A little before 8 pm tonight there was an explosion at the Fertilizer plant in the town of West, about 1.5 hours south of Dallas. The town is only about 1 mile wide and 2 miles long, with a population of just over 2500. The whole town is being evacuated, about 1/4th of the town is burning and the volunteer fire fighters who responded to the original fire call, have not been accounted for since the explosion. Conflicting estimates put deaths at 60-70...for now but, everyone is hoping the number goes down when the fires are out and people are accounted for, but injuries are in the hundreds. Fire departments from all over north and north central Texas have been there putting out the fires. 6-12 emergency care helicopters have been making repeated flights in and out of the city taking the most seriously injured to trauma centers or burn centers...in Dallas, Ft. Worth or Killeen.
That is a real disaster! Prayers and good thoughts to the missing and injured. Finger crossed those volunteer fire fighters are OK.
http://www.wfaa.com/news/powerful-explo ... 08001.html The explosion registered as powerful as a 2.1 earthquake. Firefighters have stopped fighting the fire because of the possibility of toxic chemicals in the air and the other safety of the other tanks at the plant are still in question. But the fires are pretty much contained for the night. The 133 people in the nursing home were evacuated and moved to a nursing home in Waco. No reports on what injuries any of them suffered.
We've just heard about this on our early morning news and have come on to make sure that everyone here is unharmed. I always feel particularly sad for the fire-fighters and other rescue services who suffer casualties in the course of their jobs. Thoughts and prayers for everyone there from this side of the Atlantic.
The poor people! My heart goes out to them. I hope the initial casualty numbers are wrong. They will all be in my thoughts today.
There was an interview a few minutes ago with a volunteer who carried 4 bodies from the destroyed nursing home. The confirmed death toll is 19 but they have not been able to search through the devastated area yet or to contact all the evacuees to take a head count. About 6 children were taken to,I think, Children's Hospital in Dallas for treatment and 9 to the burn unit at Parkland in Dallas...those are the most seriously injured. Our members closest to the area are Mart who lives about 34 miles to the east of West, Texas and MarlinGardener (Jane) who lives about 44 miles to the south and east of the city of West, Texas. They might have felt the explosion but were not affected by it.
No Toni We are halfway between Dallas and Texarkana. On I-30 but I have PM`d Marlingardener this morning since I don`t know where she is except central Texas and that covers a big area. They said the blast could be felt 45 miles away from the plant. Thanks Toni for thinking of me ! Should have said that earlier but was thinking about who we had in that area !!
Very sad to see the damage. And DH trained Haz-Mat Fire volunteer.Ammonia lot of lung problems. And plant so close to nursing home and school + homes.
And here I am! All your concern is touching, very touching. Our church is mobilizing (doesn't take long 'cause there isn't that many of us!) to take up a special collection on Sunday, and to send food, blankets, and hygiene supplies for those who were evacuated. We are also surveying the membership to see if there are accomodations that can be offered for up to a week (move over chicks, you're getting company in the guest bedroom!). Please keep the people of West in your thoughts. The reports of fatalities/injuries/extent of damage are still coming in, and likely will for at least two days.
What a terrible accident to happen. Thinking about all of those affected, I hope our members from Texas are fine and their extended family and friends also.
Prayers go out for the workers, firefighters and nearby residents as this tragedy unfolds. It is hard to imaging the tragedy they must be going through. Jerry
