TX - Fertilizer plant explodes in West, Texas

[Softail]

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.

Thanks for this DD. :waitasec: I thought I recalled Perry declaring it a disaster right after it happened. I guess I was wrong.

 

[TGIRecovered]

Thanks for this DD. :waitasec: I thought I recalled Perry declaring it a disaster right after it happened. I guess I was wrong.

This quote from the article explains the problem quite nicely :

"But since West has not yet been declared a disaster area by President Barack Obama, the agency is not authorized to provide one-on-one help to affected families. Such services, if approved, could include things like temporary housing, home repairs, crisis counseling and legal aid."

So you weren't wrong at all! Perry did his part to get the disaster funding for West, but the money can't come through if the President Obama won't approve it.


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[Softail]

This quote from the article explains the problem quite nicely :

"But since West has not yet been declared a disaster area by President Barack Obama, the agency is not authorized to provide one-on-one help to affected families. Such services, if approved, could include things like temporary housing, home repairs, crisis counseling and legal aid."

So you weren't wrong at all! Perry did his part to get the disaster funding for West, but the money can't come through if the President Obama won't approve it.

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Gotcha! I missed that part.

He better approve it! :maddening:

 

[Nana]

This quote from the article explains the problem quite nicely :

"But since West has not yet been declared a disaster area by President Barack Obama, the agency is not authorized to provide one-on-one help to affected families. Such services, if approved, could include things like temporary housing, home repairs, crisis counseling and legal aid."

So you weren't wrong at all! Perry did his part to get the disaster funding for West, but the money can't come through if the President Obama won't approve it.


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Well hells bells what is the Obama waiting for someone to tell him to do it?

 

[DEPUTYDAWG]

Softail,

You're right...Gov Perry declared McLennan County a disaster area. I'm assuming (ya know what that means) that helps for state aid. Then I know I read somewhere that all the paperwork required to apply for federal aid has been completed and sent.

But ya gotta love West's/Texas' strength - I think it was the Mayor (but it could have been a different official) - who stated they're not waiting, nor expecting to get aid - they're moving on and doing what they're doing, proud to get it done one way or another.

 

[faw720]

http://www.kxxv.com/story/22133488/fema-to-offer-individuals-and-households-access-to-grants


Wonderful news for a change. FEMA has finally come through with the aid to individuals & households.

 

[PoirotryInMotion]

Great news, faw720!

A bit of a sobering graphic at the link below--cursor back and forth across the photo and you can see the Google satellite image of the explosion site before and after:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...tures-before-and-after-the-blast.html#mm_hash

 

[PoirotryInMotion]

US CSB ‏@chemsafetyboard 3m

CSB Investigation Team at work at temporary office in West, TX http://fb.me/2qtoZhauO

Also:

Stephen Proctor ‏@stephenrproctor 52m

Lawmakers begin hearings on explosion in West, TX http://www.houstonchronicle.com/new...ast-official-4481160.php?t=fb1b42f3a2b41f59f0 …

 

[PoirotryInMotion]

Moving blog post by a police-chief first responder:

“All Units Available Respond” http://theiacpblog.org/2013/05/02/all-units-available-respond/ …

 

[faw720]

Now that FEMA aid is available to individuals, I still have some concerns. I did not realize that the aid would be in the form of grants. By no means can I be considered an expert on grants, but I worked for a short period of time as an administrative assistant to someone responsible for obtaining grants & other donations for a tax exempt charitable organization.

My experience was that grants are not always awarded solely on need but are often given based on the way an application is worded. People whose job it is to apply for grants receive extensive training to learn the most effective way to present their requests.

I do hope that those experienced in requesting grants volunteer their time to help out the peope of West with their grant applications. We still hear about Hurricane Sandy victims waiting on federal aid & I can't help but believe their inexperience in requesting aid is a part of the problem.

 

[mysteriew]

Great news, faw720!

A bit of a sobering graphic at the link below--cursor back and forth across the photo and you can see the Google satellite image of the explosion site before and after:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...tures-before-and-after-the-blast.html#mm_hash

That looks bigger than most bomb blasts IMO

 

[faw720]

Reuters is reporting that the West Fertilizer facility had a history of theft & tampering. Sure hope this is nothing more than a couple of reporters having vivid imaginations & twisting the truth.





http://news.yahoo.com/exclusive-texas-fertilizer-plant-history-theft-tampering-050245710.html

 

[PoirotryInMotion]

The plant had only 1 million in liability insurance.

(AP) -- A lawyer says that the Texas fertilizer plant that exploded last month, killing 14 people, injuring more than 200 others and damaging or destroying property for blocks in every direction was only insured for up to $1 million in liability.

