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 Police: 5 to 15 people killed in Texas explosion 
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Post Police: 5 to 15 people killed in Texas explosion
By Brent Zwerneman | April 17, 2013 | Updated: April 18, 2013 7:32am

WEST — Authorities say between five and 15 people were killed in a fertilizer plant explosion Wednesday night. The blast shook the ground with the strength of a small earthquake in this community of 2,800 people located about 20 miles north of Waco.

The town's mayor, Tommy Muska, said 50 to 60 houses over a five-block area had been "heavily damaged."

"Search and rescue teams have been working through the night," said Muska, who was wearing a dirty West volunteer fire department shirt, and is a firefighter himself. "That is continuing as we speak."

An emotional Muska didn't field any questions and wrapped up a brief 5:30 a.m. press conference with, "Thank you and I ask for your prayers."

Waco police Sgt. William Patrick Swanton said in a 4:40 a.m. press conference that that number is expected to grow, however, as more details concerning the tragedy emerge. He added that at least 160 victims are in area hospitals.

Swanton stressed that emergency personnel are still in search and rescue mode, and the coming daylight should aid greatly on that front. Swanton said he hadn't heard of any rescues in the past few hours. Earlier, he described the search as painstaking process because of the risks involved, including structural damage to the area.

The devastated area is being treated as a crime scene early, Swanton said, but only because investigators always take a "worst case scenario" approach to such an occurrence. He added that there is no early indication it was anything but an industrial accident.

The fertilizer plant still has smoldering fires, Swanton said, adding to the danger still enveloping the area. He added that he's been told by officials that the area air quality is not a concern to residents. The explosion registered a 2.5 on the Richter scale, according to officials in Amarillo, the sergeant said. He reiterated emergency personnel hope to save anyone still trapped in the debris.

"We are hoping we will be able to recover folks who have not been able to get out of the rubble," Swanton said.

snip

Read more here: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Police-5-to-15-people-killed-in-Texas-explosion-4444339.php

CNN (and others) are reporting there are firefighters among the missing - at least 5 who responded to the initial fire.

There were also reports that one law enforcement person was missing but he/she has been found in a local hospital in critical condition.

My lovely State needs your prayers.

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The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little. - FDR


Thu Apr 18, 2013 5:53 am
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Post Re: Police: 5 to 15 people killed in Texas explosion
'Like a nuclear bomb': Deadly fertilizer plant blast devastates Texas town
By Josh Levs and Lateef Mungin, CNN
updated 8:44 AM EDT, Thu April 18, 2013

(CNN) -- As the sun rose Thursday over West, Texas, the scope of the small town's devastation came into fuller view: a gruesome, bloody scene, homes flattened to rubble, and scores of firefighters battling a raging blaze.

The massive, deadly blast at a fertilizer plant Wednesday night forced the evacuation of about half the town of about 2,800 people and left officials asking key questions: Was it a crime or an accident? How could it have happened?

"Nothing at this point indicates we have had criminal activity, but we are not ruling that out," said Sgt. William Patrick Swanton of the nearby Waco Police Department.

A more immediate question is how high the death toll will rise.

It could be between five and 15, Swanton said. Dr. George Smith, the city's emergency management system director, said it could spike to 60 or 70.

"We have two EMS personnel that are dead for sure, and there may be three firefighters that are dead," Smith said.

"There are a lot of people that will not be here tomorrow," Mayor Tommy Muska warned late Wednesday.

The Texas National Guard has sent 21 troops from a civil support team to monitor air quality near the blast, the Pentagon announced Thursday.

snip

Read more here: http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/18/us/texas-explosion/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Oh my heart - these are volunteer firefighters/EMS. :candle

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The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little. - FDR


Thu Apr 18, 2013 5:58 am
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Post Re: Police: 5 to 15 people killed in Texas explosion
It is so tragic - so many killed, maimed, left homeless. Still no word on what started it; it's probably much too early considering the devastation at the scene. I wonder if they will ever figure out what happened.

On another note, just one of those interesting coincidences, another drill/exercise scheduled for the same date as an actual event:

NCTTRAC Course/Exercise Registration Portal
For More Information Contact:
Brian Martin, Training & Exercise Coordinator
Phone: (817) 607-7017, Email: bmartin@ncttrac.org

NCTTRAC Course/Exercise Offerings

Apr17 4/17/2013 8:00 AM - 4/18/2013 5:00 PM

Regional EMTF Full Scale Exercise - Black Rain

Regional Exercise Black Rain



Scenario:
The North Central Texas region is impacted by a radiological catastrophe at Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant. The blast and residual fallout results in many injuries and fatalities within the immediate hazard area and the densely populated DFW Metroplex area is affected by blackouts and rolling brownouts due to loss of power generation. Blast and fallout damage results in a critical taxing of the medical community and generates a potential need for medical evacuation and vast number of worried well within the metropolitan population. Region 2 of the Texas Emergency Medical Task Force (EMTF) must activate and deploy its Ambulance, AMBUS and MMU Strike Teams to assist with the first response and contamination monitoring efforts of the medical community.


