North of Waco, TX: Numerous deaths, 200 injuries, (Children, Elderly) Reported In Fertilizer Plant Explosion

[Emily]

http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/Explosion-Injuries-Reported-At-West-Fertilizer-Plant-203505331.html

UPDATE: Numerous Injuries Reported In West Fertilizer Plant Explosion
WACO (April 17, 2013)?Emergency crews from throughout Central Texas responded Wednesday night after a major explosion at a burning fertilizer plant in West north of Waco.
[snip]
Scanner traffic indicated that some residents of both the nursing home and apartment building were severely injured.

Children are among the victi8ms, according to reports from the scene...

 

[Catbird]

Re: Waco, TX: Numerous Injuries, (Children, Elderly) Reported In Fertilizer Plant Explosion

Re: Waco, TX: Numerous Injuries, (Children, Elderly) Reported In Fertilizer Plant Explosion

via Twitter:

"jakeacarpenter
Hospital told to anticipate 100 people with injuries after West, TX fertilizer plant explosion, Hospital CEO tells #CNN. #breakingnews "


Also...

"UPDATE: Numerous Injuries Reported In West Fertilizer Plant Explosion

...The explosion was reported at around 7:50 p.m. in a frantic radio call from the scene of the fire at West Fertilizer at 1471 Jerry Mashek Dr. just off Interstate 35.

Numerous injuries were reported and multiple ambulances were requested.

Several buildings were reported destroyed and a nearby nursing home was damaged.

There were reports that people were trapped in the nursing home and in an apartment building.

Scanner traffic indicated that some residents of both the nursing home and apartment building were severely injured.

Children are among the victims, according to reports from the scene.

Two children were reported to be trapped on the second floor of the damaged apartment complex."

xhttp://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/Explosion-Injuries-Reported-At-West-Fertilizer-Plant-203505331.html

 

[Emily]

Re: North of Waco, TX: Numerous Injuries, (Children, Elderly) Reported In Fertilizer Plant Explosion

Re: North of Waco, TX: Numerous Injuries, (Children, Elderly) Reported In Fertilizer Plant Explosion

http://www.wfaa.com/news/texas-news/powerful-exploson-rocks-town-north-of-waco-203508001.html

Powerful explosion rocks small town north of Waco
WFAA
Posted on April 17, 2013 at 8:34 PM
Updated today at 10:06 PM


WEST, Texas ? A large explosion rocked the town of West, Texas, 19 miles north of Waco, on Wednesday evening.

A source tells News 8 that a large swath of the small town with a population of 2,800 has been leveled.

The blast around 8 p.m. was at the West Fertilizer plant at 1471 Jerry Mashek Drive, about a half-mile east of Interstate 35...

 

[JimO]

Re: Discussion - Re: North of Waco, TX: Numerous Injuries, (Children, Elderly) Reported In Fertilizer Plant Explosion

Re: Discussion - Re: North of Waco, TX: Numerous Injuries, (Children, Elderly) Reported In Fertilizer Plant Explosion

http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/...orted-At-West-Fertilizer-Plant-203505331.html

UPDATE: EMS Director Says 60 To 70 Dead In West Explosion

WACO (April 17, 2013)--West EMS Director Dr. George Smith says as many as 60 or 70 people died and at least 100 were injured Wednesday night in a fertilizer plant explosion in West.

A rescuer earlier said he knew of five deaths.

West Mayor Tommy Muska said at a news conference however, that he doesn't yet know how many people were hurt or killed in the blast explosion.

...snip...

 

[Emily]

Re: North of Waco, TX: 60-70 Killed, Numerous Injuries, (Children, Elderly) Reported In Fertilizer Plant Explosion

Re: North of Waco, TX: 60-70 Killed, Numerous Injuries, (Children, Elderly) Reported In Fertilizer Plant Explosion

Scanner recording below - a fireman clearly says a bomb went off in the plant and a lot firefighters are down. He repeated that it was a bomb.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8G2upxAUk3Q

The horrible video posted here showing no evacuation or perimeter control during the fire that suggests the potential for a blast of this size was not known to local planners.

