Complete Coverage: Tragedy in West

http://www.nbcdfw.com/video/#!/news/local/Incredible-Video-Shows-West-Explosion/203540311

203540311

Incredible video from NBC 5 DFW viewer Erick Perez shows the explosion at the West Fertilizer Company in West, Texas. The video plays once at regular speed, then it is slowed down half speed, then frame by...

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Incredible-Video-Shows-West-Explosion_Dallas-Fort-Worth.html

Incredible video from NBC 5 DFW viewer Erick Perez shows the explosion at the West Fertilizer Company in West, Texas. The video plays once at regular speed, then it is slowed down half speed, then frame by...

23.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Presented By:

The likely cause for this is that your browser, feed reader, or email application is configured to not accept cookies, or your reader may launch an external browser to view links without sharing cookies.

• If you're using Internet Explorer, make sure your privacy setting is at medium or below.
  • Select 'Internet Options' from the 'Tools' menu in your browser window
  • Click the Privacy tab
  • Adjust your privacy setting if necessary
     
• If you're using a reader that embeds Internet Explorer (examples: Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, Feed Demon), you'll also need to select Internet Explorer as your default web browser.
  • Open Internet Explorer
  • Select 'Internet Options' from the 'Tools' menu in your browser window
  • Click the 'Programs' tab and check the box for Internet Explorer to check if it is the default browser and save your change
  • Close your browser, re-open it, and when prompted, select Internet Explorer as your default
  • You can then click on an ad in your newsletter and visit the site you wish to view

© 2013 Pheedo, Inc. All rights reserved.

23.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Notables React to West Fertilizer Plant Explosion

advertisement

Public officials, celebrities, and religious leaders sent messages of support to the community of West after a massive explosion at a fertilizer plant.

President Barack Obama released the following statement on the explosion in West, TX:

Today our prayers go out to the people of West, Texas in the aftermath of last night's deadly explosion at a fertilizer plant.   A tight-knit community has been shaken, and good, hard-working people have lost their lives.  I want to thank the first responders who worked tirelessly through the night to contain the situation and treat the wounded.  My Administration, through FEMA and other agencies, is in close contact with our state and local partners on the ground to make sure there are no unmet needs as search and rescue and response operations continue.  West is a town that many Texans hold near and dear to their hearts, and as residents continue to respond to this tragedy, they will have the support of the American people.

Gov. Rick Perry today released the following statement regarding the incident in West:

"We are monitoring developments and gathering information as details continue to emerge about this incident. We have also mobilized state resources to help local authorities. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of West, and the first responders on the scene."

Perry is expected to make a public statement Thursday at 11:45 a.m. in Austin.

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) issued the following statement after learning of the explosion in West, TX.

"We are deeply saddened to learn of the horrific explosion in West, Texas. We grieve for those who are injured and have lost loved ones, and are grateful to the firefighters and first responders who risked their own lives to keep others safe. Today we ask all Texans to keep West in their thoughts and prayers. We remain in communication with Gov. Perry's office and emergency management officials, and stand to offer whatever support we can."

Congressman Marc Veasey released the following statement following last night's explosion at the fertilizer plant in West, Texas:

"Last night's explosion in West is truly saddening and a terrible tragedy.  As Congressman of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, my heart goes out to our neighbors only a few miles south of the 33rd Congressional District. A ground team of police and fire departments, federal agencies, first responders, and numerous agencies have been working hard around the clock to assist those in the area.  Let us keep the victims and their families in our thoughts and prayers."

Singer-songwriter Willie Nelson grew up in the nearby town of Abbott. Some West residents are being housed in temporary shelters in that community. Nelson tweeted:

Pope Francis sent the following tweet showing support for the Texas community:

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings shared his thoughts via Twitter:

23.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

1 Hospitalized After Chicago Sinkhole Swallows 3 Cars

advertisement

One person was hospitalized after three vehicles were swallowed Thursday morning by a large sinkhole on Chicago's South Side, officials said.

More than five inches of heavy rain across the area caused the sinkhole to rip open around 5:20 a.m. in the South Deering neighborhood, Chicago Police spokesman Mike Sullivan said.

Police said the injured person was driving when the road caved. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Two cars were inside the hole when fire crews arrived. A third car, which was parked, slid into the hole after they arrived.

