This is more for the Texas moms but I'm putting it out there for everyone. I don't know who all has heard about the plant explosion in the town of West, TX. We have been hearing about it all night and this morning here. Just want to make sure that anyone that might have had family or friends in that area that they are ok. And of course to put out for prayers for that town. It is a really nice town with great people. This is very devastating for them. I guess my required question is - has everyone heard about this and do you have any family or friends in that area ?
For those that don't know - West is a small town of about 2,800 people. It is about 80 miles south of the Dallas Ft. Worth area. There was a fertilizer plant that had been there for over 30 years. The town had grown around it. It caught fire and exploded yesterday evening. It devastated a 5 block radius - including an apartment complex, middle school (thank goodness no school activities going on !), & houses. It affected a nursing home (blew out windows & doors).
I think more people have heard about this than you think. This is world news. My son lives in Waco and was interviewed by an Austrailian news agency.
My son is fine.
What a terrible tragedy. I stayed up late last night watching CNN's coverage. I can't wrap my head around the fact that the town's zoning would permit residential areas in such close proximity to such a hazardous operation. Fertilizer is widely known as one component of certain explosives, so it would seem to me that prudence would dictate having a much wider protective radius around the plant.
It is extremely sad. Prayers to all involved.
I was up watching the news last night about it. It is very sad.
We bought our custom pool table from a very nice man in West TX.
On Friday, (and Saturday, if they win) we are going to be going through West, TX on I35 to the ladies state soccer UIL finals in Georgetown. My daughter is cheering.
We plan to stop by our friend's place to see if they are ok.
I not only heard about it I felt it. We thought it was the storm starting cause the walls and the windows shook. Our house is old so that's not abnormal. Thought it might even be another earth quake like we had a few months back. Then I found out it was from the explosion. I don't know anyone there but have driven through there may times. It's an nice little town. My heart goes out to them!
Yes I felt it there and know several others that did as well. It's was strange. Angela G TX depending on what time it was it may have been! It was around 7:30ish.
Hugs to all. Prayers for victims, families & friends and for all who are working tirelessly to help.
I was up half the night with a sick little one so I watched it on the news. It is such a tragedy, but it really could have been so much worse. The explosion is just..wow..
I heard about this on NPR this morning-- it is incredibly sad. My heart and thoughts go out to those affected by this horrible accident. It will be a long time before they will feel settled and safe again.
(My father grew up in Roseburg and was there during the Roseburg Blast in 1959, when a truck of explosives accidentally detonated. These things take a long time to heal from.)
I can only hope and pray that the community is going to be able to pull together and that state and federal aid will be coming immediately. So sad.
Yes we heard about it. I had LOTS of questions. Looks like it was just an accident not a purposely placed bomb. The Oklahoma bombing in 199?? was made from a fertilizer bomb! At least that is my understanding. The news is not showing any footage of the explosion sight, that I have seen.
I have a hard time trusting the news. In 1998 we had a 100 yr flood and several neighborhoods downtown area near the river were flooded. The national news reported that the "entire town is flooded" we didnt have a drop of rain, it was only the rising rivers and those homes along the river bank or built in the flood zone. That is why I was wanting to view a glimps of the wreakage. Still terrible those who are missing and working to repair all the damages. Prayers for West, Texas
I live about 90 miles south, (just north of Austin) and heard about it on the news..... my SIL works in Temple/Waco, and I texted my daughter to see if he was home yet (he was). We watched it on the news for probably 3 hours last night......
We stop in West at the Czech Stop bakery whenever we drive north, and then when we drive back home... it is a favorite place, and very popular. That bakery is at least a mile from the fertilizer plant.
It is scary what happened, though... and so sad...... prayers for the community.
It's all over the news up here and everywhere. Terrible!!
I'm also in Mansfield, and I can't imagine that we could have heard or felt anything here, but if they felt it in Midlothian then maybe so. Last night I was home alone and my dog and I felt/heard something outside. It was incredibly windy with approaching storms, so I thought a tree fell, but there was nothing outside when I checked. I wonder if it could have been the explosion? That seems too far away, but . . .???
I'm so sad for all of those in West, and in Boston of course, too. This is just too much tragedy.
Yes this is national news - we're still almost wall-to-wall Marathon Bombing coverage here (Obama is here today) but this made it through the news and is a headline even here. I can't even imagine the aftermath of losing what will surely be a large number of people in such a small community. Just devastating. I also agree with Queen of the Castle in the observation that it seems not quite right to have residences, a school and a nursing home so close to a factory that produces something so dangerous. I hope it was an accident and that the initial fire wasn't intentionally set. Definitely said a prayer for that community last night.
Here's a link. A family was sitting nearby and caught the explosion on video. I assume since it's on youtube that they got out okay.
I cried. That poor kid sounds so scared!
The explosion happens at about 35 seconds then it's just sounds of the family getting out of the range of the explosion. So it's sort of scary, don't watch it if stuff like this bothers you.
Prayers and hugs to the families affected by this terrible accident. May those that have perished, rest peacefully in the hands of God. For those injured may your recovery be quick and easy, without complications.
Heidi M, ya'll felt it up there?
I don't know anyone in West, but we have friends in Waxahachie and Corsicana. I haven't heard if they saw or felt anything though or if they sustained damage or injury.
