posted on June 12, 2013 09:59
When they hear the term West Texas, most people think of the area in the western half of the state. But after April 17, people all over the U.S. are familiar with West, Texas. That was the day that a massive explosion at a fertilizer business destroyed blocks of residences, a nursing home, an apartment complex and schools in that small community. President Obama came to Waco to speak at the memorial service for the 15 people who were killed that fateful day.
West, Texas is in the central part of the state, a small town between Waco and Hillsboro, just off I 35. The peaceful little community grew up around a railroad station in the 1880s and has large population of people descended from Czech and German immigrants who came there to farm and operate businesses.
A massive clean - up process faced the citizens and leaders of the community, but much of the process could not even start until investigations by state and federal authorities to determine the cause of the explosion were completed. Individuals, groups, surrounding communities and the Red Cross responded immediately to assist the community of West with needed supplies and other support.
Leadership at HOLT’s Waco store took immediate action. They sent two Waco employees to the store to purchase basic toiletry items and delivered them to the West Community Center which was the distribution site. Most of the affected citizens had left their homes without anything.
Don Hardwick, Machine Service Manager and Melissa Light, Machine Inventory Operations Manager had been working with the City of West Public Works Department to determine their equipment needs and what HOLT could do to support them; however, the official request came with little warning. On Friday afternoon, May 3, Don Hardwick got a call that machines were needed for the first community wide clean – up on Saturday, May 4. Melissa Light, quickly sprang into action. She was assisted by Cody Brown, Waco Sales Coordinator; Kevin Kotara, San Antonio Sales Coordinator; and Justin Retherford, Lewisville Sales Coordinator for help in locating the equipment and staging it for shipping. Heath Story and Wesley Maris arranged the hauling of the machines with late notice. Jesus Hernandez, Transport Driver and Jeffrey Rhodes Transport Driver worked late to deliver the machines Friday night and early Saturday morning. HOLT CAT was able to help with two 4x4 and two 4x2 Cat 416 backhoe loaders for the West Long Term Recovery Team to use for clean – up.
Several HOLT employees at the Waco store were directly impacted by the explosion. The homes of Scott Vanzandt – Welder, Cat Support; Jimbo (James) Hromadka – Machine Lead Technician; and Teddy Clark - Machine Parts Warehouse were either completely destroyed and/or suffered major structural damage. HOLT employees contributed a significant sum through payroll deduction to assist their co–workers.