Watson CEO promises to repair Houston-area homes damaged in Gessner explosion — but offers few details

The CEO of the manufacturing company that exploded on Jan. 24 said that he would repair all damaged homes but offered no details on how the process would work.

John Watson, who runs Watson Grinding and Manufacturing, told ABC13 on Tuesday that “I will repair all damaged homes…My insurance company will.” An explosion at the plant killed two and damaged over 450 structures.

Watson, however, did not say what insurance company he had. He didn’t say how the process would work. He also didn’t say whether residents would need to sign an agreement that they would not file suit to have his company repair the homes. Almost immediately after the blast, residents filed suit against the company.

When reached on his cell phone by the Chronicle, Watson said, “Oh I can’t talk to you right now thank you,” and hung up.

Neither Watson nor his company media contact responded to a long list of questions about the process, whether there will be any documents families wanting their homes rebuilt would have to sign limiting their ability to sue, what the name of his insurance company is or whether there will be a monetary cap per household.

The blast was felt miles away from the plant. In the immediate area, ceilings cracked and glass shattered in people’s homes. Residents now worry about how they’ll pay for temporary housing and how they’ll finance long-term repairs. The city of Houston asks anyone impacted to call 3-1-1.

sarah.smith@chron.com