Massive Blast in Beirut 08/04/2020

[Smokin Joe]

They never knew what hit them.  How awful....

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

[Smokin Joe]

Proximity of grain elevators to that blast has oblivated that food stuffs for 6M people.  The worst part of this disaster hasn't even happened yet.

Not just that, but salvage of the remaining grain may not be an option because of contamination by the nitrous oxides produced in the blast and fire. Hunger/starvation is a definite possibility.

[GtHawk]

"When we came to the office that morning...this huge column of orange smoke coming from down at the dock...."

April marks 73 years since the catastrophic Texas City Explosion
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/article/April-73-years-Texas-City-Explosion-15174717.php

I don't care what anyone thinks of me ... except dogs. I want dogs to like me.

You are a wise man, a very wise man

[DB]

Not just that, but salvage of the remaining grain may not be an option because of contamination by the nitrous oxides produced in the blast and fire. Hunger/starvation is a definite possibility.

I have to believe the grain is very replaceable. That we and other nations will donate replacement grain if need be.

[Smokin Joe]

I have to believe the grain is very replaceable. That we and other nations will donate replacement grain if need be.

They have to have a place to put it.

[DB]

They have to have a place to put it.

I'd assume some large freighter ships would work well.

[Smokin Joe]

I'd assume some large freighter ships would work well.

Shipping is one thing. Storage for any length of time requires the grain be humidity controlled (ideally, about 15%), or it will develop fungus or rot. Keeping rats and birds out of the grain is important, too.
Elevators are designed to do that, ships are not.

[DB]

Shipping is one thing. Storage for any length of time requires the grain be humidity controlled (ideally, about 15%), or it will develop fungus or rot. Keeping rats and birds out of the grain is important, too.
Elevators are designed to do that, ships are not.

The grain only needs to arrive when they need it.

[Right_in_Virginia]

US military sends 3 cargo planes to Lebanon filled with medical supplies
Fox News, Aug 6, 2020

The U.S. military is sending three cargo planes to Lebanon filled with food, water, and medical supplies, the U.S. Central Command announced in a statement Thursday two days after a massive explosion in Beirut's port left at least 157 dead and some 5,000 injured.

Gen. Frank McKenzie, the commander of the U.S. Central Command, spoke with Lebanon Armed Forces Commander, Gen. Joseph Aoun, to express condolences for the loss of life and devastation caused by the explosion in Beirut's port facility, the U.S. Central Command said in a statement to Fox News.

Three C-17s shipments of U.S. relief supplies including food, water, and medical supplies would be delivered to Lebanon, Gen. McKenzie said, adding that the U.S. military was willing to continue to work with the Lebanese Armed Forces “to help provide aid and assistance to meet the needs of the Lebanese people during this terrible tragedy.” The planes departed from the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar en route to Beirut, officials told Fox News.

Gen. McKenzie also “expressed a desire to continue to partner with the Lebanese Armed Forces, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, and USAID to identify and expedite support for Lebanon's recovery effort.”

Volunteers and the Lebanese Red Cross continued to search for survivors and dead bodies trapped beneath the extensive damage seen for miles away from the explosion’s epicenter at the Port of Beirut, where Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab said 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive chemical used in fertilizers, came to be stored at the facility for six years.


More:  https://www.foxnews.com/world/beirut-explosion-us-military-medical-supplies-lebanon

[catfish1957]

I'd assume some large freighter ships would work well.

I thought barges too, but then realized that I am sure the dock areas were oblivated too. 

[Elderberry]

NASA Maps Beirut Blast Damage

NASA JPL 8/7/2020

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=7723

Scientists are using satellite data to map ground surface changes in the aftermath of the recent explosion.

NASA's Advanced Rapid Imaging and Analysis (ARIA) team, in collaboration with the Earth Observatory of Singapore, used satellite-derived synthetic aperture radar data to map the likely extent of damage from a massive Aug. 4 explosion in Beirut. Synthetic aperture radar data from space shows ground surface changes from before and after a major event like an earthquake. In this case, it is being used to show the devastating result of an explosion.

On the map, dark red pixels - like those present at and around the Port of Beirut - represent the most severe damage. Areas in orange are moderately damaged and areas in yellow are likely to have sustained somewhat less damage. Each colored pixel represents an area of 30 meters (33 yards).

Maps like this one can help identify badly damaged areas where people may need assistance. The explosion occurred near the city's port. It claimed more than 150 lives and is estimated to have caused billions of dollars' worth of damage.

The map contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data processed by ESA (European Space Agency) and analyzed by ARIA team scientists at NASA JPL, Caltech, and Earth Observatory of Singapore. Located in Pasadena, California, Caltech manages JPL for NASA.

More information on ARIA can be found here:https://aria.jpl.nasa.gov/

More at link.

[LegalAmerican]

And YET....they bash my POTUS daily.  'They' being all negative, anti-American people, everywhere! I think he is perfect.
ALL MALE.   

[AllThatJazzZ]

I don't care what anyone thinks of me ... except dogs. I want dogs to like me.

You are a wise man, a very wise man

@GtHawk

I can't argue with your brilliant assessment (except the "man" part since I'm a chick)! I consider dogs to be the most outstanding companions God created for us.

My heart ached for you from the first moment I saw your announcement about Rocky. I know how empty words of comfort can seem when you're in the throes of grief over your beloved companion, but I offer them to you anyway. I'm quite certain I'm not the only one whose eyes welled up upon seeing your graphic paying tribute to him. God bless and comfort you.

[GtHawk]

@GtHawk

I can't argue with your brilliant assessment (except the "man" part since I'm a chick)! I consider dogs to be the most outstanding companions God created for us.

My heart ached for you from the first moment I saw your announcement about Rocky. I know how empty words of comfort can seem when you're in the throes of grief over your beloved companion, but I offer them to you anyway. I'm quite certain I'm not the only one whose eyes welled up upon seeing your graphic paying tribute to him. God bless and comfort you.

@AllThatJazzZ
My apologies for making that ASSumption and thank you for the kind words. It's difficult since I live in a small apartment and his place was always by my side. I swear I still see him out of the corner of my eye.

[AllThatJazzZ]

@AllThatJazzZ
I swear I still see him out of the corner of my eye.

@GtHawk

I know how that is. I would "see" mine and "hear" them as well. It took a while for those sensations to resolve. Rescuing my elderly little guy 5 months later helped. And now you'll have an energetic, inquisitive puppy to keep you busy, busy, busy. I kind of envy you, but, at my advanced age, I do NOT have the energy for a puppy.