The Texas City Disaster

The Texas City disaster / by Linda Scher; consultant, Archie P. McDonald.— New York : Bearport Pub. Co., c2007.

32 p. : ill. (some col.), col. maps ; 26 cm.

(Code red)

Includes bibliography, index and glossary

Audience: Grades 4-6.

ISBN: 9781597163637 (lib. bdg.)

1. Disasters -- Texas -- Texas City -- History -- 20th century. 2. Explosions -- Texas -- Texas City -- History -- 20th century. 3. Fires -- Texas -- Texas City -- History -- 20th century. 4. Grandcamp (Ship) -- Explosion, 1947. 5. High Flyer (Ship) -- Explosion, 1947. 6. Texas City (Tex.) -- History -- 20th century.

976.4139063

This is an excellent short book about the explosions and fire that devastated the port of Texas City, Texas on April 16-17, 1947, “the worst industrial accident in United States history.” Smoldering fertilizer being loaded for export caught one ship on fire. While firefighters were attempting to extinguish the flame, it exploded. The shock wave downed two overhead aircraft and triggering a fifteen-foot tidal wave. Flaming debris set a chemical plant ablaze. The following afternoon another freighter caught fire and exploded. By the time it was over 550 people were dead and 3,500 injured.

While written in a simple and direct style for beginning readers the book vividly covers the facts. The illustrations are well selected, and the book’s layout is superb.