Explosion in Texas

[Uglav]

Awful about the explosion in Texas in that factory. Saw the pics and
how it fireballed the neighbours. What a horrible dreadful situation
and tragedy. Awful for the town. Hope Elf you weren't caught up in
that.

Sq.

[Ward B.]

"Uglav" <> wrote ...

What really pisses me off is that factory *had* a green zone around it.
But, the powers that be ignored their own zoning laws and let residences be
built much too close. Someone oughta be up on charges for that one.

My condolences to all involved.
--
All my best,

- Ward.

"Yes, getting sympathy from my friends is like hugging a cactus; easy to do
if you don't mind the incessant needling." --me

[Uglav]

Yes

[Elf]

"Uglav" wrote in message
news:99027ee4-9591-42ac...@g5g2000pbp.googlegroups.com...

Thanks Squirrel. I am about 80 miles from the explosion site so I am safe.
There was a chemical fire here a few years ago at a similar fertilizer plant
and we had to evacuate then but it was controlled quickly that day and we
were allowed to return to our work area.
The explosion in the town of West, Texas created a very deep and wide
crater, killed 15 people most of who were first responders, and destroyed
about a third of the town. It is still being investigated and numerous
people lost their homes and everything. A nursing home and the local
schools were destroyed. Energy services and water are still out to many of
the three thousand people and many of the homes still standing will have to
be torn down. Residents and others still are not allowed into the area of
the blast. The cause still has not been determined.
The fire occurred before the explosion and some people out on the Interstate
highway were deafened as they had stopped to take pictures of the flames.
There is one video of the fire taken with a cell phone that has been shown
on the news in which a female voice can be heard saying, "Get out of here
please." The voice is that of a little girl riding in the truck with her
father and sibling. Her father had stopped to take a picture of the fire
and she was temporarily unable to hear and asking her father to drive on
down the road away from the danger.
The investigation should be over in a week or two, according to testimony
from investigators yesterday. Graduation for many colleges and Universities
is next week so the housing situation is tight as a large University is 18
miles away and there are others between here and there.

-- Hugs
Elf
Carrier of a Tickle Sword, long bow, and magic.
The magic is in Meadow and Dream Tree.

Sq.

[Elf]

"Ward B." wrote in message
news:8b2dnTnP78TNDu7M...@earthlink.com...

"Uglav" <> wrote ...
> Awful about the explosion in Texas in that factory. Saw the pics and
> how it fireballed the neighbours. What a horrible dreadful situation
> and tragedy. Awful for the town. Hope Elf you weren't caught up in
> that.

What really pisses me off is that factory *had* a green zone around it.
But, the powers that be ignored their own zoning laws and let residences be
built much too close. Someone oughta be up on charges for that one.

My condolences to all involved.

Thank you but the green zone was inadequate for the situation. It was also
schools and a nursing home built there that were blown up and there was only
a volunteer fire department and ambulance available and others had to be
called in from around the area.
There is MUCH more to come out about all of this including Homeland Security
being upset at what was going on and only paperwork being done by State
Agencies.
Thanks to all of you for your caring and Tugs.

-- Hugs
Elf
Carrier of a Tickle Sword, long bow, and magic.
The magic is in Meadow and Dream Tree.

[Elf]

"Uglav" wrote in message
news:1fd31bc1-cba6-42e3...@af5g2000pbd.googlegroups.com...

I suspect that there will be many charges and lawsuits before it is all
over. Apparently there is some spin going on in the news you are receiving
just as there is in the news here just different spin.
The Texas legislature meets every two years to make laws and this happens to
be one of those years so they are holding hearings as well.
I do not know how my new internet connection stuff will work out so I am not
sure what sort of a schedule I will be able to keep visiting the Meadow for
a while. Here is a link for some further information
http://www.kbtx.com/news/state/headlines/Investigators-Aim-to-End-Plant-Blast-Probe-May-10-205595561.html
AUSTIN, Texas -- State officials say an investigation into the fertilizer
plant explosion in West should be finished within two weeks.

Texas State Fire Marshal Chris Connealy told lawmakers at a legislative
hearing Wednesday that his office is targeting May 10 for investigators to
complete their probe into the origin and cause of the fire and explosion at
West Fertilizer Co.

Authorities have not hinted what might have caused the April 17 blast that
killed 14 people and injured about 200.

Connealy has raised the possibility that authorities might never uncover the
cause. A team of 80 investigators have conducted 300 interviews and are
combing through an area that's about 15 acres. He compares the work to an
archaeological dig.

The damage is estimated to be $100 million.

http://www.kbtx.com/news/state/headlines/State-Dozens-of-Facilities-Similar-to-West-Plant-205594451.html

AUSTIN, Texas -- State emergency officials say the West Fertilizer plant
where an explosion killed 14 people this month was under no obligation to
have an evacuation plan.

Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw told lawmakers
Wednesday there are more than 1,100 facilities statewide that store ammonium
nitrate. The fertilizer plant in West reported it could store as much as 270
tons of the chemical in February.

Investigators say they still don't know what caused the massive explosion
April 17 in the rural farming town.

State officials also told the House Homeland Security and Public Safety
Committee they have identified more than 40 similar fertilizer blending
facilities in Texas.

The packed hearing inside the Capitol was the first legislative inquiry
since the blast that also injured 200 people.

http://www.kbtx.com/news/state/headlines/Review-of-Texas-Plant-Explosion-to-Include-Smoke-205382191.html

People near the site of a deadly fertilizer plant explosion in Central Texas
have been advised that smoke could be generated as part of the
investigation.

Officials in West say heavy equipment will be used on Tuesday to remove
debris and grain and that could lead to smoke.

The Texas Department of Insurance says it's part of the process to determine
what caused the fiery April 17 blast that killed 14 people. Another 200
people were hurt in the blast that damaged or destroyed dozens of buildings
in West, located about 70 miles south of Fort Worth.

Officials say fire suppression equipment will be present Tuesday and people
should not be alarmed. Experts with the Army Corps of Engineers will assist.

A boil water notice remains in effect for West.