Whatever the reason, it wasn't until the last minutes before the explosion that firefighters told people to run.


This happened just a couple of days ago:

http://www.sfgate.com/news/texas/article/Fort-Hood-bomb-team-removes-device-from-Waco-truck-4429775.php

Fort Hood bomb team removes device from Waco truck
Published 7:14 am, Friday, April 12, 2013

WACO, Texas (AP) ? A disposal team from Fort Hood removed an apparent home-made bomb early Friday after police discovered it inside a pickup truck during a routine traffic stop at a Waco intersection.

Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton told television station KWTX (http://bit.ly/122FT5C ) the package was armed and included a hand grenade and other materials.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/news/texas/ar...ice-from-Waco-truck-4429775.php#ixzz2Qn06B09m

 

[Emily]

Re: North of Waco, TX: 60-70 Killed, Numerous Injuries, (Children, Elderly) Reported In Fertilizer Plant Explosion

Re: North of Waco, TX: 60-70 Killed, Numerous Injuries, (Children, Elderly) Reported In Fertilizer Plant Explosion

There's live coverage at this link. Reporters were struck with the concern people have for their pets. Some were killed in the blast, some are running loose. Livestock and pets are wandering frightened as far as Waxahachie.

Calls for blood donations are going out and a shelter is being set up in Abbott.
They said reporting and communications were sparse because the local cell tower was destroyed.

http://www.kens5.com/news/Powerful-explosion-rocks-small-town-near-Waco-multiple-injuries-reported-203510211.html

ETA: I was listening to the live feed below and the death count is not confirmed, so possibly there's hope it will be lower. (Feel free to update the title.)
I caught part of an interview with the Sheriff, (with the sounds of frighted cattle in the background), and he says they don't know what started the fire but possible criminal involvement will be investigated. (But I think that is always part of a fire investigation.)
Also a reporter said that the fire department was trying to evacuate the area as best they could while fighting the fire.

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20130417-live-video-fertilizer-plant-explosion-injures-dozens-in-west-near-waco1.ece

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: North of Waco, TX: 60-70? Killed, Numerous Injuries, (Children, Elderly) Reported In Fertilizer Plant Explosion

Re: North of Waco, TX: 60-70? Killed, Numerous Injuries, (Children, Elderly) Reported In Fertilizer Plant Explosion

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Fertilizer Plant Explosion Near Waco, Texas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROrpKx3aIjA

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Police say between 5 and 15 people killed in Texas fertilizer plant explosion, more than 160 hurt

Published April 18, 2013
FoxNews.com

Police say between five to fifteen people were killed and more than 160 were injured in a massive explosion at a fertilizer plant near Waco, Texas, late Wednesday.

The explosion at West Fertilizer in downtown West ? a community of roughly 2,600 residents about 20 miles north of Waco ? happened around 8 p.m. and could be heard as far away as Waxahachie, a town located 45 miles north. It sent flames spiraling high into the evening sky and rained burning embers, shrapnel and debris down on frightened residents.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/04/1...sion-at-texas-fertilizer-plant/#ixzz2QooTrtwb

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: North of Waco, TX: 60-70? Killed, Numerous Injuries, (Children, Elderly) Reported In Fertilizer Plant Explosion

Re: North of Waco, TX: 60-70? Killed, Numerous Injuries, (Children, Elderly) Reported In Fertilizer Plant Explosion

GMA interviews this AM say it is being treated as a crime scene, to bring more resources to the investigation.

.

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: North of Waco, TX: 60-70? Killed, Numerous Injuries, (Children, Elderly) Reported In Fertilizer Plant Explosion

Re: North of Waco, TX: 60-70? Killed, Numerous Injuries, (Children, Elderly) Reported In Fertilizer Plant Explosion

Helpful links for those affected by West plant explosion
Courtesy of Waco Tribune-Herald

Officials have released a few links to aid West residents affected by Wednesday night?s explosion at the West Fertilizer Co.