Flooding has caused multiple road closures, including two major expressways, throughout the area. About 300 flights were canceled at O'Hare International Airport and dozens of schools were closed.

The Illinois Department of Transportation urged commuters who take expressways into work to consider staying home. Two more inches of rain is expected throughout the day as area rivers continue to swell and neighborhoods flood.

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!

23.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Part of West Decimated by Blast

advertisement

DPS Trooper Updates West Explosion

Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper D.L. Wilson held a news conference at midnight to update the situation in West where a fertilizer plant exploded in the town of West.

More Photos and Videos

A very powerful explosion at a fertilizer plant decimated a neighborhood in the small town of West Wednesday night, injuring more than 160 and killing as many as 15, officials say.

During a Thursday morning news conference, Sgt. William Patrick Swanton, with the Waco Police Department, said rescuers were still involved in a rescue operation and were conducting door-to-door searches looking for trapped people and other survivors who may need medical attention.

"They are still in, what they're calling, a search and rescue mode.  That's good news to me, meaning that they're probably still getting injured people; they have not gotten to the point of no return where they don't think there is anybody still alive," said Swanton.

Rescuers are being very thorough, Swanton said, and are taking their time with searches to make sure no one who needs help is overlooked.  Swanton described the process as hard and gut-wrenching.

He had no new estimates of the number of people injured or killed in the blast, though he did say that a significant area near the plant had been destroyed, houses had been flattened and that part of that community is gone.

Between 50 and 75 buildings have been damaged or destroyed by the blast, Swanton confirmed, including homes and business.

Swanton added that the fire at the facility is still smoldering, as are several other fires at homes near the blast site. None of the fires are out of control and thunderstorms pushing through the area are being credited with not only keeping the fires in check but with helping contain chemicals in the air.

"I can tell you there is nothing out of control there at this point, meaning there is no fire out of control, there is no chemical escape from the fertilizer plant that is out of control. They are working to contain everything that they have in that area and are doing a fantastic job in very harsh circumstances ... as you can imagine," Swanton said.

Gov. Rick Perry will hold a news conference at 11:45 a.m. in Austin where further information is expected to be released regarding a possible disaster declaration and recovery efforts.

23.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Emergency Resources for West

advertisement

Here are some emergency resources for victims of the West fertilizer plant explosion as well as information for those who wish to help the community.

DPS, Mayor: Town Does Not Need More First Responders at This Time

The town of West has plenty of law enforcement and search-and-rescue crews on the scene, West Mayor Tommy Muska said.

When asked what the town needs, Muska said, "We need your prayers. There's a lot of people that got hurt. There's a lot of people, I'm sure, will not be here tomorrow."

Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman Trooper D.L. Wilson reiterated the mayor's request that no one come to West to help.

"We are overflowing with help, and we don't need any more help as far as that goes," Wilson said.

People can call the following emergency number for information on family and loved ones after 9 a.m. Thursday: 254-286-4155

The Red Cross also offers a "Safe and Well" listing service that allows people to register and let loved ones quickly know their condition. Click here to access that website.

Texas Governor Rick Perry's office provided a list of of disaster resources at this link: Disaster Center.

Shelters for Victims

Courtesy of NBC affiliate KCEN-TV in Waco, here is a list of shelters for those affected by the explosion in West:

• Central United Methodist Church
• Texas State Technical State College in Waco
• Blair's Cove Apartment in Waco
• Gholson ISD
• Gholson Baptist Church
• Latham Springs Inn
• Aquilla ISD
• Alliance Auto Auction on I-35
• Sykora Family Ford in West
• Abbot Community Center
• La Vega Veterinary Clinic is taking in small animals for the night
• Pharmacy at HEB store on Woodway is open

A Google document for temporary housing for victims of the explosion has also been created. Those who wish to offer housing can do so by filling out this form.

The Home Depot in Bellmead reopened Wednesday night for anyone needing to buy supplies.

Blood Donations

The Scott & White Blood and Donation Center was accepting blood donations overnight.

Hillcrest Hosptial will also accept blood donations for victims. Hillcrest is one of the hospitals treating victims of the blast.

A blood center that serves Central Texas hospitals says donors are greatly needed due to the massive plant explosion that has injured more than 160 people.

Carter BloodCare said in a statement Thursday that it is sending blood to hospitals treating patients from the explosion in West, near Waco. It says blood "will be in great demand over the next two weeks" as officials work to replenish supplies used after Wednesday's incident.

