Okay, so this happened...

About 8 this morning, Max and I were in the front yard pulling weeds and harassing rabbits when we were basically knocked on our asses. The homestead isn't that far from the BNSF train tracks, and we're talking a major artery for freight transportation. We're used to hearing the boom of cars being coupled, but this was a BOOM!!!!! Long and loud and seemingly never-ending. And then there was a fireball. And smoke, and more fire, and another explosion, and then hell. Two BNSF trains collided head on at full speed. Four crew members, two conductors and two engineers, were on board. One jumped before impact and was taken to a local hospital. The other three have not been found. The authorities are still, somewhat hopefully, calling it a rescue effort.

Then a succession of every available emergency vehicle in 4 counties. All Panhandle crews, then Claude and White Deer. Then Borger and Pampa. Then Amarillo and Pantex. Fire crews, ambulances, emergency response vehicles, sheriffs, police, BNSF, FRA, water trucks, chemical pumper trucks, crane trucks. All driving down our tiny little barely two lane almost rural road. We were told to shelter in place, then evacuate, then don't if you don't want to, then mandatory, then come back but look out for wind shifts. There's no HAZMAT threats, but the area is a tinder box, we're in a burn ban and that's a big ass fire.

The multiple fire trucks are constantly pumping water to keep the fire from spreading, they can't put it out. Diesel fires just have to burn themselves out. We have no water pressure and they're trucking tankers of water in from outlying municipalities. If there is a grass fire, with our high winds and dry conditions and lack of water, we're all fucked.

We're at home, less than 1.5 miles from the impact site, within the voluntary evacuation zone, watching the wind. If we have to bug out, I'll let wirecutter know so he can let y'all know. In the meantime, please send up prayers for the crew members and 1st responders.