Since the Escambia County’s Central Booking and Detention Center exploded in late April, we’ve been told by county officials that there was little that could have been done to have prevented it, the gas smell at the facility came from nearby propane tanks, and county staff had acted properly.
The state grand jury displaced all that. The explosion at the Escambia County’s CBD was due to the failure of county facilities maintenance personnel to shut off natural gas to building after both jail staff and inmates reported the smell of gas.
On April 29, the Pensacola area received torrential rainfall that flooded the CBD basement for the second time in the past two years. Video showed at 2:15 a.m. on April 30 that the clothes dryers in the basement had pulled away from the wall in the basement and were floating. At 11:15 p.m. that night, an unknown source spark ignited the natural gas causing an explosion that destroyed the building, killed two prisoners, paralyzed a guard and injured 200 other inmates and guards.
Despite reports to jail supervisors and maintenance employees, Pensacola Energy was never called about the gas odor. A county maintenance employee shut off nearby propone tanks but they were not in use or even connected to the CBD. Records show that the volumes in the propane tanks were the same before and after the flooding, while Pensacola Energy’s records showed a spike.
Though county mishandled the natural gas leak, the state grand jury determined that criminal charges were not appropriate.
Fill the Mayflower
During the week of Thanksgiving, Manna Food Pantries will have a fully staffed drop-off site to collect food and monetary donations at Cordova Mall at 9th Avenue and Airport Boulevard. Manna will be on site: Nov. 24, 5 a.m. – 7 p.m., Nov. 25, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Nov. 26, 7 a.m. – noon.
Volunteers and staff will be on hand to take food and monetary donations. Those who would like to donate can just pull up to the Mayflower truck and volunteers will take care of the rest. Every donation counts, no matter how big or small.
While all non-perishable food donations will be accepted, the most needed items are peanut butter (16 oz.), canned chicken and tuna, canned fruit, canned tomatoes, dry beans (1 lb. bag) and breakfast items (cereal, oatmeal and grits).
Cold Relief
The Cold Night Shelter Coalition is currently looking for volunteers to help operate a special shelter designed specifically for homeless women and families. Though there are a few shelters in the area that help homeless men during cold nights, until now there has never been a fully operational shelter for women, children, and families who are effected by the extreme cold.
The cold night shelter will operate on any night that the wind chill drops below 40° and will be open to those who are homeless or need shelter due to lack of proper heat in their homes. The operating hours will be from 7PM-8AM on qualifying nights.
For more information check their Facebook page.
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