Tyler lawyer Rancy C. Roberts said Saturday that he and other attorneys who have filed lawsuits against West Fertilizer's owners were told Thursday about the size of its policy.

An insurance industry group estimates that it may have caused up to $100 million in damage.
http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_23173058/atty-texas-plant-that-blew-up-carried-1m

 

[danzn16]

Great news, faw720!

A bit of a sobering graphic at the link below--cursor back and forth across the photo and you can see the Google satellite image of the explosion site before and after:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...tures-before-and-after-the-blast.html#mm_hash

I wonder where in this image that truck that recorded the video of the explosion was sitting? By this photo it seems he is lucky to be alive


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[Softail]

OMG! I really hope he had nothing to do with the explosion!!!

West EMS worker charged with possession of destructive device

WFAA, KHOU and KVUE.com

kvue.com

Posted on May 10, 2013 at 9:03 AM

Updated today at 9:35 AM


WEST, Texas -- Bryce Reed, a volunteer EMS worker who talked with the media during the aftermath of the West explosion, was detained and faces a charge of possessing a destructive device.

WFAA reports that the exact type of device was not revealed by authorities, but a "destructive device" can be defined as anything from poisonous gas to a grenade, rocket or bomb.

http://www.kvue.com/news/West-EMS-worker-arrested-for-possessing-destructive-device-206913451.html

 

[ohiogirl]

http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com/201...investigation-into-west-plant-explosion.html/

Hours after local and federal authorities arrested West paramedic Bryce Reed for possessing a destructive device of some kind, Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers announced they are launching a criminal investigation into the April 17 fertilizer plant explosion that killed 15.

 

[faw720]

OMG! I really hope he had nothing to do with the explosion!!!

West EMS worker charged with possession of destructive device

WFAA, KHOU and KVUE.com

kvue.com

Posted on May 10, 2013 at 9:03 AM

Updated today at 9:35 AM


WEST, Texas -- Bryce Reed, a volunteer EMS worker who talked with the media during the aftermath of the West explosion, was detained and faces a charge of possessing a destructive device.

WFAA reports that the exact type of device was not revealed by authorities, but a "destructive device" can be defined as anything from poisonous gas to a grenade, rocket or bomb.

http://www.kvue.com/news/West-EMS-worker-arrested-for-possessing-destructive-device-206913451.html

I hope that if he is innocent he has a really good attorney.

In addition, this has to be terribly traumatic for the citizens of West.

 

[momtective]

OMG! I really hope he had nothing to do with the explosion!!!

West EMS worker charged with possession of destructive device

WFAA, KHOU and KVUE.com

kvue.com

Posted on May 10, 2013 at 9:03 AM

Updated today at 9:35 AM


WEST, Texas -- Bryce Reed, a volunteer EMS worker who talked with the media during the aftermath of the West explosion, was detained and faces a charge of possessing a destructive device.

WFAA reports that the exact type of device was not revealed by authorities, but a "destructive device" can be defined as anything from poisonous gas to a grenade, rocket or bomb.

http://www.kvue.com/news/West-EMS-worker-arrested-for-possessing-destructive-device-206913451.html

This just makes me sick to think that he might have created this mass disaster for the thrill of it. I would be curious as to when he last participated in a mass disaster drill and if anyone noticed any abnormal excitement on his part.

 

[IHAVENOCLUE]

Excuse me if this has been posted...

FOX News and CNN are reporting that the West, Texas Fertilizer Plant is now terming this a Criminal Investigation...

No link... I am listening to the news on T.V....

 

[Softail]

I'm gonna be sick if he had anything to do with the explosion.

Feds: West EMS worker had 'bomb-making components'

Won't speculate on connection to April 17 blast

Updated: Friday, 10 May 2013, 2:38 PM CDT
Published : Friday, 10 May 2013, 9:37 AM CDT
John Moritz

McLENNAN COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - An emergency worker arrested by federal authorities in West had an assortment of "bomb-making components" in his possession, officials said Friday afternoon.

But they were quick to add that they were not speculating on whether the devices had any connection to the deadly blast on April 17.

The affidavit describes the material found as a 3.5-inch galvanized metal pipe an inch and a half in diameter. Two galvanized end caps were attached to the pipe. One end cap had a small hole drilled into it.

Canisters containing a fuse, a lighter, six coils of metal ribbon and several pounds of chemical powders were also found. The powders were described as potassium nitrate, aluminum powder, red iron oxide, ammonium perchlorate, sulfur powder and other materials.The affidavit said that the materials had been left in the home by Reed on April 26, but the person at the home did not what had been left.

Reed, acted as the town's spokesman in the aftermath of the blast, had a court appearance in Waco on Friday and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing on Wednesday.



http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/texas/destructive-device-arrest-made-in-west