Under the right conditions, grain dust can ignite just like gunpowder.
And we saw that happen here in Corpus Christi on April 7, 1981.
That’s when the Corpus Christi Grain Elevator exploded, killing 10 people and injuring dozens more.
The explosion was so powerful. Huge chunks of concrete were hurled through the air.
According to a study done at Kansas State University, a perfect storm of conditions is needed for disasters like this to happen.
They include an ignition source, a concentration of low moisture, grain dust suspended in an enclosed space and oxygen.
Removing any one of these conditions reduces the risk of a grain dust explosion.
