down and he had to go home 2 hours before the speech, they couldn't even walk on the sidewalk in front of their own homes!

 

[mister happy]

Just heard on the 5pm news that the death toll has now increased by 1, now at 15

Prayers to those needing comfort..........

Haven't been following much lately, but I did hear awhile back that 60 people were missing. Have they all been accounted for?

 

[TGIRecovered]

He can fly over it

This will make the memorial a little more difficult for attendees, as they'll now have to go through heavy screening to attend. Parking will also be affected.

ETA: I need to vent a little. Now, due to this visit...resources are going to have to be pulled from West, to cover the visit. Seriously, it's already being coordinated. I was just in contact with someone that is working the Command Post today, that has to come down here to attend a meeting tomorrow. In addition, those agencies who were going to attend the memorial as colleagues of the fallen Fire/EMS, etc, will now have some employees pulled to be working the event. This visit involves: EMS, Fire, local/state/Fed LE, TX Parks/Wildlife. Off vent. Maybe having POTUS attend will make the victims feel better and it will make it all worth it. I dunno.

Honestly, I bet if you polled the who live in and around West, they probably would rather not have this president there. I doubt he is looking forward to visiting Texas anyway. He will be in and out as quick as he can. Maybe he could just send his teleprompter and let someone else read it for him. It would save a lot of trouble for the people of West!

MOO

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

Haven't been following much lately, but I did hear awhile back that 60 people were missing. Have they all been accounted for?

Unfortunately, no. Over the weekend it sounded like we'd finally get a more updated list...as some of the city personnel were talking about a few dozen people still missing. But nothing new!

Today is the first day that the number moved upward in the last several days.

I have to say, I don't know what to make of it. We're all waiting for a significant update, and nothing. Holding our breath, hoping maybe it's not going to go much higher??? But afraid to think that, a little. Maybe "missing" family members were found and the news hasn't updated the public? It's just weird.

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

Honestly, I bet if you polled the who live in and around West, they probably would rather not have this president there. I doubt he is looking forward to visiting Texas anyway. He will be in and out as quick as he can. Maybe he could just send his teleprompter and let someone else read it for him. It would save a lot of trouble for the people of West!

MOO

Oh, I know. I was trying not to get too political in this...but there is a lot of push back already on this...in fact, the primary FB page dedicated to West had to delete their whole post about it because of the comments flying back and forth between those who think it's great he's showing up, and those who are saying thanks but no thanks. These Texans are pretty vocal about their feelings on this!!!! (And yeah, there were far more people against a visit, than for it.)

I know he has a fundraiser on Wednesday night, then the Bush Library event Thursday morning, then the Baylor event, and then back to Dallas for another fundraiser Thursday night. I don't know that he'd attend if he wasn't already "in the area."

IMO, it is already a little sad when the news is so happy to say they'll be covering the President's visit on Thursday - because it's ALREADY taking away from what was going to be a small town memorial to their public servants. I also know that Pres Obama is probably damned if he does go, and damned if he doesn't go. LOL

I just hope those from West, and those with family and friends affected by this, won't be too inconvenienced by the visit.


- - - - - -

And on a GOOD note...the news stated that the transportation and logistics of shifting students around to different schools (including different school districts for some!) went quite well for Day #1...and there were only 14 students "absent" today - they said that is better than normal attendance. How cool is that!

 

[mysteriew]

The 911 calls

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2013/04/22/2480218/911-calls-capture-terror-of-texas.html



http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/na...re-terror-of-texas-fertilizer-plant-explosion

http://www.ktiv.com/story/22041060/...lls-from-west-texas-fertilizer-plan-explosion

 

[mysteriew]

DD will you get a chance to go to the memorial? If so let us know how it goes Ok?

