Big explosion in west texas, anyone there?

[geronimotwo]

holy cow,  makes me glad that our biggest industry is a sour cream plant.

The scene of the explosion will be treated like a crime scene until they can prove it was an industrial accident.

while they are not charging an individual, it does go to show our mental state post 911.

[Jocassee]

They probably didn't know that it could explode like that.

I will confess that even if I had an idea it would explode, I would never have thought the blast would go out that far. That's nuts. They're what, a good quarter mile away?

[Boomhauer]

As a side note.

Who stops to take video of the BURNING FERTILIZER PLANT with their freaking KID in the car?

Idiots who have only managed to survive life because we as a society insist on cockblocking Darwin.

Believe you me, if a fertilizer, chlorine, or any number of other hazerdous structures catches afire you will see me leaving the area like a Kenyan fleeing a crocodile.

[Boomhauer]

I will confess that even if I had an idea it would explode, I would never have thought the blast would go out that far. That's nuts. They're what, a good quarter mile away?

If somethimg like that catches on fire you want to be miles away.

[geronimotwo]

Idiots who have only managed to survive life because we as a society insist on cockblocking Darwin.

Believe you me, if a fertilizer, chlorine, or any number of other hazerdous structures catches afire you will see me leaving the area like a Kenyan fleeing a crocodile.

i wonder how many people knew what was being manufactured there?  the planning board should be "wumped up side the head" for this.

[dogmush]

They probably didn't know that it could explode like that.

I thought in a post-OKC paradigm that everyone knew fertilizer could go all asplodey. 

Well they know now.

[Boomhauer]

i wonder how many people knew what was being manufactured there?  the planning board should be "wumped up side the head" for this.

While I agree about the plannimg if you dont know whats in your town as far as industry and so forth you have the situational awareness of a frickin rock.

[HankB]

Place is a little more than halfway between Austin and Dallas, making it a good hour and a half, maybe hour and 45 minutes drive north of where I'm at along I-35 - too far away to hear or feel the explosion from here.

News reports are sketchy, but earlier they were saying over 100 injured and "between 5 and 15" feared dead, with some VFD crew members "unaccounted for."

Overnight a south wind was keeping the smoke plume blowing north, but by 7 it was already changing direction as a line of storms and a cold front were coming through. Haven't seen an update for a couple of hours . . .

[never_retreat]

As a side note.

Who stops to take video of the BURNING FERTILIZER PLANT with their freaking KID in the car?

Just to be a little fair that guy is between a quarter and a half mile away. It does not scream I'm in danger to me.

[drewtam]

While I agree about the plannimg if you dont know whats in your town as far as industry and so forth you have the situational awareness of a frickin rock.

BUT, BUT, BUT

Govt regulations stifle business. They need these jobs. Texas has to do everything it can to be the growth leader.

[Regolith]

If the one in my town had caught fire, I'd have probably watched it...from the top of the mountain on the opposite side of the valley a good 10 miles away, and I'd have made sure I was standing near something substantial to duck behind. Did I mention that it made AN specifically for ANFO explosives?

[dogmush]

Just to be a little fair that guy is between a quarter and a half mile away. It does not scream I'm in danger to me.

Really? It does to me. I work in an industrial area and make it a point to know what is in and the potential blast radius of all the stuff around me.

Maybe I'm projecting my knowledge of boomy things, but I really thought that everyone know that kinda of thing goes big when it goes.  This isn't the first fetilizer plant to go boom.

[roo_ster]

Idiots who have only managed to survive life because we as a society insist on cockblocking Darwin.

Believe you me, if a fertilizer, chlorine, or any number of other hazerdous structures catches afire you will see me leaving the area like a Kenyan fleeing a crocodile.

Same here.  Closest place that uses volatile chems in quantity are about 2 miles from the house.  Not worried because the quantity is small relative to say a fertilizer plant.

BUT, BUT, BUT

Govt regulations stifle business. They need these jobs. Texas has to do everything it can to be the growth leader.

