Explosion - Missouri City/SW Houston

GalvestonDuck · #1 Postby **GalvestonDuck** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 7:13 pm

There was a huge explosion just a few moments ago in Missouri City (SW Houston). Witnesses so far on KPRC in Houston report seeing large orange glow followed by mushroom cloud. Smoke still billowing into the air. The chemical plant involved is reported to cover an entire city block and the fire is spread out over almost the entire area of that plant, which they are reporting is out of the ordinary for chemical plant explosions (usually they're upwards, not outwards).

David, aren't you near that area (near Fondren)? I know someone here is, but I don't remember who.

Check in as soon as you Houstoners can.

#2 Postby **vbhoutex** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 7:18 pm

I work a few miles from there. SuziQ was the person I know of near that area. The other I know of is Houstonia and she is now in NW Houston NW of me.

Please all S2K Houstonians check in.

Police are blocking of neighborhoods around the area and there has been at least one secondary explosion.

southerngale · #3 Postby **southerngale** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 7:32 pm

Locals in Beaumont said that it's being reported that there was a mushroom cloud and something fell from the sky, or something like that. I caught the end of it.

nystate · #4 Postby **nystate** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 7:43 pm

Sounds like all employees have been located and are ok...

Website · #5 Postby **Brent** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 7:47 pm

GalvestonDuck · #6 Postby **GalvestonDuck** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 8:08 pm

southerngale wrote:Locals in Beaumont said that it's being reported that there was a mushroom cloud and something fell from the sky, or something like that. I caught the end of it.

Yeah, I saw one witness (on KHOU, I think) who said she thought it was a plane crash. Not sure if she meant that she thought she saw a plane go down or just thought it was a crash because of the sound. It was close to Hobby Airport and one of the newscasters said that the tower staff reported that the windows rattled when the blast occurred. But they would have most likely also noticed a craft go off the radar if it was, in fact, a plane crash.

Would be scary if there was a plane involved because that might lead one to wonder if it was a trial run for planes flying into chemical, petro, or nuclear plants. I'm doubtful that it's a serious possibly though since, like I said, the tower crew didn't mention a missing aircraft.

Well, time to turn off the tube now and get studying. Gonna take a break and go to Dickens On The Strand tomorrow!

Take care, everyone!

southerngale · #7 Postby **southerngale** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 8:17 pm

Live coverage on KHOU right now. Watch it online.

http://www.khou.com/index.html?fw=http: ... a7e0.html#

Click on Watch live 11 News coverage

#8 Postby **vbhoutex** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 8:29 pm

Some evacuations in progress right now if I understand what I heard just now. Some minor injuries reported in local hospitals. We are 10 miles from the site and it brought our neighborhood out into the streets and rattled our windows.

Some homes nearby severely damaged with windows blown out, doors blown off, and everything knocked off the walls including texture. At least one roof reported blown off. Amazingly no serious injuries have been reported but at least 5 have been transported to local hospitals.

More explosions occurring and HFD is still in defensive mode(containment only).

Guest · #9 Postby **Guest** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 8:47 pm

Wow, time to pray guys.
...Jennifer...

Skywatch_NC · #10 Postby **Skywatch_NC** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 8:50 pm

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek:

Eric

Yankeegirl · #11 Postby **Yankeegirl** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 8:54 pm

I saw it on the news too... I was already to watch Frosty the Snowman and mt fav, Ice Wars... I hope they play it later on!

Website · #12 Postby **Brent** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 8:55 pm

Amazing... do they know what that plant makes? Must be something really explosive. I want to make a note in case there's one near here. :lol:

GalvestonDuck · #13 Postby **GalvestonDuck** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 10:20 pm

Brent wrote:Amazing... do they know what that plant makes? Must be something really explosive. I want to make a note in case there's one near here.

Polyethylene waxes

yoda · #14 Postby **yoda** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 11:35 pm

HOUSTON — An explosion at a chemical plant Friday that could be heard 20 miles away caused a large fire and sent up massive clouds of smoke. No injuries were reported.

Several tanks and a building were on fire at the Marcus Oil & Chemical plant (search), but officials did not know what caused the explosion or what was in the tanks, said Tommy Dowdy, a district chief with the Houston Fire Department.

Streets were closed off around the plant, but there were no evacuations. Dowdy said the three people on duty at the plant were not near the explosion.

Lenny Ogle, manager of a gas station half a mile away, said the explosion shot flames about 75 feet in the air.

"It shocked the whole neighborhood. ... First it was the explosion and then it was the fire and then another explosion," he said.

Houston Fire Department District Chief Phil Boriskie said a hazardous materials team was conducting an evaluation. He said there were no reports of chemical exposure.

Marcus Oil & Chemical, owned by privately held HRD Corporation (search), makes polyethylene waxes, according to its Web site.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,140490,00.html

Skywatch_NC · #15 Postby **Skywatch_NC** » Fri Dec 03, 2004 11:38 pm

All we can do is pray and hope that this wasn't terrorist-related being it seems so large-scale a fire!

Eric

BEER980 · #16 Postby **BEER980** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 7:04 am

I doubt a terrorist would hit that palnt.

Skywatch_NC · #17 Postby **Skywatch_NC** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 8:59 am

BEER980 wrote:I doubt a terrorist would hit that palnt.

Why do you doubt it? Would be a perfect place for a terrorist to wreak havoc disaster IMO.

#18 Postby **vbhoutex** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 9:14 am

There, of course was some speculation early on when someone said they saw something fall into the plant as it exploded. That probably was a tank that blew into the air in the initial huge explosion, but there was speculation it had been a small plane. That, of course, led to speculation that it was "practice" for attacks on other refineries or chemical plants. At this point no planes have been found in the plant wreckage and no one ever substantiated any of the rumors. Honestly, I am watching the morning news right now and I haven't figured out if the fire is out yet, but I think it is. HPD is only allowing certain personell into the plant area at this point.

BEER980 · #19 Postby **BEER980** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 9:38 am

Skywatch_NC the plant is a low value target. They won't waste manpower or resources on a target like that. There are plenty of other plants they would hit before that one. If they were going to hit a plant they would hit a big refinery. If we loose a few of them then the price of gas will shoot up over nite.

Skywatch_NC · #20 Postby **Skywatch_NC** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 9:44 am

BEER980 wrote:Skywatch_NC the plant is a low value target. They won't waste manpower or resources on a target like that. There are plenty of other plants they would hit before that one. If they were going to hit a plant they would hit a big refinery. If we loose a few of them then the price of gas will shoot up over nite.

Okay...didn't realize it was low target...when one hears chemical plant...well I think you know what I mean.

Explosion - Missouri City/SW Houston

Explosion - Missouri City/SW Houston

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