BP Texas City Refinery Manager Provides Update On Explosion
19:30 CDT local Texas time 23 March 2005
"I’m Don Parus, BP’s Texas City, Texas, refinery manager. I apologize for the delay but we have been working on the scene and working to bring you updated information.
Words cannot begin to express how I and the people of BP feel right now. This is an extremely sad day for Texas City and BP.
To the best of our knowledge, at this time we believe there have been 14 fatalities. We are currently working with the medical examiner’s office to confirm this information. As soon as we have any new information, we will provide you with an update.
We know that more than 70 people have received medical treatment, and some have been released.
There are still some people who are not accounted for. We have a process to account for everyone working in the plant at the time of the incident and we are proceeding with that process. This is a major focus at this time.
So is supporting those who were injured and the families of those killed in this incident.
We have called in extended staff to provide every possible assistance to the families.
We are taking the following actions:
- We are providing employee assistance program (EAP) counseling and pastoral help to responders, employees, workers, and families.
- We are continuing to work to account for all personnel.
- We are continuing to secure affected areas, and helping ensure that proper humanitarian assistance is available at the site and area hospitals.
- We also are calling more people to help.
- The company also is working with officials to mobilize the incident investigation team.
