Where is Kingsport in terms of proximity to larger cities?
Reminded me of the sequences of explosions you see when a bridge is being demolished...
Thanks - keep us posted...
btt
Clearly this is Donald Trump’s fault.
Also, we should ban guns to prevent any more chemical plant explosions.
Fire department turned away... No problem, just move along.
http://wjhl.com/2017/10/04/breaking-emergency-crews-respond-to-report-of-explosion-at-eastman
Live news stream and video of explosion.
Live stream: http://wjhl.com
Schools are sheltering in place.
Sound of an explosion at plant, but few details. Plant has frequent expansion construction.
This is a HUGE chemical plant originally built by Eastman Kodak. They make so many products, one of which is the intermediate polymer that is converted to photo film (the Kodak connection), Scotch brand “invisible” tape, screw driver handles etc.
There are many more.
The Eastman plant is enormous, giganitc, yuge and every other synonym there is. It’s impressive to say the least.
Always enemy islamism until demonstrated otherwise.
Eastman Kodak was once one of the largest and most skillful chemical companies in the world. George Eastman was a very far-sighted business leader, who set up many chemical subsidiaries to ensure supplies of the basic chemicals he needed for his photographic film business. Over time, he branched into other areas as he leveraged his corporate intellectual capital into other profitable areas, among which were explosives and other things of interest to the government.
During the Manhattan Project, Tennessee Eastman operated the gigantic Y-12 plant that was used to purify the U-235 that was used in the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima. This plant used mass spectrometry at industrial scale to separate the 235 isotope from the far more common 238 isotope. One of the many remarkable things about this plant was that the enormous electromagnets that made the process work used windings made of pure silver; a substantial fraction of the US Treasury’s silver bullion reserves were used as electrical conductors to make these magnets (395 million troy ounces, according to Wikipedia). It was all returned when electromagnetic processing became obsolete; about 0.036% was unaccounted for.
When Kodak was in the process of shutting down their operations at their corporate headquarters, it came to light that down in the bowels of one of their chemical laboratory buildings was a pretty large chunk of weapons-grade U-235, obviously taken from Y-12 some time long ago when controls on such things were far less rigorous than they’ve become in recent years. Federal authorities were called, and the chunk was taken away.
I just spoke to my Father in Kingsport. He worked at Eastman as a chemical engineer for 38 years before retiring back in 1997. The coal gasification unit on the island between John B. Dennis Hwy and Wilcox drive is where this happened. The good news is that it is a fairly self-contained area away from the main plant. He spoke to some friends that are still working at the main plant and they were told to “shelter-in-place” due to possible fumes from the coal gasification byproducts being released (the black plume if you look at the photos).
He has not heard any confirmation of injuries or, God forbid, fatalities.
After the 1960 disaster (he was there for that one!), Eastman and Kingsport worked out a plan to share fire and medical resources as well as to protect local citizens just in case something were to happen again. Out of an abundance of caution, they have shut down the two closest roads and have asked people to stay inside with the windows closed until the all clear is given.
I worked at the main plant two summers during college and I’m praying that everyone is safe and sound as there are thousands of people that work there.
Great. My BIL is the General Manager of Eastman Kingsport. It could be a long day.
More details at www.wjhl.com.
10 sec vid of the “upset”:
http://wate.com/2017/10/04/explosion-reported-at-eastman-chemical-in-kingsport/
Hope nothing bad for Eastman (or any people), they’re the economic engine of the area!
Yikes. That’s about all that’s left of Kodak, innit?