Explosion at fertilizer plant north of Waco, Texas

[JessicaR]

14 dead found so far.

It's hard to find any news about West. I guess that I can understand why.

I agree and feel so bad that this has been foreshadowed with so many missing/unaccounted for. So much sadness.

 

[Robbi]

14 dead found so far.

It's hard to find any news about West. I guess that I can understand why.

This is so awful. Their lost lives are as important and as valuable.

 

[happygirl]

I hate that the lost in this town is being overlooked by the tragedy in Boston, this people are hurting as well. The nation need to remember them as well.

 

[momontheright]

Is there any new station covering this? I have not been able to find one. I am not a big conspiracy theory person and I really believe that this was nothing more then an unfortunate accident but has anyone else heard that this particular company was in a lawsuit with Monsanto?

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

It sounds like the company was an OSHA and EPA disaster waiting to happen and I believe that a lack of regulatory oversight will likely soon be shown to have been the cause of this disaster. It sounds like they had no, or at best grossly inadequate, disaster management plans, safety training plans, etc., and because of that, innocent people needlessly died.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Heard 3 of the fatalities were confirmed as firefighters. As a small community, I wonder if some or all of them were volunteers (not that that makes their deaths any more or less tragic).

 

[CPT Tripss]

It sounds like the company was an OSHA and EPA disaster waiting to happen and I believe that a lack of regulatory oversight will likely soon be shown to have been the cause of this disaster. It sounds like they had no, or at best grossly inadequate, disaster management plans, safety training plans, etc., and because of that, innocent people needlessly died.

But, but, but . . . Industry, is already over regulated.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Heard 3 of the fatalities were confirmed as firefighters. As a small community, I wonder if some or all of them were volunteers (not that that makes their deaths any more or less tragic).

According to an interview I watched on CNN, they were all volunteers, the town doesn't have any full time firefighters or EMS.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

But, but, but . . . Industry, is already over regulated.

The problem isn't that industry is over regulated, it's that we regulate it to death here & then open the borders to products produced in places where there are NO regs at all. I think most folks who complain about over regulation would be happy to just be on an even playing field with their imported competition

 

[Gumbo4x4]

According to an interview I watched on CNN, they were all volunteers, the town doesn't have any full time firefighters or EMS.

That's how it is here, too.

 

[Planogirl]

Some people have said that the Boston incident gets way more coverage because it was an act of terror done to get attention. It certainly is getting a lot of that!

Of course, the West explosion is apparently just an industrial accident. The dates of all of these incidents are weird though. April seems to often be a bad month. I'm not into conspiracies but I bet that some of those that see them everywhere are having a field day with all of this.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

The manhunt in Boston seems to be what would obviously be the story. I mean look at how much got shut down yesterday. That's a big deal, even if the loss of life is more significant in TX.

 

[Planogirl]

I fully expected more coverage of Boston but it was impossible to find any news about West on the news outlets last night. I watched for quite a while and there was nothing. I just wanted a quick blurb about the situation because I had missed the local news.

That aside, I'm so glad that they caught this guy. I hope that they can find out what the reasoning was (crazy as it likely was).

 

[Ponygirl]

My heart goes out to those in this little town that suffered such great loss. Does anyone know who is heading up donations or fundraising for these families? If so, please post.

 

[jojo9610]

You can donate through the American Red Cross (Heart of Texas area covers West). All of the firefighters that were lost were in fact volunteer. A fire captain out of Dallas also lost his life. He lived in West and went to assist and ultimately lost his life. Even though the Boston bombing seemed to overshadow the national news it is being heavily covered here in TX. The state is providing emergency services since they are now without volunteers. State troopers from around the state are now there 24 hours a day to provide help.

 

[kathyk2]

On MSNBC yesterday they said that many of the reporters were heading to West until the first suspect was killed. During his speech last night the President said that West would receive all the federal resources they needed.

 

[Ponygirl]

You can donate through the American Red Cross (Heart of Texas area covers West). All of the firefighters that were lost were in fact volunteer. A fire captain out of Dallas also lost his life. He lived in West and went to assist and ultimately lost his life. Even though the Boston bombing seemed to overshadow the national news it is being heavily covered here in TX. The state is providing emergency services since they are now without volunteers. State troopers from around the state are now there 24 hours a day to provide help.

Thank you. I looked at the ARC website and didn't see anything about Texas but I should have known that they are one always of the first to help.

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

The problem isn't that industry is over regulated, it's that we regulate it to death here & then open the borders to products produced in places where there are NO regs at all. I think most folks who complain about over regulation would be happy to just be on an even playing field with their imported competition

How exactly did over-regulation cause this plant to go under-inspected and under-prepared, likely resulting in needless death? How did over-regulation cause the Deepwater Horizon explosion, or the recent pipeline leak somewhere down South? Many industries that have the capability to cause mass death and mass chaos are under-regulated in this country, in my opinion.

 

[MichelleVW]

I went through West today and supported their economy by getting some kolaches!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

How exactly did over-regulation cause this plant to go under-inspected and under-prepared, likely resulting in needless death? How did over-regulation cause the Deepwater Horizon explosion, or the recent pipeline leak somewhere down South? Many industries that have the capability to cause mass death and mass chaos are under-regulated in this country, in my opinion.

Boy, you REALLY missed the point.