Covering West (Part One)

A shot of the West Long-term Recovery Center, where my photographer Travis and I shot a video promotional for the H.O.T. Red Cross Chapter on long-term recovery efforts following the disaster.  

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the disaster in West, Texas. The blast, which flattened surrounding buildings, injured more than 100 people and killed 15 more, put the small town, known before only for its kolaches and annual celebration of Czech heritage, into the spotlight.  

I was one of the myriad reporters that descended on West in the wake of the disaster. However, I was closer than most. I lived in Waco, Texas, where I attended Baylor. Close enough for some in my city to feel the blast, even though I didn't. In fact, I only heard after a reporter on my staff sent a video of the blast to me.


Then, I was editor-in-chief of the Baylor Lariat, the campus newspaper.  I was just coming off of a really bad year.  April 17 was going to be a day off — a day off I really needed. I had been looking forward to it for weeks. I had plans with one of my girlfriends. I pulled my hair back, put on a sexy backless black dress and a colorful scarf. It was spring; I wanted to relax and celebrate. The year was almost over. I had managed okay: the newspaper was doing well and my grades were good. I thought I could let my guard down. 

We were at Common Grounds when I got the news. Not by call — it was a text message with a link to a Tweet (what an era we live in) showing an amateur-quality recording of an explosion. At first, I thought it was fake. It was followed by several texts. "Have you heard about West?" "What can you tell me about West?" and, from my boss, "Who is going to West?"

I was. But not that night.