No reason for gov't to step in here.  I would bet dollars to donuts the plant predates the surrounding structures.  Property owners knew of it and were OK with the risk.  And most will end up OK.  Some, not so much. 

[Jamisjockey]

Anyone know about the Texas City explosion back in the day?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_City_Disaster

This right here is why you unass the AO anytime there is an industrial fire.  If AN or fertilizer is involved, you want to be several miles away.

[Azrael256]

There was a pretty good KB at a chemical plant near Waxahache a year or two ago.  Roasted a fire truck, IIRC.  Luckily it was outside of town.

I guess Camera Guy missed the news that day.  Potential for boom = GTFO.  I can't imagine living in the apartments across the street and not bailing at the first sign of smoke.  Drive to Waco, have dinner at Ninfa's, and hope the house is there when you get back.

[Tallpine]

I can't imagine living in the apartments across the street and not bailing at the first sign of smoke.

I can't imagine that there was anyone living in the apartments across the street after the blast.   

[TechMan]

Anyone know about the Texas City explosion back in the day?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_City_Disaster

This right here is why you unass the AO anytime there is an industrial fire.  If AN or fertilizer is involved, you want to be several miles away.

I have read about the Texas City Disaster.  Here is another scary one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_East_Ohio_Gas_explosion

TL ; DR  1944 LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) tank leaks and the vapor gets into the sewer lines and mixes with air and sewer gas and finally ignites.  After the first explosion the onlookers return to their homes and there is a second explosion from another leaking tank leveled the tank farm and then the underground explosion continued.

However, the explosions and fires continued to occur, trapping many who had returned to what they thought was the safety of their own homes. Housewives who were at home suddenly found their homes engulfed in flame as the explosion traveled through the sewers and up through drains. The following day, Associated Press wire stories contained quotes from survivors, many of whom were at home cleaning in preparation for the coming Sabbath. Survivors said that within a split second after the explosion, their homes and clothes were on fire.

[Balog]

You know, if someone wanted to get a very large quantity of ammonium nitrate without all those pesky federal tracking issues, stealing a bunch then setting the plant on fire would be a pretty good way to do that. 

[p12]

I'm about 30 miles as a crow flies. Heard it felt it and heard the echos. Didn't know what happened until it broke on the news.

Found out this am that two former coworkers are ok. They live in West and were assisting in the evac. of the nursing home. They were just outside the destruction zone when blew. Were up all night searching homes. As I understand the homes, nursing home and apartment complex had been evac before it blew.

[Tallpine]

the homes, nursing home and apartment complex had been evaced before it blew.

That is good!   

[makattak]

That is good!   

Yes. And would explain the low casualty count.

[Azrael256]

Good indeed!

I looked at the aerial photo and watched the latest video (the one by the blue dumpster, not the one in the truck).  Its easy to spot on the map.  By my reckoning, that guy was less than a quarter mile away.  

[Scout26]

No reason for gov't to step in here.  I would bet dollars to donuts the plant predates the surrounding structures.  Property owners knew of it and were OK with the risk.  And most will end up OK.  Some, not so much.  

This.  You pays your money and youse takes your chances.  The .gov is not there to save you from your own ignorance and stupidity.  Anyone with half a brain can tell the difference between a chemical/fertilizer plant/refinery and a teddy bear factory.



P.S.  So, no reports of a white guy in hoodie driving away in a van screaming "Wolverines !!!"  ??

[Tallpine]

This.  You pays your money and youse takes your chances.  The .gov is not there to save you from your own ignorance and stupidity.  Anyone with half a brain can tell the difference between a chemical/fertilizer plant/refinery and a teddy bear factory.



P.S.  So, no reports of a white guy in hoodie driving away in a van screaming "Wolverines !!!"  ??

In Texas, they scream "Armadillos !!!"   

[p12]

Correction of previous post.

Nursing home was mostly still occupied. They were in the process of moving them when it blew.

They were just lucky.