Spring Branch couple files lawsuit after deadly explosion destroys their home, injures their children
HOUSTON โ A Spring Branch couple has filed a lawsuit against Watson Grinding and Manufacturing. โI turned the light on, and I just saw the whole ceiling was gone and it was all on the bed, I couldnโt see my son,โ Burnam said. โMy daughter, she wakes up crying, itโs just hard.โThe family hired attorney Ryan Zehl with Zehl & Associates. Zehl said Watson Grinding and Manufacturing needs to take responsibility for the explosion. The couple said the toughest part is feeling like the Watson Grinding and Manufacturing are not doing their part to help them during this difficult time.
Local attorney walks through homes affected by NW Houston explosion; CEO of manufacturing facility responds
HOUSTON โ Five days after an explosion took two lives and damaged more than 400 homes in northwest Houston, one local attorney is advocating for homeowners in finding out what happened and who should be held accountable. "This is a huge catastrophic disaster where people have lost their homes," Rob Kwok, with Kwok Daniel Law Firm, said. Kwok is representing more than 115 homeowners who live in northwest Houston. Kwok said homeowners should be wary of insurance companies and should consider hiring an advocate who will fight for homeowners. โWatson Grinding is going to have a certain amount of insurance, and I donโt think thatโs going to be enough to cover all the extent of the damages.
Evidence at deadly blast site in northwest Houston to be preserved after victimsโ families file lawsuit
On Monday afternoon, a judge granted an order ensuring all evidence to be preserved as investigators try to determine the cause of the blast. The judge granted a temporary restraining order. 2. Who asked for the temporary restraining order? Whatโs included in the temporary restraining order? An attorney representing Watson Grinding & Manufacturing had no comment after Mondayโs proceedings.
450 structures damaged in northwest Houston explosion last week, HFD says
HOUSTON โ A new assessment revealed about 450 structures were damaged following a massive, fatal explosion at a business in northwest Houston Friday, according to the Office of Emergency Management and the Houston Fire Department. Debris from the explosion littered the surrounding areas and some nearby residents told KPRC 2 the foundation of their homes was damaged from the shockwave. In the hours following the Friday explosion, HFD Chief Sam Peรฑa said there were about 214 homes that were damaged. (KPRC via Tharindu N)The number of damaged structures was increased to 450 Monday after an assessment by the Office of Emergency Management. Of the 450 damaged structures, officials say:35 structures had major damage358 structures had minor damage57 structures were affectedIt is unclear how many damaged structures were homes and how many were businesses.
Corvettes worth $1M are trapped in buildings that crumbled in the Houston explosion
The early morning explosion at Watson Grinding and Manufacturing damaged other buildings up to a half mile away and took the lives of two Watson employees. Gordon Andrus' restoration business, Houston Corvette Service, occupies two buildings directly across the street from Watson Grinding. After Friday's explosion, he told CNN that his buildings have been destroyed and he doesn't know the condition of the cars that were undergoing restoration. "The charge blasted across the street, right over our buildings and then on into the neighborhoods where you've heard about all the houses that have been damaged," Andrus said. "I don't think they're [the cars] destroyed but the buildings will have to be torn down," he said.
Residents living in homes impacted by explosion still displaced, city engineers expected to assess damages
Heap's sister-in-law Carole Goff is among the hundreds of people whose homes were severely impacted by the explosion at Watson Grinding and Manufacturing Friday morning. Like many residents who live in the Spring Branch area, Goff woke up that morning to a loud blast. Goff said the city is sending engineers to her home and others nearby to inform them of the status of their property. An informational meeting for impacted residents will be held on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Kamins Motorcars at 4314 Steffani Lane. Speakers at the meeting will discuss how to navigate the insurance and legal process for those residents with damaged homes.
What we know about Gerardo Castorena, a victim in the deadly northwest Houston explosion
HOUSTON โ Two employees of the Watson Valve Services company were killed in an explosion at the business early Friday morning in northwest Houston. The men, identified as Frank Flores and Gerardo Castorena, were at the business using the gym facilities when the blast occurred at 4:20 a.m., officials with the Houston Fire Department said in a press conference. My deepest condolences to the families of Mr Frank Flores and Mr Gerardo Castorena on their terrible loss. Gerardo Castorena was one of two victims killed in an explosion in northwest Houston on Jan. 24, 2020. โI wouldnโt have a dad if he wasnโt late,โ Martinez said.
Here is how you can help those impacted by the northwest Houston explosion
HOUSTON โ About 200 homes are damaged, in some cases, destroyed in an explosion Friday morning at the Watson Grinding & Manufacturing in northwest Houston. The American Red Cross has established an overnight shelter at Fairbanks United Methodist Church at 14210 Aston St. for those displaced by the explosion. The Red Cross said the shelter will stay open so long as there is a need. Volunteers are asking those who want to help the people to bring packaged food or donate to the Red Cross. Users can offer or request help as well as mark themselves safe from the Houston explosion.
This is what residents are saying on social media after explosion rocked northwest Houston
HOUSTON โ Northwest Houston residents turned to social media early Friday morning after an explosion at a business. Here are some of the posts weโre seeing about what resident say happened and the devastation theyโre finding in and around their homes. #houstonexplosion pic.twitter.com/PyJGgEJftk โ Owen Conflenti ๐บ (@kprc2owen) January 24, 2020Thoughts to all those near the #explosion. I pray for everyoneโs safety ๐๐ป๐ฐWatson Grinding & Manufacturing Co,4525 Gessner Rd, Houston, TX 77041#houstonexplosion #houston #houston_explosion pic.twitter.com/VUW0h5QN23 โ imaa007 (@imaa007) January 24, 2020Facebook also deployed an โIโm safeโ crisis response message Friday morning to some Houston residents. Facebook deployed a crisis response feature Friday after a massive explosion in northwest Houston.
What are the short-term health risks from Fridayโs explosion?
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo confirmed the explosion in Northwest Houston on Friday morning has polypropylene burning in the air. Short-term exposure in high concentration to polypropylene will decrease your oxygen and can lead to headaches, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, lightheadedness and fainting. If you're feeling any symptoms, you definitely want to move to fresh air and may need to seek medical help. KPRC2 Britta Merwin said the weather is working in our favor since thereโs fairly calm winds and fumes should not travel far. One patient was taken to the hospital who was injured inside their home during the explosion, according to Acevedo.