Texas City disaster
The Texas City disaster refers to a catastrophic event that occurred on April 16, 1947, in Texas City, Texas, when two cargo ships, the SS Grandcamp and the SS High Flyer, exploded while docked in the harbor, both carrying large quantities of ammonium nitrate fertilizer. A fire ignited on the Grandcamp in the morning, leading to a massive explosion at 9:12 a.m. that not only destroyed the ship but also triggered further explosions at a nearby Monsanto Chemical Company warehouse and eventually the High Flyer the next day. The devastation resulted in nearly 600 fatalities, over 3,000 injuries, and extensive damage to the harbor, with financial losses estimated at around $33 million. The blast was so powerful that it was heard from 150 miles away, and the aftermath left thousands homeless as fires spread through the area. Victims’ families sought justice through legal action, culminating in a high-profile class-action lawsuit against the federal government, which they ultimately lost. In response to the tragedy, there was a nationwide outpouring of support for survivors, including fundraising efforts led by celebrities. This disaster remains one of the deadliest industrial accidents in U.S. history and serves as a reminder of the potential dangers associated with hazardous materials handling.
Texas City disaster
The Event Cargo ship explosion that led to the deaths of 575 people
Date April 16, 1947
Place Texas City, Texas
This disaster is considered to be the worst industrial accident in U.S. history. In the aftermath, authorities reevaluated safety regulations and disaster plans, and security provisions were established for handling dangerous cargoes.
On the morning of April 16, 1947, two cargo ships, the SS Grandcamp and the SS High Flyer, were docked near each another in the harbor of the small Gulf coast town of Texas City, near Galveston. Both carried large amounts of volatile ammonium nitrate fertilizer. Near the ships stood a Monsanto Chemical Company warehouse that was also filled with ammonium nitrate fertilizer. At about 8:00 a.m., a fire broke out on the Grandcamp. At 9:12 a.m., the ship exploded, triggering the detonation of the warehouse and, early the next morning, the High Flyer. Every ship in the harbor was sunk or badly damaged, and the initial blast was heard as far as 150 miles away. Almost 600 people perished, more than 3,000 were injured, and thousands were left homeless by the fire that spread in the wake of the triple explosions. Financial losses totaled almost $33 million.
Impact
In the aftermath of the disaster, victims’ families filed hundreds of lawsuits against the federal government, many of which were combined into a class-action suit, Elizabeth Dalehite, et al. v. United States, which the plaintiffs ultimately lost in the U.S. Supreme Court. Across the country, people collected money and clothing for the survivors, and celebrities such as Frank Sinatra performed at fund-raisers on their behalf.
Bibliography
Minutaglio, Bill. City on Fire: The Explosion That Devastated a Texas Town and Ignited a Historic Legal Battle. New York: HarperCollins, 2003.
Stephens, Hugh W. The Texas City Disaster, 1947. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1997.