TX - Fertilizer plant explodes in West, Texas

[Softail]

I am so completely disgusted by this. I'm with Perry on this one, I hope the moron gets fired! :stormingmad:

Jack Ohman is the cartoonist! :devil:

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2013...y-demands-apology-for-sacramento-bee-cartoon/

 

[Softail]

Perry disgusted by cartoon depicting explosion

Governor wrote letter to the Sacramento Bee

Updated: Friday, 26 Apr 2013, 10:34 PM CDT
Published : Friday, 26 Apr 2013, 8:52 PM CDT
WILL WEISSERT,Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Friday he's disgusted with a Sacramento Bee cartoon that depicts him boasting about business booming in his state and then shows an explosion, and says he wants an apology from the newspaper on behalf of a town where 14 people died in a fertilizer plant blast last week.

The cartoon in Thursday's edition shows Perry crowing that "Business is Booming," flanked by signs saying "Low Tax!" "'Low Regs!," a play on the Republican's often-repeated mantra that his state's low-regulation, business-friendly climate has its economy humming.

Read More:
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/texas/perry-disgusted-by-cartoon-depicting-explosion

 

[faw720]

IMO, this is a really good fb site for information from West. It is updated frequently & shows recent information & current needs. In one post earlier today they were asking people just to come to West & support their local businesses. I was a little surprised because I didn't think they would want any more influx of people at this time, but apparently that is not the case.





https://www.facebook.com/#!/PrayersforWest

 

[PoirotryInMotion]

Thanks for the link!

Saw this on Twitter this morning and thought I'd share the photo:

Lindsay Westmoreland ‏@Lwest2233 30m

In honor of our fallen. Downtown in West, TX. pic.twitter.com/fpqeWCFmER

 

[faw720]

The Willie Nelson benefit concert for tonight is sold out!!:cheers:
Does anyone happen to know the capacity of The Backyard at Bee Cave or the cost of the tickets?

I'm thinking & hoping this brings in some serious cash.

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

http://www.wacotrib.com/entertainme...cle_b1943aa2-4334-5873-98ee-a929b31162b6.html

Concert proceeds expected to top over $50,000

:rockon:

 

[faw720]

http://www.wfaa.com/news/205171421.html

WFAA reporting that the sell out crowd at Willie's concert was 6,000 plus.

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

See, it's such a small world.

Just got back from a dental checkup. My dental hygenist (sp???lol) lives in West, but out in the country, the opposite side of where the explosion was. Another dental employee lives in the area of the blast and lost where they were living. Everyone's family members are okay. My dental hyg (see how I abbreviated since I don't know how to spell it, hehe) said her mother lost her home, but is living with other relatives in town.

Elaine attended the memorial at Baylor on Friday, so I got to hear first hand from her. She said she was very impressed with how it all turned out. She's going to the funeral of someone tonight.

She said "they" (West citizens) are already hearing of some insurance companies already starting to bristle with covering home damage/loss - because they might consider these losses from "manmade disasters," not "natural disasters." :banghead: That has got to be wrong. Come on now! I hope insurance companies aren't really going to start trying to weasel out of much of this.

She has a HS Senior and Freshman in West ISD. She said they're going to school at the alternative campus at Connally ISD in Waco. They've got their own buildings. She said the West students really wanted to be separate, rather than combine with the Connally ISD in classes. But she said the two schools are trying to work together (to follow through with the West students' wishes) for the upcoming Senior Day. They may combine and do their day together. I guess they go to Six Flags up in Arlington...and Six Flags is hosting the West Seniors (as in, not charging them). That's such a nice gesture.

 

[PoirotryInMotion]

Just heard today that the OneFundBoston (name?) collection for the Boston Bombing victims has now reached $27,000,000. Sure hope some folks start thinking of helping out West, too.

 

[SeekingJana]

2 caskets were draped with the Texas state flag while the others had the USA flag.
Does anyone know why? My S.O's father and grandfather were fire chiefs and he couldn't tell me a thing about this.

Thank you in advance.

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

2 caskets were draped with the Texas state flag while the others had the USA flag.
Does anyone know why? My S.O's father and grandfather were fire chiefs and he couldn't tell me a thing about this.

Thank you in advance.

Yes, they were not fire fighters, but helped...and so West Fire Dept made them Honorary Firemen after this.

I read yesterday that "Buck" Uptmore was there, trying to save horses in the area when the blast occurred. He was a "cowboy" 'til the end...trying to save animals close to the area.

 

[Softail]

http://www.wacotrib.com/entertainme...cle_b1943aa2-4334-5873-98ee-a929b31162b6.html

Concert proceeds expected to top over $50,000

:rockon:

That is awesome! We wanted to go, but it was sold out!