 

[cbanning]

Oh, I know. I was trying not to get too political in this...but there is a lot of push back already on this...in fact, the primary FB page dedicated to West had to delete their whole post about it because of the comments flying back and forth between those who think it's great he's showing up, and those who are saying thanks but no thanks. These Texans are pretty vocal about their feelings on this!!!! (And yeah, there were far more people against a visit, than for it.)

I know he has a fundraiser on Wednesday night, then the Bush Library event Thursday morning, then the Baylor event, and then back to Dallas for another fundraiser Thursday night. I don't know that he'd attend if he wasn't already "in the area."

IMO, it is already a little sad when the news is so happy to say they'll be covering the President's visit on Thursday - because it's ALREADY taking away from what was going to be a small town memorial to their public servants. I also know that Pres Obama is probably damned if he does go, and damned if he doesn't go. LOL

I just hope those from West, and those with family and friends affected by this, won't be too inconvenienced by the visit.


- - - - - -

And on a GOOD note...the news stated that the transportation and logistics of shifting students around to different schools (including different school districts for some!) went quite well for Day #1...and there were only 14 students "absent" today - they said that is better than normal attendance. How cool is that!

I was planning on going to the memorial but now having second thoughts since Obama will be there. Nothing against him but I just don't want the hassle with the extra security. I got caught up in all the hoopla when he came to Austin and I don't care to go through that again.

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

OOOOhhhhh, look at this gentleman's photo...he looks like such a kind soul.

From what I understand, he was one of the 130+ that was moved out of the nursing home after the blast, and died later...I don't know if they're considering him as the 15th? I don't know the cause of his death, and whether it was due to the explosion or otherwise. A few locals are already asking the news media why Mr. Lander isn't getting mentioned much.

In any event, RIP Mr. Lander.


http://www.marshallandmarshallfd.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=973671#.UXXO8h_XRVQ.facebook

 

[mysteriew]

OOOOhhhhh, look at this gentleman's photo...he looks like such a kind soul.

From what I understand, he was one of the 130+ that was moved out of the nursing home after the blast, and died later...I don't know if they're considering him as the 15th? I don't know the cause of his death, and whether it was due to the explosion or otherwise. A few locals are already asking the news media why Mr. Lander isn't getting mentioned much.

In any event, RIP Mr. Lander.


http://www.marshallandmarshallfd.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=973671#.UXXO8h_XRVQ.facebook

I read in one of the 911 articles that one of the nursing home residents was recovered alive but later died of his disease. Unknown if he is being counted as part of the 15.

 

[MsFacetious]

Kevin Sanders

Search and rescue member Kevin Sanders from south suburban Plainfield was working as an emergency medical technician in the small town of West and a member of a nearby volunteer fire department when the explosion occurred last Wednesday at West Fertilizer Co.

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/loca...-Plant-Explosion-204086001.html#ixzz2RFdEOkGG


Mr Lander, 96

Adolph H. Lander, 96, of Malone passed away Thursday morning, April 18, 2013 in West.

http://www.marshallandmarshallfd.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=973671#.UXXO8h_XRVQ.facebook

 

[AlwaysShocked]

I was not a fan of George Bush, did not vote for him, and felt he was a lousy president. BUT I respected that he held the office of President of the United States for the years he held the office.

I cannot IMAGINE the attitude that is being described in this thread. That the POTUS actually cares enough about what has happened to the people of this tiny little town, and they'd rather he not come to this memorial service? What the heck is wrong with these folks? This is OUR President!

So, what, do people just want him to send a check on down for those federal disaster funds but don't bother us with your presence?

Sorry if I sound snippy, but honestly, this is has to be one of the most disfunctional attitudes that I've heard in a long time.

I will hold my tongue on saying anything further. But come on, folks, nobody KNEW they were living next to a chemical plant full of a highly explosive substance? And there were how many fire companies in town?

My late father was a suburban volunteer fireman in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. I can assure you the fire companies all knew exactly what risks existed in their territory. It is their job to know.

Way too much silence coming out of this disaster.........