Red Cross Safe & Well, at https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php
People can let others know that they are okay and where they are.
Individual offers of aid of any kind for West, TX residents https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AqD9h2VG3hDBdHN4ZmtGajdGY3hCWmp2eEVYMlFyTXc#gid=0
These Google Docs allow anyone to offer assistance and were used with success following the Boston Marathon explosions.
Offers of housing for those displaced by West, TX explosion https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1iUgQQikLFjziB3QzAhaVV-lnlqdllzUO4uhd24ryttg/viewform?pli=1
Like the previous link, similar Google Docs were used after the Boston Marathon bombings to aid anyone displaced.

Additional aid, compiled by International Initiatives, includes:
? To check on injured residents admitted to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center call (254) 202-1100
? For family inquiries about patients at Scott & White, call (888) 394-4947
? Family inquiries about patients at Providence Health Center, call (254) 761-7200
? Pointwest Bank has opened a fund for victims of the explosion. The downtown West location, 200 W. Oak St., is accepting all kinds of donations. Waco locations here: http://www.pointwestbank.com/default.aspx?v=904fb084-af7c-4e58-b551-2bfab5d0c1e8
? The Extraco Events Center will be setting up to take donations starting at 9 a.m. For information call (254) 776-1660
? Carter Blood Care Center in Waco will accept donations beginning at 9 a.m. Find locations here: https://ww2.greatpartners.org/donor/schedules/geo
? First Baptist Church of Lott has room for anyone needing a place to stay. Call (254) 829-2321
? American Red Cross crews from across Texas were sent to the site of an explosion at a fertilizer plant near Waco where multiple injuries have been reported. Red Cross spokeswoman Anita Foster said her group is working with emergency management officials in the town of West to find a safe shelter for residents displaced from their homes. To donate blood, find a location near you.
? The Aquilla ISD opened facilities for those seeking refuge. Please report to the gym entrance.
? Blair?s Cove Apartments in Waco offering housing to any West residents affected by the explosion at 2425 S. 21st St. (254) 447-0810
? Latham Springs Baptist Camp is open to displaced residents at 134 Private Road 223 in Aquilla.
? The Abbott gym is open to displaced residents.
? Valley Mills Nursing Home has rooms available for nursing home residents if placement is needed for any of the West nursing home residents. Call (254) 932-6288.
? First Baptist Church of Gholson is open for anyone who needs a place to stay.
? Gholson ISD open for those seeking shelter.
? Brazos Meadows Baptist Church at 625 S. Hewitt Dr., adjacent to Castleman Creek Elementary will be open for anyone who needs a place to stay.
? American Legion Post 121 in Elm Mott is open for displaced residents.
? Sykora Family Ford in West has opened for residents who need a safe place to rest.
Richard Karr Motors, 1101 N Valley Mills Dr. in Waco, is accepting donations for West families and will deliver items to Sykora Family Ford in West.
? Town Hall Estates in Hillsboro was taking in displaced residents.
? The Home Depot store in Bellmead will be open all night for those who need plywood, generators, etc.
? Both Peas & Tots and Smarty Pants consignment stores in Waco are accepting clothing donations in all sizes for those in West.
? The Road to Damascus Resource Center, 5034 Franklin Ave. in Waco, will be available as a drop-off site from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday for donations. The center will accept monetary donations, canned goods, or any other necessities such as hygiene products.
? The Greater Hewitt Chamber of Commerce is accepting donations at the chamber office, 101 Third Street in Hewitt, until 5 p.m. for residents and emergency workers. Food, clothing, toiletries and blankets needed.

