Texas City Disaster Aftermath Part 2 1947

The Texas City disaster which was begun with the Grandcamp's explosion triggered the worst industrial disaster, resulting in the largest number of casualties, in American history. Such was the intensity of the blasts and the ensuing confusion that no one was able to establish precisely the number of dead and injured. Ultimately, the Red Cross and the Texas Department of Public Safety counted 405 identified and 63 unidentified dead. Another 100 persons were classified as "believed missing" because no trace of their remains was ever found. Estimates of the injured are even less precise but appear to have been on the order of 3,500 persons. Although not all casualties were residents of Texas City, the total was equivalent to a staggering 25 percent of the towns estimated population of 16,000. A fire discovered by stevedores preparing to resume loading of ammonium nitrate aboard the S. S. GRANDCAMP at Warehouse (Pier) "O", about 8 A. M., April 16, 1947, resulted in the first of two disastrous explosions at 9:12 A. M., April 16, 1947 which destroyed the entire dock area, numerous oil tanks, the Monsanto Chemical ompany, numerous dwellings and business buildings. The second explosion resulted from a fire in ammonium nitrate aboard the S. S. HIGH FLYER which occurred some sixteen hours later at 1:10 A. M., April 17, 1947. Damage to property outside the dock area was widespread. Approximately 1000 residences and business buildings suffered either major structural damage or were totally destroyed. Practically every window exposed to the blast in the corporate limits was broken. Several plate glass windows as far away as Galveston (10 miles) were shattered. Flying steel fragments and portions of the cargo were found 13,000 feet distant. A great number of balls of sisal twine, many afire, were blown over the area like torches. Numerous oil tanks were penetrated by flying steel or were crushed by the blast wave which followed the explosions. Drill stems 30 feet long, 6 3/8 inches in diameter, weight 2700 pounds, part of the cargo of the S. S. GRANDCAMP were found buried 6 feet in the clay soil a distance of 13,000 feet from the point of the explosion. The initial explosion disrupted the sprinkler systems and the water supply to them, destroying all of the fire equipment owned by Texas City and wiped out much of the personnel of the department who were endeavoring to extinguish the fire aboard the S. S. GRANDCAMP. The loss of life was high. All firemen and practically all spectators on their pier were killed as were many employees in the Monsanto Chemical Company and throughout the dock area. For more information on the Texas City disaster, go to the memorial website of Firefighters Union Local 1259 at http://www.local1259iaff.org/disaster.html . Twenty-eight Texas City Firefighters lost their lives in this disaster. This clip is from the 1948 film, The Texas City Disaster April 16, 1947 by the Texas Department of Public Safety. The entire film is available at the US National Archive in College Park Maryland.

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Education

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• Monsanto
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[danimations80]

Mark, is the problem with the soundtrack here a problem with the original film, or with the conversion? I'm making a documentary film about industrial development and would love a 'clean' copy of these reels.. please drop me a message when you're able.

[markdcatlin]

@danimations80 I believe the problem with the soundtrack in the first part of this (up to about 1:20m) is from my copying at the National Archive. Email me at mdcatlin@verizon.net.

[DapperDeb]

My father, a member of the U.S. Corps of Engineers, was called into action to assist in the search and rescue of the dead and injured. He told me many stories about the horrors he saw in it's aftermath. Now, after seeing this film, both part 1 and 2, I felt as though I were looking through his eyes. He told me of wading in blood and water up to his knees, finding a small child, a girl, being approximately the same age of my older sister at the time, that made him break down. He was my hero!!

[markdcatlin]

@DapperDeb

Thanks for sharing your memories. Those who respond to disaster are true heros! I believe we need to remember these events so we as a society understand why prevention of such disasters is crucial.

[danimations80]

@DapperDeb I have tears in my eyes reading your words, Deb. We must ensure that these events are never repeated! There's an ammonium nitrate plant planned for South Australia, right on the waterfront in the Upper Spencer Gulf... an area where exisitng petrochemical facilities are established. The thought of a scene like this in our own backyard fills me with dread. I hope our politicians will see reason and relocate the plant...