Elderly Missouri City, Texas Woman Survives Explosion That Completely Leveled Her Home

By Mary Mitchell

Published on January 25, 2007

Smith lived alone in the house. The force of the blast, at about 12:15 a.m., sent shingles and wood shards flying hundreds of yards away. Neighboring homes were also damaged, most with blown-out windows. The home is in the Quail Valley subdivision of Missouri City, a city about 20 miles southeast of Houston, with a population of about 63,000. By the time local firefighters arrived at the house, it was completely engulfed in flames and surrounded by a field of debris. Smith was apparently blown out of the house by the blast; firefighters found her outside, and she was taken to Southwest Memorial Hermann Hospital. She was conscious and able to converse while being transported to the hospital.

CenterPoint Energy, the natural gas supplier for the area homes, plans to check all of the gas lines in the neighborhood for any damage. Only the concrete slab and chimney of Smith's home remain.

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