West, Texas is a tiny town about 18 miles north of Waco well-known amongst Texans for its baked goods. But on Wednesday, April 17, 2013, West earned more of a certain international fame when it was rocked by the explosion of a fertilizer storage plant.

While an accident of this magnitude is often only the beginning of the devastation, West stands as an example of how a truly close-knit community reacts in the face of tragedy. Informative eyewitness and first responder accounts illustrate how the citizens banded together on that day and continue to rebuild - both physically and in spirit.

As the two-year mark approaches, Jim Gerik’s special work-in-progress serves as a stirring tribute to the monumental loss.