Carter BloodCare is collecting blood at an event starting at 7:00 a.m. at Medical City Children's Hospital. The event was initially scheduled in support of Boston Marathon bombing victims, but organizers have said that donations will likely head to West, TX.

Click here to find a Carter BloodCare location to donate.

Other Donations

Point West Bank was taking donations for the victims. Donations can be dropped off or sent to 200 West Oak St., West, TX 76691.

The Salvation Army is responding to the area with four emergency disaster kitchens. Workers are distributing food and water to victims and emergency responders.

Donations may be made at salvationarmydfw.org

This story will be updated with additional ways you can help the victims of the West fertilizer plant explosion throughout the day.

23.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Chemical Blast Brings Echoes from Disaster 66 Years Earlier

advertisement

The deadly explosion at a fertilizer plant that ripped through the town of West, Texas, on Wednesday, stirred echoes of one of the worst industrial accidents in United States history, which struck the state 66 years ago earlier this week.

On April 16, 1947, the French cargo ship SS Grandcamp, anchored in Texas City, was being loaded with a cargo of ammonium nitrate fertilizer when a fire broke out on board.

At 9:12 a.m., the ship exploded and took much of the town with it, according to the archives of Moore Memorial Public Library in Texas City. A second blast rattled the area 16 hours later.

It remains one of the worst industrial disasters ever to hit the United States.

To this day, there is no definitive death toll. The Texas State Historical Association notes that 576 people are listed on the site's memorial wall but that many more may have died.

Because so many victims were so horribly mangled, and because of the number of foreign sailors and itinerant dockworkers, it is impossible say how many people actually perished, both the library and the historical association say.

About 1,000 homes and businesses were either heavily damaged or destroyed in the explosion, which caused a 15-foot-high tidal wave, killed 28 firemen and destroyed all the town's firefighting equipment. Contemporary accounts say the blast shattered windows 40 miles away in Houston and was felt 250 miles away in Louisiana.

About 150 embalmers worked at a temporary morgue, and identification of bodies continued through mid-June. Even students from regional dental schools were called in to try to identify remains.

The deaths in Texas City were not necessarily in vain.

Experts examined industrial safety and in particular the handling and storage of chemicals.

There was a new awareness of the danger of ammonium nitrate, which had been abundant as wartime munitions were converted to fertilizer.

And governments around the country saw the need for coordinated emergency response and disaster relief.

In many ways, people are probably safer today because of the explosions in Texas City, and the town recovered financially in the years after the disaster, remaining home to a thriving petrochemical industry. The Census Bureau shows that the population is bigger than ever, with more than 45,000 people calling Texas City home.

But the effect left by the disaster is difficult to overstate.

After a June 22 public funeral, an editorial in the Texas City Sun said those touched by the event had been "bound together by a great and common tragedy for which there is no ready word of solace."

John Newland is a staff writer for NBCNews.com.

23.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Obama, Perry Discuss West Explosion

Getty Images

President Barack Obama reached out to Texas Governor Rick Perry by phone Thursday morning.

advertisement

President Barack Obama reached out to Texas Governor Rick Perry by phone Thursday morning.

While on the way to a prayer service for the Boston Marathon bombing victims, President Obama called Gov. Perry to tell him that "his prayers are with the people of West, Texas."

President Obama also offered any federal resources needed to assist in the response and recovery efforts.

Gov. Perry responded by Twitter:

President Obama also placed a call to West Mayor Tommy Muska, but was unable to reach him.

Gov. Perry plans to hold a press conference at 11:45 a.m. in Austin with updates on the incident.

President Barack Obama released the following statement on the explosion in West, TX:

Today our prayers go out to the people of West, Texas in the aftermath of last night's deadly explosion at a fertilizer plant.   A tight-knit community has been shaken, and good, hard-working people have lost their lives.  I want to thank the first responders who worked tirelessly through the night to contain the situation and treat the wounded.  My Administration, through FEMA and other agencies, is in close contact with our state and local partners on the ground to make sure there are no unmet needs as search and rescue and response operations continue.  West is a town that many Texans hold near and dear to their hearts, and as residents continue to respond to this tragedy, they will have the support of the American people.

Get the latest headlines sent to your inbox!

23.18 | 0 komentar | Read More