NCTTRAC Objectives:
Objective 1: Coordinate an integrated EMTF medical response (EMOC, MMU, AMBUS, and AST) to a regional radiological catastrophe.

Objective 2: Demonstrate the capability to apply the fundamental knowledge, skills and abilities of ICS/NIMS command and control to coordinated Emergency Medical Task Force operations and logistical support (positions include: Task Force Leader, Operations Section Chief, Ambulance Strike Team Leader, Ambulance Staging Manager, Mobile Medical Unit Group Supervisor.

Objective 3: Measure capability to activate / notify, roster, muster and deploy essential Emergency Medical Task Force (EMTF) assets and personnel (i.e., Ambulance Strike Team, AMBUS, and Mobile Medical Unit.)

Objective 4: Evaluate the ability to integrate the EMTF Zumro MMU with the Base X MMU to achieve a Type 1 Mobile Medical Unit Strike Team.

Objective 5: Evaluate the ability to utilize Crisis Application tools (E*TRACS and WebEOC) for patient tracking, transport, and reporting measures due to a severe weather event.

http://www.ncttrac.org/training/courses ... fault.aspx

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Thu Apr 18, 2013 7:26 pm
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Post Re: Police: 5 to 15 people killed in Texas explosion
As soon as I heard about this I thought of you Blue :candle

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Fri Apr 19, 2013 12:39 pm
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Post Re: Police: 5 to 15 people killed in Texas explosion
Object hit Waco plant before Explosion!!



Gordon Duff / Stew webb NSearch radio link!

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Sat Apr 20, 2013 7:59 am
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Post Re: Police: 5 to 15 people killed in Texas explosion
This is just incredibly sad.

Was in San Antonio for a grandkid weekend. :mrgreen: :heart

It is, of course, THE topic of conversation down here.

So many lives lost - so much devastation but soooo many people stepping up and helping out.

Texas (Tejas) means "friend" or "ally" in the language of the Caddo and Hasinai tribes.

Tons of food, clothing, and other supplies are already in West with more on the way.

I thought it was hilarious that Governor Good Hair was so quick on the trigger to ask da Prez for help. LMAO! :crylaugh :spit

Quote:
Texas secessionist Rick Perry didn't get a vote in the Hurricane Sandy relief bill. But this is how his state's two dozen Republican congressmen voted:
• Joe Barton- No
• Kevin Brady- No
• Michael Burgess- No
• John Carter- No
• Michael Conaway- No
• John Culberson- Yes
• Blake Farenthold- No
• Bill Flores- No
• Louie Gohmert- No
• Kay Granger- No
• Ralph Hall- No
• Jeb Hensarling- No
• Sam Johnson- No
• Kenny Marchant- No
• Michael McCaul- No
• Randy Neugebauer- No
• Pete Olson- No
• Ted Poe- No
• Pete Sessions- No
• Lamar Smith- No
• Steve Stockman- No
• Mac Thornberry- No
• Randy Weber- No
• Roger Williams- No


http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2013/04/how-will-peter-king-respond-to-rick.html

:oops

Hypocrites!

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The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little. - FDR


Sun Apr 21, 2013 4:26 pm
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Post Re: Police: 5 to 15 people killed in Texas explosion
Texas plant that blew up carried $1M policy
By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN, Associated Press | May 4, 2013 | Updated: May 4, 2013 8:56pm

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — The Texas fertilizer plant that exploded last month, killing 14 people, injuring more than 200 others and causing tens of millions of dollars in damage to the surrounding area had only $1 million in liability coverage, lawyers said Saturday.

Tyler lawyer Randy C. Roberts said he and other attorneys who have filed lawsuits against West Fertilizer's owners were told Thursday that the plant carried only $1 million in liability insurance. Brook Laskey, an attorney hired by the plant's insurer to represent West Fertilizer Co., confirmed the amount Saturday in an email to The Associated Press, after the Dallas Morning News first reported it.

"The bottom line is, this lack of insurance coverage is just consistent with the overall lack of responsibility we've seen from the fertilizer plant, starting from the fact that from day one they have yet to acknowledge responsibility," Roberts said.

Roberts said he expects the plant's owner to ask a judge to divide the $1 million in insurance money among the plaintiffs, several of whom he represents, and then file for bankruptcy.

He said he wasn't surprised that the plant was carrying such a small policy.

"It's rare for Texas to require insurance for any kind of hazardous activity," he said. "We have very little oversight of hazardous activities and even less regulation."

snip

Read more here: http://www.chron.com/news/texas/article/Texas-plant-that-blew-up-carried-1M-policy-4488734.php?cmpid=hpfsln

Ahhh yes. Governor Good Hair and his cronies make sure "Texas is WIIIDDDDDEEE open for business."

GAH!

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The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little. - FDR


Sun May 05, 2013 8:30 am
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