Nursing homes
Trisun Healthcare nursing home facilities are accepting patients who were evacuated from West-area nursing homes last night. Area locations:
Temple ? Temple Living Center East, 1511 Marlandwood Road, (254) 899-6500
Temple ? Temple Living Center West, 1700 Marlandwood Road, (254) 743-6200
Temple ? Temple Living Center Western Hills, 512 Draper Drive, (254) 742-7500
Temple ? Weston Inn Health Center, 2505 South 37th Street, (254) 298-7300
Temple ? General questions, call Kendall Young, (254) 913-9563
Corsicana ? Heritage Oaks Retirement Village, 3002 West 2nd Ave., (903) 872-5130
Corsicana ? Heritage Oaks West Retirement Village, 3300 West 2nd Ave., (903) 874-5333
Corsicana ? General questions, call Mark Carden, (214) 448-3366

http://www.waco-texas.com/information-release-2.asp
​

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: North of Waco, TX: 60-70? Killed, Numerous Injuries, (Children, Elderly) Reported In Fertilizer Plant Explosion

Re: North of Waco, TX: 60-70? Killed, Numerous Injuries, (Children, Elderly) Reported In Fertilizer Plant Explosion

Helpful Information for West, Texas

Family Phone Lines:

• To check on injured residents admitted to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center call (254) 202-1100
• For family inquiries about patients at Scott & White call (888) 394-4947
• Family inquiries about patients at Providence Health Center (254) 761-7200
• Hotline for information on victims and survivors (254) 826-4115

Blood Donations:

• Carter Blood Care Center will accept donations beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday in Waco
• Providence Hospital will hold a blood drive between 11 am-5 pm
• Scott & White Blood Donation Center accept donations starting at 8 am

Shelter:

• First Baptist Church of Lott has room for anyone needing a place to stay. Call (254) 829-2321
• The Aquilla ISD opened facilities for those seeking refuge. Please report to the gym entrance.
• Blair's Cove Apartments in Waco offering housing to any West residents affected by the explosion at 2425 S. 21st St. (254) 447-0810
• Latham Springs Baptist Camp is open to displaced residents at 134 Private Road 223 in Aquilla
• The Abbott gym is open to displaced residents
• Valley mills Nursing Home has rooms available for nursing home residents if placement is needed for any of the West nursing home residents. Call 254-932-6288.
• First Baptist Church of Gholson is open for anyone who needs a place to stay
• Gholson ISD open for those seeking shelter
• Brazos Meadows Baptist Church at 625 S. Hewitt Dr., adjacent to Castleman Creek Elementary will be open for anyone who needs a place to stay
• Antioch Community Church at 501 North 20th Street in Waco is open to displaced residents
• Alliance Auto Auction between Elm Mott and West on I-35 is open to anyone needing a place to stay
• Penelope School is open for displaced residents at 309 Avenue D
• Central United Methodist Church off Bagby Avenue near Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center is open overnight
• American Legion Post 121 in Elm Mott is open for displaced residents
• Sykora Family Ford in West has opened for residents who need a safe place to rest
• Town Hall Estates in Hillsboro was taking in displaced residents
• Google Document for Housing

Medical Assistance:

• Central Texas Urgent Care clinics in Hewitt and Lacy Lakeview will remain open all night to treat those with minor injuries
• HEB Pharmacy in the Woodway area is staying open all night to help accommodate West residents who may be injured and need prescriptions filled

Donation Locations:

• The Extraco Events Center will be setting up to take donations starting tomorrow at 9:00 am. For information call 254-776-1660
• The Home Depot store in Bellmead will be open all night for those who need plywood, generators, etc.
• Both Peas & Tots and Smarty Pants consignment stores in Waco are accepting clothing donations in all sizes for those in West
• Axtell High School will be taking any kind of donations at the school tomorrow! Please donate anything! The PALS organization is taking all donations and will be accepting tomorrow and Friday during school

http://governor.state.tx.us/disaster/

 

[Emily]

Re: North of Waco, TX: Numerous deaths, 200 injuries, (Children, Elderly) Reported In Fertilizer Plant Explosion

This could be why the community and firefighters seemed blindsided by the explosion if this was an accident:

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/state/headlines/20130417-west-fertilizer-plant-said-in-report-that-it-presented-no-risk.ece

West fertilizer plant said in report that it presented no risk
By RANDY LEE LOFTIS
Environmental Writer

Published: 17 April 2013 11:23 PM
Related

Robberson: West explosion should make all towns question zoning decisions

The fertilizer plant that exploded Wednesday night in West, Texas, reported to the Environmental Protection Agency and local public safety officials that it presented no risk of fire or explosion, documents show.

