Explosion in West, Texas

Hey Travis, you're only about 50 miles away, did you feel the Earth move?

Yeah, it was close by but we didn't feel anything. My uncle is a flight instructor at Texas State Technical College in Waco. He sent us the following email.

Our secretary lost her cousin in the blast. There are three custodial
employees missing. The aunt of one of our pilots has lost her eyes and her
husband may lose his. The driver who brought me into work from the
dealership was on site 15 minutes after the explosion. He said it looked
like Iraq. People walking around in a daze, cut up, bleeding, begging for
bandages. His cousin was the firefighter who went into the nursing home,
trying to rescue the elderly when the roof collapsed on him, crushing his
legs. He was gotten out and sent to the hospital. The diver’s aunt was
blown across the kitchen and suffered internal injuries. The force of the
blast picked a lady’s car up and moved it over one whole lane *on I-35, a
few miles away. *We do have people evacuated to the gym. Everyone here is
somber. Many are off, due to injury, taking care of relatives and friends,
or looking for the missing.

Really puts things into perspective.

Really puts things into perspective.

You got that right and the Boston bombing is even worse as someone there CHOSE to hurt random people in a crowd for who knows what obscure reason.

Here is an email that Texas State Technical College sent out.

From the Chancellor:


*Subject:* Update on the West Disaster



1:45 PM, Thursday

TSTC Teammates-

This is an update on the West, Texas tragedy, its impact on TSTC, and the
response efforts being carried out by the TSTC team.

More than 50 TSTC employees live in West, Texas. As of this time, we have
reports that all of those teammates have been in contact with the college
or other teammates. We are not yet aware of any serious injuries suffered
by a TSTC’er but we know that many have lost their homes and/or their
possessions to the blast. So far, nine employees are homeless and have
requested assistance. The college is arranging housing on the TSTC Waco
campus.

The Waco leadership team told me they have started to compile a “needs
list” to capture the sorts of material goods that may be needed by those
left without shelter. This list will be made public in the near future at
the following link:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/tstc-waco/items-to-donate-for-west-texas-relief/10151594161940090

Additionally, a victim’s hotline has been established to provide direction
or assistance to TSTC employees or students who need help. The number is: (254)
867-2630. This line is intended for those who are seeking aid; volunteers
who wish to provide material or other help can go by the Murray Watson
Recreation Center on the Waco campus to offer their help.

The TSTC Foundation has set up a victim’s fund for the benefit of the
employees and student impacted by the disaster. Donations to this fund will
be used solely for the benefit of the victims and can be sent to:

The TSTC Foundation
Attn: West Disaster Relief
3801 Campus Dr
Waco, TX 76705

Donors should mark checks with “West Disaster Relief” to insure the funds
are routed to those in need.

Instructional administrators have asked the faculty to use every means
available to provide the student impacted by this disaster with flexibility
in their coursework. They’ve been encouraged to “extend every courtesy” and
“use excused absences, substitute assignments, waivers, incompletes and
other strategies in this effort [to assist the student victims in this time
of need].

Authorities have asked for additional blood donations to help with victims
needs. In Waco, you can help by giving blood at:

Carter Waco Blood Donor Center
(254) 297-4150

or

Red Cross Blood Donation
(800) 733-2767

The TSTC Waco airport has become temporary home for helicopters of the West
area medical evacuation unit. Today there are now two aircraft hungered at
the airport for emergency needs. Additionally, the college informed West
city leaders that we can assist them with space and/or shelter for storage
of any material or supplies they need protected in a nearby location.

For more up-to-date information, please see the following link:

waco.tstc.edu/articles/index.php?nid=34

facebook.com/tstcwaco

As time passes, we’ll work to keep you posted on the latest news on the
tragedy. In the meantime, please keep the whole city of West and the
responders who are helping them in your thoughts and prayers.

Yeah, it was close by but we didn't feel anything.

Gee, nothing like waiting 14+ hours after it happened to post that you and yours are okay over there. 

Gee, nothing like waiting 14+ hours after it happened to post that you and yours are okay over there. 

I don't have a lot of free time to watch TV. If it weren't for the wife watching the news and the emails from family, I wouldn't have even known about it.