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Explosion hits fertilizer plant north of Waco, Texas

This was my explosion experience. Broke my windows.

The PEPCON disaster was an industrial disaster that occurred in Henderson, Nevada on May 4, 1988 at the Pacific Engineering Production Company of Nevada (PEPCON) plant. The chemical fire and subsequent explosions claimed two lives, injured 372 people, and caused an estimated US$100 million of damage. A large portion of the Las Vegas Valley 10 miles (16 km) away was affected, and several agencies activated disaster plans.

It seems the death toll in Texas is lower than the original claims. Yes, even 1 is too many but the number of 60 floating around last night seemed exaggerated to me.

What a difficult year.
 
In 1976 I was 9 years old, and lived inside the Houston 610 loop.

I vaguely remeber watching the evening local news and seeing people being dragged out of this white cloud just to be confirmed dead seconds later.

A 7000 gallon tanker truck left the 610 loop and fell 20 feet below emptying its entire contents of nearly 100% of Anhydrous Ammonia on to the US 59 underpass.

There are pictures and video on youtube of a large white cloud. People drove through it, pulled over overcome and died.

The only savings grace was that the dewpoint was low that day, as Anhydrous ammonia ( without water) seeks water and on sweaty skin will burn the flesh right off your bones.

Instead it wound up in the lungs of over a hundred people. 75 were hospitalized, 6 died, 178 needed medical treatment.

The tanks at the explosion site containing anhydrous ammonia were a priority, its why first responders stayed on site, cooling the tanks with fire hoses.

IF those tanks ruptured, the tragedy would have been catastrophic. Massive low lying clouds of Anhydrous Amonia moving through that community like a creeping death, instantly attacking the lungs, eyes and nasal passages of everyone in its path.
 
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In 1976 I was 9 years old, and lived inside the Houston 610 loop.

I vaguely remeber watching the evening local news and seeing people being dragged out of this white cloud just to be confirmed dead seconds later.

A 7000 gallon tanker truck left the 610 loop and fell 20 feet below emptying its entire contents of nearly 100% of Anhydrous Ammonia on to the US 59 underpass.

There are pictures and video on youtube of a large white cloud. People drove through it, pulled over overcome and died.

The only savings grace was that the dewpoint was low that day, as Anhydrous ammonia ( without water) seeks water and on sweaty skin will burn the flesh right off your bones.

Instead it wound up in the lungs of over a hundred people. 75 were hospitalized, 6 died, 178 needed medical treatment.

The tanks at the explosion site containing anhydrous ammonia were a priority, its why first responders stayed on site, cooling the tanks with fire hoses.

IF those tanks ruptured, the tragedy would have been catastrophic. Massive low lying clouds of Anhydrous Amonia moving through that community like a creeping death, instantly attacking the lungs, eyes and nasal passages of everyone in its path.

Some of the emergency personnel died to protect the area then.

This incident causes words to fail me....
 
Positive thoughts for the victims and their families.

I've never SEEN an explosion like that. :shock: That was really scary!
 
Positive thoughts for the victims and their families.

I've never SEEN an explosion like that. :shock: That was really scary!

Train derailment propane tanks.

 
One of my friends, a first responder, arrived an hour prior to the explosion, to fight the fire. He was killed in the explosion.
 
Sorry to hear.
One of my friends, a first responder, arrived an hour prior to the explosion, to fight the fire. He was killed in the explosion.
 
One of my friends, a first responder, arrived an hour prior to the explosion, to fight the fire. He was killed in the explosion.

Bless him and all the first-responders.
 
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