They forgot to add right below the "om" in Nursing Home is an apartment complex. Even closer to the plant.
I wouldn't guess that is the case. I just have some weird feeling that the plant was there BEFORE everything... what do you think was put there first?
I just started quoting 'There will be blood' after I heard him say he couldn't hear . But seriously, I hope he gets his hearing back. And his father doesn't call him a b*stard from a basket when he grows up.
It would still be poor planning to put a hospital/school/apartment/etc that close to a fertilizer plant, no?
I read one report where a lady drove towards it to see what happened, when it was just on fire...some kids warned her it was going to explode and she drove away. I'm guessing a lot of people left the immediate area, once it caught fire, or the numbers would have definitely been higher.
Agreed. I'm still wondering what was there first. It's a sad thing, no matter what either of us believe.
At Texas City, a large number of people went to the docks to stare at the firefighters battling the blaze. They had no idea that they were in danger.
The company has been in business for over 60 years Source. No idea how long schools have been on their respective sites, but for 62 years and obviously no incidents like yesterday's I'm pretty sure no one was really thinking hey we can't build here because one day that place may blow up. Hindsight and all... I didn't mean this to be argumentative. Just my thoughts on the subject. Also consider that the land the schools are on was most likely appropriated as far back as at least 1876. Although the buildings are most likely younger than the grain company.
So... I haven't seen one report on it. What is the cause for the nitrate blowing up? It can't just simply be a spray of water like first reported, could it? West Fertilizer Co. first responded that fire fighters were not there battling a fire? What is the facts?
I agree with the last point. The buildings look newer, but it's an old town and the schools have probably been on the same piece of real estate for a long time now. Even so, I think it's pretty common knowledge that fertilizer can blow up, and I'm sure that was considered or should have been when they built the plant. Still, 62 years ago, building codes there were likely not well developed and once it's built, it's harder to run the successful business owner off his land. And, people building after the plant are making a calculation that weighs the low-probability high-impact event of a massive explosion against the certain everyday costs of sprawl and land use. I'm not too surprised that individuals would take their chances on plant safety.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/04/18/west_texas_explosion_fertilizer_company_told_the_epa_that_there_was_no_fire.html
This reports matches up with eye witnesses. They say they seen yellow smoke, which would be the release of gases. What in the hell went wrong? Seems like the plant tried following the proper safety measures, but couldn't get the plan in action quick enough? were any explosions heard before the main blast? Obviously something went very wrong, but did the firefighters make things worse?
Some info I just heard about but have no solid confirmation, but it came from a person I know who lived in the area. The fertilizer place was not an actual factory as much as it was a storage and transport facility. He did not think they actually manufactured stuff there just stored it for shipment to other places. We have several of those type places outside the little rural community where I work, although they don't deal with fertilizer.
I think this is going to be the biggest issue to come from this. I am guessing here but I strongly suspect that there was either a failure of regulation, regulations or the company wasn't following regulations and presenting a rosier image of safety than actually was the case.
