Ways to help West, Texas

Below is a list of resources to help victims and families affected by the explosion in West, Texas, a town many of us know for their fabulous kolaches and one many Texans feel is their hometown on the highway.

Storified by Joanna Cattanach · Thu, Apr 18 2013 12:22:30

Listen, I know everyone who drives on 35 stops in West for kolaches. So keep that in mind when it comes to help out.
— Zac Crain · Wed, Apr 17 2013 21:03:43

Large Explosion West, Texas. Dr George Smith -EMS Director (Interviewed KCEN/MSNBC) #westexplosion · fusionrockradio

Donation drives have formed in nearby towns such as Corsicana to Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston. West feels like every Texans hometown right now. With a population under 3,000, to say the devastation is enormous is an understatement.

#doinwork helping those responding to the West disaster. graymcrey @kylesheppard19 #prayforwest instagram.com/p/YP_PKIwoT5/ · Josh Dunn

SO many people coming down TODAY to help those in need!!! Thank you all!!! #HoustonHelpsWest #PrayForWest pic.twitter.com/CfucFnyY2Q · Gallery Furniture

#FTWORTH Meet us @Walmart 2900 Renaissance Dr 1p-6p & bring some Bottle water, clothes & blankets 2 help the ppl of West ! #PrayForWest
— OldSchool945 · Thu, Apr 18 2013 10:36:24

The Waco Tribune Herald has had reporters in the area and the hospitals as well as local Waco stations. Here is a link for folks looking to help and wanting to know where they can donate in the Waco area. This is especially important for people in the immediate and surrounding area.

Plan is to reopen schools on Monday but school district officials could modify that.
— Stella M. Chávez · Thu, Apr 18 2013 10:05:23

Many of us saw images of animals roaming the streets including livestock. Here is a link for those looking for pets lots in the explosion. A dozen animals are already listed.

TX EXPLOSION: After rapid evacuation from #westexplosion many families leave pets behind, now roaming streets. pic.twitter.com/P8ddDrlw9m · David Schechter

And already blood drives and clothing drives are being organized across Texas. Local stations and websites are compiling the lists including Fox 4 News in Dallas, the Waco Tribune Herald and DFW Scanner.

Figured I'd donate some blood today #westexplosion · Daric Ashy

I went to high school in Texas. I'm sending love to West, Texas.
— The Ellen DeGeneres Show · Thu, Apr 18 2013 10:27:40

Fox 4 News in Dallas has a list of items West residents need. And @DFW Scanner has a comprehensive list for those looking to donate from Weatherford to Fort Worth.

PLEASE SHARE - Here is a running list of items that people in West are asking for: Blood Bottled water Toiletries Clothes Blankets Diapers Formula Bottles Toys Adult diapers Uranials peroxide Alcohol gauze medical supplies Cots Air Mattresses Pillows Dog food Cat food pet crates/carriers We are collecting local drop locations and will ADD them in the COMMENTS... If you know of a locations please ADD it... Larger organizations like Salvation Army and Red Cross are only taking financial donations so they can purchase the items closer to West, TX
— FOX 4 News · Thu, Apr 18 2013 08:08:07

Comprehensive list of donation/item drop locations across DFW. More locations will be posted as the day goes on. fb.me/2hIKLVunK
— DFW Scanner · Thu, Apr 18 2013 09:48:46

HELP WEST

We are proud to partner with Help House West to bring shelter to those West residents displaced by the disaster.

Shout out also to the local reporters immediately on the scene who have been tweeting all night. Their Twitter accounts are listed below. The West Auction house is serving as a media headquarters. You can hear the cattle lowing in the background of CNN live reports. It says a lot about how small the town is and how much of a shock this is to the residents. Local Dallas media are also on the scene but these Waco folks will be on the story for days and weeks to come.