City of Texas City
On this day 77 years ago, at 9:12 a.m., the cargo ship SS Grandcamp detonated in Texas City after its load of ammonium nitrate caught on fire. It exploded with a force more powerful than an atomic bomb. Nearly 600 people were killed, including all but one member of Texas City's volunteer fire department, and thousands were injured. Close to 1,000 buildings were leveled, and an estimated 500 homes were destroyed. Later, another ship also carrying ammonium nitrate, the High Flyer, exploded with even more force, resulting in even more deaths, injuries and destruction. This series of events is called the Texas City Disaster, and it was the deadliest industrial accident in U.S. history. Throughout the day, we will be remembering and honoring those who were lost in the Texas City Disaster, including the Texas City firefighters who we pay tribute to each year with a memorial bell ringing ceremony.
City of Texas City
"Our family never would discuss it. It was like a nightmare. We didn’t even want to think about it. It was really horrible." Daisy Buster was only eight years old when the Texas City Disaster happened, but she still vividly remembers watching the fire, experiencing the sudden stillness and darkness before the boom, and then running as shrapnel rained down around her. Hear her story, including how she ended up separated from her parents and most of her siblings for several days in the aftermath, how she found and reunited with them, and how her father jumped into action to help the community by using his truck to transport injured people to the doctor's office or hospital, in this video excerpt from Moore Memorial Public Library oral history archives. Even with everything her family experienced during that time, Ms. Buster says, "We were blessed. God was looking out for us."
City of Texas City
Manuel Pedraza had only been married for four days when the 1947 Texas City Disaster happened. He and his new bride woke up to the sound of sirens, but he wasn't overly worried until he heard screams. He got up and went to look out the window, just as it shattered from the explosion, cutting his face. Mr. Pedraza said, "Texas City is a survival city." Just like the city went on to build a strong and thriving community, Mr. and Mrs. Pedraza also built a thriving, happy family. They remained in Texas City, were married 54 years and had four children. Mr. Pedraza has lived in Texas City for more than 80 years and says he has built countless happy memories here.
City of Texas City
Mary Parker was only four or five years old when the Texas City Disaster happened. When she talks about that day, she remembers bits and pieces -- like flashes of red in the sky, the stove in her home being flipped over, and the feeling of seeing people running everywhere she looked. Specifically, she recalls her mom running, gathering as many of the kids in the neighborhood as she could and helping them get to safety. Days after the explosion, her mother was combing Mary's hair and discovered a hole in her scalp, with metal shrapnel in it. Amazingly, Mary didn't feel it, and she was able to get it removed safely. Her family home was one of the hundreds that was lost that day; it burned down during the explosion. But the same pride, resiliency and strength that filled the community in the aftermath of the disaster was evident in Mary's dad too -- he not only rebuilt the family's home; he built the exact same house, in the exact same spot.
City of Texas City
Today, we've had the honor of sharing some of the incredible stories of survivors of the 1947 Texas City Disaster. If you've enjoyed hearing about their experiences and learning about the history of our city, you can find many more resources about the explosion and our community. Moore Memorial Library has an extensive online exhibit featuring the photos, stories and events that happened immediately before, during and after the disaster. You can find it at: https://www.texascitytx.gov/458/1947-Texas-City-Disaster In addition, the Texas City Museum includes a large exhibit of photos, debris, videos and stories from the Texas City Disaster, which are on display throughout the year.
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