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

http://www.wacotrib.com/news/mclenn...cle_29d77f1f-b5e5-52ea-aae5-a6bb9d8436d0.html

West can’t get more FEMA help without disaster declaration


Kinda interesting info in there, re how disasters are classified, when an area should qualify, etc. And there's that little blurb about manmade vs natural disaster that I said my dental hyg. (LOL) mentioned yesterday.

Also re FEMA. We're hearing really bad stories about what FEMA workers are doing there. Rumor alert, of course. Supposedly, when they're there "helping" people clear out their area, possessions, etc., they take inventory (everything from your clothing, including a value to socks!) and tally that info, so that if there is a FEMA claim later, your possessions taken are deducted. I can see large items, but really...clothing down to socks? Tell me that can't be true. I hope it's misunderstanding on some people's parts.

 

[faw720]

She said "they" (West citizens) are already hearing of some insurance companies already starting to bristle with covering home damage/loss - because they might consider these losses from "manmade disasters," not "natural disasters." :banghead: That has got to be wrong. Come on now! I hope insurance companies aren't really going to start trying to weasel out of much of this.

It worse than wrong!! Sounds criminal to me!! Many years ago my dad died of an unexpected heart attack. He had life insurance for many years but the company denied the claim. My mom's attorney had to "convience" them to pay up. Sometimes I don't know why we even bother to purchase any kind of insurance. The insurance companies are always extremely anxious to take your money but they sure sing a different tune when it's time to pay out. Apparently no morals whatsoever.

 

[faw720]

http://www.wacotrib.com/news/mclenn...cle_29d77f1f-b5e5-52ea-aae5-a6bb9d8436d0.html

West can’t get more FEMA help without disaster declaration


Kinda interesting info in there, re how disasters are classified, when an area should qualify, etc. And there's that little blurb about manmade vs natural disaster that I said my dental hyg. (LOL) mentioned yesterday.

Also re FEMA. We're hearing really bad stories about what FEMA workers are doing there. Rumor alert, of course. Supposedly, when they're there "helping" people clear out their area, possessions, etc., they take inventory (everything from your clothing, including a value to socks!) and tally that info, so that if there is a FEMA claim later, your possessions taken are deducted. I can see large items, but really...clothing down to socks? Tell me that can't be true. I hope it's misunderstanding on some people's parts.

Oh what a world we live in:stormingmad:!!!!!!!!!!! Thankfully, we have thousands of kind hearted people here in Texas who are anxious to help. Can't remember where I saw the article, but there are several musical groups giving a benefit concert in Gardendale (between Midland & Odessa). I'm sure it will draw crowds from many far western Texas cities like Abilene, Lubbock, Big Spring, Sweetwater, Snyder. There are also benefits being held in the DFW area. Of course these benefits can't hope to raise the funds that FEMA could give but at least many good decent people are trying to help.

 

[PoirotryInMotion]

The Nation ‏@thenation 27m

Sen. Barbara Boxer has announced the first formal federal investigation into the West, TX tragedy—@gzornick reports: http://tnat.in/kA90v

 

[faw720]

http://www.wfaa.com/news/texas-news/West-prepares-to-manage-distribute-donations-205472721.html

Here's a good article on donations received thus far. I'm assuming that the donations mentioned are those that have been received from individuals just like us ordinary citizens. Very substantial amounts although they don't come anywhere close to the amount needed to rebuild. The best thing is that the people of West will know, without doubt, that they have lots of people thinking about them.

 

[legalmania]

At this point no one knows, but it is being investigated. Everyone is examining that crater. And by everyone I mean from different areas. The ATF, the agricultural area, the state and the feds.

My guess is that it is probably accidental. That along with an alleged lack of safety measures is what caused so much much damage.

We probably will never know the real cause of the blast. It's really scary that a chemical as powerful as ammonia nitrate is still not being regulated, here is a link explaining it in length.

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/20...regulatory-agency-before-explosion/?mobile=nc

 

[legalmania]

At this point no one knows, but it is being investigated. Everyone is examining that crater. And by everyone I mean from different areas. The ATF, the agricultural area, the state and the feds.

My guess is that it is probably accidental. That along with an alleged lack of safety measures is what caused so much much damage.

We probably will never know the real cause of the blast. It's really scary that a chemical as powerful as ammonia nitrate is still not being regulated, here is a link explaining it in length.

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/20...regulatory-agency-before-explosion/?mobile=nc

 

[TGIRecovered]

My thought on the most likely scenario would be the combination of improperly stored chemicals or a spill which was not thoroughly cleaned up, and a recklessly tossed cigarette butt. That would start a small fire which quickly spread to the tanks and boom!
MOO


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