Just a few miles from a rural Tennessee factory razed by a devastating explosionWorshipers at Maple Valley Baptist Church dedicated Sunday’s service to the 16 deceased victims and their families.
Several of the dozens of people praying in the small church knew someone who worked at the factory owned by Accurate Energetic Systems, which supplies and studies explosives for the military and is a well-known employer in the area.
“There’s a somber mood right now in the community just because so many lives have been affected by this,” said Pastor Jimmy Andrews of Nunnelly Church. “It’s family and friends just trying to support each other during this most difficult time.”
Churches in many of the region’s small, close-knit communities, including another attended by Gov. Bill Lee on Sunday, did the same through vigils and services as many tried to make sense of the devastation.
“The losses are staggering,” Lee told reporters after surveying the damage by helicopter and visiting the Church of Compassion in nearby Waverly.
George Walker IV / AP
The cause of Friday’s explosion remains under investigation. Teams were carefully going through the cremated property, looking for any evidence. Authorities warned Sunday against small, controlled explosions intended to dispose of hazardous materials. Sources close to the investigation told CBS News on Saturday that the area “appears to be much more unstable than they thought,” which was slowing down the assessment of the site.
“Extraordinary precautions are in place to prevent further damage and injuries,” the Humphreys County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “The community around the area is safe but you may hear noise and see smoke.”
The initial blast was felt for more than 20 miles, leaving a smoking wreck of twisted, charred metal and burned vehicles at the plant. Authorities said there were no survivors. As of Sunday, they had not identified the deceased.
CBS affiliate WTVF-TV in Nashville aired video showing debris strewn across the site, with damaged vehicles in a parking lot.
The plant is located in a heavily forested area of middle Tennessee, between the vital Tennessee River to the west and Nashville to the east. Accurate Energetic Systems specializes in the development and storage of products and explosives for the military, aerospace and commercial demolition markets, according to its website. The company also tests these explosives on the 1,300-acre campus.
Brandon Brake, 42, said many area residents were leaning on their “church families” to get by. He attended Maple Valley Baptist.
“It’s been a tragic time,” he said. “We’ll get through this.”
Starting Monday, area schools will provide on-site counselors and therapists to help students and staff, WTVF reported.
The McEwen community lowered its flags at half-mast Saturday out of respect. A candlelight vigil was planned for Sunday evening in front of the Humphreys County Courthouse. County schools said counseling services will be available for students Monday.
“We will continue to play a supportive role to those affected in any way we can, as they are our friends, our neighbors and our citizens of our community,” McEwen Mayor Brad Rachford said in an email Sunday.
Andrews, the pastor at Maple Valley Baptist, told congregants to look out for each other.
“Lord, I just pray that we lift up those who continue to suffer from this tragic event,” he said.