West Fertilizer Co. reported having as much as 54,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia on hand in an emergency planning report required of facilities that use toxic or hazardous chemicals.


But the report, reviewed Wednesday night by The Dallas Morning News, stated “no” under fire or explosive risks. The worst possible scenario, the report said, would be a 10-minute release of ammonia gas that would kill or injure no one...

The quotes below indicate that the evacuation could have been started half an hour to an hour sooner than it was if it was known there was an explosive hazard:

http://www.freep.com/article/20130417/NEWS07/304170167/Texas-plant-explosion-Waco

Associated Press writers Schuyler Dixon and Terry Wallace in Dallas, and Betsy Blaney in Lubbock, contributed to this report.
[snip]
Julie Zahirniako, who said she and her son, Anthony, had been playing at a school playground near the fertilizer plant when the explosion hit. She was walking the track, he was kicking a football.

The explosion threw her son four feet in the air, breaking his ribs. She said she saw people running from the nursing home and the roof of the school lifted into the air.
[snip]
Erick Perez, 21, of West was playing basketball at a nearby school when the fire started. He and his friends thought nothing of it at first, but about a half-hour later, the smoke changed color. The blast threw him, his nephew and others to the ground and showered the area with hot embers, shrapnel and debris.

“The explosion was like nothing I’ve ever seen before,” Perez said. “This town is hurt really bad.”

 

[Emily]

Re: North of Waco, TX: Numerous deaths, 200 injuries, (Children, Elderly) Reported In Fertilizer Plant Explosion

Long recovery ahead for survivor of West explosion

by MONIKA DIAZ
WFAA
Posted on April 22, 2013 at 10:00 PM

Updated Tuesday, Apr 23 at 1:23 PM
Gallery
See all 8 photos ?

TEMPLE ? In the North Tower of Scott and White Memorial Hospital in Temple, Misty Lambert sees strength in her wounds.

And there are many.

"Just another scar, a couple of scars... everybody's got scars," she said.

Her arms are burned.

Lacerations and cuts cover her chest and face.

" I have about a thousand staples and sutures inside of me," Lambert said. "It's going to be a long road."..

Hundreds seek help after Texas plant explosion

Associated Press

Posted on April 30, 2013 at 2:32 AM

WEST, Texas (AP)
[snip]
Foster says Red Cross teams have served about 18,000 meals and snacks since the disaster. The agency has handed out shovels, rakes and work gloves as more residents are allowed back into damaged parts of West in a process that continued Monday...

 

[Emily]

http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/...-explosion-government-investigators-say.html/

[h=1]Fire that triggered West blast was a criminal act, government officials say[/h] [h=6]Sue Ambrose Follow @sgoetinck Email sambrose@dallasnews.com[/h]

Published: May 11, 2016 12:22 pm
Someone deliberately started the fire that triggered the fatal explosion in West three years ago, government investigators announced Wednesday.
They did not identify any suspects. Their conclusion was partly based on a re-enactment of the fire at the West Fertilizer Co., performed at a research lab in Maryland, according to officials from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Texas fire marshal?s office. An ATF official said investigators had also conducted more than 400 interviews and analyzed evidence at the site, photos and videos.
The ATF is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to an arrest.

...

Today, fewer businesses in Texas sell ammonium nitrate fertilizer, the chemical that exploded in West. But a recent Dallas Morning News analysis of state data found that in up to eight communities, tons of the chemical still sit near schools, houses, nursing homes and even a hospital...