Fertilizer plant explodes near Waco, Texas, causing numerous injuries | Hacker News Reader

Fertilizer plant explodes near Waco, Texas, causing numerous injuries

washingtonpost.com

7 pointszjosephson4 comments

Google doc of homes and rooms available for victims of West, TX explosion: https://docs.google.com/a/willroman.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=...

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OFFICIAL HOTLINE: 254-202-1100 is the official resource phone number at Hillcrest Scott & White in Waco. Please keep this line free unless you have loved ones in West, TX.

BLOOD DONORS TOMORROW: Hillcrest Scott & White in need of blood donors, but is asking that people wait until 9am Thursday due to currently being overwhelmed. Also the Carter Blood Care Center in Waco will be open & accepting blood donations starting at 9am Thursday as well.

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Here is a list of locations open for shelter for the victims of the West explosion:

Texas State Technical State College in Waco Blair's Cove Apartment in Waco Gholson ISD Gholson Baptist Church Latham Springs Inn Aquilla ISD Alliance Auto Auction on I-35 Sykora Family Ford in West Abbot Community Center La Vega Veterinary Clinic - taking in small animals for the night

Pharmacy at the HEB on Woodway is open and the Home Depot in Bellmead has reopened tonight for anyone needing to buy supplies.

Apparently, the plant exploded while firefighters were trying to stop a fire?

EDIT: "Fire officials fear that the number of casualties could rise as high as 60 to 70 dead, said Dr. George Smith, the emergency management system director of the city." http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/18/us/texas-explosion/index.html

Also, I really don't like sounding like a conspiracy theorist, but it's the 20th anniversary of the Waco siege. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waco_siege

Yeah, the radio report that I heard said that the firefighters responded to the initial fire and then after they had arrived, the tank holding the fertilizer exploded so there is a very good chance than some of the first responders are among those injured or dead.

This is tragic, but with most major news outlets carrying the story on their front pages, I'm not sure this is right venue for this post.

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